Wireless Hydration Sensor for Continuous Water Level Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid level monitoring systems for hydration packs are inadequate as they require users to stop their activities to manually check the beverage level, leading to potential life-threatening situations and inefficient hydration management.
Innovation Solution
A system that collects data on beverage consumption using sensors and broadcasts it to a smart device, allowing users to monitor their hydration levels remotely and receive alerts, optimizing hydration and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual eye or touch checking is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases and reliability worsens due to potential life-threatening situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical checking (eye/touch inspection) with an automated electronic sensor system that continuously monitors water level and transmits data wirelessly to a smartphone, eliminating the need for users to stop and manually check their hydration status
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-monitoring where the hydration pack automatically detects water level and communicates status without user intervention, allowing continuous monitoring during activities without requiring user action to check status
2Device complexity
If manual checking is required, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability worsens as users may forget or be unable to stop activity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces unreliable manual inspection with automated electronic sensors that continuously and passively monitor water level, ensuring consistent detection without relying on user memory or ability to pause activity
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback through wireless communication to a smartphone, alerting users when water level reaches critical thresholds, creating a closed-loop monitoring system that actively notifies users of hydration status without requiring user initiation
3Productivity
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then productivity and reliability improve, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses simple optical or capacitive sensors combined with wireless communication modules to achieve continuous monitoring, replacing complex mechanical checking systems with electronically automated solutions that provide ongoing data transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The smartphone acts as an intermediary device that receives data from the hydration pack sensor, processes information, and displays alerts to the user, distributing system complexity across multiple components rather than requiring a single complex integrated unit
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus that monitors the consumption of a beverage containing vessel, while the vessel is contained in a pack, bag, or pocket. The method for monitoring includes a sensor that collects data on the beverage within the vessel, the data may be broadcast to other devices where the data is turned to information and it is displayed. The apparatus may consist of a battery, battery circuit, sensor circuit, temporary storage, sensor, and antenna. Information created may include a warning of when the vessel will be empty relative to the activity of the user.