Processing echoes in ultrasonic liquid gauging systems
AssigneeSimmonds Precision Products, Inc.
InventorScott R. Durkee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method for processing echoes received in an ultrasonic liquid gauging apparatus includes the steps of transmitting at time t.sub.1 ultrasonic energy from an ultrasonic transducer toward a fixed target and a liquid surface; producing a transmission pulse corresponding to the time t.sub.1 ; receiving during a predetermined cycle interval a number (i) of ultrasonic echoes after t.sub.1 and converting each echo into a corresponding echo pulse having an associated time of arrival t.sub.i+1 ; and calculating the liquid level based on an averaged time of arrival of the second echo relative to t.sub.1 when it is known that the liquid surface is low.
Claims13
Method for processing echoes received in an ultrasonic liquid gauging apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) transmitting at time t.sub.1 ultrasonic energy from an ultrasonic transducer toward a fixed target and a liquid surface, said target being a known distance from said transducer;
- b) producing a transmission pulse corresponding to the time t.sub.1 ;
- c) receiving during a predetermined cycle interval a number (i) of at least two ultrasonic echoes after t.sub.1 and converting each echo into a corresponding echo pulse having an associated time of arrival t.sub.i+1 ;
- d) identifying that the liquid surface is low based on times of arrival of said received echoes;
- and
- e) calculating from velocity of sound and echo arrival time said low liquid level based on time of arrival of at least one of said received echoes relative to t.sub.1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.