Spout apparatus, systems and methods

摘要

A spout is disclosed capable of detecting if it is properly “on” or “off” the container according to tilt characteristics of the spout as determined by accelerometer and other sensor data. The tilt characteristics can be applied to one or more sets of coupling criteria, which if met, can provide an indication that the spout is “on bottle” or “off bottle”.

主权项

1. A dispensing spout comprising:
a tilt sensor configured to generate a plurality of angle measurements, wherein each angle measurement comprises an instant measured orientation angle of the spout with respect to a reference orientation; a memory configured to store a spout coupling criteria, wherein the spout coupling criteria is satisfied if at least one of the angle measurements generated by the tilt sensor exceeds a threshold angle for a threshold duration; and a detector circuit coupled with the tilt sensor, the detector circuit having a processor programmed to:
determine that at least one angle measurement from the plurality of angle measurements exceeds the threshold angle;measure a tilt duration, the tilt duration comprising a measurement of time that the at least one measurement exceeds the threshold angle; andgenerate a spout coupling state message upon the measured tilt duration satisfying the threshold duration of the spout coupling criteria, wherein the spout coupling state message provides an indication of the spout being off of a container.