Detecting backscatter from drops dispensed from a handheld dropper and associated systems, devices, and methods

A method for detecting a drop dispensed by a drop dispenser, including:

• emitting, by a light source disposed on a distal-facing surface of the drop dispenser, a beam of light toward the drop, wherein the light source is oriented to emit the beam of light along a first axis at a first oblique angle relative to a dispensing axis of the drop dispenser, wherein the distal-facing surface is arranged perpendicularly to the dispensing axis of the drop dispenser and is proximal to a distal end of the drop dispenser;
• receiving, by a light detector disposed on the distal-facing surface of the drop dispenser, a portion of the beam of light reflected by the drop, wherein the light detector is oriented to receive a portion of the beam of light along a second axis at a second oblique angle relative to the dispensing axis of the drop dispenser, wherein the second oblique angle is non-parallel to the first oblique angle;
• providing, by the light detector, a signal indicating an amount of reflected light received by the light detector over a period of time;
• and
• analyzing, by a processing component in communication with the light detector, the signal to detect the drop.

A device for detecting a drop dispensed by a drop dispenser, comprising:

• a housing configured to couple to the drop dispenser;
• a light source coupled to the housing and configured to emit a beam of light toward the drop dispensed by the drop dispenser;
• a processing circuit;
• and
• a light detector coupled to the housing and in communication with the processing circuit, the light detector configured to:
• receive a portion of the beam of light reflected by the drop:
• and
• provide, to the processing circuit, a signal indicating an amount of reflected light received over a period of time,
• wherein the processing circuit is configured to detect the drop based on the signal,
• wherein the light source and the light detector are coupled to a lip of the housing and are located on a plane perpendicular to a dispensing axis,
• wherein, during measurement of the drop, the light source and the light detector are above a dispensing tip and are configured to detect the drop when the drop is below the dispensing tip
• wherein the light source and the light detector are coupled to the lip of the housing such that, when the housing is coupled to the drop dispenser:
• the light source is oriented to emit the beam of light along a first axis at a first oblique angle relative to the dispensing axis of the drop dispenser, and
• the light detector is oriented to receive the portion of the beam of light along a second axis at a second oblique angle relative to the dispensing axis of the drop dispenser, wherein the second oblique angle is non-parallel to the first oblique angle.