Adaptable Sensing Technology for Diverse Applications
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
The inventive concept leverages the core sensing technology from a medication delivery device to address diverse industry challenges, including smart home water management, precision agriculture, athletic performance tracking, industrial control system security, and smart building air quality control.
Background and Problem Solved
The original patent's medication delivery device with a sensed element excelled in dose detection, but its utility was limited to the medical field. This inventive concept expands the technology's applicability to address pressing problems in various industries, such as inefficient water usage, crop yield optimization, personalized athletic coaching, cyber threat detection, and air quality management.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The inventive concept revolves around the adaptable sensing technology, which can be integrated into various systems to detect changes in parameters such as water flow rates, soil moisture levels, heart rates, network traffic patterns, and pollutant concentrations. The sensed element, which can be an annular magnet or other types of sensors, is coupled to a processing unit that correlates the detected changes to specific events or anomalies. This enables the development of innovative solutions for diverse applications, including smart home water management systems, precision agriculture tools, wearable athletic performance trackers, industrial control system security systems, and smart building air quality control systems.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new claims introduce an unprecedented level of adaptability and versatility to the original sensing technology, allowing it to be applied to entirely new industries and use cases. The inventive step lies in recognizing the potential of the sensed element to detect changes in various parameters and correlating them to specific events or anomalies, thereby enabling innovative solutions across multiple domains.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include using different types of sensors, such as optical or acoustic sensors, or integrating the sensing technology with artificial intelligence or machine learning algorithms to enhance its capabilities. Variations of the inventive concept could also involve applying the sensing technology to other industries, such as healthcare, energy management, or environmental monitoring.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The inventive concept has significant commercial potential, as it addresses pressing problems in various industries, including smart home automation, precision agriculture, athletic performance tracking, industrial control system security, and smart building management. The target market includes companies and organizations operating in these industries, as well as startups and research institutions seeking to develop innovative solutions.
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Medical device engineering, sensor integration, and precision measurement systems, with expertise in dose detection, mechanical sensing technologies, and interdisciplinary sensor applications
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A skilled engineer with advanced degree in mechanical or biomedical engineering, familiar with sensor technologies, mechanical coupling mechanisms, and cross-domain sensor adaptation strategies
Obviousness Rationale
A PHOSITA would recognize the fundamental sensing technology in the source patent as a versatile platform for detecting parameter changes across multiple domains. The core technical concept of using an annular magnet or sensed element to detect positional or parametric variations is inherently transferable to diverse monitoring applications. The PTD demonstrates that the fundamental sensing mechanism can be readily adapted to different contexts by simply modifying the processing algorithms and target measurement parameters.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,770 |
|---|---|
| Title | Medication delivery device with a sensed element |
| Assignee(s) | Eli Lilly and Company |