WATER-LEVEL DETECTING SYSTEM AND WATER-LEVEL DETECTING METHOD

• US 20140260602A1
• Filed: 10/24/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (WuHan) Co., Ltd. (Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (WuHan) Co., Ltd. (Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: ZHANG, PENG, LIU, YU-LIN
• Application Number:
  US14/062,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20140260602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/313
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/60 using electrically actuated indicating means

Abstract

A water-level detecting system includes a water receiving module located in an electronic device, a first sliding rheostat, a varicap, a frequency-to-voltage converter, a comparing module, and an indicator module. The water receiving module includes a water tank, a floating block received in the water tank, and a connecting portion. The floating block is moved by the rising water level in the water tank to slide the first sliding rheostat. A voltage of the varicap is changeable when the first sliding rheostat slides, and a voltage of the frequency-to-voltage converter is changeable according to the voltage of the varicap. The comparing module compares the voltage of the frequency-to-voltage converter with a predetermined voltage, and the indicator module lights up when the voltage of the frequency-to-voltage converter is greater than the predetermined voltage. The disclosure further offers a water-level detecting method.

Claims

1. A water-level detecting system comprising:

a water receiving module located in a vending machine;

the water receiving module comprising a water tank, a floating block received in the water tank, and a connecting portion connected to the floating block;

a first sliding rheostat connected to the connecting portion;

a varicap connected to the first sliding rheostat;

a frequency-to-voltage converter connected to the varicap;

a comparing module connected to the frequency-to-voltage converter; and

an indicator module connected to the comparing module;

wherein the floating block is moveable by water in the water tank to slide a sliding terminal of the first sliding rheostat, a capacitance of the varicap is changeable when the sliding terminal of the first sliding rheostat is slide, a voltage of the frequency-to-voltage converter is changeable according to the capacitance of the varicap, the comparing module is configured to compare the voltage of the frequency-to-voltage converter with a predetermined voltage, and the indicator module is luminous when the voltage of the frequency-to-voltage converter is greater than the predetermined voltage.

2. The water-level detecting system of claim 1, wherein the comparing module comprises an operational amplifier, a positive terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the frequency-to-voltage converter and configured for receiving the voltage of the frequency-to-voltage converter, and a negative terminal of the operational amplifier is configured for receiving the predetermined voltage.

3. The water-level detecting system of claim 1, wherein the detecting module comprises a first capacitor, a first node, a first resistor, and a first sliding rheostat;

a pin CAP1 of the frequency-to-voltage converter is grounded via the first capacitor, the first node and the varicap, the first node is connected to the sliding terminal of the first sliding rheostat via the first resistor, and the connecting portion is connected to the sliding terminal of the first sliding rheostat.

4. The water-level detecting system of claim 3, wherein water-level detecting system further comprises a second sliding rheostat, a third sliding rheostat, a second resistor, a third resistor, a fourth resistor, and a second node;

a pin E and a pin IN−

of the frequency-to-voltage converter are connected to the second node, a first connecting terminal of the second sliding rheostat is connected to the second node, a sliding terminal of the second sliding rheostat is connected to the positive terminal of the operational amplifier via the second resistor, and a second connecting terminal of the second sliding rheostat is grounded;

a sliding terminal of the third sliding rheostat is connected to the negative terminal of the operational amplifier via the third resistor; and

the operational amplifier is connected to the indicator module via the fourth resistor.

5. The water-level detecting system of claim 3, wherein the water-level detecting system further comprises a second capacitor and a fifth resistor;

a pin CPO of the frequency-to-voltage converter is grounded via a fifth resistor, and a pin IN+ of the frequency-to-voltage converter is connected to the pin CPO and further grounded via the second capacitor.

6. The water-level detecting system of claim 3, wherein the water-level detecting system further comprises a displaying meter, a fourth sliding rheostat, and a six resistor;

the displaying meter is configured for displaying the water level in the water tank;

a first connecting terminal and a sliding terminal of the fourth sliding rheostat are connected to the second node, a second connecting terminal of the fourth sliding rheostat is connected to the six resistor; and

the six resistor is grounded by the displaying meter.

7. The water-level detecting system of claim 3, wherein the water-level detecting system further comprises a seventh resistor and a power supply, the pin E of the frequency-to-voltage converter is grounded via the seventh resistor, and a pin VCC and a pin C of the frequency-to-voltage converter are connected to the power supply.

8. The water-level detecting system of claim 7, wherein a first connecting terminal of the first sliding rheostat is connected to the power supply, a second connecting terminal of the first sliding rheostat is grounded;

a first connecting terminal of the third sliding rheostat is connected to the power supply, a second connecting terminal of the third sliding rheostat is grounded.

9. The water-level detecting system of claim 7, further comprising a signal generating module connected to the frequency-to-voltage converter, and the signal generating module is configure to transmit a frequency signal to the frequency-to-voltage converter.

