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.
Claims20
A fluid level detector system, comprising:
- a transmitter receiver system comprising a transmitter and a receiver;
- and
- a sensing zone adjacent the transmitter and the receiver;
- wherein the transmitter and the receiver are arranged such that when an electric field forms between the transmitter and the receiver, a fringe electric field extends from the transmitter into the sensing zone,
- wherein the transmitter and the receiver are both on a same side of the sensing zone, and
- wherein a container located at the sensing zone changes a measured capacitance value to a first measured capacitance at the transmitter receiver system.
A method for detecting a fluid level, the method comprising:
- providing a fluid level detector system comprising a capacitive sensor adjacent a sensing zone;
- detecting the presence of a container at the sensing zone;
- determining a first capacitance of the container;
- calibrating the fluid level detector system based on the first capacitance;
- and
- evaluating a volume of a fluid in the container by measuring a second capacitance at the sensing zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.