公开(公告)号：US09494527B2

公开(公告)日：2016-11-15

申请号：US13713864

申请日：2012-12-13

申请人： Step Ahead Innovations, Inc.

发明人： James E. Clark

IPC分类号： G01N21/15 ,  G01N21/88 ,  G01N21/77 ,  C02F1/00 ,  G01N33/18 ,  G01N21/85 ,  F21V8/00 ,  G01N21/78 ,  G01N31/22 ,  A01K63/04 ,  G01N21/64

CPC分类号： G01N21/77 ,  A01K63/04 ,  C02F1/008 ,  C02F2103/42 ,  C02F2209/005 ,  C02F2209/006 ,  C02F2209/008 ,  C02F2209/06 ,  C02F2209/14 ,  C02F2209/15 ,  C02F2209/18 ,  G01N21/15 ,  G01N21/6428 ,  G01N21/78 ,  G01N21/8507 ,  G01N21/88 ,  G01N31/22 ,  G01N33/18 ,  G01N2021/758 ,  G01N2021/7786 ,  G01N2021/7793 ,  G01N2201/127 ,  G02B6/0001 ,  Y10S436/805 ,  Y10S436/809 ,  Y10T436/11 ,  Y10T436/115831 ,  Y10T436/12 ,  Y10T436/173076 ,  Y10T436/173845 ,  Y10T436/174614 ,  Y10T436/175383 ,  Y10T436/193333 ,  Y10T436/207497 ,  Y10T436/25 ,  Y10T436/25375

摘要： Cleaning systems for optics of optical readers to periodically clean one or more surfaces of the optics of matter that may deposit on surface(s) and that might interfere with the performance of the reader. In an example, the cleaning system is used on a chemical indicator apparatus that includes one or more chemical indicators that are read by an optical reader having an optic. During use, the chemical indicator apparatus is moved relative optic during a reading mode. A cleaning element is engaged with the chemical indicator apparatus so as to have a neutral position in which it cannot contact the optic during the reading mode. When it is desired to clean the optic, the chemical indicator apparatus is moved in a manner that causes the cleaning element to move from the neutral position to a deployed position in which it contacts the optic in a manner that cleans the optic as the apparatus continues to be moved.

摘要翻译： 用于光学读取器的光学系统的清洁系统周期性地清洁可能沉积在表面上并且可能干扰读取器的性能的物质光学元件的一个或多个表面。 在一个示例中，清洁系统用于化学指示器装置，其包括由具有光学元件的光学读取器读取的一个或多个化学指示器。 在使用期间，在读取模式期间，化学指示器装置相对于光学元件移动。 清洁元件与化学指示器装置接合，以便具有在读取模式期间其不能接触光学元件的中性位置。 当需要清洁光学元件时，化学指示器装置以使得清洁元件从中立位置移动到展开位置的方式移动，在该展开位置中，该化学指示器装置以与装置相连的方式清洁光学元件的方式移动 被移动

公开(公告)号：US10753880B2

公开(公告)日：2020-08-25

申请号：US16271850

申请日：2019-02-10

申请人： Step Ahead Innovations, Inc.

发明人： James E. Clark

IPC分类号： G01N21/77 ,  G01N21/27 ,  G01N21/64 ,  A61K36/185 ,  G06Q30/02 ,  G01N27/06 ,  G01N21/85 ,  G01N33/18 ,  G01N21/78

摘要： An aquatic environment water parameter testing method that utilizes the conductivity of a liquid sample of an aquatic environment to correct an optical reading of a chemical indicator that has been exposed to the liquid sample to determine the level of a constituent in the aquatic environment. The conductivity of the liquid sample is determined, the chemical indicator element is exposed to the liquid sample, an optical reading is measured from the chemical indicator, and the optical reading is corrected using the conductivity. The temperature of the liquid sample may be utilized to correct the conductivity prior to correcting the optical reading. The temperature of an optical reader used to measure the optical reading may be utilized to correct the optical reading.

公开(公告)号：US20190170654A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-06

申请号：US16271850

申请日：2019-02-10

申请人： Step Ahead Innovations, Inc.

发明人： James E. Clark

IPC分类号： G01N21/77 ,  G01N33/18 ,  G01N21/64 ,  G01N21/85 ,  G01N27/06 ,  G06Q30/02 ,  G01N21/27 ,  A61K36/185

CPC分类号： G01N21/77 ,  A61K36/185 ,  G01N21/274 ,  G01N21/6428 ,  G01N21/643 ,  G01N21/78 ,  G01N21/8507 ,  G01N27/06 ,  G01N33/18 ,  G01N2021/6439 ,  G01N2201/062 ,  G01N2201/1211 ,  G01N2201/127 ,  G06Q30/0282

摘要： An aquatic environment water parameter testing method that utilizes the conductivity of a liquid sample of an aquatic environment to correct an optical reading of a chemical indicator that has been exposed to the liquid sample to determine the level of a constituent in the aquatic environment. The conductivity of the liquid sample is determined, the chemical indicator element is exposed to the liquid sample, an optical reading is measured from the chemical indicator, and the optical reading is corrected using the conductivity. The temperature of the liquid sample may be utilized to correct the conductivity prior to correcting the optical reading. The temperature of an optical reader used to measure the optical reading may be utilized to correct the optical reading.

公开(公告)号：US20160200601A1

公开(公告)日：2016-07-14

申请号：US14771491

申请日：2014-03-15

申请人： STEP AHEAD INNOVATIONS, INC.

发明人： James E. Clark

IPC分类号： C02F1/68

CPC分类号： C02F1/68 ,  A01K5/0275 ,  A01K61/80 ,  A01K61/85 ,  A01K63/04 ,  C02F1/685 ,  C02F2103/20 ,  C02F2209/005 ,  C02F2209/008 ,  Y02A40/845

摘要： A dosing system and method for adding an additive to an aquatic environment from a removable additive container that includes an additive-identification device. The dosing system also includes an additive-presence-detecting device designed and configured to interface with the additive-identification device of the removable additive container so as to identify the additive of the additive container. A controller uses a dosing signal and to the identity of the additive by the additive-presence detecting device so as to control a dispensing mechanism to controllably dispense a desired additive. A plurality of additive receivers may be included in a dosing system such that an additive in each additive receiver can be identified properly by such a dosing system.

摘要翻译： 一种用于从包括添加剂识别装置的可移除添加剂容器向水生环境添加添加剂的计量系统和方法。 配量系统还包括设计和配置为与可除去的添加剂容器的添加剂识别装置相接合以便识别添加剂容器的添加剂的添加剂存在检测装置。 控制器通过添加剂存在检测装置使用配量信号和添加剂的身份，以便控制分配机构以可控地分配所需的添加剂。 多个添加剂接收器可以包括在计量系统中，使得每个添加剂接收器中的添加剂可以通过这种计量系统被适当地识别。

公开(公告)号：US20140019060A1

公开(公告)日：2014-01-16

申请号：US13713818

申请日：2012-12-13

申请人： Step Ahead Innovations, Inc.

发明人： James E. Clark

IPC分类号： G01N33/18 ,  G01N31/22

CPC分类号： G01N21/77 ,  A01K63/04 ,  C02F1/008 ,  C02F2103/42 ,  C02F2209/005 ,  C02F2209/006 ,  C02F2209/008 ,  C02F2209/06 ,  C02F2209/14 ,  C02F2209/15 ,  C02F2209/18 ,  G01N21/15 ,  G01N21/6428 ,  G01N21/78 ,  G01N21/8507 ,  G01N21/88 ,  G01N31/22 ,  G01N33/18 ,  G01N2021/758 ,  G01N2021/7786 ,  G01N2021/7793 ,  G01N2201/127 ,  G02B6/0001 ,  Y10S436/805 ,  Y10S436/809 ,  Y10T436/11 ,  Y10T436/115831 ,  Y10T436/12 ,  Y10T436/173076 ,  Y10T436/173845 ,  Y10T436/174614 ,  Y10T436/175383 ,  Y10T436/193333 ,  Y10T436/207497 ,  Y10T436/25 ,  Y10T436/25375

摘要： Methods of assisting human users with dosing of aquatic environments, such as aquariums, pools, hot tubs, ponds, etc., that utilize automated monitoring systems that continually monitor various parameters of the water in the aquatic environments. When one or more measured water parameters of an aquatic environment are out of tolerance, a dosing calculator uses water-quality information from a monitoring system to generate dosing instructions for a human user that instruct the user how to dose the aquatic environment with one or more additives that will put the one or more parameters back into tolerance. In some embodiments, input from a user is used to switch the monitoring system to a dosing mode from a normal monitoring mode to track the progress of the dosing more closely than the normal monitoring mode would.

摘要翻译： 使用自动监测系统来协助人类用水量的水族环境（如水族馆，游泳池，热水池，池塘等）的方法，这些监测系统不断地监测水生环境中的各种水参数。 当水环境的一个或多个测量的水参数超出公差时，计量计算器使用来自监测系统的水质信息为人类用户产生剂量指令，指示用户如何用一个或多个 将一个或多个参数重新纳入公差的添加剂。 在一些实施例中，来自用户的输入用于将监测系统从正常监测模式切换到计量模式，以跟踪正常监测模式将更接近剂量的进展。

公开(公告)号：US20140017801A1

公开(公告)日：2014-01-16

申请号：US13713773

申请日：2012-12-13

申请人： STEP AHEAD INNOVATIONS, INC.

发明人： James E. Clark

IPC分类号： G01N21/78

CPC分类号： G01N21/77 ,  A01K63/04 ,  C02F1/008 ,  C02F2103/42 ,  C02F2209/005 ,  C02F2209/006 ,  C02F2209/008 ,  C02F2209/06 ,  C02F2209/14 ,  C02F2209/15 ,  C02F2209/18 ,  G01N21/15 ,  G01N21/6428 ,  G01N21/78 ,  G01N21/8507 ,  G01N21/88 ,  G01N31/22 ,  G01N33/18 ,  G01N2021/758 ,  G01N2021/7786 ,  G01N2021/7793 ,  G01N2201/127 ,  G02B6/0001 ,  Y10S436/805 ,  Y10S436/809 ,  Y10T436/11 ,  Y10T436/115831 ,  Y10T436/12 ,  Y10T436/173076 ,  Y10T436/173845 ,  Y10T436/174614 ,  Y10T436/175383 ,  Y10T436/193333 ,  Y10T436/207497 ,  Y10T436/25 ,  Y10T436/25375

摘要： Photo-aging monitoring of light-based chemical indicators that experience performance degradation as the cumulative amount of light exposure from measurement and/or reference illumination increases from usage. Differing regions on a chemical indicator are illuminated with measurement illumination light of differing exposures, for example, higher brightness, longer exposure times, or both. Readings from the differing regions are compared with known aging information for the chemical indicator at issue to determine a confidence factor for the measurements. The confidence factor can be used to control various actions relating to measurements acquired from the chemical indicators, such as compensating measurement readings for photo-aging, assigning confidence levels to measurement readings, and issuing alerts to users when photo-aging exceeds one or more predetermined thresholds.

摘要翻译： 随着使用量的测量和/或参考照度的累积曝光量的增加，经历性能下降的基于光的化学指示剂的光老化监测。 用不同曝光的测量照明光照亮化学指示器上的不同区域，例如更高的亮度，更长的曝光时间或两者。 将来自不同区域的读数与所讨论的化学指标的已知老化信息进行比较，以确定测量的置信因子。 置信因子可用于控制与从化学指标获取的测量相关的各种动作，例如补偿光老化的测量读数，将置信度等级分配给测量读数，以及当光老化超过一个或多个预定值时向用户发出警报 阈值。

公开(公告)号：US20140017796A1

公开(公告)日：2014-01-16

申请号：US13713568

申请日：2012-12-13

申请人： STEP AHEAD INNOVATIONS, INC.

发明人： James E. Clark

IPC分类号： G01N21/78

CPC分类号： G01N21/77 ,  A01K63/04 ,  C02F1/008 ,  C02F2103/42 ,  C02F2209/005 ,  C02F2209/006 ,  C02F2209/008 ,  C02F2209/06 ,  C02F2209/14 ,  C02F2209/15 ,  C02F2209/18 ,  G01N21/15 ,  G01N21/6428 ,  G01N21/78 ,  G01N21/8507 ,  G01N21/88 ,  G01N31/22 ,  G01N33/18 ,  G01N2021/758 ,  G01N2021/7786 ,  G01N2021/7793 ,  G01N2201/127 ,  G02B6/0001 ,  Y10S436/805 ,  Y10S436/809 ,  Y10T436/11 ,  Y10T436/115831 ,  Y10T436/12 ,  Y10T436/173076 ,  Y10T436/173845 ,  Y10T436/174614 ,  Y10T436/175383 ,  Y10T436/193333 ,  Y10T436/207497 ,  Y10T436/25 ,  Y10T436/25375

摘要： An aquatic environment monitoring system that includes chemical indicators that are dyes immobilized in an immobilizing medium, such as a hydrogel, and supported on a holder such that an optical reader may be used to illuminate the indicator dyes. The chemical indicator dyes include chemical indicator dyes that are sensitive for detecting calcium, magnesium, and carbon dioxide present in the aquatic environment.

摘要翻译： 一种水生环境监测系统，其包括固定在诸如水凝胶的固定介质中的染料的化学指示剂，并且支撑在保持器上，使得光学读取器可用于照亮指示剂染料。 化学指示剂染料包括对于检测存在于水生环境中的钙，镁和二氧化碳敏感的化学指示剂染料。

公开(公告)号：US20140000507A1

公开(公告)日：2014-01-02

申请号：US13713495

申请日：2012-12-13

申请人： Step Ahead Innovations, Inc.

