Ultrasonic fluid level sensing using a dry couplant
First Claim
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1. A combination ultrasonic, non-invasive, bottom-up fluid level sensor and container, comprising:
- a container; and
an ultrasonic sensor, comprising;
a mounting base;
an ultrasonic transducer in electrical communication with the mounting base;
a dry couplant in acoustic communication with the transducer, wherein the dry couplant is configured to adapt to the bottom surface of the container, and wherein the container sits on top of the sensor and is coupled to the exterior of the container only by the weight of the container and any fluid in the container, wherein the dry couplant is three couplants located equidistant from each other on top of the mounting base.
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Abstract
An ultrasonic, non-invasive, bottom-up fluid level sensor for a container, includes: an ultrasonic transducer; and a dry couplant in acoustic communication with the transducer. The dry couplant is configured to adapt to the bottom surface of the container and the sensor contains nothing to bias the sensor against the container other than the weight of the container and fluid.
45 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A combination ultrasonic, non-invasive, bottom-up fluid level sensor and container, comprising:
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a container; and an ultrasonic sensor, comprising; a mounting base; an ultrasonic transducer in electrical communication with the mounting base; a dry couplant in acoustic communication with the transducer, wherein the dry couplant is configured to adapt to the bottom surface of the container, and wherein the container sits on top of the sensor and is coupled to the exterior of the container only by the weight of the container and any fluid in the container, wherein the dry couplant is three couplants located equidistant from each other on top of the mounting base. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 14)
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7. An ultrasonic, non-invasive, bottom-up fluid level sensor for a container, comprising:
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an ultrasonic transducer; and a dry couplant in acoustic communication with the transducer, wherein the dry couplant is configured to adapt to the bottom surface of the container; wherein the sensor contains no biasing means to bias the sensor against the container other than the weight of the container and fluid, wherein dry couplant is three couplants located equidistant from each other on top of a mounting base. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. An ultrasonic, non-invasive, bottom-up fluid level sensor for a container, comprising:
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an ultrasonic transducer; and a dry couplant in acoustic communication with the transducer, wherein the dry couplant is configured to adapt to the bottom surface of the container; wherein the sensor contains no biasing means to bias the sensor against the container other than the weight of the container and fluid, wherein the dry couplant further comprises a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion having a softness greater than the bottom portion, and wherein ultrasonic transducer is located within the bottom portion. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification