US 11,754,438 B2
Self-checking photoelectric sensor and method of operation
Christopher Carl Jung, Mission Viejo, CA (US)
Assigned to Alcon Inc., Fribourg (CH)
Filed by Alcon Inc., Fribourg (CH)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/651,308.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/152,427, filed on Feb. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0268625 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. G01J 1/02 (2006.01); A61F 9/007 (2006.01); G01J 1/08 (2006.01); G01N 21/94 (2006.01); G01N 21/15 (2006.01)
CPC G01J 1/0228 (2013.01) [A61F 9/00736 (2013.01); G01J 2001/083 (2013.01); G01N 21/15 (2013.01); G01N 21/94 (2013.01); G01N 2021/157 (2013.01); G01N 2021/945 (2013.01); G01N 2201/062 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for determining a characteristic of an optical pathway corresponding to a fluid pathway of a medical device, comprising:
increasing, over a time period that starts at a first time, a current input to a light emitting element (LEE);
receiving, by a light detection element, an output of the LEE via the optical pathway during the time period;
converting, during the time period, the output of the LEE to a voltage output;
determining a second time in the time period when the voltage output crosses a threshold; and
determining the characteristic of the optical pathway between the LEE and the light detection element based on a difference between the second time and the first time.