Material sensing using container vibration
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsAlexander Lloyd Chapman, Clare Cabahug Maxino, Neilson Gutay Navarrete, Michael Todd Phillips, Scott Daniel Reeves, Daniel Lee Thomas
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Abstract
A system for sensing material within a container includes a container having a reservoir for storing material and an impact member configured to selectively impart an impulse force on the container to cause vibration of the container. A sensor is configured to sense the vibration of the container upon the impact member imparting the impulse force on the container. Processing circuitry in communication with the sensor is configured to determine an estimate of an amount of the material in the container based on the sensed vibration of the container.
Claims9
A system for sensing material within a container, comprising:
- a container having a reservoir for storing material;
- an impact member configured to selectively impart an impulse force on the container to cause vibration of the container;
- a motion sensor configured to sense the vibration of the container upon the impact member imparting the impulse force on the container;
- and
- processing circuitry in communication with the motion sensor and configured to determine an estimate of an amount of the material in the container based on the sensed vibration of the container,
- wherein the motion sensor is positioned at a first side of the container opposite a second side of the container against which the impact member imparts the impulse force on the container.
A method for estimating an amount of material in a container, comprising:
- selectively generating an impulse force to cause vibration of the container;
- sensing, by a motion sensor, the vibration of the container;
- and
- determining, by processing circuitry, an estimate of the amount of material in the container based on the sensed vibration of the container,
- wherein the sensing the vibration includes sensing the vibration at a first side of the container opposite a second side of the container at which the impulse force is generated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.