Switch assembly, electric machine having the switch assembly, and method of controlling the same
First Claim
1. A liquid-level sensor to sense a liquid having a level with respect to an axis, the liquid level sensor comprisinga circuit board having a first length and a first height, the first height being along the axis, the circuit board comprisinga first capacitive plate having a second length and a second height, the second height being along the axis,a second capacitive plate having a third length and a third height, the third height being along the axis, the third height being disposed above the second height, anda notch disposed in the circuit board between the second height and the third height with respect to the axis, the notch reducing leakage between the first capacitive plate and the second capacitive plate, anda charge-transfer sensor coupled to the first and second capacitive plates to measure the capacitance between the first capacitive plate and the second capacitive plate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pump assembly for pumping a liquid and a method of controlling the pump assembly. The pump assembly includes a motor coupled to a pump, and an electronic switch assembly electrically connected to the motor to control the current through the motor. The electronic switch assembly includes an electronic switch, a generator that provides a substantially periodic pulsing signal, a circuit control configured to provide a second signal, and decision logic connected to the generator, the circuit control, and the electronic switch. The decision logic receives the periodic pulsing and second signals and generates a control signal that selectively controls the electronic switch based on the periodic pulsing and second signals.
190 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A liquid-level sensor to sense a liquid having a level with respect to an axis, the liquid level sensor comprising
a circuit board having a first length and a first height, the first height being along the axis, the circuit board comprising a first capacitive plate having a second length and a second height, the second height being along the axis, a second capacitive plate having a third length and a third height, the third height being along the axis, the third height being disposed above the second height, and a notch disposed in the circuit board between the second height and the third height with respect to the axis, the notch reducing leakage between the first capacitive plate and the second capacitive plate, and a charge-transfer sensor coupled to the first and second capacitive plates to measure the capacitance between the first capacitive plate and the second capacitive plate.
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7. A liquid-level sense circuit comprising:
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a substrate having a first length along a first axis and a second length along a second axis, the first axis being orthogonal to the second axis, the substrate defining an indentation having a third length along the first axis; a first capacitive element supported by the substrate, the first capacitive element having a fourth length along the first axis and a fifth length along the second axis; a second capacitive element above the first capacitive element and supported by the substrate, the second capacitive element having a sixth length along the first axis and a seventh length along the second axis; a sensor configured to compare the capacitance between the first capacitive element and the second capacitive element to a first value, wherein the third length is greater than at least one of the fourth length and the sixth length; and wherein the indentation is disposed between the first capacitive element and the second capacitive element along the second axis and reduces leakage between the first capacitive element and the second capacitive element. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for operating a motor with a liquid-level sensor assembly including
a first substrate having a first plate with a first length and a first height, a second plate with a second length and a second height, the first height and the second height being along an axis, and an indentation with a third length, the indentation being disposed between the first plate and the second plate along the axis, and the third length being greater than at least one of the first length and the second length, a second substrate having a third plate, the second substrate placed at a distance from the first substrate along the axis, and a sensor electrically coupled to the first plate, the second plate, and the third plate, the method comprising: -
detecting a first capacitance between the first plate and the second plate; detecting a second capacitance between the first plate and the third plate; comparing the first capacitance to a first threshold value; comparing the second capacitance to a second threshold value; generating a signal in response to comparing the first capacitance to the first threshold value and comparing the second capacitance to the second threshold value; and operating the motor in response to generating the at least one signal. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification