EP0170984A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drop detecting system
Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
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Filing: 1985-07-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A drop detecting system has light emitting diodes and phototransistors located on either side of a translucent drip chamber. The phototransistors respond to either the shadow or the reflection from a drop falling through a light beam produced by the light emitting diodes. The electrical response from the phototransistors is conducted to an integrator circuit which generates an electrical signal voltage. A comparator circuit receives the electrical signal voltage from the integrator circuit and outputs a signal indicating the presence of a drop passing through the drip chamber. A drip chamber housing cooperates with the drip chamber to shroud the translucent portion of the drip chamber. Additionally the drip chamber housing provides for the mounting of the light emitting diodes and the phototransistors.
Inventors
- 👤 James Daniel Benner, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F3/00; A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/14; A61M5/168; A61M5/16886; A61M5/1689; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for detecting falling drops comprising: a translucent drip chamber for forming, and containing the falling drops; means for releasably mounting said translucent drip chamber, said releasable mounting means constructed and arranged to substantially shroud said translucent chamber from ambient light; means for emitting light energy located on one side of said translucent drip chamber; means for receiving light energy from said means for emitting light energy located on the opposite side of said translucent drip chamberfrom said means for emitting light energy: said means for receiving light energy constructed and arranged to produce an electrical voltage pulse in response to a decrease in light energy received from said means for emitting light energy or an increase in light energy caused by a reflection of ambient light from the surface of a falling drop; means for producing an electrical signal in response to said electrical voltage pulse electrically connected to said means for receiving light energy; means for generating an electrical output signal in response to said electrical signal electrically connected to said means for producing an electrical signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for detecting falling drops comprising: a translucent drip chamber for forming, and containing the falling drops; means for releasably mounting said translucent drip chamber, said releasable mounting means constructed and arranged to substantially shroud said translucent chamber from ambient light; means for emitting light energy located on one side of said translucent drip chamber; means for receiving light energy from said means for emitting light energy located on the opposite side of said translucent drip chamberfrom said means for emitting light energy: said means for receiving light energy constructed and arranged to produce an electrical voltage pulse in response to a decrease in light energy received from said means for emitting light energy or an increase in light energy caused by a reflection of ambient light from the surface of a falling drop; means for producing an electrical signal in response to said electrical voltage pulse electrically connected to said means for receiving light energy; means for generating an electrical output signal in response to said electrical signal electrically connected to said means for producing an electrical signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as defined in Claim 1 wherein said means for emitting light energy are diodes are in electrical series connection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as defined in Claim 1 wherein said means for receiving light energy are phototransistors.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for detecting falling drops comprising: a translucent drip chamber for forming and containing the falling drops; means for releasably mounting said translucent drip chamber, said releasable mounting means constructed and arranged to substantially shroud said translucent drip chamber from ambient light; means for emitting light energy located on one side of said translucent drip chamber; means for receiving light energy from said means for emitting light energy located on the opposite side of said translucent drip chamber from said means for emitting light energy: said means for receiving light energy constructed and arranged to produce a positive electrical voltage pulse in response to a shadow caused by a falling drop; means for producing an electrical signal in response to said positive electrical voltage pulse electrically connected to said means for receiving light energy; means for generating an electrical output signal in response to said electrical signal electrically connected to said means for producing an electrical signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for detecting falling drops comprising: a translucent drip chamber for forming and containing the falling drops; means for releasably mounting said translucent drip chamber, said releasable mounting means constructed and arranged to substantially shroud said translucent drip chamber from ambient light; means for emitting light energy located on one side of said translucent drip chamber; means for receiving light energy from said means for emitting light energy located on the opposite side of said translucent drip chamber from said means for emitting light energy: said means for receiving light energy constructed and arranged to produce a positive electrical voltage pulse in response to a shadow caused by a falling drop; means for producing an electrical signal in response to said positive electrical voltage pulse electrically connected to said means for receiving light energy; means for generating an electrical output signal in response to said electrical signal electrically connected to said means for producing an electrical signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as defined in Claim 4 wherein said means for emitting light energy are diodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as defined in Claim 5 wherein said diodes are in electrical series connection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as defined in Claim 4 wherein said means for receiving light energy are phototransistors.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for detecting falling drops comprising: a translucent drip chamber for forming and containing the falling drops: means for releasably mounting said translucent drip chamber, said releasable mounting means constructed and arranged to substantially shroud said translucent drip chamber from ambient light; means for emitting light energy located on one ,. side of said translucent drip chamber; means for receiving light energy lqcated on the opposite side of said translucent drip chamber from said means for emitting light energy; said means for receiving light energy constructed and arranged to product a negative electrical voltage pulse in response to the reflection of light energy from the surface of a falling drop ; means for producing an electrical signal in response to said negative electrical voltage pulse electrically connected to said means for receiving light energy; means for generating an electrical output signal in response to said electrical signal electrically connected to said means for producing an electrical signal.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for detecting falling drops comprising: a translucent drip chamber for forming and containing the falling drops: means for releasably mounting said translucent drip chamber, said releasable mounting means constructed and arranged to substantially shroud said translucent drip chamber from ambient light; means for emitting light energy located on one ,. side of said translucent drip chamber; means for receiving light energy lqcated on the opposite side of said translucent drip chamber from said means for emitting light energy; said means for receiving light energy constructed and arranged to product a negative electrical voltage pulse in response to the reflection of light energy from the surface of a falling drop ; means for producing an electrical signal in response to said negative electrical voltage pulse electrically connected to said means for receiving light energy; means for generating an electrical output signal in response to said electrical signal electrically connected to said means for producing an electrical signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as defined in Claim 8 wherein said means producing an electrical signal in response to said negative voltage pulse is an integrator circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
156 words
A electrical circuit for detecting drops in a flow control system having a translucent drip chamber comprising: means for emitting light energy located on one side of the translucent drip chamber; means for receiving light energy from said means for emitting light energy located on the opposite side of the translucent drip chamber from said means for emitting light energy; said means for receiving light energy constructed and arranged to produce an electrical voltage pulse in response to a decrease in fight energy received from said means for emitting light energy or an increase in light energy caused by a reflection of ambient light from the surface of a falling drop; means for producing an electrical signal in response to said electrical voltage pulse electrically connected to said means for receiving light energy; means for generating an electrical output signal in response to said electrical signal electrically connected to said means for producing an electrical signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
156 words
A electrical circuit for detecting drops in a flow control system having a translucent drip chamber comprising: means for emitting light energy located on one side of the translucent drip chamber; means for receiving light energy from said means for emitting light energy located on the opposite side of the translucent drip chamber from said means for emitting light energy; said means for receiving light energy constructed and arranged to produce an electrical voltage pulse in response to a decrease in fight energy received from said means for emitting light energy or an increase in light energy caused by a reflection of ambient light from the surface of a falling drop; means for producing an electrical signal in response to said electrical voltage pulse electrically connected to said means for receiving light energy; means for generating an electrical output signal in response to said electrical signal electrically connected to said means for producing an electrical signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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