Patent ID: 7113280
Filing Date: 2006-09-26
Classification: D06F,G01J,G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of a color dye in a water sample, comprising: a) a light source to generate a light that passes through the water sample; b) a color sensor that includes a first color output and a second color output to measure the light that has passed through the water sample by generating at least a first color signal and a second color signal based on the received light; and c) a dye detection mechanism coupled to the color sensor to receive the color signals and to determine whether the dye color is present in the water sample based on the color signals; wherein the dye detection mechanism during a wash periodically determines a measured ratio between the first color signal and the second color signal, compares the measured ratio with a baseline ratio, and determines that dye color is present in the water sample when the measured ratio changes from the baseline ratio.