Conductive sensor for fluid level sensing
First Claim
1. A device for sensing fluid level comprising:
- a calibration sensor completely immersed in a fluid; and
, a measurement sensor at least partially immersed in the same fluid;
wherein said calibration sensor is disposed in the fluid at a position lower than the lowest level of the measurement sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a device for sensing fluid level comprising a calibration sensor completely immersed in a fluid, and a measurement sensor at least partially immersed in the same fluid, wherein said calibration sensor is disposed in the fluid at a position lower than the lowest level of the measurement sensor. The calibration sensor and measurement sensors comprise elongated apertures in a printed circuit board with electrically conductive plating formed on each side of, and spanning the length of, the elongated apertures. Further, the invention relates to a method for determining a fluid level within a reservoir comprising: providing a calibration sensor completely immersed in the fluid and having a known length, providing a measurement sensor at least partially immersed in the fluid, sensing an electrical property of the fluid through the calibration sensor, sensing the same electrical property of the fluid through the measurement sensor, and determining the fluid level as it relates to the length of the measurement electrode exposed to the fluid.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A device for sensing fluid level comprising:
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a calibration sensor completely immersed in a fluid; and
,a measurement sensor at least partially immersed in the same fluid;
wherein said calibration sensor is disposed in the fluid at a position lower than the lowest level of the measurement sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14)
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12. A device for sensing fluid level comprising:
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a printed circuit board comprising a power source, microcontroller, a first elongated aperture and a second elongated aperture, said first and second elongated apertures aligned end to end;
a length of electrically conductive plating formed along the inner sides of each elongated aperture; and
electrically conductive channels formed on the PCB connecting each length of electrically conductive plating to the microcontroller and power source.
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15. A method for determining a fluid level within a reservoir comprising:
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providing a calibration sensor completely immersed in the fluid and having a known length;
providing a measurement sensor at least partially immersed in the fluid;
sensing an electrical property of the fluid through the calibration sensor;
sensing the same electrical property of the fluid through the measurement sensor; and
determining the fluid level as it relates to the length of the measurement electrode exposed to the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification