Continuous electro-optic fluid level sensor comprising plural light detectors oppositely disposed at the second end portion of a body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11268844-B2
Application number	US-201916600861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2019
Priority date	Oct 16, 2018
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

An electro-optic fluid level sensor includes a body having a first end portion and an oppositely disposed second end portion. A light source is disposed at the first end portion of the body. A first light detector is disposed at the second end portion of the body. A second light detector is disposed at the second end portion of the body. The second light detector is axially offset from the first light detector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electro-optic fluid level sensor comprising:
a body having a first end portion and an oppositely disposed second end portion, the body defining a central bore and a central longitudinal axis;
a light source disposed at the first end portion of the body;
a first light detector disposed at the second end portion of the body; and
a second light detector disposed at the second end portion of the body, wherein the second light detector is offset from the first light detector in a direction that is parallel to the central longitudinal axis.

2. The electro-optic fluid level sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first light detector outputs a first output that is proportionate to an amount or intensity of light received at the first light detector from the light source.

3. The electro-optic fluid level sensor of claim 2 , wherein the second light detector outputs a second output that is proportionate to an amount or intensity of light received at the second light detector from the light source.

4. The electro-optic fluid level sensor of claim 3 , wherein the electro-optic fluid level sensor further includes a processing unit.

5. The electro-optic fluid level sensor of claim 4 , wherein the processing unit is adapted to calculate a height of fluid in the central bore using a mathematical function of the offset of the first and second light detectors and the first and second outputs.

6. The electro-optic fluid level sensor of claim 5 , wherein the mathematical function is linear.

7. An electro-optic continuous fluid level sensor comprising:
a body having a first end portion and an oppositely disposed second end portion, the body defining a central bore and a central longitudinal axis, the central bore adapted to receive a fluid;
a light source disposed at the first end portion of the body, the light source being aligned with the central longitudinal axis, wherein the light source emits light in a direction that is generally parallel with the central longitudinal axis;
a light detector assembly disposed at the second end portion of the body and adapted to receive light emitted from the light source, the light detector assembly including a first light detector and a second light detector, wherein the second light detector is axially offset from the first light detector in a direction that is generally parallel with the central longitudinal axis.

8. The electro-optic continuous fluid level sensor of claim 7 , wherein the first light detector outputs a first output that is proportionate to an amount or intensity of light received at the first light detector from the light source.

9. The electro-optic continuous fluid level sensor of claim 8 , wherein the second light detector outputs a second output that is proportionate to an amount or intensity of light received at the second light detector from the light source.

10. The electro-optic continuous fluid level sensor of claim 9 , wherein the electro-optic fluid level sensor further includes a processing unit.

11. The electro-optic continuous fluid level sensor of claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is adapted to calculate a height of fluid in the central bore using a mathematical function of the offset of the first and second light detectors and the first and second outputs.

12. The electro-optic continuous fluid level sensor of claim 11 , wherein the mathematical function is logarithmic.

13. A method for determining a fluid level in a fluid chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
emitting light from a light source disposed in an electro-optic fluid level sensor;
receiving the light at a first light detector of the electro-optic fluid level sensor, wherein the first light detector outputs a first output that is proportional to an amount of light the first light detector receives;
receiving the light at a second light detector of the electro-optic fluid level sensor, the second light detector being axially offset a distance from the first light detector, wherein the second light detector outputs a second output that is proportional to an amount of light the second light detector receives; and
computing a height of a fluid relative to the first light detector, wherein the height of the fluid computation is a mathematical function of a distance of the axial offset and the first and second outputs.

14. A method for determining a fluid level in a fluid chamber as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first output is a first voltage.

15. A method for determining a fluid level in a fluid chamber as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the second output is a second voltage.

16. A method for determining a fluid level in a fluid chamber as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the mathematical function is linear.

17. A method for determining a fluid level in a fluid chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
emitting light from a first light source disposed in an electro-optic fluid level sensor;
receiving the light at a light detector of the electro-optic fluid level sensor, wherein the light detector outputs a first output that is proportional to an amount of light the light detector receives from the first light source;
emitting light from a second light source disposed in the electro-optic fluid level sensor, wherein the second light source is axially offset a distance from the first light source;
receiving the light at the light detector, wherein the light detector outputs a second output that is proportional to an amount of light the light detector receives from the second light source;
calculating a height of a fluid, wherein the height of the fluid calculation is a mathematical function of the distance of the axial offset between the first and second light sources and the first and second outputs.

18. A method for determining a fluid level in a fluid chamber as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the first output is a first voltage.

19. A method for determining a fluid level in a fluid chamber as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the second output is a second voltage.

20. A method for determining a fluid level in a fluid chamber as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the mathematical function is linear.

Assignees

• Kopansky Gregory
• Birch George P
• Quaile William C
• Weiser David A
• Gross Thomas C
• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Kopansky Gregory
• Birch George P
• Quaile William C
• Weiser David A
• Gross Thomas C

Classifications

• G01F23/80

  Arrangements for signal processing · CPC title

• G01F23/292 Primary

  Light {, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet} · CPC title