Level detector and method for detecting a surface level of a material in a container
US6106612A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 22, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T117/1008
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A level detector detects the level of an approximately flat surface of a substance in a container. The level detector illuminates a portion of the surface, and detects the location of the illuminated portion on the surface. Based on detecting the location of the illuminated portion, the level detector generates a signal related to the level of the surface, which can represent the level of the surface in a direction perpendicular to the surface. A method for determining a level of a surface of a substance in a container includes illuminating a portion of the surface, detecting a location of the illuminated portion on the surface, and generating a signal related to the level of the surface based on the result of detecting the location of the illuminated portion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.