Hands free, controlled autofill for a dispenser
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsKevin M. Chase, Brian P. Janke, Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Shreecharan Kanchanavally, James Kerner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dispensing system includes one or more digital image capture devices for capturing images in a dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device(s) for analyzing the images for use in regulating a dispensing operation. The digital image analyzer evaluates digital images captured by the digital image capture device(s) to determine various characteristics of a container placed in the dispensing well, such as the height and position of the container.
Claims20
A method of performing a dispensing operation, the method comprising:
- capturing at least one multidimensional image of a container with at least one digital image capture device;
- and
- regulating the dispensing operation based on the at least one multidimensional image.
A method of performing a dispensing operation, the method comprising:
- capturing a first image of the container from a first location and capturing a second image of the container from a second location;
- and
- regulating the dispensing operation based on at least one of the first and second images.
A dispenser assembly for selectively performing a dispensing operation, the dispenser assembly comprising:
- at least one digital image capture device configured to capture at least one multidimensional image of a container, wherein the dispenser assembly is configured to regulate the dispensing operation based on the at least one multidimensional image.
A dispenser assembly for selectively performing a dispensing operation, the dispenser assembly comprising:
- at least one digital image capture device is configured to capture a first image of the container from a first location and a second image of the container from a second location, wherein the dispenser assembly is configured to regulate the dispensing operation based on at least one of the first and second images.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.