Optical liquid level measurement system for dispensing apparatus
US10520300B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 17, 2018 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 17, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J2001/444
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical liquid height determination system of the present embodiments includes light sensors capturing different amounts of light, based on level of liquid in the tank that blocks or limits light to particular sensors. The tank is enclosed in a container with a light source and the light sensors are installed on walls of the container. Light emitted by the light source is transmitted to the light sensors by passing through the liquid product, scattered, diffused, diffracted or reflected by the dairy product, through the tank walls which may be transparent or translucent, or from other surfaces in the container within which the tank is enclosed by. The set of electrical signals received from all the light sensors are compared against sets of calibrated signals corresponding to known liquid levels in the tank. The known height corresponding to the nearest set of calibrated signals is determined as the measured liquid height in the tank.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.