Liquid level gauge with integral electronic display
First Claim
1. An electronic gauge assembly for indicating liquid condition within a tank, the gauge assembly being operatively connectable to a liquid level sensor probe, and comprising:
- a mounting base adapted for connection to the tank;
a housing connected to the mounting base;
an electronics assembly located in the housing and comprising;
a first electronic display located in the housing and having a first display portion for displaying a liquid level condition within the tank;
a first electronic sensor connected to the housing, the first electronic sensor being couplable to the liquid level sensor probe such that a change in the liquid level sensor probe due to a change in liquid level causes a change in an electronic state of the first electronic sensor;
a first processor in communication with the first electronic sensor and the first electronic display for determining and displaying the liquid level condition; and
a first RF transceiver associated with the first processor for wirelessly transmitting information associated with the tank to a portable smart device operable by a user, and for wirelessly receiving information from the portable smart device for controlling display information on the first electronic display, the portable smart device having a second processor, a second electronic display, and a second RF transceiver for communication with the first RF transceiver and first processor; and
a user-specific application program downloadable onto the portable smart device, the user-specific application program comprising;
first user selectable information related to different tank geometries;
second user selectable information related to at least one property of different liquids to be measured;
means for selecting the first information and the second information by the user; and
means for transmitting, via the second and first transceivers, respectively, the first and second information to the electronic gauge assembly for remotely customizing the appearance of the first electronic display, including displaying, on the first electronic display, the first liquid level condition of the tank based on;
a) the electronic state of the first electronic sensor;
b) the first information related to the tank geometry selected by the user of the portable smart device; and
c) the second information related to the at least one property of the liquid to be measured selected by the user of the portable smart device.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic liquid level gauge assembly includes an electronic display located in a housing connected to a tank. The display has first and second display portions for indicating liquid level condition. A first electronic sensor senses a change in magnetic field of a magnet associated with a liquid level transducer, with magnet rotation being proportional liquid level change. A processor determines a temperature-compensated liquid level condition by correlating the liquid level signal with temperature measurement of the liquid. A temperature-compensated vapor space can also be calculated based on tank information and properties of the liquid. Signals related to the temperature-compensated liquid level and vapor space are sent to the display and wirelessly transmitted to a smart phone or the like for remotely viewing the tank information. The smart phone also includes a special app for sending information, firmware updates, and display configuration data to the electronic gauge assembly.
23 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electronic gauge assembly for indicating liquid condition within a tank, the gauge assembly being operatively connectable to a liquid level sensor probe, and comprising:
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a mounting base adapted for connection to the tank; a housing connected to the mounting base; an electronics assembly located in the housing and comprising; a first electronic display located in the housing and having a first display portion for displaying a liquid level condition within the tank; a first electronic sensor connected to the housing, the first electronic sensor being couplable to the liquid level sensor probe such that a change in the liquid level sensor probe due to a change in liquid level causes a change in an electronic state of the first electronic sensor; a first processor in communication with the first electronic sensor and the first electronic display for determining and displaying the liquid level condition; and a first RF transceiver associated with the first processor for wirelessly transmitting information associated with the tank to a portable smart device operable by a user, and for wirelessly receiving information from the portable smart device for controlling display information on the first electronic display, the portable smart device having a second processor, a second electronic display, and a second RF transceiver for communication with the first RF transceiver and first processor; and a user-specific application program downloadable onto the portable smart device, the user-specific application program comprising; first user selectable information related to different tank geometries; second user selectable information related to at least one property of different liquids to be measured; means for selecting the first information and the second information by the user; and means for transmitting, via the second and first transceivers, respectively, the first and second information to the electronic gauge assembly for remotely customizing the appearance of the first electronic display, including displaying, on the first electronic display, the first liquid level condition of the tank based on; a) the electronic state of the first electronic sensor; b) the first information related to the tank geometry selected by the user of the portable smart device; and c) the second information related to the at least one property of the liquid to be measured selected by the user of the portable smart device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of measuring and displaying liquid condition within a tank, the method comprising:
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providing an electronic gauge assembly having a mounting base adapted for connection to the tank, a housing connected to the mounting base, a processor in communication with a memory, an electronic display, a first sensor for sensing liquid level and a second sensor for sensing temperature of the liquid; providing a user-specific application program that is downloadable to a remote smart device to be carried by a user, the user-specific application program including user-selectable first information related to a plurality of different tanks with different tank geometries and related volumes of liquid at any given liquid height for each tank geometry, and user-selectable second information related to at least one property of at least one liquid of a plurality of different liquids that may be located within the tank; providing a RF transceiver wirelessly transmitting a user-selected tank geometry and related volume of liquid of the first information and the at least one user-selected liquid property of the at least one liquid of the second information to the electronic gauge assembly; storing the user-selected tank geometry and related volume of liquid and the at least one user-selected liquid property of the at least one liquid in the memory; automatically customizing the electronic gauge assembly, including the electronic display, with the user-selected information by; determining a liquid level condition of the tank with the first sensor; determining a temperature of the liquid within the tank with the second sensor; calculating, with the processor, a temperature-corrected liquid level condition of the tank by correlating the first information stored in the memory related to the user-selected tank geometry and volume of liquid at any given liquid height, and correlating the second information stored in the memory related to the at least one user-selected liquid property of the at least one liquid stored in the tank; and displaying at least one of temperature-corrected liquid level and temperature-corrected liquid volume on the electronic display for the user-selected tank geometry and the at least one user-selected liquid property of the at least one liquid stored in the tank. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification