Importance

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Abstract

A sensor for determining the presence of a particular volume of fluid within a plurality of reservoirs maintained as a portion of an automatic mixed drink dispenser. Fundamentally, the invention includes electrical contacts maintained within each of the various reservoirs, the reservoirs being aligned into rows and columns to form a matrix. A multiplexing circuit is interconnected to the rows of such reservoirs while a sensing circuit is interconnected to the columns thereof. The addressing of the rows of reservoirs by the multiplexer enables a signal to pass across the contacts and through the beverage maintained within the reservoirs, this signal being sensed by the sensing circuit interconnected between the columns of reservoirs. 'Empty' reservoirs, or those having a low beverage level, may be quickly isolated by a determination of the row accessed and the column sensed to result in the failure of a contact to pass a signal.

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First Claim