A method for controlling a filling operation of a vehicular liquid storage system including a tank equipped with a filler pipe and a shut-off valve, the method including detecting the start of a refilling event; while the shut-off valve is open, observing whether a measured fill level of the tank has reached a predetermined fill level; if the predetermined fill level has been reached, performing the following steps: closing the shut-off valve to induce a shut-off of a filling nozzle; when a first pressure criterion is met, opening the shut-off valve; and when a second pressure criterion is met, closing the shut-off valve. The second pressure criterion includes a decrease of pressure inside the tank below a predetermined pressure level.

A method for controlling a filling operation of a vehicular liquid storage system including a tank equipped with a filler pipe and a shut-off valve, the method including detecting the start of a refilling event; while the shut-off valve is open, observing whether a measured fill level of the tank has reached a predetermined fill level; if the predetermined fill level has been reached, performing the following steps: closing the shut-off valve to induce a shut-off of a filling nozzle; when a first pressure criterion is met, opening the shut-off valve; and when a second pressure criterion is met, closing the shut-off valve. The second pressure criterion includes a decrease of pressure inside the tank below a predetermined pressure level.

A vibronic sensor for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a container. The sensor at least comprising: a unit which can oscillate mechanically; a driving/receiving unit; and an electronic unit. The driving/receiving unit is designed to excite, by means of an electrical excitation signal, mechanical oscillations in the unit which can oscillate mechanically and is designed to receive the mechanical oscillations of the unit which can oscillate mechanically, and to convert them into an electrical receiving signal. The electronic unit is designed to generate the excitation signal on the basis of the receiving signal and to determine the at least one process variable from the receiving signal; The electronic unit comprises at least one adaptive filter; and the electronic unit is designed to set the filter characteristic of the adaptive filter in such a way that there is a target phase shift between the excitation signal and the receiving signal.

A wireless drink container can monitor a person's hydration and prompt him or her to drink more if appropriate. The drink containers as described herein can monitor liquid levels and communicate with external devices about the liquid levels and rate of consumption. One or more sensors in the drink container monitor the liquid level within the container. A processor coupled to the sensor(s) estimates how much liquid has been removed from the container from changes in the liquid level and transmits a signal representing the change in liquid level to a smartphone or other external device. It also triggers an audio or visual indicator, such as an LED, that prompts the user to drink more based on the user's estimated liquid consumption and on the user's liquid consumption goals, which may be based on the user's physiology, activity level, and location.

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for detecting foam in a specimen container. The method includes the following steps: transporting a specimen container into a locator well; centering the specimen container in the locator well; rotating the specimen container around a vertical axis in the locator well; imaging the specimen container during the rotation; analyzing an image of the specimen container captured during the rotation; and detecting foam in the specimen container based on the analysis of the image. An apparatus configured to perform the steps is also provided. The method and apparatus may be used in conjunction with a system for automatically determining whether a sample is positive for microorganism growth.

A monitoring system for monitoring a liquid handling system may comprise at least one liquid level sensor and/or at least one gateway computer. The at least one liquid level sensor may be configured to monitor at least one liquid level of at least one liquid handling element. The at least one gateway computer may be in communication with the at least one liquid level sensor. The at least one gateway computer may be configured to receive sensor readings, report information describing the readings, identify at least one rule-triggering event, and perform an action in response to identifying the at least one rule-triggering event in accordance with at least one rule.

A boat trailer depth indicator module and method of installation thereof. The boat trailer depth indicator allows a driver towing a boat trailer to position the boat trailer at an appropriate depth in the water on a boat ramp to launch or recover a boat without the need for an assistant. When the boat trailer is located at an appropriate depth in the water, the boat trailer depth indicator provides a signal to the driver. The signal communicates to the driver and/or the helmsman of the boat, for example, that the boat trailer is sufficiently submerged and ready for launch or recovery of the boat. The boat trailer depth indicator module is independent of vehicle or trailer power and can be installed and adjusted quickly without the use of tools.

The present disclosure relates to a fill level measuring device for measuring a fill level of a liquid material in a container, including at least two flexible wire probes that extend into the container, a signal generator, and an end weight for each flexible wire probe. The end-weights are joined together such that they can rotate with respect to each other and/or can move in an axial direction with respect to each other.

Described herein is a computer-implemented method for estimating a true fuel level of a vehicle. The method comprises: accessing an estimate as to a current state of the vehicle, the current state of the vehicle comprising a current fuel level state; predicting the state of the vehicle at a future time based on the current state of the vehicle; accessing a measured state of the vehicle based on sensor data; estimating a true state of the vehicle based on the predicted state of the vehicle and the measured state of the vehicle, the true state of the vehicle comprising an estimate as to the true fuel level of the vehicle; and outputting the estimated true fuel level of the vehicle.

An apparatus for measuring liquid volume in a container includes a plurality of light sources for emitting electromagnetic radiation (EMR) toward the container, a plurality of sensors optically coupleable to the plurality of light sources, each sensor of the plurality of sensors for detecting the EMR emitted by at least a portion of the plurality of light sources, a temperature sensor for measuring at least one temperature associated with a liquid in the container, and at least one processor for receiving data representative of the portion of the detected EMR from each of the plurality of sensors, comparing the at least one measured temperature to a temperature guideline to identify any temperature events associated with the received data; normalizing the received data based on any temperature events associated with the received data; and converting the normalized data into a signature representative of the EMR detected by the plurality of sensors.