Receptacle Auto-Fill Using Inductive Sensing to Avoid Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing systems for automatic filling of receptacles with ice and liquid water face issues with contamination, high costs, and reliability, particularly with vision-based, ultrasonic, and magnetic sensors, which lead to decreased performance and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing inductive sensing with a coil and a conductive strip attached to a floating object within the receptacle, where the strip has varying impedances at different vertical positions, allowing the system to determine the liquid fill level based on inductance changes and control the dispensing accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vision-based sensing is used for automatic filling, then the system can detect liquid fill level, but the system becomes expensive and susceptible to contamination from foreign materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces vision-based sensing with inductive sensing using a coil and conductive strip. This substitution eliminates the need for optical components that are susceptible to contamination from foreign materials like cola, juice, and food particles. The inductive sensing system uses electromagnetic fields to detect the liquid fill level through the receptacle wall, making it insensitive to surface contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary conductive strip attached to a floating object inside the receptacle. This strip serves as a mediator that translates liquid level changes into inductance variations detectable by the external coil. The intermediary approach allows indirect measurement of liquid level without direct line-of-sight requirements, avoiding contamination issues.
2Measurement precision
If ultrasonic sensors are used for automatic filling, then the system can measure liquid fill level, but the sensors become contaminated and exhibit false positives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces ultrasonic sensing with inductive sensing. Instead of using acoustic waves that can be scattered or absorbed by contaminants, the system uses electromagnetic induction through a coil and conductive strip. This substitution eliminates the reliability issues associated with ultrasonic sensors in contaminated environments, as electromagnetic fields pass through foreign materials without significant interference.
3Measurement precision
If magnetic sensors are used for automatic filling, then the system can detect liquid fill level, but the sensors are unreliable and produce poor system performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces magnetic sensors with an inductive sensing system using a coil and conductive strip. This substitution improves reliability by using electromagnetic induction principles that are less susceptible to interference from common refrigerator contaminants and environmental factors affecting magnetic sensor performance.
4Measurement precision
If vision-based sensing is used for automatic filling, then the system can detect liquid fill level, but the system cost increases due to expensive components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a cost-effective inductive sensing system using simple electrical components (coil and conductive strip) rather than expensive vision systems with cameras and image processing hardware. The conductive strip can be a simple conductive material attached to a floating object, significantly reducing system cost while maintaining measurement precision.
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 system provides accurate and reliable automatic filling, insensitive to environmental contaminants and cost-effective, with improved precision and reduced risk of false positives or operational failures.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor including a coil positioned adjacent to a dispensing area of the dispensing system
Implementation Method 2
a floating object positioned within the receptacle and permitted to move upwards and downwards based on a liquid fill level of the receptacle
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for receptacle auto fill using inductive sensing are provided. One example system includes a dispensing system capable of dispensing liquid. The system includes a sensor. The sensor includes a coil positioned adjacent to a dispensing area of the dispensing system. The system includes a receptacle capable of holding a volume of liquid. The system includes a floating object positioned within the receptacle and permitted to move upwards and downwards based on a liquid fill level of the receptacle. The floating object includes a conductive strip providing a first impedance at a first vertical position of the strip and a second impedance at a second vertical position of the strip. The first impedance is different than the second impedance. The system includes a controller configured to control the dispensing system based at least in part on an amount of inductance exhibited between the coil and the conductive strip.