Patent classifications
G01F23/2927
Apparatus and method for detecting liquid level in a clear or partially clear container
A trap bowl is provided to accumulate liquid droplets from a filter, as a liquid content. The trap bowl includes a transparent vertical prism. The transparent vertical prism includes a face that forms a vertical transparent surface facing against a content of the section. The face can provide a first angle of total reflection when content of the section is a type of gas, and a second angle of total reflection when the content of the section is the liquid content. A light source may emit a light beam incident on the face at an angle of incidence. The angle of incidence results in reflection of the light beam, striking the light receiver, when the face has the first angle of total reflection, and results in refraction of the light beam, missing the light receiver, when the face has the second angle of total reflection.
Dose measurement systems and methods
Embodiments described herein generally relate to devices, systems and methods for measuring a volume or number of doses remaining in a drug delivery device that is used for delivering a dose to a patient. In some embodiments, a dose measurement system for measuring the liquid volume in a container includes a light guide disposed and configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation toward the container. The dose measurement system also includes a light guide disposed and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation into the light guide. A plurality of sensors are located in the apparatus that are optically coupleable to the light guide and are disposed and configured to detect the electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least a portion of the light guide. The apparatus also includes a processing unit configured to receive data representing the portion of the detected electromagnetic radiation from each of the plurality of sensors. The processing unit is further operable to convert the received data into a signature representative of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the plurality of sensors.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING LIQUID LEVEL IN A CLEAR OR PARTIALLY CLEAR CONTAINER
A trap bowl is provided to accumulate liquid droplets from a filter, as a liquid content. The trap bowl includes a transparent vertical prism, The transparent vertical prism includes a face that forms a vertical transparent surface facing against a content of the section, The face can provide a first angle of total reflection when content of the section is a type of gas, and a second angle of total reflection when the content of the section is the liquid content. A light source may emit a light beam incident on the face at an angle of incidence. The angle of incidence results in reflection of the light beam, striking the light receiver, when the face has the first angle of total reflection, and results in refraction of the light beam, missing the light receiver, when the face has the second angle of total reflection.
APPARATUS FOR ACCUMULATING A FLUID
An apparatus for accumulating a fluid, the apparatus including a drain bottle for containing the fluid, a reservoir having an outlet towards the drain bottle, the reservoir and the drain bottle communicating with each other via a valve provided in the outlet, a suction aperture connectable with a suction pump for creating a vacuum in the reservoir, an optical sensing device operably coupled to the reservoir and adjusted to measure the volume of the fluid standing in the reservoir, the optical sensing device comprising a light source and a detector, wherein the light source is configured to emit light towards the reservoir and the detector is configured to detect an intensity of the light emanating from the reservoir, and at least one light directing means for directing the light on its path from the light source to the detector.
OPTICAL LEVEL GAUGE APPARATUS AND METHOD, LIQUID TANK ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE EMPLOYING THE SAME
To improve liquid level gauging inside liquid tanks, especially cryogenic liquid tanks, an apparatus and method for determining the liquid level are provided. A light source emits outgoing light rays that are back reflected or scattered by the tank wall of the liquid tank. The back reflected or scattered incoming light rays are received by a light conducting device, which conducts the incoming light rays towards a sensor device. The sensor device has optical sensors coupled to the light conducting device such that there is a one-two-one relationship between each optical sensor and a specific tank wall portion. Due to the change in the amount of light that is received by the optical sensor after the outgoing light rays were refracted by the liquid surface, the liquid level determining device is capable of determining the liquid level.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING LIQUID LEVEL IN A CLEAR OR PARTIALLY CLEAR CONTAINER
A trap bowl is provided to accumulate liquid droplets from a filter, as a liquid content. The trap bowl includes a transparent vertical prism. The transparent vertical prism includes a face that forms a vertical transparent surface facing against a content of the section. The face can provide a first angle of total reflection when content of the section is a type of gas, and a second angle of total reflection when the content of the section is the liquid content. A light source may emit a light beam incident on the face at an angle of incidence. The angle of incidence results in reflection of the light beam, striking the light receiver, when the face has the first angle of total reflection, and results in refraction of the light beam, missing the light receiver, when the face has the second angle of total reflection.
Sensor Assembly
A sensor assembly includes a housing including a cavity allowing a liquid to flow thereinto, a liquid level sensing module installed on the housing and configured to sense information related to a liquid level when the liquid is flowing into the cavity, and a turbidity sensing module installed on the housing. The turbidity sensing module includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. The light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are located oppositely on an outer surface of the housing to allow a light emitted from the light emitting unit to pass through the cavity of the housing and be received by the light receiving unit.
Illumination Assembly for Liquid Level Gauge
An illumination system can be configured for use with a liquid level gauge. A mounting bracket can be configured to secure a LED assembly to a frost-proof extension of the liquid level gauge, with the LED assembly disposed adjacent to a second edge face of the frost-proof extension that is opposite a liquid tube. The LED assembly can be thereby configured to illuminate the liquid tube via the second edge face of the frost-proof extension.
Optical probe for measuring the level of a liquid in a tank
An optical probe that measures the level of a liquid in a tank includes a transparent and refracting optical waveguide for receiving an injection of a collimated light beam. The optical waveguide internally reflects the collimated light beam according to a total reflection regime in any part of the optical waveguide located in a gaseous medium and refracts the collimated light beam according to a refraction regime in any part of the optical waveguide immersed in a liquid medium. The optical waveguide switches from the total reflection regime to the refraction regime at the interface between the gaseous medium and the liquid medium, and mirrors are arranged around said optical waveguide and reverse the path of a light beam collimated and refracted by the optical waveguide, the optical path covered by the collimated light beam representing the level of the liquid in the tank.
DOSE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Embodiments described herein generally relate to devices, systems and methods for measuring a volume or number of doses remaining in a drug delivery device that is used for delivering a dose to a patient. In some embodiments, a dose measurement system for measuring the liquid volume in a container includes a light guide disposed and configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation toward the container. The dose measurement system also includes a light guide disposed and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation into the light guide. A plurality of sensors are located in the apparatus that are optically coupleable to the light guide and are disposed and configured to detect the electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least a portion of the light guide. The apparatus also includes a processing unit configured to receive data representing the portion of the detected electromagnetic radiation from each of the plurality of sensors. The processing unit is further operable to convert the received data into a signature representative of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the plurality of sensors.