Optically monitoring fullness of fluid container
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsPaul Dietz, Benjamin David Eidelson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A relative fullness of a fluid container is monitored by directing reference light at a bottom surface of the fluid container. The fluid container is designed so that the amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container varies in relation to the relative fullness of the fluid container. Accordingly, the relative amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container can be monitored and used to determine the relative fullness of the fluid container.
Claims20
A fluid-monitoring system, comprising:
- a surface orientated to support a fluid container;
- a light source positioned to direct reference light through the surface to the fluid container;
- a sensor operatively positioned to detect reference light reflected from the fluid container and back through the surface;
- and
- an analysis subsystem to determine a relative fullness of the fluid container by analyzing a relative amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container.
A method of optically monitoring an amount of fluid in a fluid container, the method comprising:
- directing reference light at a bottom surface of the fluid container;
- determining a relative amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container;
- determining a relative fullness of the fluid container based on the relative amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container;
- and
- generating a message if the amount of fluid in the fluid container drops below a predetermined level.
A fluid container defining a fluid-holding space, the fluid container comprising:
- a light-transmissive bottom;
- and
- a light guide including an end portion projecting into the fluid-holding space, the light-transmissive bottom being configured to pass reference light to the end portion of the light guide, and the end portion of the light guide being configured to return the reference light to the light-transmissive bottom when the end portion is not submerged in a test fluid and to pass the reference light to a test fluid when the end portion is submerged in a test fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.