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US 5,668,536 AGranted
Fluid level sensing apparatus
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsPaul C. Gottshall, Timothy A. Boston, Kevin D. Ehrenhardt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for sensing the level of fluid, including a two electrode device being disposed in the fluid and a microprocessor. The microprocessor being connected to the two electrode device and delivering alternating current thereto. The microprocessor reads the voltage across the device, compares the voltage to a predetermined voltage level, and produces a warning signal in response to the fluid level being below a predetermined fluid level.
Claims10
An apparatus for sensing the level of fluid, comprising:
- a two prong electrode device being disposed in the fluid;
- a microprocessor being connected to the two electrode device and delivering alternating current thereto, wherein the microprocessor reads the voltage across the device, compares the voltage to a predetermined voltage level, and produces a warning signal in response to the fluid level being below a predetermined fluid level;
- and
- first and second switches being connected between a 13 volt energy source and around, the first switch being connected between one end of the two prong electrode device and a first microprocessor input channel, and the second switch being connected between the other end of the two prong electrode device and a second microprocessor input channel, the microprocessor alternately biasing the first and second switches ON and OFF to create the alternating current through the coolant level sensor.
1 more element
An apparatus for sensing the level of fluid, comprising:
- a two prong electrode device being disposed in the fluid;
- a microprocessor being connected to the two electrode device and delivering alternating current thereto, wherein the microprocessor reads the voltage across the device, compares the voltage to a predetermined voltage level, and produces a warning signal in response to the fluid level being below a predetermined fluid level;
- and
- first and second resistors being connected to a 13 volt energy source, the first resistor being connected between one end of the two prong electrode device and a first microprocessor input/output channel, and the second resistor being connected between the other end of the two prong electrode device and a second microprocessor input/output channel, wherein the microprocessor alternately configures the first and second input/output channels to an input and an output to produce the alternating current through the two prong electrode device.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.