Method of data communication with multiple liquid level detection sensors connected to a central processing unit, and liquid level detection system

A method of data communication with a selected sensor of multiple liquid level detection sensors connected to a central processing unit, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) transmitting by the central processing unit directly or indirectly a data communication signal to the selected sensor of the series of multiple sensors,
• b) upon receipt of the communication signal by the selected sensor, processing the data communication signal in the selected sensor, and
• c) allocating an addressing value to one or more of the multiple sensors to determine a location of the one or more sensors in the series of multiple sensors,
• wherein the step of allocating an addressing value to one or more of the multiple sensors comprises:
• d) transmitting by the central processing unit an addressing signal having an addressing value to a first sensor of the series of multiple sensors,
• e) upon receipt of the addressing signal by one of the multiple sensors, by the respective one sensor,
• adapting the addressing value to a further addressing value,
• storing the addressing value or the further addressing value in the sensor,
• transmitting the addressing signal with the further addressing value to a next sensor of the series of multiple sensors, and
• transmitting an acknowledgement signal to the central processing unit to acknowledge receipt and/or transmission of the addressing signal, and
• f) repeating step e) for each sensor receiving the addressing signal and capable of data communication
• wherein each sensor comprises a power input connection and a ground connection to provide power to the sensor, a pulse input connection, a pulse output connection and a diagnostic connection, wherein the multiple sensors are connected in series via the pulse input connection and the pulse output connection, and wherein the multiple sensors are connected in parallel to the central processing unit via the diagnostic connection, and wherein the addressing signal is received at the pulse input connection and transmitted at the pulse output connection, and wherein the acknowledgement signal is transmitted at the diagnostic connection.

A method of data communication with a selected sensor of multiple liquid level detection sensors connected to a central processing unit, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) transmitting by the central processing unit directly or indirectly a data communication signal to the selected sensor of the series of multiple sensors,
• b) upon receipt of the communication signal by the selected sensor, processing the data communication signal in the selected sensor, and
• further comprising the step of counting the number of sensors in a series of multiple sensors capable of data communication, the counting comprising:
• i) transmitting by the central processing unit or the first sensor a counting signal to a sensor of the series of multiple sensors,
• ii) upon receipt of the counting signal by one of the multiple sensors, by the respective one sensor, transmitting the counting signal to a next sensor of the series of multiple sensors and transmitting an acknowledgement signal to the central processing unit, wherein the sensors capable of data communication are configured to transmit the counting signal and the acknowledgement signal with a delay,
• iii) repeating step ii) for each sensor receiving the counting signal, and
• iv) determining by the central processing unit on the basis of the number and timing of acknowledgement signals received by the central processing unit, the number of sensors capable of data communication in the series of multiple sensors.