Methods and systems for liquid volumetric measurement

• US 7,523,661 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Bourne, William C., Dwyer, Michael D., Hollingsworth, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gissel; Gunnar J
• Application Number:
  US11/461,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20080028852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 73/13.1, 73/17.3, 738/61, 738/610.1, 738/610.2, 732/041.1, 732/041.4, 732/041.7, 732/041.9, 732/042.2, 732/042.4, 732/042.3, 732/042.5, 732/042.6, 732/90.R, 732/95, 733/04.R, 733/04.C
• US Class Current: 73/295
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/247 for discrete levels

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.

Claims

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.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of devices comprises a plurality of thermistors.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of devices are placed within the vessel according to one or more dimensions of the vessel.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the reference device is placed within the vessel such that it is assumed to be immersed in liquid at all times.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the voltage at the reference device and a voltage at the plurality of devices that are immersed in the liquid is partially based on a temperature of the liquid.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a glass passivation layer configured to protect said plurality of devices from any corrosive chemicals in the liquid.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the voltage output by said unit is indicative of the number of devices immersed in the liquid.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, said apparatus configured to indicate a level of liquid in the vessel based on the voltage output by said unit.

9. A method for measuring a level of liquid in a vessel, said method comprising:

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.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein positioning a plurality of sensor devices within the vessel comprises normalizing a placement of the sensor devices based on a contour of the interior of the vessel.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein normalizing a placement of the sensor devices comprises positioning the sensor devices with respect to one another based on a contour of the interior of the vessel.

12. A method according to claim 9 wherein positioning a plurality of sensor devices within the vessel comprises positioning a plurality of thermistor devices within the vessel.

13. A method according to claim 9 wherein determining a number of the sensor devices that are immersed in the liquid comprises:

determining an amount of voltage at the reference device immersed in the liquid; and

calculating, based on a total voltage at the plurality of sensor devices and the determined amount of voltage at the reference device, a number of sensor devices that are immersed in the liquid.