Scan lock and track fluid characterization and level sensor apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fluid level sensing apparatus comprising:
- a coaxial probe;
a transmitter for transmitting an electrical pulse to the probe;
a receiver having a gate for gated reception of a reflected pulse from the probe; and
a digital signal processor for processing the transmitted and the reflected pulses;
wherein a voltage corresponding to a time between a beginning of the transmitted pulse and an opening of the receiver gate is input to the digital signal processor.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid characterization and level sensor with a coaxial probe attached to a closed loop servo circuitry combined with a DSP and novel algorithms to scan, lock and track signals to ascertain the level and purity of fluid in a container.
29 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A fluid level sensing apparatus comprising:
-
a coaxial probe; a transmitter for transmitting an electrical pulse to the probe; a receiver having a gate for gated reception of a reflected pulse from the probe; and a digital signal processor for processing the transmitted and the reflected pulses; wherein a voltage corresponding to a time between a beginning of the transmitted pulse and an opening of the receiver gate is input to the digital signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A fluid level sensing apparatus comprising:
-
a coaxial probe; a transmitter for transmitting an electrical pulse to the probe; and a receiver having a gate for gated reception of a reflected pulse from the probe; wherein an error signal is driven to zero in a closed loop for controlling when the receiver gate opens; the error signal being a difference between a first signal vr and a second signal vp; the first signal Vr being a receiver gate control command signal; and the second signal Vp representing a time between a beginning of the transmitted pulse and an opening of the receiver gate. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A fluid level sensing apparatus comprising:
-
probe means for measuring fluid level; transmitter means for transmitting electrical pulses to the probe means; receiver means connected to receiver gate means for gated reception of reflections from the probe means; and processing means for processing the reflections from the probe means; wherein a closed loop is formed for controlling when the receiver gate means opens.
-
Specification