# US 9,518,855 B2 · Oil detection device, compressor having the same and method of controlling the compressor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,855 B2 - Document ID: US9518855B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/499,777 - Filed: 2014-09-29 - Published: 2015-06-18 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-18 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hyo Sang Lee; Byung Gu Kim; Jeong Su Han - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518855B2 ## CPC - G01F 23/265: {for discrete levels} - F04B 35/04: the means being electric - F04B 39/0207: {with lubrication control systems} - G01F 23/266: {measuring circuits therefor} - G01F 23/268: {mounting arrangements of probes} - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) ## Abstract An oil detection device for a compressor to detect at least two levels of oil in the compressor includes a first detection unit including a first reference electrode and a first detection electrode disposed at both sides of the first reference electrode, and a second detection unit including a second reference electrode spaced from the first reference electrode and a second detection electrode disposed at both sides of the second reference electrode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An oil detection device for a compressor to detect a level of oil in the compressor comprising: a first detection unit comprising a first reference electrode and a first detection electrode disposed at both sides of the first reference electrode; and a second detection unit comprising a second reference electrode spaced from the first reference electrode and a second detection electrode disposed at both sides of the second reference electrode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The oil detection device according to claim 1, wherein the first detection electrode comprises a first base unit spaced from one side of the first reference electrode by a predetermined distance and a first augmenting unit spaced from the other side of the first reference electrode by a predetermined distance, and the second detection electrode comprises a second base unit spaced from one side of the second reference electrode by a predetermined distance and a second augmenting unit spaced from the other side of the second reference electrode by a predetermined distance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The oil detection device according to claim 2, wherein the first base unit and the first augmenting unit are parallel to the first reference electrode, and the second base unit and the second augmenting unit are parallel to the second reference electrode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The oil detection device according to claim 2, wherein the first base unit and the first augmenting unit are nonparallel to the first reference electrode, and the second base unit and the second augmenting unit are nonparallel to the second reference electrode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The oil detection device according to claim 2, wherein the first detection unit further comprises at least one first connection member to connect the first base unit to the first augmenting unit, and the second detection unit further comprises at least one second connection member to connect the second base unit to the second augmenting unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The oil detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a spacing member to connect the first reference electrode to the second reference electrode such that the first reference electrode is spaced from the second reference electrode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The oil detection device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first flow unit disposed on the first reference electrode, the first flow unit inducing flow of the oil; and a second flow unit disposed on the second reference electrode, the second flow unit inducing flow of the oil. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The oil detection device according to claim 7, wherein the first flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the first reference electrode and has a predetermined inclination from one side to the other side. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The oil detection device according to claim 7, wherein the second flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the second reference electrode and has a predetermined inclination from one side to the other side. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The oil detection device according to claim 7, wherein the first flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the first reference electrode and has a triangular shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The oil detection device according to claim 7, wherein the second flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the second reference electrode and has a triangular shape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The oil detection device according to claim 7, wherein, the first flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the first reference electrode and has a saw-tooth shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The oil detection device according to claim 7, wherein the second flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the second reference electrode and has a saw-tooth shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The oil detection device according to claim 7, wherein the first flow unit has the same shape as the second flow unit and the first flow unit has a different size from the second flow unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) The oil detection device according to claim 3, wherein the first detection unit outputs, as a first detection signal, a signal corresponding to a capacitance between the first reference electrode and the first base unit, and a capacitance between the first reference electrode and the first augmenting unit, and the second detection unit outputs, as a second detection signal, a signal corresponding to a capacitance between the second reference electrode and the second base unit and a capacitance between the second reference electrode and the second augmenting unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The oil detection device according to claim 15, wherein the first detection unit outputs a mixed one of the first detection signal and the second detection signal of the second detection unit when outputting the first detection signal. ### Claim 17 An oil detection device for a compressor comprising: a reference unit to which an input signal is applied; a base unit disposed at one side of the reference unit, the base unit outputting a detection signal; a first augmenting unit disposed at the other side of the reference unit, the first augmenting unit outputting a detection signal; and a flow unit disposed in any one of the reference unit, the base unit and the first augmenting unit, the flow unit forming a passage in which an oil flows. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The oil detection device according to claim 17, wherein the base unit is electrically connected to the first augmenting unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The oil detection device according to claim 17, wherein the flow unit extends from any one of the reference unit, the base unit and the first augmenting unit in the direction of gravity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The oil detection device according to claim 17, wherein the reference unit, the base unit and the first augmenting unit have a plate shape, and the reference unit, the base unit and the first augmenting unit are disposed such that opposite surfaces thereof are parallel to one another. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The oil detection device according to claim 17, wherein the reference unit, the base unit and the first augmenting unit have a plate shape, and the reference unit, the base unit and the first augmenting unit are disposed such that opposite surfaces thereof are nonparallel to one another. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The oil detection device according to claim 17, wherein the flow unit has at least one shape of triangular, saw-tooth and arch shapes. ### Claim 23 An oil detection device for a compressor to detect a level of an oil in the compressor comprising: a first detection unit comprising a first reference electrode and a first detection electrode disposed at both sides of the first reference electrode; and a second detection unit comprising a second reference electrode spaced from the first reference electrode and a second detection electrode disposed at both sides of the second reference electrode, wherein the first detection electrode of the first detection unit and the second detection electrode of the second detection unit are electrically connected to each other and transmit a detection signal to a control unit to control an oil collection operation. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The oil detection device according to claim 23, further comprising: an input terminal to input an input signal to the first reference electrode and the second reference electrode, and an output terminal connected to the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode, the output terminal outputting a detection signal of the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode. ### Claim 25 A compressor comprising: a first detection unit comprising a first reference electrode and a first detection electrode disposed at both sides of the first reference electrode; a second detection unit comprising a second reference electrode spaced from the first reference electrode and a second detection electrode disposed at both sides of the second reference electrode; and a control unit converting a detection signal input from the first detection unit and the second detection unit into an electric signal, the control unit determining a level of an oil based on the converted electric signal. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The compressor according to claim 25, wherein the electric signal is a frequency or a voltage signal. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The compressor according to claim 25, wherein the first detection electrode comprises a first base unit spaced by a predetermined distance from one side of the first reference electrode and a first augmenting unit spaced by a predetermined distance from the other side of the first reference electrode, and the second detection electrode comprises a second base unit spaced by a predetermined distance from one side of the second reference electrode and a second augmenting unit spaced by a predetermined distance from the other side of the second reference electrode. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The compressor according to claim 27, wherein the first augmenting unit outputs a voltage corresponding to a capacitance generated by the first base unit, and the second augmenting unit outputs a voltage corresponding to a capacitance generated by the second base unit. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The compressor according to claim 25, wherein the control unit controls an oil collection operation based on the level of the oil. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The compressor according to claim 25, wherein the first base unit and the first augmenting unit are parallel to the first reference electrode, and the second base unit and the second augmenting unit are parallel to the second reference electrode. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The compressor according to claim 25, wherein the first base unit and the first augmenting unit have a predetermined inclination with respect to the first reference electrode, and the second base unit and the second augmenting unit have a predetermined inclination with respect to the second reference electrode. ### Claim 32 (depends on 25) The compressor according to claim 25, further comprising: a first flow unit disposed on the first reference electrode, the first flow unit inducing flow of the oil; and a second flow unit disposed on the second reference electrode, the second flow unit inducing flow of the oil. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The compressor according to claim 32, wherein the first flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the first reference electrode and has a predetermined inclination from one side to the other side. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The compressor according to claim 32, wherein the second flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the second reference electrode and has a predetermined inclination from one side to the other side. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The compressor according to claim 32, wherein the first flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the first reference electrode and has at least one shape of triangular, saw-tooth and arch shapes. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) The compressor according to claim 32, wherein the second flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the second reference electrode and has at least one shape of triangular, saw-tooth and arch shapes. ### Claim 37 (depends on 25) The compressor according to claim 25, wherein the control unit transmits an input signal to the first reference electrode of the first detection unit and the second reference electrode of the second detection unit, and inputs a combined voltage corresponding to capacitances generated by the first detection electrode of the first detection unit and the second detection electrode of the second detection unit. ### Claim 38 A method of controlling a compressor comprising: inputting a detection signal from a first detection unit and a second detection unit disposed in the compressor; converting the input detection signal into an electric signal; determining a level of an oil in the compressor based on the converted electric signal; and controlling an oil collection operation when the determined oil level is lower than a preset level. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method according to claim 38, wherein the inputting comprises inputting the detection signal of the first detection unit and the second detection unit from one detection terminal. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The method according to claim 38, wherein the converting comprises converting a voltage signal corresponding to a capacitance generated by the first detection unit and the second detection unit into a pulse signal. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The method according to claim 39, wherein the determining comprises: confirming a frequency corresponding to the pulse signal; and determining the level of the oil based on the confirmed frequency. ### Claim 42 An oil detection device for a compressor comprising: first and second reference units to which an input signal is applied; first and second base units disposed at one side of the first and reference units, respectively, the first and second base units each outputting a detection signal; and first and second augmenting units disposed at the other side of the first and second reference units, respectively, the first and second augmenting units each outputting a detection signal; and a spacing unit to mechanically and electrically connect the first reference unit to the second reference unit, the spacing unit being configured so that the first reference unit, first base unit and first augmenting unit are disposed above the second reference unit, second base unit and second augmenting unit. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The oil detection device according to claim 42, further comprising a flow unit disposed in any one of the first reference unit, first base unit, first augmenting unit, second reference unit, second base unit and second augmenting unit, wherein the flow unit is configured guide oil away from the any one of the first reference unit, first base unit, first augmenting unit, second reference unit, second base unit and second augmenting unit to which the flow unit is disposed. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The oil detection device according to claim 43, wherein the flow unit has at least one shape of triangular, saw-tooth and arch shapes.