Method for sensing levels of conductive liquids

US7490513B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated · US

Inventors

• Philip Salzmann · Leucadia, US
• Alec Tate Harootunian · San Diego, US
• Michael P. Emery · Santee, US
• Javier Flores · San Diego, US
• Todd Bennett · San Diego, US
• Minh Vuong · San Diego, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 10, 2007
• Grant date: Feb 17, 2009
• Expiry date: May 10, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01F23/242
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A liquid level sensor comprises a plurality of electrodes arranged in a defined relationship with respect to a container filling trajectory, a signal generator coupled to one or more of the plurality of electrodes, a signal receiver coupled to one or more of the plurality of electrodes, and a sensing circuit coupled to at least one of the signal generator and signal receiver. The sensing circuit is configured to produce an output indicative of electrical resistance between at least one pair of the plurality of electrodes. The sensing circuit may be associated with the signal receiver and/or with the signal generator.