Optical level gauge apparatus and method, liquid tank assembly and vehicle employing the same

An optical level gauge apparatus configured for gauging a liquid level in a tank volume defined by a tank wall of a tank, the apparatus comprising:

• a light source;
• a sensor device having a plurality of optical sensors that form an imaging sensor, wherein each of the optical sensors is configured for detecting an amount of light, wherein the sensor device is configured to:
• output a plurality of measured light values that are indicative of the amount of light detected by a respective optical sensor of the plurality of optical sensors;
• and
• output the measured light values as image data;
• a light conductor configured for optical coupling to the light source, the sensor device, and the tank volume, wherein:
• when the light conductor is optically coupled to the light source, the sensor device, and the tank volume, the light conductor is configured to conduct outgoing light rays from the light source to the tank volume and to conduct incoming light rays, reflected or scattered at least once within the tank volume, from the tank volume to the sensor device, wherein the incoming light rays are conducted such that each of the plurality of optical sensors corresponds to a specific portion of the tank wall;
• and
• the light conductor is configured as an imaging light conductor capable of conducting the incoming light rays such that the sensor device can image the tank volume;
• a liquid level determining device configured for determining the liquid level by processing the image data;
• and
• a pattern arrangement that is arrangeable within or projectable into the tank volume, wherein the incoming light rays are caused by the pattern arrangement.