Capacitive filling level sensor
OwnerHeinz Plöchingerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A capacitive filling level sensor has a first capacitive sensor element arranged close to a fluid whose filling level is to be detected, a second capacitive sensor element arranged close to a fluid whose filling level is to be detected, and a switched-capacitor measuring circuit, which is connected to the first and second capacitive sensor elements and which detects the capacitance values thereof. The switched-capacitor measuring circuit produces in response to the detected capacitance values a signal indicative of the filling level. The first capacitive sensor element and the second capacitive sensor element are each defined by two wires of a ribbon cable having at least five wires, the fifth wire extending between the wires which define the capacitive sensor elements, and being connected to ground.
Claims11
A capacitive filling level sensor, comprising:
- a first capacitive sensor element arranged sufficiently close to a fluid whose filling level is to be detected so that the fluid influences the capacitance of said first sensor;
- a second capacitive sensor element arranged sufficiently close to a fluid whose fillling level is to be detected so that the fluid influences the capacitance of said second sensor;
- a switched-capacitor measuring circuit which is connected to said first and second capacitive sensor elements and which detects the capacitance values thereof, said measuring circuit producing in response to the detected capacitance values a signal indicative of the filling level;
- and
- wherein said first capacitive sensor element and said second capacitive sensor element are each defined by two wires of a ribbon cable comprising at least five wires, the fifth wire extending between the wires which define the capacitive sensor elements, and being connected to ground.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.