SENSORS

• US 20130220013A1
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Fitz, Stephen Mark
• Application Number:
  US13/516,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20130220013A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/304.R
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/24 by measuring variations of resistance of resistors due to contact with conductor fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/26 by measuring variations of capacity or inductance of capacitors or inductors arising from the presence of liquid or fluent solid material in the electric or electromagnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/263 by measuring variations in capacitance of capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/266 measuring circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/268 mounting arrangements of probes

Abstract

A system and method of sensing in a system, the system comprising: a plurality of sensors (2, 4, 6, 8); and a processor (1); wherein each sensor (2, 4, 6, 8) has a resonant frequency dependent upon the value of a physical quantity being sensed by the sensors (2, 4, 6, 8); at least one of the sensors (2, 4, 6, 8) has a different resonant frequency from another of the sensors for a given value of the physical quantity; and the processor (1) is adapted to discriminate between the resonant frequencies of the sensors. Each sensor (2, 4, 6, 8) may be a fluid level sensor. Also, the range of fluid levels sensed by a first sensor (2) may be different to that sensed by a second sensor (4), wherein the first of the sensors (2) has a different resonant frequency to the second of the sensors (4).

Claims

1. A fluid level detection system for detecting the level of a particular fluid, the system comprising:

a plurality of fluid level sensors; and

a processor;

wherein

each sensor has a resonant frequency;

the resonant frequency of each sensor is dependent upon the extent to which the sensor is immersed in the particular fluid;

at least one of the sensors has a different resonant frequency from another of the sensors when immersed in the fluid to a given extent; and

the processor is adapted to discriminate between the resonant frequencies of the sensors.

2. A system according to claim 1, arranged such that a range of fluid levels sensed by a first of the sensors is different to a range of fluid levels sensed by a second of the sensors, wherein the first of the sensors has a different resonant frequency to the second of the sensors.

3. A system according to any of claims 1, wherein the processor is further adapted to identify a sensor that is partially immersed in a particular fluid using the resonant frequency of that sensor.

4. A fluid level detection system comprising the system according to claim 3, wherein the processor is further adapted to determine a fluid level using the resonant frequency of the sensor that is partially immersed in a particular fluid.

5. A fluid level detection system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further adapted to identify a sensor that is completely immersed in a particular fluid using the resonant frequency of that sensor.

6. A fluid level detection system according to claim 5, wherein the processor is further adapted to determine a value for the dielectric constant of a particular fluid using the resonant frequency of the sensor that is completely immersed in said particular fluid.

7. A fluid level detection system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further adapted to identify a sensor that is not immersed in a particular fluid to any extent using the resonant frequency of that sensor.

8. A fluid level detection system according to claim 7, wherein the processor is further adapted to determine a value for the dielectric constant of a substance surrounding the sensor that is not immersed in a particular fluid to any extent using the resonant frequency of the sensor that is not immersed in said particular fluid to any extent.

9. A fluid level detection system according to claim 6, wherein the processor is further adapted to correct the determined fluid level using one or more of the following:

the determined dielectric constant of a particular fluid;

the dielectric constant of a substance surrounding the sensor that is not immersed in a particular fluid to any extent.

10. A fluid level detection system according to claim 1 wherein the sensors have a planar form.

12. A fluid level detection system according to claim 1 wherein the sensor is formed as a printed circuit board.

11. (canceled)

13. A method of sensing a fluid level in a system, the system comprising:

a plurality of fluid level sensors; and

a processor;

wherein

each sensor has a resonant frequency;

the resonant frequency of each sensor is dependent upon the fluid level sensed by the sensors;

at least one of the sensors has a different resonant frequency from another of the sensors for a given fluid level;

the method comprising the step of;

the processor discriminating between the resonant frequencies of the sensors.

14. A processor for operation in a system, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors, each sensor having a resonant frequency, the resonant frequency of each sensor being dependent upon the value of a physical quantity being sensed by the sensors, at least one of the sensors having a different resonant frequency from another of the sensors for a given value of the physical quantity;

the processor being adapted to discriminate between the resonant frequencies of the sensors.

15. A computer program or plurality of computer programs arranged such that when executed by a computer system it/they cause the computer system to operate in accordance with the method of claim 14.

16. A machine readable storage medium storing a computer program or at least one of the plurality of computer programs according to claim 15.