Ultrasonic identification of replaceable component for host system
AssigneePiezotech, LLC
InventorsFrans LAUTZENHISER, James DALLAS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system, method and device are provided for detecting the presence of, and/or obtain information about, a replaceable component for a host system. A host system has an ultrasonic transducer pair that detects the presence of, and/or obtains information about, a replaceable component for a host system through receipt or non-receipt of an ultrasonic signal. The replaceable component includes a key or other feature that either allows the transmission of a transmitted ultrasonic signal, or which does not allow the reception of the transmitted ultrasonic signal, depending on the host configuration.
Claims4
A system for identifying, a replaceable component for a host system comprising:
- a) providing a pattern of grooves on the surface of the replaceable component, with the pattern of grooves being associated with an identification code identifying the replaceable component or a characteristic of the replaceable component;
- b) placing the replaceable component in the receptacle of the host system;
- c) providing a piezoelectric transducer on the host system;
- d) emitting an ultrasonic wave from the piezoelectric transducer to the pattern of grooves, wherein the wave encounters the pattern of grooves at an angle of less than 90° so that waves striking the interior of a groove are reflected back to the transducer as echo waves, while waves not striking the interior of a groove are reflected away from the transducer, and
- e) reading the pattern of returning echo waves to determine the identification code indicated by the pattern of grooves on the replaceable component.
A system for identifying a replaceable component for a host system, comprising:
- a) providing a replaceable component receptacle of host system with a piezoelectric transmitter and a piezoelectric receiver that has a gap between them, and wherein the replaceable component receptacle is shaped to receive a replaceable component having an element that is between the gap when the replaceable component is received by the receptacle;
- b) emitting an ultrasonic signal from the piezoelectric transmitter;
- and
- c) detecting whether the emitted ultrasonic signal is received by the piezoelectric receiver.
A system for identifying a replaceable component for a host system, comprising:
- a) a replaceable component for a host system;
- b) wherein the host system includes
- 1) a receptacle;
- and
- 2) a piezoelectric transmitter and a piezoelectric receiver spaced from the piezoelectric transmitter to form a gap between them,
- c) wherein the replaceable component is shaped to complete an ultrasonic pathway between the piezoelectric transmitter and the piezoelectric receiver when the replaceable component is inserted into the receptacle;
- d) emitting an ultrasonic signal from the piezoelectric transmitter;
- e) detecting whether the emitted ultrasonic signal is received by piezoelectric receiver to ascertain whether the replaceable component is received in the receptacle.
A system for identifying Another embodiment of the invention involves:
- a) providing a replaceable component receptacle of host system with a piezoelectric transducer positioned to transmit an ultrasonic signal toward a replaceable component received by the receptacle, and wherein the replaceable component has a surface oriented to reflect an ultrasonic signal transmitted by the piezoelectric transducer back to the piezoelectric transducer;
- b) emitting an ultrasonic signal from the piezoelectric transducer;
- and
- c) detecting the presence or absence of a reflected ultrasonic signal to determine the presence, or a type or characteristic, of the replaceable component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.