Liquid providing system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid providing systems, such as water and coffee makers, cannot accurately detect the liquid level and container properties, leading to potential water leakage and inefficiencies due to the inability of proximity and ultrasonic sensors to distinguish the container's volume, body properties, and liquid surface.
Innovation Solution
A liquid providing system that includes a main body with a supporting platform, a holder made of low reflectivity material, an optical sensor to capture detection images, and an operational processor to analyze these images and distinguish the target container from the holder, utilizing a fan to clear steam interference, a heater to manage temperature, and adjustable exposure parameters to determine liquid level information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional proximity sensors or ultrasonic sensors are used to detect container presence, then the detection function is provided, but the sensors cannot detect container body property, volume, and liquid surface level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional proximity sensors and ultrasonic sensors with an optical sensor system. The optical sensor captures images of the container, and image processing algorithms extract container body properties, volume, and liquid surface level information. This substitution enables comprehensive detection capabilities that mechanical and ultrasonic sensors cannot provide.
2Measurement precision
If optical sensor is used to detect container and liquid surface, then detection accuracy is improved, but steam interference affects detection reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful steam from the detection environment using a fan or ventilation system. By removing the steam before it interferes with the optical sensor, the system maintains both high detection accuracy and reliability even when hot liquid is present in the container.
3Strength
If holder is made of high reflectivity material, then structural strength is improved, but optical detection accuracy deteriorates due to reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the holder. The main structural components use high reflectivity materials for strength, while the bottom surface that contacts the container uses low reflectivity material to minimize optical interference. This localized differentiation allows the holder to maintain structural integrity while enabling accurate optical detection of the container and liquid surface.
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 rapid detection of liquid levels in containers, preventing leakage and improving operational efficiency by distinguishing between opaque and transparent containers and managing steam interference, thus enhancing the functionality of liquid providing systems.
Implementation Method 1
The holder is made by low reflectivity material and adapted to hold the target container. The optical sensor is disposed above the supporting platform and adapted to output a detection image containing the target container and the holder.
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a fan to clear steam interference
Implementation Method 3
a heater to manage temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid providing system of detecting a target container includes a main body, a holder, an optical sensor and an operational processor. The main body has a supporting platform. The holder is disposed on the supporting platform, and the holder is made by low reflectivity material and adapted to hold the target container. The optical sensor is disposed above the supporting platform and adapted to output a detection image containing the target container and the holder. The operational processor is electrically connected to the optical sensor, and adapted to analyze the detection image and then acquire an effective feature inside the detection image for distinguishing the target container from the holder.