Patent · US Active

Apparatus and method for determining a level of a fluid surface in a fluid container

US10101193B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by

7References

15Claims

0Family size

Assignee

CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH · DE

Inventors

Karl-Friedrich Pfeiffer · Erlangen, DE
Claus Webber · Zirndorf, DE
Henning Grotevent · Nuremberg, DE
Wighard Jaeger · Spardorf, DE

Key dates

Filing date	May 26, 2015
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018
Priority date	—
Expiry date	May 26, 2035

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01F25/20
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A fluid level sensor may include a first sound transducer, a second sound transducer, a reference element, a first deflection element, and a control unit. The reference element may be disposed at a predetermined distance from the second sound transducer and arranged in a fluid space of the fluid container. The first deflection element may be arranged in the fluid space to deflect the second sound signals by a first predetermined angle toward the fluid surface. The control unit may establish a speed of sound within a fluid in the fluid space based at least in part on the second sound signals and establish the level of the fluid surface over a base portion of the fluid container based at least in part on the first sound signals, the second sound signals, and the speed of sound within the fluid.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.