Systems, methods, and apparatus for determining a volume of remaining liquid in a container are disclosed. A container profile can first be developed using image analysis to determine a maximum liquid level in the container. The profile can then be broken into divisions, each corresponding to an equal volume. When real-world measurements of a liquid level in a real-world container are made, these can be translated to one of the divisions, which can be summed with all underlying divisions to estimate a volume of remaining liquid in the real-world container.

A capacitive level-sensor device, for detecting the level of at least one medium contained in a container comprises: a detection part that includes an array of capacitive elements, the array of capacitive elements comprising at least one set of electrodes on a substrate, the electrodes being set at a distance from one another according to a level-detection axis, the detection part including at least one insulating layer for electrically insulating the electrodes with respect to the medium; and a control circuit having a plurality of first inputs, electrically connected to which are the electrodes. The control circuit is prearranged for carrying out a sequential sampling of the inputs of the plurality of first inputs and for comparing a value representing the capacitance associated to each electrode with at least one corresponding reference threshold. The detection part further comprises at least one temperature sensor, connected to at least one respective second input of the control circuit. The control circuit is moreover prearranged for carrying out a compensation of at least one of the following: the value representing electrical capacitance associated to each electrode; a value indicating the medium facing each electrode and the at least one reference threshold, according to information representing at least one temperature value acquired on the at least one second input.

A method and a system for indicating more than three different fluid levels in a fluid reservoir is described for a system that includes a fluid level sensor having only two output levels. In one example, the more than three different fluid levels are determined via output of the fluid level sensor and output of one or more sensors that indicate acceleration or orientation of a vehicle.

A system for preventing overflow of a toilet includes a sensor, a processor and an actuator. The sensor senses a parameter caused by fluid dynamics within the toilet during a flush cycle. The parameter may involve vibration, sound, pressure, fluid flow rate or other detectible characteristics of the toilet. The processor uses information regarding the parameter that is gathered by the sensor to evaluate the condition of the flush cycle to determine if an impeded flush condition exists. In the event of an impeded flush condition, the processor directs the actuator to close a valve, which may be the toilet flapper valve in some embodiments. Also disclosed are methods for preventing toilet overflow, detecting an impeded flush condition and calibrating the system.

A method and a system for indicating more than three different fluid levels in a fluid reservoir is described for a system that includes a fluid level sensor having only two output levels. In one example, the more than three different fluid levels are determined via output of the fluid level sensor and output of one or more sensors that indicate acceleration or orientation of a vehicle.

An improved fluid level verification apparatus with an integral, internal source of illumination that is powered by an integral, internal energy source and is activated by a motion sensor or any other sensor commonly known In the art to detect the presence of a person in dark or dimly lit environments. The preferred light source is a light emitting diode (LED). A second embodiment of the integral, internal source of illumination that is powered by an integral, internal energy source and is activated by a motion sensor or any other sensor commonly known in the art to detect the presence of a person in dark or dimly lit environments is applied to a fluid reservoir tank.

The present invention discloses an operating liquid container system, comprising a fuel container with a fuel fill level sensor, a urea container with a urea fill level sensor, and a tank control device which is connected to the fuel fill level sensor in order to receive data representing a fill level of the fuel container and to the urea fill level sensor in order to receive data representing a fill level of the urea container, wherein the tank control device is designed to determine, taking into consideration the data representing the fill level of the fuel container, a first distance that can be covered with the fuel quantity situated in the fuel container, wherein the tank control device is furthermore designed to determine, taking into consideration the data representing the fill level of the urea container, a second distance that can be covered with the urea quantity situated in the urea container, and wherein the tank control device is furthermore designed to output a warning signal if the first distance is longer than or equal to the second distance.

Disclosed is a system of controlling an ice maker. The system includes: an ice making part producing ice; an ice reservoir storing the ice; a water reservoir storing water supplied from outside and providing the water to the ice making part or draining the water; and a controller, when a full state of the ice reservoir is sensed after an ice separation process of separating the ice produced in the ice making part is completed, stopping operation of the ice making part and allowing a first drainage of the water stored in the water reservoir to a predetermined water level and a second drainage of the stored water for a predetermined additional drainage time. In particular, the controller controls the additional drainage time desired for the second drainage by comparing an actual drainage time desired for the first drainage with a preset normal time.

A method of determining a volume of a fluid in a reservoir arranged in a vehicle includes assessing, via a controller, whether a first sensor operatively connected to the reservoir and configured to detect a predetermined level of the fluid in the reservoir has been triggered. The method also includes detecting, via a second sensor, a vehicle operative state indicative of inclination of a free surface of the fluid in the reservoir. The method additionally includes communicating, via the second sensor, the detected vehicle operative state to the electronic controller and determining a degree of inclination of the free surface of the fluid in response to the detected vehicle operative state. Furthermore, the method includes determining, via the controller, the volume of the fluid in the reservoir when the first sensor has been triggered in response to the determined degree of inclination of the free surface of the fluid.

A fluid level detection apparatus includes a vibrator, a vibration sensor, and a controller. The vibrator is configured to apply a vibration to a container that contains a fluid. The vibration sensor is configured to detect a vibration wave that is generated by the vibrator and propagates through the container. The controller is configured to control an operation of the vibrator and perform arithmetic processing on a detection signal obtained from the vibration sensor. The vibrator and the vibration sensor are provided on an outer wall surface of the container at respective positions that interpose, from above and below, a fluid level of the fluid provided in the container. The controller is configured to calculate a height of the fluid level, on the basis of the vibration wave detected by the vibration sensor.