LIQUID-LEVEL DETECTING APPARATUS

• US 20090266157A1
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Miyakawa, Takahiro, MARUO, Hisafumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/317
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/363 using electromechanically actuated indicating means

Abstract

A liquid-level detecting apparatus is provided. The liquid-level detecting apparatus includes a resistance plate with an insulating substrate; conductive segments on the insulating substrate at substantially equal intervals; a resistor mounted on the conductive segments and through which the conductive segments are connected to each other; an conductive sliding arm including a contact part for selectively coming into sliding contact with a portion of the conductive segments; a conducting pattern which is formed between one or more pairs of two adjacent conductive segments to short-circuit the two adjacent conductive segments; and a measuring device which is connected to one of the conductive segments and measures a value based on a portion of the resistor connected between a first segment of the conductive segments contacted by the contact part and the one of the conductive segments connected to the measuring device, thereby detecting a level of the liquid surface.

Claims

1. A liquid-level detecting apparatus, comprising:

a resistance plate which comprises an insulating substrate;

a plurality of conductive segments which are arranged on the insulating substrate at substantially equal intervals;

a resistor which is mounted on the plurality of conductive segments and through which the plurality of conductive segments are electrically connected to each other;

a conductive sliding arm which comprises a contact part for selectively coming into sliding contact with a portion of the plurality of the conductive segments;

a conducting pattern which is formed between at least one pair of two adjacent conductive segments of the plurality of conductive segments to short-circuit the two adjacent conductive segments; and

a measuring device which is connected to one of the plurality of conductive segments and measures a value based on a portion of the resistor connected between a segment of the plurality of conductive segments that is contacted by the contact part and the one of the plurality of conductive segments that is connected to the measuring device, thereby detecting a level of the liquid surface.

2. The liquid-level detecting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the plurality of conductive segments are separated into a plurality of blocks, each of the plurality of blocks corresponding to a portion of a range of a rotating angle of the conductive sliding arm, and

wherein each of the plurality of blocks comprises the conducting pattern.

3. The liquid-level detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conducting pattern is formed in an area in which the resistor is mounted on the plurality of conductive segments.

4. The liquid-level detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conducting pattern is formed outside an area in which the resistor is mounted on the plurality of conductive segments.

5. The liquid-level detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first resistor of the resistors formed between the conductive segments that are electrically connected by the conducting pattern is provided with a mark which indicates that the first resistor has not been trimmed.

6. The liquid-level detecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a conductive portion which is electrically connected to the measuring device,

wherein the conductive sliding arm further comprises an additional contact part, and

wherein the conductive portion is contacted by the additional contact part.

7. The liquid-level detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conducting pattern electrically connects opposed surfaces of the two adjacent conductive segments.

8. The liquid-level detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conducting pattern electrically connects longitudinal ends of the two adjacent conductive segments.

9. A fuel detector plate for a fuel-level detector for a vehicle, the fuel detector plate comprising:

an insulating substrate;

a first conductive land formed at a first end of the insulating substrate;

a plurality of conductive segments which are arranged on the insulating substrate at substantially equal intervals;

a conductive pattern which is formed between at least one pair of two adjacent conductive segments of the plurality of conductive segments to short-circuit the two adjacent conductive segments;

a first runner which electrically connects the first conductive land to an end conductive segment of the plurality of conductive segments;

a resistor which is mounted on the plurality of conductive segments and through which the plurality of conductive segments are electrically connected to each other;

a conductive connection portion which is disposed on the insulating substrate and is spaced apart from the plurality of conductive segments, a length of the conductive connection portion corresponding to a length over which the plurality of connective segments are disposed;

a second conductive land formed at the first end of the insulating substrate and spaced apart from the first conductive land; and

a second runner which is electrically connected to the second conductive land, and to the conductive connection portion at an end corresponding to the end conductive segment.