Lexmark International has filed a patent for a system that can sense the amount of material within a container. The system includes a container with a reservoir, an impact member that causes vibration in the container, a sensor to detect the vibration, and processing circuitry to estimate the amount of material based on the sensed vibration. GlobalData’s report on Lexmark International gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Lexmark International, automated personalized lookbooks was a key innovation area identified from patents. Lexmark International's grant share as of September 2023 was 62%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
System for sensing material in a container using vibration
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230305432A1) describes a system for sensing material within a container. The system includes a container with a reservoir for storing material, an impact member that can selectively impart an impulse force on the container to cause vibration, a sensor that can sense the vibration of the container, and processing circuitry that can determine an estimate of the amount of material in the container based on the sensed vibration.
The impact member in the system is driven by a solenoid, and the sensor is positioned on one side of the container opposite the side where the impact member imparts the impulse force. Additionally, there is a support structure for holding the container, and the sensor is positioned on the support structure to make contact with the container when it is placed in the support structure. Alternatively, the sensor can be mounted directly on the container.
The processing circuitry in the system is configured to determine the estimate of the amount of material in the container based on either the vibration settling time of the container or the resonant frequency of the container upon vibration.
In addition to the system, the patent also describes a method for estimating the amount of material in a container. The method involves selectively generating an impulse force to cause vibration of the container, sensing the vibration using a sensor positioned on one side of the container opposite the side where the impulse force is generated, and determining the estimate of the amount of material based on the sensed vibration. Similar to the system, the method can determine the estimate based on either the vibration settling time or the resonant frequency of the container.
Overall, this patent presents a system and method for accurately estimating the amount of material in a container by utilizing vibration sensing and processing circuitry. The system offers flexibility in terms of sensor placement and can provide estimates based on different vibration characteristics of the container. This technology could have potential applications in various industries where accurate material measurement is crucial.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
