ACOUSTIC ARRAY SENSOR
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A level sensor including:
- a substrate having at least one reflective side surface;
at least one wave generator on one end of the substrate configured to transmit a wave along the surface of the substrate; and
a plurality of reflective echelons positioned on the substrate such that each echelon is at an angle relative to a reflective side surface of the substrate,wherein the reflective echelons are configured to convert a wave of a first mode to a wave of a second mode and direct the converted wave toward the reflective surface.
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Abstract
A level sensor includes a substrate having at least one reflective side surface, at least one wave generator on one end of the substrate configured to transmit a wave down the surface of the substrate and a plurality of reflective echelons mounted on the substrate such that each echelon is at an angle relative to reflective side surface. The reflective echelons are configured to convert a wave of a first mode in to a wave of a second mode.
14 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A level sensor including:
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a substrate having at least one reflective side surface; at least one wave generator on one end of the substrate configured to transmit a wave along the surface of the substrate; and a plurality of reflective echelons positioned on the substrate such that each echelon is at an angle relative to a reflective side surface of the substrate, wherein the reflective echelons are configured to convert a wave of a first mode to a wave of a second mode and direct the converted wave toward the reflective surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of determining the level of a fluid, the method containing the steps of:
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transmitting a first wave operating in a first mode along a surface of a substrate by at least one wave generator coupled to the substrate; converting a portion of the wave from a first mode to a second mode when the wave reaches each of a plurality of echelons on the substrate; directing the converted wave off each of the plurality of echelons toward a portion of a reflective side surface of the substrate; reflecting the converted wave from the reflective side surface toward each of the plurality of echelons; converting the wave reflected from the side surface from a second mode back to a first mode; and directing the converted first mode wave back toward the wave generator. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A level sensor including:
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a substrate having at least one reflective side surface; at least one wave generator on one end of the substrate configured to transmit a wave along the surface of the substrate; and a plurality of reflective echelons positioned on the substrate such that each echelon is at an angle relative to a reflective side surface of the substrate, wherein the reflective echelons are configured to direct a wave toward the reflective side surface and to direct a wave reflected from the reflective side surface back to the wave generator.
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27. A tank including:
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at least one wave generator on top surface of the tank that is configured to transmit a wave along the surface of the substrate; and a plurality of echelons formed on a first surface of the tank such that each echelon is at an angle relative to a reflective side surface of the tank, wherein the reflective echelons are configured to direct a wave toward the reflective side surface and to direct a wave reflected from the reflective side surface back to the wave generator.
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28. A reflective array including:
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a substrate, having at least two reflective side surfaces; a plurality of echelons each arranged along a centerline of the substrate, with each echelon being tilted in relation to the centerline by an angle; a transducer positioned on an end of the substrate opposite a reflective side surface, the transducer configured to transmit an acoustic wave of a first mode along the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification