Apparatus and method for measuring fluid consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 'smart bottles' face challenges in accurately measuring fluid consumption while being portable, as they require being placed on a hard surface and suffer from component expense, power efficiency issues, and cleaning difficulties, especially with impeller-based systems.
Innovation Solution
A lid assembly with proximity sensors and angle sensors positioned at the outlet of the container to monitor fluid presence and flow, using a transmitter to calculate fluid volume consumed, which can be wirelessly communicated to a computing device, and includes a low-power processor and battery management for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If impeller-based flow measurement is used, then fluid consumption can be measured, but the device becomes difficult to clean and may become clogged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the impeller component from the measurement system entirely. Instead of using mechanical flow measurement, the invention employs a proximity sensor positioned at the outlet to detect fluid presence and an angle sensor to determine container orientation, thereby eliminating the cleaning and clogging issues associated with impeller-based systems while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical impeller-based flow measurement system with a sensor-based detection system. The proximity sensor detects fluid presence through electromagnetic or capacitive fields, and the angle sensor measures container orientation, substituting mechanical moving parts with electronic sensing to achieve measurement without cleaning difficulties
2Measurement precision
If smart bottle components are added, then fluid consumption can be tracked, but the device complexity and component expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into minimal components. The proximity sensor serves both to detect fluid presence and to trigger measurement events, while the angle sensor provides orientation data for volume calculation. The microcontroller coordinates both sensors and manages wireless communication, creating a multi-functional system that reduces overall component count and expense
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses wireless communication to transmit measurement data to external computing devices where complex processing and storage occur. This allows the bottle itself to remain simple while leveraging the processing power of smartphones or other external devices, effectively copying the data rather than requiring all computational functions within the bottle
3Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring sensors are used, then fluid presence can be detected, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic rather than continuous monitoring. The proximity sensor activates the angle sensor and triggers measurements only when fluid presence is detected at the outlet. This event-driven approach allows the system to remain in low-power state between drinking events while maintaining measurement precision when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The proximity sensor provides feedback about fluid presence to the control system, which then activates other sensors only when necessary. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt its power consumption to actual usage conditions, consuming energy only during drinking events rather than continuously
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and efficient measurement of fluid consumption during drinking events, improving hydration tracking without the need for surface placement and addressing previous issues of component expense and power efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a proximity sensor or sensors positioned in, or adjacent, an outlet of said container and configured to monitor the presence or absence of said fluid within or adjacent said outlet
Implementation Method 2
an angle sensor for determining a first angle of said container when said fluid begins to flow through the outlet, and for determining a second angle of said container when said fluid stops flowing through said outlet
Data Source
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AI summary
There is proposed an apparatus and method for measuring fluid usage from a container. The apparatus in one form includes a proximity sensor or sensors positioned in, or adjacent, an outlet of said container and configured to monitor the presence or absence of said fluid within or adjacent said outlet, an angle sensor for determining a first angle of said container when said fluid begins to flow through the outlet, and for determining a second angle of said container when said fluid stops flowing through said outlet, and a transmitter for sending data from the proximity sensor/s and angle sensor or processed data therefrom, to a computing device and/or display unit, wherein the data or processed data is used to calculate or indicate a volume of the fluid having passed through the outlet.