Sensor device for containers of liquid substances

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11079327-B2
Application number	US-201716080197-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2017
Priority date	Mar 4, 2016
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

An optical sensor has a body including a transparent interface wall having an outer surface in contact with a liquid, to define therewith a reflection interface. An optical module is coupled at an inner surface of the interface wall, to detect a characteristic of the liquid substance via light reflection. The optical module includes a light emitter and a light receiver facing respective inclined surfaces of the interface wall. The optical module also includes a supporting structure which is elastically flexible, to enable the light emitter and the light receiver of the optical module to vary a relative position thereof and with respect to the inclined surfaces of the interface wall, when the supporting structure is secured to the inner surface of the interface wall.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An optical sensor device for detection of at least one characteristic of a liquid substance, the sensor device comprising a device body with an interface wall having an inner surface and an outer surface,
wherein the device body is pre-arranged to be mounted such that at least one portion of the outer surface of the interface wall is in contact with the liquid substance, to define therewith a reflection interface, and the inner surface of the interface wall is isolated from the liquid substance,
wherein at least one detection arrangement is associated to the inner surface of the interface wall, the detection arrangement including an optical module which comprises at least one emitter and at least one receiver of a given optical radiation,
wherein at least one first portion of the interface wall is made of a material suitable for propagation of the given optical radiation, the at least one emitter and the at least one receiver being optically coupled to the inner surface of the interface wall at said first portion,
wherein said first portion of the interface wall is shaped to contribute to propagation of the given optical radiation by reflection at the reflection interface, from the at least one emitter to the at least one receiver, the given optical radiation from the at least one emitter being at least in part propagated through said first portion of the interface wall as far as the reflection interface, to be reflected by the reflection interface and further propagated through said first portion of the interface wall towards the at least one receiver, such that the given optical radiation is reflected at least in part by the reflection interface with an angle that is variable as a function of the at least one characteristic of the liquid substance,
wherein the inner surface of the interface wall is shaped at said first portion to define a positioning site for the optical module, the positioning site including at least one projecting element defining a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface being inclined in opposite directions to identify therebetween an angle smaller than 90°, the at least one emitter facing the first inclined surface and the at least one receiver facing the second inclined surface, the at least one emitter and the at least one receiver each having a respective axis and being set such that a plane passing through the axis of the at least one emitter intersect a plane passing through the axis of the second receiver to form therebetween an angle greater than 90°,
wherein the optical module includes a structure for support and electrical connection of the at least one emitter and the at least one receiver, which is configured as a part separate from the device body,
wherein the positioning site includes a coupling element at which the structure for support and electrical connection is mechanically secured, the coupling element being defined at the at least one projecting element in a position intermediate to the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface,
wherein the structure for support and electrical connection is at least partially elastically flexible, to enable the at least one emitter and the at least one receiver to vary a relative position thereof and with respect to the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface, respectively, when mechanically securing the structure for support and electrical connection to the coupling element,
and wherein the structure for support and electrical connection includes a plurality of bodies made of electrically insulating material associated to one or more electrical-connection elements made at least in part of electrically conductive material, the one or more electrical-connection elements defining or integrating electrical conductors for electrical connection of the at least one emitter and the at least one receiver.

2. The sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bodies made of electrically insulating material include a central body and a first and second lateral bodies flexibly connected to the central body via the one or more electrical-connection elements, there being associated to the first lateral body the at least one emitter and there being associated to the second lateral body the at least one receiver, the first lateral body and the second lateral body being set angled with respect to one another and each having a front side facing the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface, respectively.

3. The sensor device according to claim 2 , wherein said central body is configured for coupling with the coupling element of the positioning site.

4. The sensor device according to claim 2 , wherein:
the at least one emitter consists of a single emitter of the given optical radiation, and
the at least one receiver consists of two individual receivers of the given optical radiation which are set in positions generally alongside one another on one of said first or second lateral bodies.

5. The sensor device according to claim 2 , wherein the structure for support and electrical connection includes a single piece defining:
said central body; and
said first and second lateral bodies.

6. The sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bodies made of electrically insolating material comprises at least one of the following:
plurality of bodies overmoulded on one or more electrical-connection elements, the one or more electrical connection elements being elastically flexible;
a plurality of bodies overmoulded on a flexible circuit support, which integrates said electrical conductors;
a plurality of distinct bodies connected together by means of the one or more electrical-connection elements, the one or more electrical connection elements being elastically flexible;
a plurality of distinct bodies associated to a flexible circuit support, which integrates the electrical conductors;
a plurality of first bodies moulded with electrically insulating polymeric material, with the one or more electrical-connection elements being moulded with an electrically conductive material comprising a polymer, said first bodies and the one or more electrical-connection elements being co-moulded or overmoulded on one another, the one or more electrical connection elements being elastically flexible;
a plurality of module bodies which are defined by a single moulded piece of polymeric material, the single moulded piece also defining intermediate flexible portions that connects together the module bodies, the one or more electrical connection elements being elastically flexible.

7. The sensor device according to claim 1 , further comprising a blocking member configured as a part separate from the device body and from the structure for support and electrical connection, the blocking member being prearranged for engagement with at least one corresponding engaging part of the positioning site to mechanically secure the structure for support and electrical connection to the coupling element.

8. The sensor device according to claim 7 , wherein the blocking member comprises one of the following:
a blocking member engageable by interference fit with the at least one engaging part of the positioning site, by means of an axial movement of said blocking member with respect to the at least one;
a blocking member engageable with at least one engagement seat of the at least one engaging part of the positioning site by means of an angular or rotary movement of said blocking member with respect to the at least one engaging part;
a blocking member fixable in position via a corresponding stop element, which is engageable with at least one locking seat of the

Assignees

• Eltek Spa

Inventors

• Pizzi Marco
• Merlano Piercarlo
• Cavalli Fabio
• Zorzetto Mauro

Classifications

• G01F23/268

  mounting arrangements of probes · CPC title

• G01N21/431 Primary

  Dip refractometers, e.g. using optical fibres · CPC title

• G01N2201/0245

  with insertable-removable part · CPC title

• G01N21/43

  by measuring critical angle · CPC title

• G01N21/552 Primary

  Attenuated total reflection · CPC title