Material level indicator

• US 9,702,750 B1
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Finetek Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Finetek Company Limited
• Inventors: Lin, I-Chu, Chang, Liang-Chi, Chen, Wei-Yu, Hou, Yi-Liang, Huang, Chun-Han
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, Laura
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morello, Jean
• Application Number:
  US14/994,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20170199072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/284 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00

Abstract

A material level indicator includes a probe, first and second signal compensating units, arranged at first and second ends of the probe respectively, and a controlling module arranged at the first end and includes a signal processor, a signal emitter, and a signal receiver. The second end is opposite to the first end. The signal processor is connected to the signal emitter and the signal receiver. The signal emitter emits an electromagnetic signal from the first end to the second end of the probe. The first and second signal compensating units reflect the electromagnetic signal, and the signal processor generates first and second time interval differences according to the reflected electromagnetic signal received by the signal receiver. The signal processor calibrates an environmental coefficient and indicates a dielectric coefficient of the material according to the first and second time interval differences respectively.

Claims

1. A material level indicator, for measuring a material level in a container, comprising:

a probe, including a first end and a second end opposite to the first end;

a plurality of first signal compensating units, installed at the first end, and having a first spacing distance defined between two adjacent first signal compensating units;

a plurality of second signal compensating units, installed at the second end, and having a second spacing distance defined between two adjacent second signal compensating units; and

a controlling module, disposed at the first end, and comprising;

a signal processor;

a signal emitter, electrically coupled to the signal processor, for generating an electromagnetic signal, and the electromagnetic signal being transmitted from the first end to the second end; and

a signal receiver, electrically coupled to the signal processor;

wherein, the first signal compensating units reflect the electromagnetic signal, and the signal receiver receives the electromagnetic signal reflected by the first signal compensating units and transmitted to the signal processor to generate a first travel time difference, and the signal processor corrects an environmental coefficient according to the first travel time difference, and the second signal compensating units reflect the electromagnetic signal, and the signal receiver receives the electromagnetic signal reflected by the second signal compensating units and transmitted to the signal processor to generate a second travel time difference, and the signal processor detects a dielectric coefficient of the material according to the second travel time difference.

2. The material level indicator according to claim 1, wherein the first spacing distance is different from the second spacing distance.

3. The material level indicator according to claim 1, wherein the first signal compensating units and the second signal compensating units are recesses respectively.

4. The material level indicator according to claim 1, wherein the first signal compensating units and the second signal compensating units are protrusions respectively.

5. The material level indicator according to claim 4, further comprising a connector installed between two adjacent first signal compensating units or two adjacent second signal compensating units.

6. The material level indicator according to claim 1, further comprising a signal booster coupled to the second end for enhancing signal intensity of the second travel time difference.

7. The material level indicator according to claim 6, wherein the signal booster is circularly coupled to the second end of the probe.

8. The material level indicator according to claim 6, wherein the signal booster comprises a main body and an extension, and the extension has an external diameter decreasing with the distance away from the second end.

9. The material level indicator according to claim 6, wherein the signal booster is substantially in the shape of a funnel, and the signal booster has an external diameter decreasing with the distance away from the second end.

10. The material level indicator according to claim 6, wherein the signal booster comprises a cylinder and a recess, and the recess is formed at an end of the cylinder proximate to the second end.

11. The material level indicator according to claim 1, wherein the probe further comprises a weight coupled to the second end.

12. The material level indicator according to claim 11, wherein the weight has an external diameter increasing with the distance away from the second end.

13. The material level indicator according to claim 11, wherein the weight has a connecting portion, and an upper end and a lower end disposed on two opposite sides of the connecting portion respectively and coupled to the connecting portion, and the upper end is coupled to the second end, and the upper end has an external diameter increasing with the distance away from the second end, and the lower end has an external diameter decreasing with the distance away from the connecting portion.

14. The material level indicator according to claim 11, wherein the weight is comprised of a plurality equidistant ring members.