Photochromic Waveguide Keying for Refill Dispenser Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing key systems for dispensing systems, particularly those using near field frequency response, are complex and require metal coils, making them difficult to manufacture from plastic and recycle, and lack an efficient method to determine compatibility between refill containers and dispensers.
Innovation Solution
An optical key system utilizing a photochromic waveguide that senses electromagnetic radiation to determine if a refill container is compatible with a dispensing system, employing reversible or irreversible photochromic dyes that change transmission characteristics in response to activation radiation, allowing for a simpler and more recyclable design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If near field frequency response key systems are used, then compatibility determination between refill containers and dispensers is achieved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing difficulty arises due to requirement of metal coils
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic field-based near field frequency response system with an optical system using waveguides and photochromic materials. This substitution eliminates the need for metal coils and complex electronic components, achieving compatibility determination through optical transmission characteristics that change in response to UV irradiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes photochromic materials that undergo reversible color or transmission changes when exposed to UV radiation. The waveguide contains photochromic compounds that alter their optical properties upon UV exposure, providing a detectable signal for compatibility verification without requiring complex electronic systems.
2Reliability
If metal coils are used in key systems, then compatibility sensing is achieved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates and recycling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces metal coil-based electromagnetic sensing with an optical system using waveguides and photochromic materials. This allows the entire key system to be manufactured from plastic materials through injection molding, significantly improving ease of manufacture and enabling complete recyclability of the refill container.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by incorporating photochromic compounds into the plastic matrix of the waveguide. This composite material approach allows the waveguide to be molded as a single plastic component while maintaining the functional properties needed for compatibility sensing, eliminating the need for separate metal coil assemblies.
3Device complexity
If photochromic waveguide is used, then device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but measurement precision must be maintained for reliable compatibility determination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates photochromic materials at specific locations within the waveguide structure where UV irradiation occurs. The photochromic compounds are positioned to maximize their interaction with UV light from the dispenser, ensuring that the optical transmission changes are sufficient for reliable detection while keeping the overall system simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the change in optical transmission parameters of photochromic materials when exposed to UV radiation. The photochromic compounds transition between different molecular states, altering their absorption and transmission characteristics in the visible spectrum, which provides a detectable signal for compatibility verification.
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
The optical key system provides an efficient and cost-effective method to determine compatibility, enabling the use of plastic materials and facilitating recycling, while ensuring reliable operation of dispensing mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
the waveguide includes a photochromic portion which contains a photochromic dye which has an inherent unactivated state and an activated state, on radiating with a dose of activation electromagnetic radiation in a range of activation wavelengths the photochromic dye changing from the unactivated to the activated state
Implementation Method 2
sensing electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the waveguide so as to determine if the waveguide includes a compatible photochromic portion
Data Source
AI summary
A removable and replaceable keying component which is required for operation of a mechanism and which component includes a waveguide having a photochromic portion. A method of controlling operation of a mechanism, preferably a dispenser, having a removable component comprising the steps of measuring electromagnetic radiation passing through a waveguide carrying at least in part on the removable component and permitting operation of the mechanism only when the measured electromagnetic radiation corresponds with one or more pre-selected parameters. Preferably, the method involves directing emitted electromagnetic radiation with pre-selected input parameters selected from a plurality of input parameters.