System and method for determining the level of a substance in a container based on measurement of resonance from an acoustic circuit that includes unfilled space within the container that changes size as substance is added or removed from the container
First Claim
1. A system for measuring the level of a substance in a container, comprising:
- an emitting transducer mounted on an inner surface of a body of said container providing a signal generated by a variable frequency oscillator to excite acoustic resonance of an acoustic circuit represented by a container having an empty space filled with a vapor analogous to a capacitor of an acoustic circuit;
a tube analogous to an inductor of an acoustic circuit, wherein the vapor experiences friction as it moves within the tube, which is analogous to a resistor of an acoustic circuit;
a second tube configured to allow for the addition or removal of said substance in said container without perturbing said tube analogous to said inductor of an acoustic circuit;
a sensing transducer mounted on an inner vertical surface of said tube analogous to an inductor measuring amplitude of the signal as it changes as the circuit achieves resonance and as the container is filled or emptied;
a cap capping an opening formed at an end of said tube, wherein said cap includes a flexible perimeter connecting the cap to the opening formed at the end of said tube, wherein said cap is configured to move freely as said system resonates anda signal processing unit coupled to the sensing transducer and the variable frequency oscillator driving the emitting transducer, said signal processing unit processing the signal sensed by the sensing transducer to extract resonant frequencies from background noise using correlation functions by referencing the signal generated by the variable frequency oscillator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Level of a substance in a container can be determined by exciting vapor in unfilled space within the container. Variable frequency oscillator and emitting transducer can provide signals to excite resonance of vapor. A sensor can measure the peak resonant signal of vapor excited in unfilled space within the container as the amount of substance in the container changes. A signal-processing unit coupled to the sensor and variable frequency oscillator can process signals sensed by the sensing transducer and can extract them from background noise affecting the acoustic signal of the system using correlation functions by referencing the signal generated by the variable frequency oscillator. A computer can obtain the signal processed by the signal-processing unit and calculate unfilled space within the container and derive therefrom an amount of filled space representing the amount of the substance contained therein. A gauge can indicate the amount of substance in the container.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for measuring the level of a substance in a container, comprising:
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an emitting transducer mounted on an inner surface of a body of said container providing a signal generated by a variable frequency oscillator to excite acoustic resonance of an acoustic circuit represented by a container having an empty space filled with a vapor analogous to a capacitor of an acoustic circuit; a tube analogous to an inductor of an acoustic circuit, wherein the vapor experiences friction as it moves within the tube, which is analogous to a resistor of an acoustic circuit; a second tube configured to allow for the addition or removal of said substance in said container without perturbing said tube analogous to said inductor of an acoustic circuit; a sensing transducer mounted on an inner vertical surface of said tube analogous to an inductor measuring amplitude of the signal as it changes as the circuit achieves resonance and as the container is filled or emptied;
a cap capping an opening formed at an end of said tube, wherein said cap includes a flexible perimeter connecting the cap to the opening formed at the end of said tube, wherein said cap is configured to move freely as said system resonates anda signal processing unit coupled to the sensing transducer and the variable frequency oscillator driving the emitting transducer, said signal processing unit processing the signal sensed by the sensing transducer to extract resonant frequencies from background noise using correlation functions by referencing the signal generated by the variable frequency oscillator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system or measuring the amount of a substance in a container, comprising:
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an emitting transducer mounted on an inner surface of a body of said container providing a signal generated by a variable frequency oscillator to excite acoustic resonance of an acoustic circuit represented by a container having an empty space filled with a vapor that is analogous to a capacitor of an acoustic circuit; a tube, which is analogous to an inductor of an acoustic circuit, wherein the vapor experiences friction as it moves within the tube, which is analogous to a resistor of an acoustic circuit; a second tube configured to allow for the addition or removal of said substance in said container without perturbing said tube analogous to said inductor of an acoustic circuit;
a cap capping an opening formed at an end of said tube, wherein said cap includes a flexible perimeter connecting the cap to the opening formed at the end of said tube, wherein said cap is configured to move freely as said system resonates anda sensing transducer mounted on the tube, said sensing transducer measuring the amplitude of the signal as it changes and as the circuit achieves resonance after substance is added or removed from the container. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for determining the level of a substance in a container, comprising:
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exciting vapor in an empty space within said container with a resonant signal provided by an emitting transducer mounted on an inner surface of a body of said container coupled to a variable frequency oscillator for providing signals to the emitting transducer that cause resonance, wherein said container is also holding a substance; and using a sensor to measure the resonant signal of the vapor excited by the resonant signal from the emitting transducer in the empty space within the container, wherein the resonant signal is a component of an acoustic circuit created by the container, vapor, and substance that changes as the amount of the substance is added or removed from the container wherein said sensor is mounted in a tube extending from the container and said tube is capped with a flexible lid connected to an opening at the end of said tube with a flexible material enabling the lid to move freely relative to said container. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification