SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECEPTACLE AUTO FILL USING INDUCTIVE SENSING

• US 20150329347A1
• Filed: 05/19/2014
• Published: 11/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Veldhi, Sudhaker Rao, Kusumba, Srujan, Varahabhatla, Rajagopal
• Granted Patent: US 9,663,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0871 Level gauges for beverage storage containers level indicators in general G01F
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1238 comprising means for detecting the liquid level in vessels to be filled, e.g. using ultrasonic waves, optical reflexion, probes
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/1263 the level being detected electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/00 Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes separating and dispensing metered quantities of liquids G01F
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0003 provided with automatic fluid control means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0093 Level indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/36 using electrically actuated indicating means G01F23/38 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for receptacle auto fill using inductive sensing are provided. One example system includes a dispensing system capable of dispensing liquid. The system includes a sensor. The sensor includes a coil positioned adjacent to a dispensing area of the dispensing system. The system includes a receptacle capable of holding a volume of liquid. The system includes a floating object positioned within the receptacle and permitted to move upwards and downwards based on a liquid fill level of the receptacle. The floating object includes a conductive strip providing a first impedance at a first vertical position of the strip and a second impedance at a second vertical position of the strip. The first impedance is different than the second impedance. The system includes a controller configured to control the dispensing system based at least in part on an amount of inductance exhibited between the coil and the conductive strip.

Claims

1. A system for automatically filling a receptacle, the system comprising:

a dispensing system capable of dispensing liquid;

a sensor, wherein the sensor comprises a coil positioned adjacent to a dispensing area of the dispensing system;

a receptacle capable of holding a volume of liquid;

a floating object positioned within the receptacle and permitted to move upwards and downwards based on a liquid fill level of the receptacle, wherein the floating object comprises a conductive strip providing a first impedance at a first vertical position of the strip and a second impedance at a second vertical position of the strip, wherein the first impedance is different than the second impedance; and

a controller configured to control the dispensing system based at least in part on an amount of inductance exhibited between the coil and the conductive strip.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the coil, receptacle, and floating object are positioned such that the second vertical position of the strip is aligned with the coil only when the receptacle has a full liquid fill level.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the floating object is positioned adjacent to an inside wall of the receptacle and guided upwards and downwards by a guide.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductive strip has a first cross-sectional area at the first vertical position and a second cross-sectional area at the second vertical position, the first cross-sectional area being different from the second cross-sectional area, thereby providing the first and second impedance.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the conductive strip is tapered from a first width at the first vertical position to a second width at the second vertical position.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to determine the amount of inductance exhibited between the coil and the conductive strip by applying a predetermined voltage across the coil and measuring a resulting current magnitude.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises an inductance to digital converter.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first vertical position comprises a top of the conductive strip;

the second vertical position comprises a bottom of the conductive strip;

the first impedance is greater than the second impedance; and

the amount of impedance provided by the conductive strip continuously decreases from the top of the conductive strip to the bottom of the conductive strip.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a relative height of the floating object can be determined based at least in part on the impedance provided by the conductive strip to the coil.

10. A receptacle for use with an automatic filling system, the receptacle comprising:

a structure that defines a volume capable of holding a liquid;

a floating object positioned within the structure, wherein the floating object is permitted to move upwards and downwards through at least a portion of a fill range of the receptacle;

a conductive strip attached to the floating object, the conductive strip having at least two different impedances at at least two different vertical positions; and

a guide attached to an inside wall of the structure, wherein the guide maintains an orientation of the floating object and guides the floating object as it moves upwards and downwards.

11. The receptacle of claim 10, wherein:

the conductive strip has a first width at its top;

the conductive strip has a second width at its bottom;

wherein the first width is greater than the second width.

12. The receptacle of claim 11, wherein the conductive strip is tapered between the first and second widths.

13. The receptacle of claim 10, wherein the conductive strip is embedded within the floating object.

14. The receptacle of claim 10, wherein the guide comprises a housing that is attached to the inside wall of the structure, the housing having a width and depth that corresponds to a width and depth of the floating object, and wherein the housing has an opening that allows the entry of the liquid into the housing such that the floating object floats on the liquid.

15. The receptacle of claim 10, wherein the portion of the fill range of the receptacle for which the floating object is permitted to move upwards and downwards includes at least a half-full fill position to a full fill position.

16. A method for operating a dispensing system to automatically fill a receptacle with a liquid, the method comprising:

determining an amount of inductance between a coil included in a sensor of the dispensing system and a conductive strip attached to a floating object included in the receptacle, wherein the conductive strip has varying impedances at vertical positions of the conductive strip, and wherein the floating object is permitted to move vertically corresponding to a liquid fill level of the receptacle;

determining the liquid fill level of the receptacle based at least in part on the amount of inductance between the coil and the conductive strip; and

controlling the dispensing system based on the determined liquid fill level to automatically fill the receptacle with liquid.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

determining the amount of inductance between the coil and the conductive strip comprises;

applying a predetermined voltage across the coil; and

determining a magnitude of a current flowing through the coil when the predetermined voltage is applied; and

determining the liquid fill level of the receptacle based at least in part on the amount of inductance between the coil and the conductive strip comprises;

determining the liquid fill level of the receptacle based at least in part on the magnitude of the current.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

determining the liquid fill level of the receptacle based at least in part on the magnitude of the current comprises comparing the magnitude of the current to a threshold value;

wherein the liquid fill level of the receptacle is determined to be full when the magnitude of the current is greater than the threshold value; and

wherein the liquid fill level of the receptacle is determined to be less than full when the magnitude of the current is less than the threshold value.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling the dispensing system based on the determined liquid fill level to automatically fill the receptacle with liquid comprises:

controlling the dispensing system to dispense the liquid; and

when the liquid fill level of the receptacle is determined to be full, controlling the dispensing system to cease the dispensing of the liquid.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining when the magnitude of the current is approaching the threshold value; and

when it is determined that the magnitude of the current is approaching the threshold value, reducing a rate of dispensing of the liquid by the dispensing system.