Optical fuel level sensor
US6668645B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 18, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 30, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 18, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S250/902
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical fuel level sensor for providing an electronic signal representative of the fuel level within a fuel tank, generally comprising a waveguide body, a photo source, and a photo receiver. The waveguide body can either be of a dual-tapered or single-taper shape and includes numerous tiered facets, which are angled surfaces located on the outer periphery of the waveguide. When the fuel level within the fuel tank is above a particular tiered facet, light that impinges that facet will refract out of the waveguide, conversely, when the fuel level is below that facet, impinging light will be reflected back into the waveguide such that it is received by the photo receiver. In this manner, the fuel level sensor is able to utilize the reflected light received by the photo receiver to provide an electronic signal representative of the fuel level. Furthermore, a calibration feature may be included which provides calibration information indicating when the fuel level has reached a known, predetermined level.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.