Sensor for levels of conductive liquids

• US 7,219,545 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
• Inventors: Emery, Michael P., Vuong, Minh, Flores, Javier H., Salzmann, Philip E., Harootunian, Alec T., Bennett, Todd N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah; Samir M.
• Application Number:
  US10/900,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20060021432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 733/04.R, 732/90.R, 733/04.C
• US Class Current: 73/304.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/242 Mounting arrangements for electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/243 Schematic arrangements of probes combined with measuring circuits

Abstract

A liquid level sensor comprises a plurality of electrodes arranged in a defined relationship with respect to a container filling trajectory, a signal generator coupled to one or more of the plurality of electrodes, a signal receiver coupled to one or more of the plurality of electrodes, and a sensing circuit coupled to at least one of the signal generator and signal receiver. The sensing circuit is configured to produce an output indicative of electrical resistance between at least one pair of the plurality of electrodes. The sensing circuit may be associated with the signal receiver and/or with the signal generator.

Claims

1. A liquid level sensor comprising:

a container;

a plurality of electrodes within said container arranged in a defined relationship with respect to a container filling trajectory;

a signal generator coupled to one or more of said plurality of electrodes;

a signal receiver coupled to one or more of said plurality of electrodes, wherein one of said signal generator and said signal receiver is coupled to an electrode proximate to a bottom of said container; and

a sensing circuit coupled to at least one of said signal generator and signal receiver, wherein said sensing circuit is configured to produce a series of outputs indicative of electrical resistance between selected series of pairs of said plurality of electrodes, and wherein said electrodes are spaced a distance which allows a meniscus between two sequential pairs of said electrodes to be measured.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said generator comprises a voltage source.

3. A liquid level sensor comprising:

a plurality of electrodes arranged in a defined relationship with respect to a container comprising a container filling trajectory such that as said container fills with liquid, said electrodes are sequentially submerged in said liquid, and wherein said electrodes are spaced a distance which allows a meniscus between two sequential pairs of said electrodes to be measured;

a signal generator coupled to one or more of said plurality of electrodes;

a signal receiver coupled to one or more of said plurality of electrodes; and

a sensing circuit coupled to at least one of said signal generator and signal receiver, wherein said sensing circuit is configured to produce an output indicative of electrical resistance between at least one pair of said plurality of electrodes.

4. The sensor of claim 3, wherein said sensing circuit is associated with said signal receiver.

5. The sensor of claim 3, wherein said sensing circuit is associated with said signal generator.

6. The sensor of claim 3, wherein said signal receiver and said sensing circuit comprise a resistor coupled between one of said electrodes and a circuit common.

7. The sensor of claim 6, wherein said resistor forms a voltage divider with an electrical resistance of said liquid.

8. The sensor of claim 6, wherein said resistor is coupled to an electrode proximate to a bottom of said container.

9. The sensor of claim 8, wherein said generator comprises a voltage source.