Fluid level sensing system and method having controlled surface pairs
US6274880A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 14, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/17566
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention is a fluid level sensing system which has a single light source for providing light rays and a single light receiving device for receiving the light rays. The fluid level sensing system also has a fluid container which has a plurality of controlled surfaces arranged on the fluid container. Each controlled surface exhibits a first reflected light characteristic if fluid within the fluid container is in contact with the controlled surface and a second reflected light characteristic if the fluid is not in contact with the controlled surface. The controlled surfaces are disposed on the fluid container so that the light rays from the single light source impinge upon each of the controlled surfaces to produce either the first or the second reflected light characteristics and are thereby detected by the light receiving device to determine the fluid level in the fluid container.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.