Method and system for measuring and remotely reporting the liquid level of tanks and the usage thereof
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring the content level of a tank, said system comprising a host system and a remotely located system wherein:
- a) said host system and said remotely located system are capable of direct or indirect communication with each other; and
b) a sensor unit associated with said remotely located system comprising an encoded disc, wherein said encoded disc rotates as a function of the content level of said tank;
at least one light source, wherein light is projected onto or passed through said encoded disc; and
at least one optical sensor, wherein said optical sensor receives light reflected off of or passed through said encoded disc and converts the light into a signal representative of content level, wherein said encoded disc comprises at least one color-coded track radially distributed about said disc to be read by said optical sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and a method for periodically detecting the level of liquid propane in industrial, commercial and residential tanks; and transmitting this information from a remote location to a host system located at a host facility or at the site of the propane supplier in order to, among other purposes, prevent out-of-gas situations to improve safety and minimize economic and civil liability; to optimize and schedule refill trips to the tank and increase customer service and satisfaction; to keep track of propane usage on a periodically or daily basis for billing purposes; to know when the tanks have been serviced or refilled for personnel control and anti-fraud purposes; to keep an inventory of available empty space in the tanks to optimize the purchasing and delivery of bulk propane through the future options market.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring the content level of a tank, said system comprising a host system and a remotely located system wherein:
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a) said host system and said remotely located system are capable of direct or indirect communication with each other; and
b) a sensor unit associated with said remotely located system comprising an encoded disc, wherein said encoded disc rotates as a function of the content level of said tank;
at least one light source, wherein light is projected onto or passed through said encoded disc; and
at least one optical sensor, wherein said optical sensor receives light reflected off of or passed through said encoded disc and converts the light into a signal representative of content level, wherein said encoded disc comprises at least one color-coded track radially distributed about said disc to be read by said optical sensor.- View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A sensor unit for measuring the content level of a tank comprising an encoded disc, wherein said encoded disc rotates as a function of the content level of said tank;
- at least one light source, wherein light is projected onto or passed through said encoded disc; and
at least one optical sensor, wherein said optical sensor receives light reflected off of or passed through said encoded disc and converts the light into a signal, wherein said encoded disc comprises at least one color-coded track radially distributed about said disc to be read by said optical sensors. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
- at least one light source, wherein light is projected onto or passed through said encoded disc; and
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4. A sensor unit for measuring the content level of a tank comprising an encoded disc, wherein said encoded disc rotates as a function of the content level of said tank;
- at least one light source, wherein light is projected onto or passed through said encoded disc; and
at least one optical sensor, wherein said optical sensor receives light reflected off of or passed through said encoded disc and converts the light into a signal, and wherein said encoded disc comprises at least one binary-coded track radially distributed about said disc to be read by said optical sensors, and wherein said encoded disc further comprises at least one color-coded track radially distributed about said disc to be read by said optical sensors. - View Dependent Claims (5)
- at least one light source, wherein light is projected onto or passed through said encoded disc; and
Specification