Electro-optic sensor to identify multiple mediums
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorsGregory KOPANSKY, Michael WILLIAMS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensor system includes one or more sensors managed by a controller. Each sensor within the sensor system includes a signal emitter configured to send a signal through a prism to an interface surface and a signal detector configured to receive a signal reflected through the prism from the interface surface. The controller analyzes the power level of the reflected signal to determine the medium (e.g., air, water, or fuel) that surrounds the interface surface. In certain examples, the presence of each of air, water, and fuel will result in a unique, respective power level of the reflected signal.
Claims20
A method of monitoring a fuel tank, the method comprising:
- a. providing a plurality of sensors at respective levels within a fuel tank;
- and
- b. for each sensor, shining light through a prism of the sensor and obtaining a reflected signal;
- and
- c. for each sensor, determining which of at least three mediums is disposed within the fuel tank at the respective level of the sensor based on the reflected signal.
A sensor system for a fuel tank of a vehicle, the sensor system comprising:
- a first optical sensor disposed at a first level within the fuel tank;
- a second optical sensor disposed at a second level within the fuel tank;
- and
- a third optical sensor disposed at a third level within the fuel tank,
- each of the first, second, and third optical sensors including a signal input path, a signal output path, the respective prism of each of the first, second, and third sensors being configured to:
- a. reflect a first non-zero portion of a signal from the input path towards the output path when the respective prism is immersed in air;
- b. reflect a second non-zero portion of a signal from the input path towards the output path when the respective prism is immersed in water;
- c. reflect a third non-zero portion of a signal from the input path towards the output path when the respective prism is immersed in fuel;
- d. wherein the first, second, and third non-zero portions are different from each other.
A sensor system comprising:
- a prism having a first coefficient of refraction of between 1.5 and 1.6;
- a signal source configured to shine a signal along an input path towards the prism;
- a signal detector configured to receive a reflected signal along an output path from the prism;
- and
- a controller configured to manage the signal source and the signal detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.