NON-INVASIVE LIQUID LEVEL SENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A non-invasive liquid level sensing system for monitoring the amount of liquid in at least one container comprising:
- a platform for supporting the at least one container;
at least one holder associated with said at least one container supported by said platform;
a source for generating a radio frequency signal;
circuitry in communication with said at least one holder for transmitting the radio frequency signal through said at least one holder into the at least one container and receiving a portion of the radio frequency signal reflected at a liquid-air interface in the at least one container; and
circuitry for processing the reflected radio frequency signal and determining the amount of liquid in the at least one container.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A non-invasive liquid level sensing system for monitoring the amount of liquid in at least one container includes a platform for supporting the at least one container, at least one holder associated with the at least one container supported by the platform, a source for generating a radio frequency signal, circuitry in communication with the at least one holder for transmitting the radio frequency signal through the at least one holder into the at least one container and receiving a portion of the radio frequency signal reflected at a liquid-air interface in the at least one container, and circuitry for processing the reflected radio frequency signal and determining the amount of liquid in the at least one container.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A non-invasive liquid level sensing system for monitoring the amount of liquid in at least one container comprising:
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a platform for supporting the at least one container; at least one holder associated with said at least one container supported by said platform; a source for generating a radio frequency signal; circuitry in communication with said at least one holder for transmitting the radio frequency signal through said at least one holder into the at least one container and receiving a portion of the radio frequency signal reflected at a liquid-air interface in the at least one container; and circuitry for processing the reflected radio frequency signal and determining the amount of liquid in the at least one container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12)
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9. A non-invasive sensing system for monitoring the amount of liquid in a plurality of containers comprising:
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a platform for supporting the plurality of containers; a holder supported by said platform for each of said plurality of containers, said holder including substantially symmetrical conducting sections separated by air gaps; a source for generating a radio frequency signal; directional couplers for directing the radio frequency signal to interface circuits connected to said plurality of holders and for receiving radio frequency signals reflected at liquid-air interfaces in the plurality of containers; and processing circuitry for determining the amount of liquid in the plurality of containers. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A non-invasive method for sensing the amount of liquid in at least one container comprising the steps of:
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supporting the at least one container within at least one holder on a platform; transmitting a radio frequency signal to said at least one holder; receiving a return radio frequency signal reflected at a liquid-air interface in the at least one container, said return signal indicative of the amount of liquid in the at least one container; determining a magnitude and a phase of the transmitted radio frequency signal and the return signal; and calculating the amount of liquid in the at least one container dependent upon the phase of the transmitted signal and the return signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification