Smart Container Optical Sensor for Liquid Composition Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart devices struggle to accurately determine the contents and composition of liquids in smart containers, such as smartwatches and wearables, which hinders user insights into their health and wellbeing, particularly regarding liquid consumption.
Innovation Solution
A smart container equipped with sensors, including a contents sensor that uses light absorption data to identify the presence and amount of substances like caffeine, sugar, and alcohol, and communicates this information to electronic devices and servers for further analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If smart devices are used to monitor liquid consumption, then health tracking capability is improved, but the ability to accurately determine liquid contents and composition deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical system (light source, emitter, detector) between the smart device and the liquid to enable content analysis. The optical components act as mediators that interact with the liquid to extract compositional information without requiring direct contact or complex chemical analysis, thus improving measurement precision while maintaining health tracking reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or chemical liquid analysis methods with an optical detection system. By using light interaction (absorption, transmission) to determine liquid contents, the system achieves higher measurement precision without compromising the reliability of health tracking, resolving the contradiction between these two features
2Device complexity
If basic liquid consumption monitoring is implemented, then device simplicity is maintained, but user insights into liquid composition and health impact are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the smart container universal by enabling it to perform multiple functions: basic liquid consumption monitoring plus detailed composition analysis. The optical detection system allows the device to identify various liquid components (caffeine, sugar, alcohol, contaminants) while maintaining a relatively simple container structure, thus reducing information loss without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameters from simple volume measurement to multi-parameter optical analysis. By measuring light absorption at different wavelengths, the system can determine multiple liquid composition parameters simultaneously, providing comprehensive health insights while keeping the device design relatively simple through integrated optical components
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 users to gain accurate insights into their liquid consumption, improving health monitoring and user experience by providing detailed information on fluid contents, contaminants, and harmful substances present in the smart container.
Implementation Method 1
determining absorbed wavelengths of light when passed through the fluid
Implementation Method 2
determining a light intensity value of the light passed through the fluid
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for systems and methods for a smart container designed to determine sensor data corresponding to fluid contained by the smart container. The smart container may container or more sensors such as a contents sensor for determining the contents of fluid being contained by the smart container. The contents sensor may determine the presence of caffeine and the smart container determine amount of volume consumed by a user. Example methods may include sending the sensor data to a server to be analyzed and displaying data corresponding to the analysis by the server.