Oil level sensor system
First Claim
1. A fluid level sensor system operable to indicate either when the fluid level in a movable reservoir is below a predetermined low level limit or when the fluid level in the reservoir is above a predetermined high level limit, said fluid level sensor system comprising:
- a movable fluid reservoir which is constructed and arranged to be oriented in a plurality of different tilt angles, said plurality of different tilt angles defining a plurality of cross over points based upon the fluid level in said reservoir;
a fluid level sensor assembled to said fluid reservoir at a location which is adjacent to said cross over points and having first sensor means responsive to a low fluid level in said fluid reservoir for generating a first level signal and having second sensor means responsive to a high fluid level in said fluid reservoir for generating a second level signal;
an electronic control module electrically connected to said fluid level sensor for receiving and processing said first and second signals; and
a warning indicator electrically connected to said electronic control module for providing a first warning signal corresponding to said first level signal and a second warning signal corresponding to said second level signal, said first warning signal being different from said second warning signal so as to differentiate between a low level fault and a high level fault.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid level sensor system for a vehicle oil pan includes a fluid level sensor assembled to the oil pan which has a first LED/phototransistor sensor electrically arranged and responsive to a low oil level in the oil pan for generating a low level voltage signal. The fluid level sensor also includes a second LED/phototransistor sensor which is electrically arranged and responsive to a high oil level in the oil pan for generating a high level voltage signal. The low level voltage signal and the high level voltage signal from the fluid level sensor are electrically connected to an electronic control module (ECM) which receives and processes the two signals and activates a warning lamp with a flashing illumination to identify a low oil level condition and a constantly on illumination to identify a high oil level condition. The operation of the ECM is controlled by a flow logic algorithm.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A fluid level sensor system operable to indicate either when the fluid level in a movable reservoir is below a predetermined low level limit or when the fluid level in the reservoir is above a predetermined high level limit, said fluid level sensor system comprising:
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a movable fluid reservoir which is constructed and arranged to be oriented in a plurality of different tilt angles, said plurality of different tilt angles defining a plurality of cross over points based upon the fluid level in said reservoir; a fluid level sensor assembled to said fluid reservoir at a location which is adjacent to said cross over points and having first sensor means responsive to a low fluid level in said fluid reservoir for generating a first level signal and having second sensor means responsive to a high fluid level in said fluid reservoir for generating a second level signal; an electronic control module electrically connected to said fluid level sensor for receiving and processing said first and second signals; and a warning indicator electrically connected to said electronic control module for providing a first warning signal corresponding to said first level signal and a second warning signal corresponding to said second level signal, said first warning signal being different from said second warning signal so as to differentiate between a low level fault and a high level fault. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An oil level sensor for a movable vehicle oil pan for providing either a low oil level signal or a high oil level signal when the oil level in the oil pan is outside of an acceptable oil level range, the oil pan having the ability to assume different tilt angles, the tilt angles defining a plurality of cross over points based upon the fluid level in said vehicle oil pan, said oil level sensor comprising:
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a main body portion constructed and arranged for assembly into said oil pan at a location which is adjacent to said cross over points; and an electronic module positioned within said main body portion and having a first LED/phototransistor sensor for sensing a low oil level in said oil pan and a second LED/phototransistor sensor for sensing a high oil level in said oil pan, said low and high oil levels being predetermined based upon oil pan geometry and volume. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A fluid level sensor system operable to indicate either when the fluid level in a movable reservoir is below a predetermined low level limit or when the fluid level in the reservoir is above a predetermined high level limit, said fluid level sensor system comprising:
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a movable fluid reservoir which is constructed and arranged to be oriented in a plurality of different tilt angles, said plurality of different tilt angles defining a plurality of cross over points based upon the fluid level in said reservoir; a fluid level sensor positioned within said fluid reservoir at a location which is adjacent to said cross over points and having first sensor which is responsive to a low fluid level in said fluid reservoir and which is constructed and arranged for generating a first level signal and having a second sensor which is responsive to a high fluid level in said fluid reservoir and which is constructed and arranged for generating a second level signal; an electronic control module electrically connected to said fluid level sensor for receiving and processing said first and second signals; and a warning indicator electrically connected to said electronic control module for providing a first warning signal corresponding to said first level signal and a second warning signal corresponding to said second level signal and a second warning signal corresponding to said second level signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification