Methods and systems for liquid volumetric measurement
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for measuring a volume of liquid within a vessel, said apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of devices connected in series, each having electrical properties that are dependent on temperature;
a reference device, having electrical properties that are dependent on temperature;
a first constant current source supplying a first current to said plurality of devices;
a second constant current source supplying a second current to said reference device, wherein the first current and the second current are substantially the same; and
a unit configured to output a signal based on a voltage at said plurality of devices and a voltage at said reference device, the amount of voltage at devices immersed in the liquid distinguishable from the amount of voltage at devices not immersed in the liquid.
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Abstract
An apparatus for measuring a volume of liquid within a vessel is described. The apparatus includes a plurality of devices each having electrical properties that are dependent on a temperature of the device, a constant current source coupled to the plurality of devices, and a unit configured to output a signal based on an amount of voltage at by the plurality of devices. The amount of voltage is based on a number of the plurality of devices immersed in the liquid, and a number of the plurality of devices not immersed in the liquid.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring a volume of liquid within a vessel, said apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of devices connected in series, each having electrical properties that are dependent on temperature; a reference device, having electrical properties that are dependent on temperature; a first constant current source supplying a first current to said plurality of devices; a second constant current source supplying a second current to said reference device, wherein the first current and the second current are substantially the same; and a unit configured to output a signal based on a voltage at said plurality of devices and a voltage at said reference device, the amount of voltage at devices immersed in the liquid distinguishable from the amount of voltage at devices not immersed in the liquid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for measuring a level of liquid in a vessel, said method comprising:
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positioning a plurality of sensor devices within the vessel; applying a first constant current to the plurality of sensor devices, wherein the plurality of sensor devices are connected in series within the vessel; applying a second constant current to a reference sensor device within the vessel, wherein the first constant current and the second constant current are substantially the same; measuring a voltage at the plurality of sensor devices and a voltage at the reference device to determine a number of sensor devices that are immersed in the liquid; and calculating the level of liquid within the vessel based on the number of sensor devices determined to be immersed in the liquid. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification