IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,982,557
Granted Patent B2
US 11,982,557 · App. 17/951,994 · Granted May 14, 2024

Apparatus, system, and method of providing a solids level monitor

Inventors: Amanda Williams (St. Petersburg, FL); Julio Daniel Oropeza (St. Petersburg, FL); Yu-Chang Lee (St. Petersburg, FL); Ying Hao Lee (St. Petersburg, FL); Martin Johnson (St. Petersburg, FL); Marc Theeuwes (St. Petersburg, FL); Stefan Vaes (St. Petersburg, FL); Toon Diels (St. Petersburg, FL)
G01F15/061G01F23/18G01F23/292
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,982,557
App. No.
17/951,994
Granted
May 14, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for providing a consumable level monitor for association with a solid content-filled consumable. The embodiments may include a sensing module embedded in a label associated with the consumable suitable to sense the consumable level; and a visual indicator suitable to receive the consumable level from the sensing module, and for communicating the consumable level to a user.

Claims (15)

1. A consumable level monitoring system for association with a food content-filled consumable, comprising:

a partial sensing module of photoconductive sensing strips comprising photo resistive traces and conductive traces to provide continuous level sensing between levels, embedded in a label associated with the content-filled consumable suitable to sense the continuous level of the content within the content-filled consumable;

a durable base suitable to receive the content-filled consumable, the durable base providing a second partial sensing module which, when the content-filled consumable is received by the durable base, forms a complete sensing module circuit with the partial sensing module of the content-filled consumable; and

a visual indicator suitable to receive the consumable level from the sensing module, and for communicating the consumable level to a user.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator is a color changing indicator.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing module is passive.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing module is active.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing module is on an outside aspect of the label.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the label further comprises an electronic communication module.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the communication module comprises a processor.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the label is networked.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing base includes a dispenser in physical communication with the solid content and capable of dispensing the content from the consumable to modify the content level.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the dispenser base comprises one of a crank, a spout, or a spigot.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a power module for powering at least the sensing module.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication to the user comprises a display over at least one network.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2026
From: WILLIAMS, AMANDA; OROPEZA, JULIO DANIEL; LEE, YU-CHANG; LEE, YING HAO; THEEUWES, MARC; VAES, STEFAN; DIELS, TOON
To: NYPRO INC.
Reel/Frame 073953/0702 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17052779
Provisional Application 62666605 · May 3, 2018
Related Publication 20230084664A1 · Mar 16, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,385,771