Apparatuses and methods for optically monitoring fluid level in a container, such as a battery, using a non-contact optical detector on an outside surface of the container
US11069929B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 23, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/10
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for optically monitoring a fluid level of a container comprises a light emitter(s), a plurality of optical detectors, and a control system. The light emitter(s) is configured to emit light toward a target surface when positioned, at a fluid threshold level, on the outside of the container. Upper and lower optical detectors are configured to receive light reflected from the target surface when positioned on the outside of the container above and below the fluid threshold level. The control system detects, based on measured reflectance received by the upper and lower optical detector, whether the upper optical detector is above the fluid level and whether at least a portion of the lower optical detector is above the fluid level, and determines, based on these detections, whether the level of fluid within the container has dropped below the fluid threshold level.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.