Liquid level sensor for battery monitoring systems
First Claim
1. A battery electrolyte level monitoring system for a battery having a plurality of cells containing liquid electrolyte, the system comprising:
- a probe for insertion into one cell of the plurality of cells of the liquid electrolyte battery, the probe including;
a reference electrode, andan electrode array including a plurality of array electrodes arranged in a lengthwise direction of the probe, wherein the reference electrode is capacitively coupled to each array electrode; and
a controller electrically coupled to the electrode array, the controller being adapted to;
for each array electrode, determine a measured value of a capacitive coupling between the reference electrode and the array electrode,store the measured value for each array electrode,determine an average value of measured values for each array electrode over time,store the average value for each array electrode,compare the average value for each array electrode with a predetermined range corresponding to an acceptable range of the level of the liquid electrolyte within the one cell of the liquid electrolyte battery, andprovide a first output if any one of the average values for the array electrodes is above the predetermined range, a second output if all of the average values for the array electrodes are within the predetermined range, and a third output if any one of the average values for the array electrodes below the predetermined acceptable range, the first, second, and third outputs being different from one another.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid level sensor for a liquid electrolyte battery is provided. The liquid level sensor includes a probe having a reference electrode and an electrode array. The electrode array includes a plurality of electrodes that are serially disposed in a lengthwise direction of the probe. The reference electrode is capacitively coupled to each electrode within the electrode array, such that the probe provides a capacitance that varies when the probe is immersed in a liquid level that varies in relation to the probe. The liquid level sensor can alert a user of the need to refill the battery or alert a user of the need to refill the battery in the near future. The liquid level sensor can include a series of LEDs that selectively illuminate to indicate each such condition to the user.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A battery electrolyte level monitoring system for a battery having a plurality of cells containing liquid electrolyte, the system comprising:
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a probe for insertion into one cell of the plurality of cells of the liquid electrolyte battery, the probe including; a reference electrode, and an electrode array including a plurality of array electrodes arranged in a lengthwise direction of the probe, wherein the reference electrode is capacitively coupled to each array electrode; and a controller electrically coupled to the electrode array, the controller being adapted to; for each array electrode, determine a measured value of a capacitive coupling between the reference electrode and the array electrode, store the measured value for each array electrode, determine an average value of measured values for each array electrode over time, store the average value for each array electrode, compare the average value for each array electrode with a predetermined range corresponding to an acceptable range of the level of the liquid electrolyte within the one cell of the liquid electrolyte battery, and provide a first output if any one of the average values for the array electrodes is above the predetermined range, a second output if all of the average values for the array electrodes are within the predetermined range, and a third output if any one of the average values for the array electrodes below the predetermined acceptable range, the first, second, and third outputs being different from one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A battery electrolyte level monitoring method for measuring a liquid level within a cell of a liquid electrolyte battery, the method comprising:
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providing a probe including a reference electrode and an electrode array having a plurality of array electrodes arranged in a lengthwise direction of the probe; for each array electrode, determining a measured value of a capacitive coupling between the reference electrode and the array electrode; storing the measured value for each array electrode; determining an average value for each array electrode over time; storing the average value for each array electrode; comparing the average value for each array electrode with a predetermined range corresponding to an acceptable range of the level of the liquid electrolyte within the cell of the battery; and providing a first output in response to any one of the average values for the array electrodes being above the predetermined range, a second output in response to all of the average values for the array electrodes being within the predetermined range, and a third output in response to any one of the average values for the array electrodes being below the predetermined range, the first, second, and third outputs being different from one another. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification