METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAPACITIVE SENSING THE TOP LEVEL OF A MATERIAL IN A VESSEL
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling a level of a material in a vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
- placing at least two capacitive sensors proximate to the material in the vessel, a first capacitive sensor arranged to monitor a first range of levels in the vessel and a second capacitive sensor arranged to monitor at least a first level in the vessel, the first level being a part of the first range of levels;
monitoring an output of the first capacitive sensor;
monitoring an output of the second capacitive sensor; and
determining a current level of the material in the vessel based on the output of the first capacitive sensor and the output of the second capacitive sensor, the output of the second capacitive sensor being used to improve an accuracy of the determined current level.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for sensing the top level of a material in a vessel is disclosed. A method and apparatus for sensing changes in the top level of a material in a vessel is disclosed.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a level of a material in a vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing at least two capacitive sensors proximate to the material in the vessel, a first capacitive sensor arranged to monitor a first range of levels in the vessel and a second capacitive sensor arranged to monitor at least a first level in the vessel, the first level being a part of the first range of levels; monitoring an output of the first capacitive sensor; monitoring an output of the second capacitive sensor; and determining a current level of the material in the vessel based on the output of the first capacitive sensor and the output of the second capacitive sensor, the output of the second capacitive sensor being used to improve an accuracy of the determined current level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of controlling a level of a material in a vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing at least three capacitive sensors proximate to the material in the vessel, a first capacitive sensor arranged to monitor a first range of levels in the vessel, a second capacitive sensor arranged to monitor at least a first level in the vessel, the first level being a part of the first range of levels, and a third capacitive sensor arranged to monitor at least a second level in the vessel, the second level being a part of the first range of levels; monitoring an output of the first capacitive sensor; determining a level of the material based on the output of the first capacitive sensor; monitoring an output of the second capacitive sensor when the determined level is proximate to the first level in the vessel; monitoring an output of the third capacitive sensor when the determined level is proximate to the second level in the vessel; and determining a current level of the material in the vessel based on the output of the first capacitive sensor and at least one of the output of the second capacitive sensor when the determined level is proximate to the first level in the vessel and the output of the third capacitive sensor when the determined level is proximate to the second level in the vessel, the output of the second capacitive sensor and the output of the third capacitive sensor being used to improve an accuracy of the determined current level. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. An apparatus for controlling a level of a material in a vessel, the apparatus comprising:
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a first capacitive sensor arranged to monitor a first range of levels in the vessel; a second capacitive sensor arranged to monitor at least a first level in the vessel, the first level being a part of the first range of levels; a controller operatively coupled to the first capacitive sensor and the second capacitive sensor; and a material control device operatively coupled to the controller, the material control device having a first configuration wherein a fluid conduit external to the vessel is not in fluid communication with an interior of the vessel and a second configuration wherein the fluid conduit external to the vessel is in fluid communication with the interior of the vessel, the controller changing the configuration of the material control device based on an output of the first capacitive sensor and an output of the second capacitive sensor, the output of the second capacitive sensor being used to improve an accuracy of the determined current level. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification