Capacitive sensor assembly
First Claim
1. A multifunctional sensor assembly for measuring characteristics of motor oil in a vehicle, the sensor assembly comprising:
- a housing mechanically coupled to a vehicle in a substantially fixed orientation relative to the vehicle, the housing including a chamber for receiving motor oil of the vehicle, the chamber being formed and positioned relative to other components of the vehicle such that a volume of the motor oil proportionally related to a total volume of motor oil in the vehicle is provided to the chamber, the chamber including a substantially cylindrical inner wall; and
a plurality of sensors positioned within the housing for measuring characteristics of the motor oil, at least one of the sensors including an electrode substantially cylindrical in shape and fitted within the chamber.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor assembly includes a tilt sensor, an oil level sensor, an oil temperature sensor and an oil deterioration sensor, as well as associated output signal conditioning electronics integrated within a common assembly. The sensor assembly is configured to receive a volume of motor oil proportional to a total volume of oil in an engine. The oil level sensor, oil temperature sensor and oil deterioration sensors include electrodes which are completely or partially immersed in the volume of motor oil depending upon the total volume of oil in the engine. The tilt sensor includes only two electrodes both of which are at least partially immersed within a controlled volume of dielectric fluid which is physically and electrically isolated from the volume of motor oil. One of the electrodes of the tilt sensor is completely immersed in the controlled volume of dielectric fluid independent of an angle of the tilt sensor relative to a vector representing forces such as gravity applied to the tilt sensor.
33 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A multifunctional sensor assembly for measuring characteristics of motor oil in a vehicle, the sensor assembly comprising:
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a housing mechanically coupled to a vehicle in a substantially fixed orientation relative to the vehicle, the housing including a chamber for receiving motor oil of the vehicle, the chamber being formed and positioned relative to other components of the vehicle such that a volume of the motor oil proportionally related to a total volume of motor oil in the vehicle is provided to the chamber, the chamber including a substantially cylindrical inner wall; and a plurality of sensors positioned within the housing for measuring characteristics of the motor oil, at least one of the sensors including an electrode substantially cylindrical in shape and fitted within the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A multifunctional sensor assembly for measuring characteristics of motor oil in a vehicle, the sensor assembly comprising:
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a plurality of chambers interconnected to form a single housing, at least one of the chambers receiving motor oil of a vehicle; and a plurality of sensors mechanically coupled to the chambers, the sensors being adapted to measure characteristics of the motor oil. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification