초록 ▼

An optical detection sensor detects presence or absence of a product within a fluid delivery medium. An emitter directs radiation into the fluid delivery medium. Each of a plurality of detectors detects light within an associated one of a plurality of wavelength ranges transmitted through the fluid

An optical detection sensor detects presence or absence of a product within a fluid delivery medium. An emitter directs radiation into the fluid delivery medium. Each of a plurality of detectors detects light within an associated one of a plurality of wavelength ranges transmitted through the fluid delivery medium. The output of each detector is further associated with at least one out-of-product threshold. A controller may further combine detector outputs, such as by multiplication, summation, or other mathematical operation, to produce additional measures of product presence or absence. Each combination output is also associated with at least one out-of-product threshold. The controller compares the output of each detector with the associated out-of-product threshold(s) and compares each combination output with the associated out-of-product threshold(s) to determine presence or absence of product within the fluid delivery medium. The sensor is able to determine presence or absence of a variety of products having different color, transparency or turbidity.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method comprising:directing light into a fluid delivery medium in which presence or absence of a product is to be determined;detecting light in each of a plurality of wavelength ranges transmitted through the fluid delivery medium and producing therefrom a plurality of

The invention claimed is: 1. A method comprising:directing light into a fluid delivery medium in which presence or absence of a product is to be determined;detecting light in each of a plurality of wavelength ranges transmitted through the fluid delivery medium and producing therefrom a plurality of detector outputs;calculating at least one combination output based on at least two of the detector outputs;associating each of the plurality of detector outputs with at least one out-of-product threshold;associating the at least one combination output with at least one out-of-product threshold;comparing each of the detector outputs with the associated at least one out-of-product threshold;comparing the at least one combination output with the associated at least one out-of-product threshold; anddetermining presence or absence of product within the fluid delivery medium based on the comparisons.