The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 08, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 23, 1998
Benjamin D Miller, Des Plaines, IL (US);
Other;
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining the size of an object. The method includes the steps of reflecting light from the object, measuring a plurality of adjacent light intensities reflected off an axis of the object, comparing adjacent light intensities, identifying a position where the light intensity markedly changes along the axis by a predetermined amount, and determining the size of the object from the identified position. The method is used to determine the amount of liquid necessary to fill a cup of the height determined. The apparatus for determining the size of an object includes means for reflecting light from the object, means for measuring a plurality of adjacent light intensities reflected off an axis of the object, means for comparing adjacent light intensities, means for identifying a position where the light intensity markedly changes along the axis by a predetermined amount, and means for determining the size of the object from the identified position.