Capacitive measurement device with integrated electrical and mechanical shielding
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A substance measurement device, comprising:
- a container portion having a sensing portion and a non-sensing portion, the non-sensing portion of the container portion configured to receive a substance from outside of the container portion;
at least one sensor positioned within the sensing portion of the container portion, the at least one sensor configured for a measurement of a property of the substance within the sensing portion of the container portion, the property related to at least one of a flow rate of the substance into the container portion, a level of the substance within the container portion, or a volume of the substance within the container portion; and
at least one shield positioned within the container portion between the sensing portion and the non-sensing portion, the sensing portion of the container portion configured to receive the substance from the non-sensing portion of the container portion through a plurality of paths, each of the plurality of paths including a gap, channel, void, or aperture below, around, or through the at least one shield, the at least one shield configured to provide at least one of;
buffering between the substance entering the non-sensing portion of the container portion and the at least one sensor positioned within the sensing portion of the container portion by controlling flow of the substance from the non-sensing portion of the container portion to the sensing portion of the container portion;
orshielding between the substance entering the non-sensing portion of the container portion and the at least one sensor positioned within the sensing portion of the container portion to block the at least one sensor from sensing outside of the sensing portion of the container portion.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A substance measurement device includes: a container portion configured to receive a substance; a sensing device configured to measure a property of the substance related to at least one of a flow rate of the substance into the container portion, a level of the substance within the container portion, and a volume of the substance within the container portion; and at least one shield positioned within the container portion and configured to provide at least one of: a mechanical buffer between the substance entering the container portion and the sensing device; and an electrical shield between the substance entering the container portion and the sensing device.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A substance measurement device, comprising:
-
a container portion having a sensing portion and a non-sensing portion, the non-sensing portion of the container portion configured to receive a substance from outside of the container portion; at least one sensor positioned within the sensing portion of the container portion, the at least one sensor configured for a measurement of a property of the substance within the sensing portion of the container portion, the property related to at least one of a flow rate of the substance into the container portion, a level of the substance within the container portion, or a volume of the substance within the container portion; and at least one shield positioned within the container portion between the sensing portion and the non-sensing portion, the sensing portion of the container portion configured to receive the substance from the non-sensing portion of the container portion through a plurality of paths, each of the plurality of paths including a gap, channel, void, or aperture below, around, or through the at least one shield, the at least one shield configured to provide at least one of; buffering between the substance entering the non-sensing portion of the container portion and the at least one sensor positioned within the sensing portion of the container portion by controlling flow of the substance from the non-sensing portion of the container portion to the sensing portion of the container portion;
orshielding between the substance entering the non-sensing portion of the container portion and the at least one sensor positioned within the sensing portion of the container portion to block the at least one sensor from sensing outside of the sensing portion of the container portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A liquid measurement device, comprising:
-
a container portion having a sensing portion and a non-sensing portion, the non-sensing portion of the container portion configured to receive liquid from outside of the container portion; a capacitive sensor positioned within the sensing portion of the container portion, the capacitive sensor configured for a measurement of changes in capacitance within the sensing portion of the container portion due to changes in the level of the liquid within the container portion; and a controller communicatively coupled to the capacitive sensor; at least one shield positioned within the container portion between the sensing portion and the non-sensing portion, the sensing portion of the container portion configured to receive the liquid from the non-sensing portion of the container portion through a plurality of paths, each of the plurality of paths including a gap, channel, void, or aperture below, around, or through the at least one shield, the at least one shield configured to provide at least one of; buffering between the liquid entering the non-sensing portion of the container portion and the capacitive sensor positioned within the sensing portion of the container portion by controlling flow of the liquid from the non-sensing portion of the container portion to the sensing portion of the container portion;
orshielding between the liquid entering the non-sensing portion of the container portion and the capacitive sensor positioned within the sensing portion of the container portion by blocking the capacitive sensor from sensing outside of the sensing portion of the container portion; and wherein the controller is configured to perform at least one of; capture raw data indicative of capacitance from the capacitive sensor and store it in at least one of a memory and a storage device;
orcalculate at least one of the flow rate of the liquid into the container portion, the level of the liquid within the container portion, and the volume of the liquid within the container portion based on raw data from the capacitive sensor over time. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24)
-
-
23. A urine measurement device, comprising:
-
a container portion having a sensing portion and a non-sensing portion, the non- sensing portion of the container portion configured to receive urine from outside of the container portion; a capacitive sensor positioned within the sensing portion of the container portion, the capacitive sensor configured for a measurement of changes capacitance within the sensing portion of the container portion due to changes in the level of the urine within the container portion; at least one shield positioned within the container portion, the sensing portion of the container portion configured to receive the urine from the non-sensing portion of the container portion through a plurality of paths, each of the plurality of paths including a gap, channel, void, or aperture below, around, or through the at least one shield, the at least one shield configured to provide buffering between the urine entering the non-sensing portion of the container portion and the capacitive sensor positioned within the sensing portion of the container portion by controlling flow of the urine from the non-sensing portion of the container portion to the sensing portion of the container portion; and at least one exterior shield positioned on the outside of the container portion and configured to isolate the capacitive sensor from external disturbances caused by effects of an external environment outside of the container portion. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
-
Specification