Liquid gauging apparatus and remote sensor interrogation
First Claim
1. A liquid gauging system for use with a liquid container, the system comprising sensor means for producing a first electromagnetic signal based on liquid quantity in the container, and remote interrogation means for receiving said first electromagnetic signal and producing an output that is related to the liquid quatity;
- said sensor means being energized in response to a second electromagnetic signal transmitted by said remote interrogation means.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid gauging system for a liquid container, the system comprising sensor means for producing a first electromagnetic signal that corresponds to liquid quantity in the container, and remote interrogation means for receiving the first electromagnetic signal and producing a system output that corresponds to the liquid quantity; the sensor means being energized by a second electromagnetic signal transmitted by the remote interrogation means.
20 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A liquid gauging system for use with a liquid container, the system comprising sensor means for producing a first electromagnetic signal based on liquid quantity in the container, and remote interrogation means for receiving said first electromagnetic signal and producing an output that is related to the liquid quatity;
- said sensor means being energized in response to a second electromagnetic signal transmitted by said remote interrogation means.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for remotely detecting liquid quantity and/or level in a container comprising the steps of:
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a. producing a first electromagnetic signal and transmitting said first electromagnetic signal to a sensor that produces an output related to liquid quantity in the container; b. using said first electromagnetic signal to energize said sensor; c. producing a second electromagnetic signal based on said sensor output; and d. transmitting said second electromagnetic signal to a remote detector and producing an output in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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- 20. Apparatus for interrogating a liquid quantity sensor associated with a liquid container comprising sensor control means coupled to the sensor for producing a first electromagnetic signal based on sensor information, said sensor control means including means for detecting a second electromagnetic signal to couple electrical energy used to energize the sensor and said sensor control means, and remote control means for receiving said first electromagnetic signal and producing an output based on the sensor information.
- 28. Apparatus for remotely interrogating a sensor that produces a sensor output comprising sensor control means coupled to the sensor for producing a first electromagnetic signal based on the sensor output, and remote control means for transmitting a second electromagnetic signal to said sensor control means, said sensor control means comprising means for converting said second electromagnetic signal to electrical energy used to energize the sensor and said sensor control means.
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30. Apparatus for remotely detecting liquid quantity or level in a container comprising sensor means associated with the container for detecting liquid quantity therein, and a remote interrogation means for producing a first optical signal that energizes said sensor means;
- said sensor means producing a second optical signal based on liquid quantity in the container;
said remote means detecting said second optical signal and converting it to an output based on liquid quantity in the container.
- said sensor means producing a second optical signal based on liquid quantity in the container;
- 31. Apparatus for interrogating a liquid quantity sensor associated with a liquid container comprising sensor control means coupled to the sensor for producing a first electromagnetic signal based on sensor information, and a mobile remote control means for causing an electromagnetic signal to be emitted and for receiving said first electromagnetic signal and producing an output based on the sensor information.
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35. A gauging apparatus for measuring liquid quantity in a container comprising:
- a dripstick disposed in a housing that can be manually withdrawn from the container to obtain a visual reading of the liquid quantity;
a sensor disposed in said housing that produces an output related to the liquid quantity; and
means for remotely electromagnetically interrogating the sensor to determine liquid quantity in the container. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
- a dripstick disposed in a housing that can be manually withdrawn from the container to obtain a visual reading of the liquid quantity;
Specification