US4363239A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid gaging system contamination monitor
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
•
Filing: 1980-05-14
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Granted: 1982-12-14
•
Expires: 2000-05-14
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is part of a liquid gaging system and comprises an apparatus for monitoring a quadrature signal from a capacitor sensor. Included is a capacitive sensor for providing a liquid measurement signal related to a liquid in a tank, the liquid measurement signal comprising a capacitive signal and a quadrature signal. The invention also includes apparatus for monitoring the quadrature signal through null detection of the capacitive signal, the null detection being implemented through a rebalance approximation sequence. The apparatus for monitoring is connected to the sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome A. Fahley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/26; G01F23/263
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
In a liquid gaging system, an apparatus for monitoring a quadrature signal from a capacitive sensor, comprising: a capacitive sensor for providing a liquid measurement signal related to a liquid in a tank, the liquid measurement signal comprising a capacitive signal and a quadrature signal; and means for monitoring the quadrature signal through null detection of the capacitive signal, the null detection being implemented through a successive approximation sequence, the means for monitoring being connected to the sensor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a liquid gaging system, an apparatus for monitoring a quadrature signal from a capacitive sensor, comprising: a capacitive sensor for providing a liquid measurement signal related to a liquid in a tank, the liquid measurement signal comprising a capacitive signal and a quadrature signal; and means for monitoring the quadrature signal through null detection of the capacitive signal, the null detection being implemented through a successive approximation sequence, the means for monitoring being connected to the sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for monitoring comprises a quadrature filter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the quadrature filter comprises a demodulator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for monitoring further comprises: threshold detector means for determining whether the quadrature signal has an amplitude above a predetermined threshold, the threshold detector means being connected to the quadrature filter; and means for storing a test value related to whether the quadrature signal has an amplitude above the predetermined threshold, the means for storing being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for storing comprises a non-volatile memory for storing a digital number related to the stored value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the threshold detector means comprises resistor means for establishing the predetermined threshold.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for monitoring further comprises: threshold detector means for determining whether the quadrature signal has an amplitude above a first predetermined threshold and for determining whether the quadrature signal has an amplitude above a second predetermined threshold, the threshold detector means being connected to the quadrature filter; and means for storing a first test value related to whether the quadrature signal has an amplitude above the first predetermined threshold and for storing a second test value related to whether the quadrature signal has an amplitude above the second predetermined threshold, the means for storing being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for storing comprises a non-volatile memory for storing a digital number related to the first stored value and for storing a digital number related to the second stored value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the threshold detector means comprises first resistor means for establishing the first predetermined threshold and second resistor means for establishing the second predetermined threshold, there being means for connecting the first resistor means to the second resistor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for connecting comprises switching means for selecting one of the first resistor means and the second resistor means, the switching means being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for monitoring comprises: threshold detector means for determining whether the quadrature signal has an amplitude above a predetermined threshold; and means for storing a test value related to whether the quadrature signal has an amplitude above the predetermined threshold, the means for storing being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the means for storing comprises a non-volatile memory for storing a digital number related to the stored value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the threshold detector means comprises resistor means for establishing the predetermined threshold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for monitoring comprises: threshold detector means for determining whether the quadrature signal has an amplitude above a first predetermined threshold and for determining whether the quadrature signal has an amplitude above a second predetermined threshold; and means for storing a first test value related to whether the quadrature signal has an amplitude above the first predetermined threshold and for storing a second test value related to whether the quadrature signal has an amplitude above the second predetermined threshold, the means for storing being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the means for storing comprises a non-volatile memory for storing a digital number related to the first stored value and for storing a digital number related to the second stored value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the threshold detector means comprises first resistor means for establishing the first predetermined threshold and second resistor means for establishing the second predetermined threshold, there being means for connecting the first resistor means to the second resistor means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the means for connecting comprises switching means for selecting one of the first resistor means and the second resistor means, the switching means being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 11 or 14 wherein the capacitive sensor comprises a capacitive probe having an essentially uniform capacitance per unit length.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 11, or 14 wherein the capacitive sensor comprises a dielectric sensor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
77 words
In a liquid gaging system, an apparatus for selectively monitoring individual sensors one at a time for a quadrature signal, comprising: a plurality of capacitive sensors, each sensor providing a liquid measurement signal related to a liquid in a tank, each liquid measurement signal comprising a capacitive signal and a quadrature signal; and means for selectively monitoring individual sensors one at a time for the quadrature signal, the means for selectively monitoring being connected to the sensors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