10. The water-level detecting system of claim 9, wherein the signal generating module comprises a base-time circuit, a third node, a third capacitor, a fourth capacitor, a fifth capacitor, a ninth resistor, a tenth resistor, and a eleventh resistor;

the time-base circuit comprises an output pin, a ground pin, a low trigger pin, a high trigger pin, a power supply pin, and a discharge pin;

the output pin is connected to the third capacitor, the third capacitor is connected to a pin TACH+ of the frequency-to-voltage converter via the ninth resistor;

the ground pin is connected to the power supply via the fourth capacitor;

the low trigger pin is grounded via the fifth capacitor;

the third node is connected to the lower trigger pin and the high trigger pin;

the power supply pin is connected to the power supply;

the discharge pin is grounded via a ninth resistor; and

the eleventh resistor is connected to the discharge pin and the third node.

11. A water-level detecting method comprising:

locating a water receiving module in a vending mechanism;

the water receiving module comprising a water tank, a floating block received in the water tank, and a connecting portion connected to the floating block;

moving the floating block by rising water in the water tank to slide a sliding terminal of a first sliding rheostat connected to the connecting portion;

changing a capacitance of a varicap connected to the first sliding rheostat, when the sliding terminal of the first sliding rheostat is slid;

changing a voltage of a frequency-to-voltage converter connected to the varicap according to the capacitance of the varicap,

comparing the voltage of the frequency-to-voltage converter with a predetermined voltage by a comparing module connected to the frequency-to-voltage converter; and

lighting an indicator module when the voltage of the frequency-to-voltage converter is greater than the predetermined voltage.

12. The water-level detecting method of claim 11, wherein the comparing module comprises an operational amplifier, a positive terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the frequency-to-voltage converter and receiving the voltage of the frequency-to-voltage converter by the positive terminal of the operational amplifier, and a negative terminal of the operational amplifier and receiving the predetermined voltage by the negative terminal of the operational amplifier.

13. The water-level detecting method of claim 11, wherein the detecting module comprises a first capacitor, a first node, a first resistor, and a first sliding rheostat;

a pin CAP1 of the frequency-to-voltage converter is grounded via the first capacitor, the first node and the varicap, the first node is connected to the sliding terminal of the first sliding rheostat via the first resistor, and the connecting portion is connected to the sliding terminal of the first sliding rheostat.

14. The water-level detecting method of claim 13, wherein the detecting module further comprises a second sliding rheostat, a third sliding rheostat, a second resistor, a third resistor, a fourth resistor, and a second node;

a pin E and a pin IN−

of the frequency-to-voltage converter are connected to the second node, a first connecting terminal of the second sliding rheostat is connected to the second node, a sliding terminal of the second sliding rheostat is connected to the positive terminal of the operational amplifier via the second resistor, and a second connecting terminal of the second sliding rheostat is grounded;

a sliding terminal of the third sliding rheostat is connected to the negative terminal of the operational amplifier via the third resistor; and

the operational amplifier is connected to the indicator module via the fourth resistor.

15. The water-level detecting method of claim 13, wherein the detecting module further comprises a second capacitor and a fifth resistor;

a pin CPO of the frequency-to-voltage converter is grounded via a fifth resistor, and a pin IN+ of the frequency-to-voltage converter is connected to the pin CPO and further is grounded via the second capacitor.

16. The water-level detecting method of claim 13, wherein the detecting module further comprises a displaying meter, a fourth sliding rheostat, and a six resistor;

the displaying meter is configured for displaying the water level in the water tank;

a first connecting terminal and a sliding terminal of the fourth sliding rheostat are connected to the second node, a second connecting terminal of the fourth sliding rheostat is connected to the six resistor; and

the six resistor is grounded by the displaying meter.

17. The water-level detecting method of claim 13, wherein the water-level detecting method further comprises a seventh resistor and a power supply, the pin E of the frequency-to-voltage converter is grounded via the seventh resistor, and a pin VCC and a pin C of the frequency-to-voltage converter are connected to the power supply.

18. The water-level detecting method of claim 17, wherein a first connecting terminal of the first sliding rheostat is connected to the power supply, a second connecting terminal of the first sliding rheostat is grounded;

a first connecting terminal of the third sliding rheostat is connected to the power supply, a second connecting terminal of the third sliding rheostat is grounded.

19. The water-level detecting method of claim 17, further comprising a signal generating module connected to the frequency-to-voltage converter, wherein transmitting a frequency signal to the frequency-to-voltage converter by the signal generating module.

20. The water-level detecting method of claim 19, wherein the signal generating module comprises a base-time circuit, a third node, a third capacitor, a fourth capacitor, a fifth capacitor, a ninth resistor, a tenth resistor, and a eleventh resistor;

the time-base circuit comprises an output pin, a ground pin, a low trigger pin, a high trigger pin, a power supply pin, and a discharge pin;

the output pin is connected to the third capacitor, the third capacitor is connected to a pin TACH+ of the frequency-to-voltage converter via the ninth resistor;

the ground pin is connected to the power supply via the fourth capacitor;

the low trigger pin is grounded via the fifth capacitor;

the third node is connected to the lower trigger pin and the high trigger pin;

the power supply pin is connected to the power supply;

the discharge pin is grounded via a ninth resistor; and

the eleventh resistor is connected to the discharge pin and the third node.