Optical transducer for continuously determining liquid level
First Claim
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1. An optical transducer for determining liquid level within a container, the optical transducer comprising:
- a first sensing probe having a first elongate measurement face and a second elongate measurement face that converges toward the first elongate measurement face, at least a portion of the first and second elongate measurement faces being oriented at an angle less than 90 degrees;
a first light source positioned for directing radiant energy into the sensing probe;
a first photosensor positioned for detecting an amount of radiant energy exiting the sensing probe;
wherein a change in the amount of radiant energy as detected by the photosensor is indicative of a change in liquid level within the container;
a liquid level switch for sensing a predetermined liquid level within the container, the liquid level switch comprising;
a second sensing probe having an elongate core with a measurement tip; and
a second photosensor positioned for detecting an amount of radiant energy exiting the second sensing probe;
wherein a change in the amount of radiant energy as detected by the second photosensor is indicative of the predetermined liquid level.
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Abstract
An optical transducer for determining liquid level within a container includes a sensing probe having a first elongate measurement face and a second elongate measurement face that converges toward the first measurement face. A light source is positioned for directing radiant energy into the sensing probe and a photosensor is positioned for detecting an amount of radiant energy exiting the sensing probe. With this arrangement, a change in the amount of radiant energy as detected by the photosensor is indicative of a change in liquid level within the container.
58 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An optical transducer for determining liquid level within a container, the optical transducer comprising:
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a first sensing probe having a first elongate measurement face and a second elongate measurement face that converges toward the first elongate measurement face, at least a portion of the first and second elongate measurement faces being oriented at an angle less than 90 degrees; a first light source positioned for directing radiant energy into the sensing probe; a first photosensor positioned for detecting an amount of radiant energy exiting the sensing probe; wherein a change in the amount of radiant energy as detected by the photosensor is indicative of a change in liquid level within the container; a liquid level switch for sensing a predetermined liquid level within the container, the liquid level switch comprising; a second sensing probe having an elongate core with a measurement tip; and a second photosensor positioned for detecting an amount of radiant energy exiting the second sensing probe; wherein a change in the amount of radiant energy as detected by the second photosensor is indicative of the predetermined liquid level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An optical transducer for determining liquid level within a container, the optical transducer comprising:
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a first sensing probe having a first elongate measurement face and a second elongate measurement face that converges toward the first elongate measurement face, at least a portion of the first and second elongate measurement faces being oriented at an angle less than 90 degrees; a first light source positioned for directing radiant energy into the sensing probe; a first photosensor positioned for detecting an amount of radiant energy exiting the sensing probe; wherein a change in the amount of radiant energy as detected by the photosensor is indicative of a change in liquid level within the container; a liquid level switch for sensing a predetermined liquid level within the container; and means for sensing a value of the liquid level switch and compensating liquid level measurement of the first sensing probe based on the value of the liquid level switch.
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Specification