# US 2014/0196536 A1 · Three-mode sensor for determining temperature, level, and concentration of a fluid

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- Number: US 2014/0196536 A1
- Document ID: US20140196536A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/741,519
- Filed: 2013-01-15
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-15
- Assignees: SSI Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Ssi Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Gregory P. Murphy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196536A1

## CPC

- G01F 23/296: Acoustic waves
- G01F 23/2962: Measuring transit time of reflected waves
- G01F 23/802: {Particular electronic circuits for digital processing equipment}
- G01F 25/20: of apparatus for measuring liquid level
- G01S 15/10: using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves (determination of distance by phase measurement G01S15/32)
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

A three-mode ultrasonic sensor for determining temperature, level, and/or concentration of a fluid. In one embodiment, the sensor includes a target positioned at a level; a controller, and a transducer electrically connected to the controller. The controller is configured to generate an ultrasonic signal, to receive a reflection of the ultrasonic signal from at least one of the target and a surface of a fluid, and generate a signal based on the reflection. The controller is further configured to receive the signal, and determine whether a level of the surface of the fluid is one of the following group: above the level of the target, below the level of the target, and substantially the same as the level of the target.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ultrasonic sensor, the sensor comprising:
a target positioned at a level;
a controller, and
a transducer electrically connected to the controller and configured to generate an ultrasonic signal, to receive a reflection of the ultrasonic signal from at least one of the target and a surface of a fluid, and generate a signal based on the reflection;
wherein the controller is configured to
receive the signal, and
determine whether a level of the surface of the fluid is one of the following group: above the level of the target, below the level of the target, and substantially the same as the level of the target.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a level signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a concentration signal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a level signal and a concentration signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to operate in one of three modes corresponding to the determined level of the surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine when first and second echoes are received by the transducer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The sensor as claimed in claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether one or both of the first and second echoes are received within a first reference time window.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The sensor as claimed in claim 7, wherein if one or both of the first and second echoes are received within the first reference time window, the controller generates an output signal indicating that the level of the surface is near or substantially the same as the level of the target.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The sensor as claimed in claim 7, wherein if the first echo is less than the first reference time window, the controller generates an output signal indicating that the level of the surface is below the level of the target.

### Claim 10

An ultrasonic sensor, the sensor comprising:
a target positioned at a level;
a controller, and
a single transducer electrically connected to the controller and configured to generate an ultrasonic signal, to receive a reflection of the ultrasonic signal from at least one of the target and a surface of a fluid, and generate a signal based on the reflection;
wherein the controller is configured to
receive the signal, and
determine whether a level of the surface of the fluid is one of the following group: above the level of the target, below the level of the target, and substantially the same as the level of the target.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a level signal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a concentration signal.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a level signal and a concentration signal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to operate in one of three modes corresponding to the determined level of the surface.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine when first and second echoes are received by the transducer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The sensor as claimed in claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether one or both of the first and second echoes are received within a first reference time window.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The sensor as claimed in claim 16, wherein if one or both of the first and second echoes are received within the first reference time window, the controller generates an output signal indicating that the level of the surface is near or substantially the same as the level of the target.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The sensor as claimed in claim 15, wherein if the first echo is less than the first reference time window, the controller generates an output signal indicating that the level of the surface is below the level of the target.