Capacitive fluid level detector
AssigneeBe the Change Labs, Inc.
InventorsWouter Konings, Allen Simon, Stijn Kroeze, Ad van den Bemt
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Abstract
A fluid level detector is provided, which has a transmitter, a receiver, and a sensing zone adjacent the transmitter and receiver. The transmitter and receiver are arranged such that when an electric field forms between the transmitter and receiver, a fringe electric field extends from the transmitter into the sensing zone. The transmitter and receiver are both on a same side of the sensing zone, and a fluid located at the sensing zone changes a measured capacitance at the transmitter and receiver system.
Claims11
A fluid level detector comprising:
- a transmitter;
- a receiver;
- a sensing zone adjacent the transmitter and receiver;
- wherein the transmitter and receiver are arranged such that, when an electric field forms between the transmitter and receiver, a fringe electric field extends from the transmitter into the sensing zone,
- wherein the transmitter and receiver are both on a same side of the sensing zone, and
- wherein a fluid located at the sensing zone changes a measured capacitance at the transmitter and receiver system.
A method for detecting a fluid level, the method providing:
- providing a capacitive sensor adjacent a sensing zone;
- detecting the presence of a container at the sensing zone;
- evaluating a volume of a fluid in the container by evaluating the capacitance at the sensor;
- determining that the container is not full of the fluid;
- adding fluid to the container while monitoring the capacitance at the sensor;
- and
- stopping the addition of fluid to the container upon detecting a measure of capacitance at the capacitive sensor indicating a threshold amount of the fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.