US5979240A — Method and apparatus for detecting recyclable ite…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 180 words

A device for detecting the presence of items made of recyclable materials randomly located and arranged within randomly arranged solid waste having random characteristics, comprising: a transmitter for producing acoustic energy of at least one predetermined wavelength in a desired direction, said acoustic energy causing said items made of recyclable materials present within said randomly arranged solid waste to resonate and thereby produce resonated acoustic energy; a receiver for receiving said resonated acoustic energy, said receiver generating a signal based upon said resonated acoustic energy; a processor connected at least to said receiver for receiving said signal from said receiver, for analyzing said resonated acoustic energy, for calculating a signature based on said resonated acoustic energy and comparing said calculated signature to known signatures of items made of recyclable materials, thereby detecting composition of the items made of recyclable materials based upon interactions of the materials with the acoustic energy; and means for indicating when said calculated signature substantially corresponds to at least a selected one of said known signatures, thereby indicating the presence of items made of recyclable materials.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 180 words

A device for detecting the presence of items made of recyclable materials randomly located and arranged within randomly arranged solid waste having random characteristics, comprising: a transmitter for producing acoustic energy of at least one predetermined wavelength in a desired direction, said acoustic energy causing said items made of recyclable materials present within said randomly arranged solid waste to resonate and thereby produce resonated acoustic energy; a receiver for receiving said resonated acoustic energy, said receiver generating a signal based upon said resonated acoustic energy; a processor connected at least to said receiver for receiving said signal from said receiver, for analyzing said resonated acoustic energy, for calculating a signature based on said resonated acoustic energy and comparing said calculated signature to known signatures of items made of recyclable materials, thereby detecting composition of the items made of recyclable materials based upon interactions of the materials with the acoustic energy; and means for indicating when said calculated signature substantially corresponds to at least a selected one of said known signatures, thereby indicating the presence of items made of recyclable materials.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

A device according to claim 1, wherein said known signatures include signatures calculated by analyzing acoustic responses in addition to resonance generated by acoustic energy interacting with known materials.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

A device according to claim 1, wherein said indicating means includes a display connected to said processor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 14 words

A device according to claim 1, further comprising: means for storing said known signatures.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 68 words

A device according to claim 1, wherein: said acoustic energy produced by said transmitter also reflects off of the solid waste; said receiver receives said reflected acoustic energy; said processor analyzes said reflected acoustic energy and calculates said signature based upon said reflected acoustic energy; said processor compares said signature to known signatures calculated by analyzing acoustic responses generated by acoustic energy reflecting off of said known materials.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

A device according to claim 1, wherein indicating means includes an alarm for producing an audible signal connected to said processor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 11 words

A device according to claim 1, further comprising a power source.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 177 words

A device for detecting the presence of items made of recyclable materials randomly located and arranged within a target of randomly arranged material having random characteristics by detecting the composition of the items made of recyclable materials, comprising: means to excite a target suspected of containing at least one recyclable item with acoustic energy, said acoustic energy causing said randomly located and arranged items made of a recyclable material present within said target of randomly arranged material having random characteristics to resonate and thereby produce resonated acoustic energy; means to measure said resonated acoustic energy; means to compare said measured resonated acoustic energy with known resonated acoustic energies corresponding to items made of known recyclable materials, thereby detecting composition of the items made of recyclable materials based upon interactions of the materials with the acoustic energy; and means for indicating a substantial correspondence of said measured resonated acoustic energy from the items made of recyclable materials with at least one of said known resonated acoustic energies, thereby indicating the presence of said items made of recyclable materials.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 177 words

A device for detecting the presence of items made of recyclable materials randomly located and arranged within a target of randomly arranged material having random characteristics by detecting the composition of the items made of recyclable materials, comprising: means to excite a target suspected of containing at least one recyclable item with acoustic energy, said acoustic energy causing said randomly located and arranged items made of a recyclable material present within said target of randomly arranged material having random characteristics to resonate and thereby produce resonated acoustic energy; means to measure said resonated acoustic energy; means to compare said measured resonated acoustic energy with known resonated acoustic energies corresponding to items made of known recyclable materials, thereby detecting composition of the items made of recyclable materials based upon interactions of the materials with the acoustic energy; and means for indicating a substantial correspondence of said measured resonated acoustic energy from the items made of recyclable materials with at least one of said known resonated acoustic energies, thereby indicating the presence of said items made of recyclable materials.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 42 words

A device according to claim 8, wherein acoustic energy produced by said means to excite a target produces acoustic responses in addition to resonance and comparing means compares said acoustic responses with known acoustic responses of known items made of recyclable materials.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

A device according to claim 8, wherein said means to excite a target is a transmitter for producing acoustic energy of at least one predetermined wavelength in a desired direction.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

A device according to claim 8, wherein said means to measure said resonated acoustic energy is a receiver.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

A device according to claim 8, wherein said means to compare is a processor.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

A device according to claim 8, wherein said means to indicate is an alarm.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 145 words

A method for detecting items made of recyclable materials randomly arranged and located in randomly arranged solid waste having random characteristics, comprising the steps of: generating acoustic energy of at least one predetermined wavelength; directing said acoustic energy in the direction of solid waste, thereby causing items made of recyclable materials within the solid waste to resonate and thereby produce resonated acoustic energy; receiving said resonated acoustic energy with a receiver; calculating a signature of said resonated acoustic energy by analyzing said resonated acoustic energy, thereby detecting composition of the items made of recyclable materials based upon interactions of the materials with the acoustic energy; and comparing said calculated signature with known signatures of items made of recyclable materials; and indicating when said calculated signature substantially corresponds to at least one of said known signatures, thereby indicating the presence of items made of recyclable materials.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 145 words

A method for detecting items made of recyclable materials randomly arranged and located in randomly arranged solid waste having random characteristics, comprising the steps of: generating acoustic energy of at least one predetermined wavelength; directing said acoustic energy in the direction of solid waste, thereby causing items made of recyclable materials within the solid waste to resonate and thereby produce resonated acoustic energy; receiving said resonated acoustic energy with a receiver; calculating a signature of said resonated acoustic energy by analyzing said resonated acoustic energy, thereby detecting composition of the items made of recyclable materials based upon interactions of the materials with the acoustic energy; and comparing said calculated signature with known signatures of items made of recyclable materials; and indicating when said calculated signature substantially corresponds to at least one of said known signatures, thereby indicating the presence of items made of recyclable materials.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method according to claim 14, wherein said known signatures include known signatures calculated by analyzing resonated acoustic energy generated by acoustic energy interacting with known items made of known recyclable materials.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of: indicating when said calculated signature substantially corresponds to at least one of said known signatures.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 12 words

A method according to claim 14, wherein generated acoustic energy is ultrasonic.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 67 words

A method according to claim 14, wherein: said generated acoustic energy also reflects off of surface of materials within the solid waste; said reflected acoustic energy is received; said signature includes said reflected acoustic energy; said signature is based on said reflected acoustic energy; and said calculated signature is compared with known signatures calculated by analyzing reflected acoustic energy generated by acoustic energy interacting with know materials.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-11-08	2003-05-10	2003-11-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-11-08	2007-05-10	2007-11-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-11-08	2011-05-10	2011-11-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for detecting recyclable items concealed within solid waste

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