Material consumption indicator and applications thereof

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a container and an indicator. The container includes a section for containing a consumable resource. The consumable resource includes one or more of a dissolvable solid and a miscible liquid. The indicator physically changes position with respect to the container to indicate the amount of consumption of the consumable resource when the container is in an environment that causes the consumable resource to be consumed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprises:
 a container that includes a section for containing a consumable resource, wherein the consumable resource includes one or more of a dissolvable solid, and a miscible liquid; and   an indicator that physically changes position with respect to the container to indicate consumption of the consumable resource when the container is in an environment that causes the consumable resource to be consumed.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the section comprises:
 a separate housing for containing the consumable resource, wherein the separate housing is mechanically coupled to the indicator, and wherein the separate housing changes position with respect to the container as the consumable resource is consumed.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises:
 a dispensing mechanism that allows the environment to interact with the consumable resource, wherein the interaction of the consumable resource and the environment causes consumption of the consumable resource.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises:
 a dispensing mechanism that allows the environment to interact with the consumable resource, wherein the interaction of the consumable resource and the environment causes consumption of the consumable resource, wherein the consumption of the consumable resource creates a desired mixture level between the consumable resource and a liquid to be within a desired mixture range, and wherein the liquid is the environment.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a distance of at least a portion of the indicator with respect to the container is decreased as the consumable resource is consumed. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a distance of at least a portion of the indicator with respect to the container is increased as the consumable resource is consumed. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises:
 a buoyant chemical dispenser that includes the section for containing the consumable resource, wherein the consumable resource is chemical tablets for use in a pool of water; and   a fill level indicator that physically changes position with respect to the buoyant chemical dispenser to indicate consumption of the chemical tablets when the buoyant chemical dispenser is in the pool, wherein an interaction between the water and the chemical tablets causes the chemical tablets to be consumed.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the section comprises one or more of:
 a buoyant platform and a spring loaded mechanism.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprises:
 a container that includes a section for containing a consumable resource, wherein the consumable resource includes one or more of a dissolvable solid, and a miscible liquid; and   an indicator that physically changes position with respect to the container to indicate consumption of the consumable resource when the container is in an environment that causes the consumable resource to be consumed; and   an electronic circuit operable to generate a signal when the physically changed position of the indicator with respect to the container exceeds a threshold.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic circuit includes an ambient light sensor, wherein the ambient light sensor detects a change from a first ambient light condition to a second ambient light condition, and wherein the electronic circuit further includes circuitry that converts the detection of the change into the signal. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the circuitry further comprises:
 a wireless transceiver to transmit the signal to an external computing device.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the ambient light sensor comprises a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the section comprises:
 a separate housing for containing the consumable resource, wherein the separate housing is mechanically coupled to the indicator, and wherein the separate housing changes position with respect to the container as the consumable resource is consumed.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprises:
 a dispensing mechanism that allows the environment to interact with the consumable resource, wherein the interaction of the consumable resource and the environment causes consumption of the consumable resource, and wherein a level of the interaction is changed by changing a position of the dispensing mechanism. 
 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the container comprises:
 a dispensing mechanism that allows the environment to interact with the consumable resource, wherein the interaction of the consumable resource and the environment causes consumption of the consumable resource, wherein the consumption of the consumable resource causes certain properties of a liquid to be maintained, and wherein the liquid is the environment.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the container comprises:
 a dispensing mechanism that allows the environment to interact with the consumable resource, wherein the interaction of the consumable resource and the environment causes consumption of the consumable resource, wherein the consumption of the consumable resource creates a desired mixture level between the consumable resource and a liquid to be within a desired mixture range, and wherein the liquid is the environment.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a distance of at least a portion of the indicator with respect to the container is decreased as the consumable resource is consumed. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a distance of at least a portion of the indicator with respect to the container is increased as the consumable resource is consumed. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus comprises:
 a buoyant chemical dispenser that includes the section for containing the consumable resource, wherein the consumable resource is chemical tablets for use in a pool of water; and   a fill level indicator that physically changes position with respect to the buoyant chemical dispenser to indicate consumption of the chemical tablets when the buoyant chemical dispenser is in the pool, wherein an interaction between the water and the chemical tablets causes the chemical tablets to be consumed.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the section comprises one or more of:
 a buoyant platform; and   a spring loaded mechanism.