Ultrasonic liquid level sensing systems
AssigneeAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.
InventorsCharles Michael Birtcher, Thomas Andrew Steidl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide an ultrasonic probe having an increased number (e.g., twelve) of ultrasonic sensors for measuring the level of liquid within a sealed container. The ultrasonic probe includes a neck tube that enables the ultrasonic probe to be used with existing, standardized container fittings despite having an enlarged barrel to accommodate the increased number of ultrasonic sensors. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a system and method in which ultrasonic sensors within an ultrasonic probe are activated one at a time to reduce crosstalk between the ultrasonic sensors and their wiring.
Claims17
1-29. (canceled)
A system comprising:
- a controller that is operatively configured to send and receive electronic signals;
- and
- an ultrasonic probe comprising a fitting assembly, a barrel extending downwardly from the fitting assembly, and a plurality of ultrasonic sensors located within the barrel, each of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors being adapted to receive electronic signals sent from the controller, emit sound waves in response to the electronic signals sent from the controller, detect sound waves, and transmit electronic signals to the controller indicative of the detected sound waves;
- and
- a multi conductor shielded cable, wherein all ultrasonic sensors of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors are electrically coupled to the controller by the multi conductor shielded cable;
- wherein the controller is programmed to send electronic signals to only one of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors at a time.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A method of operating a probe having a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, the method comprising:
- (a) sending an electronic signal to one of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors using one conductor of a plurality of inner conductors of a multi conductor shielded cable;
- (b) receiving an electronic signal from the ultrasonic sensor of step (a) using an outer shield of the multi conductor shielded cable;
- (c) sending an electronic signal to another one of the of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors only after step (b) has been performed;
- and
- (d) receiving an electronic signal from the ultrasonic sensor of step (c).
39-55. (canceled)
An ultrasonic probe comprising:
- a plurality of ultrasonic sensors disposed within an internal volume of the ultrasonic probe, wherein each ultrasonic sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors is connected to a separate signal line that is not individually shielded and each ultrasonic sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors being connected to a common return line, each signal line comprising an internal conductor of a coaxial cable and the common return line comprising an outer shield of the coaxial cable.
(canceled)
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.