发明人： James E. Clark

IPC分类号： G01N33/18

CPC分类号： G01N21/77 ,  A01K63/04 ,  C02F1/008 ,  C02F2103/42 ,  C02F2209/005 ,  C02F2209/006 ,  C02F2209/008 ,  C02F2209/06 ,  C02F2209/14 ,  C02F2209/15 ,  C02F2209/18 ,  G01N21/15 ,  G01N21/6428 ,  G01N21/78 ,  G01N21/8507 ,  G01N21/88 ,  G01N31/22 ,  G01N33/18 ,  G01N2021/758 ,  G01N2021/7786 ,  G01N2021/7793 ,  G01N2201/127 ,  G02B6/0001 ,  Y10S436/805 ,  Y10S436/809 ,  Y10T436/11 ,  Y10T436/115831 ,  Y10T436/12 ,  Y10T436/173076 ,  Y10T436/173845 ,  Y10T436/174614 ,  Y10T436/175383 ,  Y10T436/193333 ,  Y10T436/207497 ,  Y10T436/25 ,  Y10T436/25375

摘要： Chemical indicator apparatuses containing one or more chemical indicators for use in monitoring the quality of water in an aquatic environment. The apparatuses are designed and configured to be submersible in the water that is being monitored. In some embodiments, each apparatus includes a plurality of immobilized-dye-based chemical indicators that undergo a physical change as levels of one or more constituents of the water change. Such indicators can be read by one or more suitable optical readers. These and other embodiments are designed and configured to be movable by a corresponding monitoring/measuring apparatus, for example, via a magnetically coupled drive. Also disclosed are a variety of features that can be used to provide a chemical indicator apparatus with additional functionalities.

摘要翻译： 含有一种或多种用于监测水生环境中的水质的化学指标的化学指示器。 这些设备被设计和配置为潜水在被监测的水中。 在一些实施方案中，每个装置包括多个基于固定化染料的化学指示剂，其随着水的一个或多个组分的水平变化而经历物理变化。 这些指示器可以由一个或多个合适的光学读取器读取。 这些和其他实施例被设计和配置为可以通过相应的监视/测量装置移动，例如通过磁耦合的驱动器。 还公开了可用于向具有附加功能的化学指示器装置提供的各种特征。

公开(公告)号：US10203287B2

公开(公告)日：2019-02-12

申请号：US14959063

申请日：2015-12-04

申请人： Step Ahead Innovations, Inc.

发明人： James E. Clark

IPC分类号： G01N33/00 ,  G01N21/77 ,  A61K36/185 ,  G06Q30/02 ,  G01N21/27 ,  G01N21/64 ,  G01N27/06 ,  G01N21/85 ,  G01N33/18 ,  G01N21/78

摘要： An aquatic environment water parameter testing system and related methods and chemical indicator elements. The aquatic environment water parameter testing system includes an electronics portion having an optical reader element and a sample chamber portion. Conductivity and/or temperature may be utilized to calibrate readings by the optical reader element. A system may optionally have a sample chamber portion having a chemical indicator element which may be removably connected. A chemical indicator element may include an information storage and communication element used, in part, to provide identification of a chemical indicator of the chemical indicator element.

公开(公告)号：US09784686B2

公开(公告)日：2017-10-10

申请号：US14895980

申请日：2014-06-19

申请人： Step Ahead Innovations, Inc.

发明人： James E. Clark

IPC分类号： G01N21/00 ,  G01N21/77 ,  A61K36/185 ,  G06Q30/02 ,  G01N21/27 ,  G01N21/64 ,  G01N27/06 ,  G01N21/85 ,  G01N33/18 ,  G01N21/78

CPC分类号： G01N21/77 ,  A61K36/185 ,  G01N21/274 ,  G01N21/6428 ,  G01N21/643 ,  G01N21/78 ,  G01N21/8507 ,  G01N27/06 ,  G01N33/18 ,  G01N2021/6439 ,  G01N2201/062 ,  G01N2201/1211 ,  G01N2201/127 ,  G06Q30/0282

摘要： An aquatic environment water parameter testing system and related methods and chemical indicator elements. The aquatic environment water parameter testing system includes an electronics portion having an optical reader element and a sample chamber portion having a chemical indicator element which may be removably connected. A chemical indicator element may include an information storage and communication element used, in part, to provide identification of a chemical indicator of the chemical indicator element. Conductivity and/or temperature may be utilized to calibrate readings by the optical reader element. A chemical indicator element may also include a thin film material having particular optical characteristics tied to the light from a light source, such as a light source of an optical reader element.