Liquid level detecting device
First Claim
1. A liquid surface level detecting apparatus for detecting a liquid surface level of a liquid existing in an outside, including:
- a light emitting means for emitting a light;
an optically scattering means for scattering the light emitted by said light emitting means;
a light radiating means having a liquid surface level detecting unit for radiating a part of a scattering light scattered by said optically scattering means to an outside of said optically scattering means;
a light receiving means for receiving said scattering light which is reflected by and returned from a boundary of the outside of said optically scattering means or said light radiating means without being radiated by said light radiating means; and
a light shielding means for shielding the light so that the light from said light emitting means is not directly irradiated to said light receiving means,wherein if said liquid exists in said outside, a radiation light amount to the outside of said light radiating means is changed, and that change is detected on the basis of the light reception amount of said light receiving means, thereby detecting said liquid surface level of said liquid.
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Abstract
The present invention aims at attaining a liquid surface level detecting apparatus, which can be used in various detection targets and usage environments without selecting a detection target, can efficiently irradiate a light to a liquid surface level detecting unit and detect a variation in a light reception amount of a light receiving means at a high sensibility, and can be excellent in durability, easy to manufacture, and be actually used. By placing a light shielding means 14 so as not to directly irradiate the light from a light emitting means 12 to a light receiving means 13, the light from the light emitting means is scattered by an optically scattering means 16, and a part of that scattering light is radiated to an outside by the liquid surface level detecting unit on a light radiating means (an optically transmitting member) 11. On the other hand, the scattering light, which is reflected without being radiated, is received by the light receiving means, and the change in that light reception amount is detected. Consequently, if a liquid 17 exists in the outside, a light amount, which is reflected by a boundary between the liquid and the light radiating means and returned to an inside of the light radiating means, is reduced, and the light reception amount in the light receiving means is also reduced. Thus, by measuring the change in the light reception amount, it is possible to detect a liquid surface level of the liquid.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A liquid surface level detecting apparatus for detecting a liquid surface level of a liquid existing in an outside, including:
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a light emitting means for emitting a light; an optically scattering means for scattering the light emitted by said light emitting means; a light radiating means having a liquid surface level detecting unit for radiating a part of a scattering light scattered by said optically scattering means to an outside of said optically scattering means; a light receiving means for receiving said scattering light which is reflected by and returned from a boundary of the outside of said optically scattering means or said light radiating means without being radiated by said light radiating means; and a light shielding means for shielding the light so that the light from said light emitting means is not directly irradiated to said light receiving means, wherein if said liquid exists in said outside, a radiation light amount to the outside of said light radiating means is changed, and that change is detected on the basis of the light reception amount of said light receiving means, thereby detecting said liquid surface level of said liquid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeNaoyuki Omatoi
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Original AssigneeNaoyuki Omatoi
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InventorsOmatoi, Naoyuki
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Primary Examiner(s)Epps; Georgia
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Assistant Examiner(s)WILLIAMS, DON J
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Application NumberUS10/480,443Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,756 DaysField of Search250/573, 250/574, 250/575, 250/576, 250/577, 356/436, 340/618, 340/619, 732/93, 73/13.1US Class Current250/573CPC Class CodesG01F 23/2922 with light-conducting sensi...G01F 23/2924 for several discrete levels...G01F 23/2925 using electrical detecting ...G01F 23/2927 for several discrete levels...
