Attribute sensing processes
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsFarhad Ashrafzadeh, Ali R. Buendia-Garcia, Richard A. McCoy, Yingqin Yuan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for determining an attribute of a substance in a container in response to an access event. The methods include a method for determining an attribute of a substance including activating the sensor in response to an access event and transmitting, in response to the activating, an output of the sensor providing an indication of an attribute of the contents. The methods also include a method having the steps of associating a sensor having an identifier with the container; and receiving the identifier and an output of the sensor providing an indication of the amount of the contents.
Claims34
A method of determining an attribute of a substance in a container having a lid, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing on the container at least one sensing device, at least one transmitter, and a processor in communication with the at least one sensing device and the at least one transmitter;
- detecting an access event for the substance in the container;
- in response to the detecting of an access event, the processor activating the sensing device to sense an attribute of the substance and provide an indication of the sensed attribute to the processor;
- and
- in response to the sensing, the processor activating the transmitter to transmit the indication to a remote device.
A method to determine an attribute of contents of a portable container, comprising:
- providing on the container at least one sensing device, at least one transmitter, and a processor in communication with the at least one sensing device and the at least one transmitter;
- placing the portable container in a storage and use environment;
- the processor activating the sensing device to sense an attribute of the contents in response to detecting a triggering event;
- and
- the processor activating the transmitter in response to the activating the sensing device, to transmit an identifier and information derived from the sensing device providing an indication of the attribute of the contents.
A method to remotely determine an attribute of a substance in a container, comprising:
- associating an identifier of at least one of the container and the substance in a remote data system;
- detecting an access event;
- the remote data system receiving the identifier and an output transmitted by a transmitter provided on the container of information from a sensor provided on the container providing an indication of the attribute of the substance;
- and
- associating the information with the identifier in the remote data system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.