Optical Level Sensor for Wash Aid Removable Container
First Claim
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1. A liquid level sensing system for an appliance comprising:
- a liquid reservoir having a volume adapted to hold a liquid and including a liquid port;
a reservoir receptacle adapted to releasably receive the liquid reservoir and to communicate liquid between the appliance and the reservoir through the liquid port when the liquid reservoir is received within the reservoir receptacle along an axis;
wherein the liquid reservoir further includes a window receiving light along the axis and reflecting light from an interior surface of the window adapted to contact liquid; and
wherein the reservoir receptacle further includes an optical sensor assembly affixed with respect to the reservoir receptacle to transmit light along the axis into the window and to receive and measure light reflected along the axis from the window.
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Abstract
A liquid level sensing system provides a removable reservoir incorporating a reflective surface that can be interrogated by a stationary optical sensor in a receptacle receiving the removable reservoir. The optical sensor may detect the presence of the liquid within the reservoir without connection to the reservoir simplifying the process of making the reservoir removable while still allowing sensing of its contents. By aligning the optical axis with the insertion axis of the reservoir sensitive optical alignment problems are minimized.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A liquid level sensing system for an appliance comprising:
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a liquid reservoir having a volume adapted to hold a liquid and including a liquid port; a reservoir receptacle adapted to releasably receive the liquid reservoir and to communicate liquid between the appliance and the reservoir through the liquid port when the liquid reservoir is received within the reservoir receptacle along an axis; wherein the liquid reservoir further includes a window receiving light along the axis and reflecting light from an interior surface of the window adapted to contact liquid; and wherein the reservoir receptacle further includes an optical sensor assembly affixed with respect to the reservoir receptacle to transmit light along the axis into the window and to receive and measure light reflected along the axis from the window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification