Liquid level sensing system
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsValentin Korman, John T. Wiley, Amanda G. Duffell
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Abstract
A liquid level sensing system includes waveguides disposed in a liquid and distributed along a path with a gap between adjacent waveguides. A source introduces electromagnetic energy into the waveguides at a first end of the path. A portion of the electromagnetic energy exits the waveguides at a second end of the path. A detector measures the portion of the electromagnetic energy exiting the second end of the path.
Claims12
A liquid level sensing system, comprising:
- at least three waveguides distributed along a vertically-oriented straight optical path with a gap between adjacent ones of said waveguides, said path having a first end and a second end;
- a source for introducing electromagnetic energy into said waveguides at said first end of said path wherein a portion of said electromagnetic energy exits said waveguides at said second end of said path;
- and
- a detector for measuring said portion of said electromagnetic energy.
A liquid level sensing system, comprising:
- a rigid support;
- at least three optical waveguides coupled to said support along a straight path with a gap between adjacent ones of said waveguides, said path having a first end and a second end;
- said rigid support with said waveguides coupled thereto positioned to place said path in a vertical orientation;
- a source for introducing optical energy into said waveguides at said first end of said path wherein a portion of said optical energy exits said waveguides at said second end of said path;
- and
- a detector for measuring said portion of said optical energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.