System and method for detection of liquid level in a vessel
US7982201B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jul 19, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 29, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F23/292
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method for identifying the levels of one or more liquids in a vessel using an optical imager and one or more appropriately positioned light sources and an optical imager for capturing digital images of the illuminated vessel. A laser line generator is positioned oppositely from the imager and oriented to project a laser line through the vessel so that it may be imaged by the imager. A second light source, such as an LED, may be positioned above or below the vessel and oriented to project light downwardly or upwardly through the vessel and its contents. Captured images of the vessel are then processed by a programmable device, such as a microcontroller, to determine the levels of materials in the vessel based on the optical characteristics revealed in the captured image.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.