G01F23/804

Apparatus and method for measuring fluid consumption
11564520 · 2023-01-31 · ·

There is proposed an apparatus and method for measuring fluid usage from a container. The apparatus in one form includes a proximity sensor or sensors positioned in, or adjacent, an outlet of said container and configured to monitor the presence or absence of said fluid within or adjacent said outlet, an angle sensor for determining a first angle of said container when said fluid begins to flow through the outlet, and for determining a second angle of said container when said fluid stops flowing through said outlet, and a transmitter for sending data from the proximity sensor/s and angle sensor or processed data therefrom, to a computing device and/or display unit, wherein the data or processed data is used to calculate or indicate a volume of the fluid having passed through the outlet.

Liquid surface detector, image forming apparatus, and method for controlling liquid surface detector
11568190 · 2023-01-31 · ·

A liquid surface detector includes an electrode pad, a coil, a memory, and a detection control circuit. The electrode pad is attached to an outer side surface of a tank of the image forming apparatus. The coil is connected to the electrode pad. The memory stores initial values. The detection control circuit determines a capacitance (first capacitance) of a first resonance circuit including the coil and the tank with the electrode pad. When determining a liquid surface level value, the detection control circuit subtracts an error value from the first capacitance so as to determine a first corrected capacitance, and determines the liquid surface level value based on the first corrected capacitance and the initial value.

Sonar transducer system and method of processing data
11567194 · 2023-01-31 ·

In a sonar-based transducer system, single or multiple transducers may collect and transmit data to a management module for analysis to optimize and/or control a process. Secondary sensors may provide additional product data for analysis. Historical data may be stored in a data library for future reference. Real time data may be transmitted to a control center via a virtual dashboard.

Fuel management system capable of improving accuracy of calibration data for converting output value of fuel gauge into remaining amount of fuel in fuel tank
11708802 · 2023-07-25 · ·

A fuel management system to improve accuracy of calibration data to convert an output value of a fuel gauge into a remaining amount of fuel in a fuel tank includes a fuel tank mounted on a hull of a marine vessel, a fuel gauge to measure a liquid level position of fuel in the fuel tank, and a controller configured or programmed so that in a range where an output value of the fuel gauge changes, measurement reference points are set based on the output value of the fuel gauge. When supplying fuel to the fuel tank, the controller is configured or programmed to obtain calibration data showing a relationship between the output value of the fuel gauge and a remaining amount of the fuel in the fuel tank by comparing an amount of fuel supplied to the fuel tank at each of the measurement reference points and the output value of the fuel gauge at each of the measurement reference points.

Composition ratio estimation device/ composition ratio estimation method/ composition ratio estimation program/ and liquid level gauge
11561121 · 2023-01-24 · ·

A composition ratio estimation device estimates a composition ratio of a content having mixed substances with different boiling points in a tank. The content is retained as a liquid in the tank lower part. The substances are partially floatable as a gas or liquid in a space in the tank upper part. The device includes a reference object disposed in the space, a transmitting-receiving unit that transmits radar waves toward the reference object and the surface of the liquid and receives reflected radar waves, a temperature measuring unit that acquires a level at which a boiling point of a floating substance is reached, a dielectric constant calculating unit that stores in advance a physical distance between the unit and the object and calculates a dielectric constant of a space between the unit and the object, and a composition ratio derivation unit that derives a composition ratio of the liquid.

FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CAPABLE OF IMPROVING ACCURACY OF CALIBRATION DATA FOR CONVERTING OUTPUT VALUE OF FUEL GAUGE INTO REMAINING AMOUNT OF FUEL IN FUEL TANK
20230020594 · 2023-01-19 ·

A fuel management system to improve accuracy of calibration data to convert an output value of a fuel gauge into a remaining amount of fuel in a fuel tank includes a fuel tank mounted on a hull of a marine vessel, a fuel gauge to measure a liquid level position of fuel in the fuel tank, and a controller configured or programmed so that in a range where an output value of the fuel gauge changes, measurement reference points are set based on the output value of the fuel gauge. When supplying fuel to the fuel tank, the controller is configured or programmed to obtain calibration data showing a relationship between the output value of the fuel gauge and a remaining amount of the fuel in the fuel tank by comparing an amount of fuel supplied to the fuel tank at each of the measurement reference points and the output value of the fuel gauge at each of the measurement reference points.

Tank multi-level measurement using through the air millimeter wave radar
11555732 · 2023-01-17 · ·

Methods and systems for determining fluid levels in a tank comprise a mmWave Control unit configured to generate a millimeter wave chirp that ramps linearly from a starting frequency to a higher frequency within a specified time span. The mmWave Control unit transmits the chirp into the tank and receives one or more chirp reflections from the tank. The mmWave Control unit mixes the chirp with the chirp reflections to generate one or more intermediate frequency signals and processes the one or more intermediate frequency signals to derive one or more distances, each distance representing the distance from the top of the tank to one of the one or more fluids in the tank or an obstruction in the tank. A Telemetry Control unit automatically selects intermediate frequency signals having a signal strength above a predefined minimum or distances within a predefined distance window for further processing.

Sensor arrangement for arrangement on a process installation, and method for operating the sensor arrangement and process installation

Disclosed is a sensor arrangement on a process installation comprising at least two sensor tiles, wherein each sensor tile comprises a support and a plurality of sensors arranged on the support for determining a physical or chemical variable of a measuring medium, a process characteristic of the measuring medium, and/or a state of the process installation. A first sensor tile comprises a control unit having a transmit and receive module for data exchange with a control unit of a second sensor tile. The first control unit of the first sensor tile and/or a second control unit allocated to the sensor arrangement is designed to weight the values determined by each sensor tile. Weighting may be a function of the measured value variations of the sensor tile, the position of the sensor tile in the process installation, and/or the function of the sensor tile.

Fluid level sensing systems, method, and apparatus
11543281 · 2023-01-03 ·

A fluid level sensing system comprises a sensor float assembly, a sensor control module comprising a sensor processor, and a sensor cable. An accelerometer arranged within the float chamber in a fixed orientation relative to a float axis. The accelerometer is capable of determining movement in at least first and second reference axes. The sensor cable is operatively connected between the float processor and the sensor processor. Movement of the float enclosure relative to the reference point is limited. The accelerometer generates and transfers to the float processor first and second sets of data representative of movement along the first and second reference axes. The float processor generates and transfers to the sensor processor pitch data associated with the float enclosure based on the first and second sets of data. The sensor processor generates a status signal and/or a control signal based on the pitch data.

URINE MONITORING METHOD AND PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING SYSTEM
20220412789 · 2022-12-29 ·

The present disclosure relates to a urine monitoring method adapted to a urine monitoring device and a cloud server. The urine monitoring method includes the urine monitoring device detecting a real-time weight, the urine monitoring device sending the real-time weight to the cloud server through a communication interface, and the cloud server determining whether the real-time weight is less than a lower bound of a current weight or is greater than an upper bound of the current weight. If the real-time weight is either less than the lower bound of the current weight or greater than the upper bound of the current weight, the cloud server sends a signal to set the urine monitoring device as a urine volume warning status.