CAPACITIVE SENSOR ASSEMBLY FOR DETERMINING LEVEL OF FLUENT MATERIALS
First Claim
1. A capacitive sensor assembly for measuring a level of fluent material in a container, the capacitive sensor assembly comprising:
- electrical circuitry for receiving and processing signals; and
an antenna probe having;
an electrical conductor connected to the electrical circuitry;
an enlarged measurement portion connected to the electrical conductor for detecting the presence or absence of the fluent material, the enlarged measurement portion having a surface area that is larger than a surface area of the electrical conductor over an equivalent height to thereby function as a first plate of the capacitive sensor assembly, with the fluent material to be measured functioning as a second capacitive plate; and
an insulating layer covering at least a portion of the electrical conductor and the enlarged measurement portion to thereby electrically isolate the electrical conductor and the enlarged measurement portion from the fluent material to be measured;
wherein a change in detected capacitance of the antenna probe is reflective of a level condition of the fluent material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A capacitive sensor assembly for measuring a level of fluent material in a container includes an electronics section for receiving and processing signals and an antenna probe operably associated with the electronics section. The antenna probe has an electrical conductor and an insulating layer that covers at least a portion of the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor is connected to the electronics section. An enlarged measurement portion is in turn connected to the electrical conductor for detecting the presence or absence of the fluent material. The enlarged measurement portion has a surface area that is larger than a surface area of the electrical conductor over an equivalent height or length to function as a first plate of the capacitive sensor assembly, with the fluent material to be measured functioning as a second capacitive plate. In this manner, a change in detected capacitance of the antenna probe is reflective of a level condition of the fluent material.
61 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A capacitive sensor assembly for measuring a level of fluent material in a container, the capacitive sensor assembly comprising:
-
electrical circuitry for receiving and processing signals; and an antenna probe having; an electrical conductor connected to the electrical circuitry; an enlarged measurement portion connected to the electrical conductor for detecting the presence or absence of the fluent material, the enlarged measurement portion having a surface area that is larger than a surface area of the electrical conductor over an equivalent height to thereby function as a first plate of the capacitive sensor assembly, with the fluent material to be measured functioning as a second capacitive plate; and an insulating layer covering at least a portion of the electrical conductor and the enlarged measurement portion to thereby electrically isolate the electrical conductor and the enlarged measurement portion from the fluent material to be measured; wherein a change in detected capacitance of the antenna probe is reflective of a level condition of the fluent material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification