Transmitter and receiver configuration for detecting content level

• US 10,324,075 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2017
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nectar Limited
• Original Assignee: Nectar Limited
• Inventors: Gurumohan, Prabhanjan C., Phumbhra, Aayush, Bae, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US15/454,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20180164142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 22/00 Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 Measuring transit time of reflected waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/14 Beverages

Abstract

A measurement device includes a transmitter configured to transmit an interrogation signal. The measurement device also includes a receiver configured to receive the interrogation signal that has been reflected within a container. The received reflected interrogation signal corresponds to a fill level of the container. A protective barrier covers at least the transmitter or the receiver. If the protective barrier covers the transmitter, the transmitter transmits the interrogation signal through the protective barrier and the transmitter and the protective barrier are separated by a gap.

Claims

1. A measurement device, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit an interrogation signal;

a receiver configured to receive the interrogation signal that has been reflected within a container, wherein the received reflected interrogation signal is used to determine a time value that corresponds to a distance traveled by the interrogation signal and the distance traveled by the interrogation signal corresponds to a fill level of the container; and

a protective barrier covering at least the transmitter or the receiver and at least a portion of the protective barrier is configured to be inserted within the container when the measurement device is engaged with the container, wherein

subject to the protective barrier covering the transmitter, the transmitter transmits the interrogation signal through the protective barrier and the transmitter and the protective barrier are separated by a gap, and

subject to the protective barrier covering the receiver, the receiver receives the interrogation signal through the protective barrier.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a speaker.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the interrogation signal includes an ultrasonic signal.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is a microphone and at least a portion of the receiver is in contact with a dampening material that is in contact with an assembly of the measurement device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the protective barrier is a film.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the gap is substantially 0.2 mm.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the protective barrier covers both the transmitter and the receiver.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the protective barrier is attached to the receiver via an adhesive.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are at least in part sealed within the measurement device via a potting material.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the potting material has been injected into a cavity behind the transmitter.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the gap includes an air gap.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a vent tube.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the vent tube is at least in part sealed at one end.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the vent tube includes an opening on a side wall of the vent tube.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising a drip collector that slopes away from the protective barrier.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising a battery holder assembly configured to hold at least one battery within a neck of the measurement device configured to be inside the container when the content fill level sensor is engaged with the container.

17. The device of claim 1, further comprising a spout configured to dispense contents of the container while the measurement device is engaged with the container.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor holder assembly configured to hold and position the transmitter and the sensor holder assembly is configured to be attached to a battery holder assembly.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the fill level is provided by the measurement device to a remote device via a wireless signal.

20. A method, comprising:

transmitting an interrogation signal using a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits the interrogation signal through a protective barrier covering at least the transmitter or a receiver and subject to the protective barrier covering the transmitter, the transmitter and the protective barrier are separated by a gap, and at least a portion of the protective barrier is configured to be inserted within a container when a measurement device is engaged with the container; and

receiving the interrogation signal that has been reflected within the container, wherein the received reflected interrogation signal is used to determine a time value that corresponds to a distance traveled by the interrogation signal and the distance traveled by the interrogation signal corresponds to a fill level of the container.