Device for detection of when a test probe gets into contact with a liquid surface

Abstract

A device for detection of when at test probe of conducting material contacts a liquid surface includes a test probe of conducting material. The test probe is electrically screened by an insulated screen, with a part of the test probe projecting in front of the screen. The test probe is connected to a first alternating voltage source via a first impedance and to one input of a differential amplifier, and the screen is connected to a second alternating voltage source via a second impedance and to another input of the differential amplifier. An output of the differential amplifier is connected to one input of a first multiplicator and to one input of a second multiplicator, and another input of the first multiplicator is connected to a third alternating voltage source, and another input of the second multiplicator is connected to a fourth alternating voltage source. An output voltage of the fourth voltage source is phase shifted relative to an output voltage of the third alternating voltage source and a signal processing unit is connected to the outputs of the first and second multiplicators and is capable of, based on the output signals of the multiplicators, deriving a first signal representing the resistvie load of the test probe and a second signal representing the capacitive load if the test probe, and, when the resistive load is low and the capacitive load is high, providing a signal as an indication that the test probe has contacted a liquid surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.