Patent · US Active

Optically monitoring fullness of fluid container

US7581442B1 · kind B1 · utility

7Cited by

9References

20Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

Paul Henry Dietz · Redmond, US
Benjamin David Eidelson · San Francisco, US

Key dates

Filing date	Mar 4, 2008
Grant date	Sep 1, 2009
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Mar 27, 2028

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01F23/292
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A relative fullness of a fluid container is monitored by directing reference light at a bottom surface of the fluid container. The fluid container is designed so that the amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container varies in relation to the relative fullness of the fluid container. Accordingly, the relative amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container can be monitored and used to determine the relative fullness of the fluid container.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.