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US 12,607,495 B2Granted
Systems and methods for sensing level of liquid within a container
AssigneesThe Boeing Compnay, Advance Fibreoptics Engineering Ltd
InventorsJohn Alfred Weidler, Elaine Cheng Wright, Timothy James Wheeler, John Everett Groat, Christopher John Lewins, Mark Robert Johnson, Patrick David Knowles, Marco Zanola
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and a method include a container configured to retain one or more liquids. A liquid level sensor is disposed within the container. The liquid level sensor includes a plurality of sensing elements configured to sense a level of the one or more liquids within the container. In at least one example, the sensing elements are optical fibers.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a container configured to retain one or more liquids;
- and
- a liquid level sensor disposed within the container, wherein the liquid level sensor comprises sensing elements configured to sense a level of the one or more liquids within the container,
- wherein each of the sensing elements is configured to output a specific optical signal, and
- wherein the level of the one or more liquids is determined based on the specific optical signal from each of the sensing elements.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- retaining one or more liquids within a container;
- disposing a liquid level sensor within the container, wherein the liquid level sensor comprises a sensing elements configured to sense a level of the one or more liquids within the container;
- outputting a specific optical signal from each of the sensing elements;
- and
- determining the level of the one or more liquids based on the specific optical signal from each of the sensing elements.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- a container configured to retain one or more liquids;
- a liquid level sensor disposed within the container, wherein the liquid level sensor comprises sensing elements configured to sense a level of the one or more liquids within the container, and wherein the sensing elements are optical fibers, wherein each of the sensing elements is configured to output a specific optical signal, and wherein the level of the one or more liquids is determined based on the specific optical signals from the sensing elements;
- a multiplexer coupled to the liquid level sensor;
- a reflective surface coupled to one or more channels of the multiplexer;
- a control unit in communication with the liquid level sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to determine the level of the one or more liquids within the container based on the specific optical signals received from each of the sensing elements;
- a light source, wherein the control unit is further configured to operate the light source to emit light into the liquid level sensor;
- and
- an optical line that communicatively couples the control unit to the multiplexer, wherein the optical line is an optical fiber that extends through a portion of the container.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.