US 8,412,473 B2 · Event monitoring and detection in liquid level monitoring system

Abstract

According to various embodiments disclosed herein, battery power may be conserved by reducing the number of transmissions made by a liquid level monitoring system. The efficiency of a liquid level monitoring system may also be improved by reducing or avoiding fuel outages and unnecessary replenishment. Certain embodiments may be configured according to a schedule for making measurements. The measurement may then be compared against one or more thresholds to determine whether to transmit the measurements. A variety of thresholds may be specified and utilized to determine when it is appropriate to transmit the measurements. Further, various embodiments may be configured to detect a change in a monitored condition. Upon the detection of a change in the monitored condition, a measurement may be made and compared to an established threshold for a tank.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method of measuring a liquid level in a tank, comprising:

providing an externally mounted ultrasonic transducer to generate an ultrasonic beam to pass through a tank wall;
providing a battery in electrical communication with the ultrasonic transducer to provide power;
generating an ultrasonic beam using the ultrasonic transducer;
receiving an echo of the ultrasonic beam off a surface of a liquid;
determining a time-of-flight calculated as a time elapsed from generating the ultrasonic beam and receiving the echo;
generating an indication of a volume of the liquid in the tank based on the time-of-flight;
comparing the indication of the volume of the liquid to a threshold;
and
selectively transmitting, to conserve battery power, the indication of the volume of the liquid in the tank based on the comparison of the indication of the volume of the liquid to the threshold.

6 more elements

A system to measure a liquid level in a tank, the system comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer unit externally mountable to the tank, the ultrasonic transducer comprising:
an emitter to generate an ultrasonic beam to pass through a tank wall and to receive an echo of the ultrasonic beam off a liquid surface;
and
a transducer driver in electrical communication with the emitter;
a battery in electrical communication with the ultrasonic transducer unit to provide power;
a processor in electrical communication with the ultrasonic transducer unit;
a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium in electrical communication with the processor, the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising:
a time-of-flight module executable on the processor and configured to measure a time-of-flight between generation of an ultrasonic beam and receipt of an echo of the ultrasonic beam off a liquid surface;
and
a tank parameters module executable on the processor and configured to generate an indication of a volume of the liquid in the tank based on the time-of-flight;
a threshold module executable on the processor and configured to compare the indication of the volume of the liquid to a threshold and whether to transmit the indication of the volume of the liquid in the tank based on the comparison of the indication of the volume of the liquid to the threshold, to conserve battery power;
and
a communications module executable on the processor and configured to communicate the volume of the liquid in the tank;
and
a satellite interface operable to transmit the indication of the volume of the liquid in the tank by a satellite data link.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Event monitoring and detection in liquid level monitoring system

Life of this patent

Event monitoring and detection in liquid level monitoring system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24