77 words
In a liquid gaging system, an apparatus for selectively monitoring individual sensors one at a time for a quadrature signal, comprising: a plurality of capacitive sensors, each sensor providing a liquid measurement signal related to a liquid in a tank, each liquid measurement signal comprising a capacitive signal and a quadrature signal; and means for selectively monitoring individual sensors one at a time for the quadrature signal, the means for selectively monitoring being connected to the sensors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the means for selectively monitoring comprises means for selectively monitoring through null detection of the capacitive signal, the null detection being implemented through a successive approximation sequence.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the means for selectively monitoring further comprises a quadrature filter, the quadrature filter and the means for selectively monitoring through null detection being interconnected.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the quadrature filter comprises a demodulator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the means for selectively monitoring further comprises: threshold detector means for determining whether a particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above a predetermined threshold, the threshold detector means being connected to the quadrature filter; and means for storing a test value related to whether the particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above the predetermined threshold, the means for storing being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the means for storing comprises a non-volatile memory for storing a digital number related to the stored value.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the threshold detector means comprises resistor means for establishing the predetermined threshold.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
113 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the means for selectively monitoring further comprises: threshold detector means for determining whether a particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above a first predetermined threshold and for determining whether the particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above the second predetermined threshold, the threshold detector means being connected to the quadrature filter; and means for storing a first test value related to whether the particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above the first predetermined threshold and for storing a second test value related to whether the particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above the second predetermined threshold, the means for storing being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the means for storing comprises a non-volatile memory for storing a digital number related to the first stored value and for storing a digital number related to the second stored value.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the threshold detector means comprises first resistor means for establishing the first predetermined threshold and second resistor means for establishing the second predetermined threshold, there being means for connecting the first resistor means to the second resistor means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the means for connecting comprises switching means for selecting one of the first resistor means and the second resistor means, the switching means being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the means for selectively monitoring further comprises: threshold detector means for determining whether a particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above a predetermined threshold, the threshold detector means being connected to the means for selectively monitoring through null detection; and means for storing a test value related to whether the particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above the predetermined threshold, the means for storing being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the means for storing comprises a non-volatile memory for storing a digital number related to the stored value.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the threshold detector means comprises resistor means for establishing the predetermined threshold.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
118 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the means for selectively monitoring further comprises: threshold detector means for determining whether a particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above a first predetermined threshold and for determining whether the particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above the second predetermined threshold, the threshold detector means being connected to the means for selectively monitoring through null detection; and means for storing a first test value related to whether the particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above the first predetermined threshold and for storing a second test value related to whether the particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above the second predetermined threshold, the means for storing being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the means for storing comprises a non-volatile memory for storing a digital number related to the first stored value and for storing a digital number related to the second stored value.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the threshold detector means comprises first resistor means for establishing the first predetermined threshold and second resistor means for establishing the second predetermined threshold, there being means for connecting the first resistor means to the second resistor means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the means for connecting comprises switching means for selecting one of the first resistor means and the second resistor means, the switching means being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the means for selectively monitoring comprises: threshold detector means for determining whether a particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above a predetermined threshold; and means for storing a test value related to whether the particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above the predetermined threshold, the means for storing being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the means for storing comprises a non-volatile memory for storing a digital number related to the stored value.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the threshold detector means comprises resistor means for establishing the predetermined threshold.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the means for selectively monitoring comprises: threshold detector means for determining whether a particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above a first predetermined threshold and for determining whether the particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above the second predetermined threshold; and means for storing a first test value related to whether the particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above the first predetermined threshold and for storing a second test value related to whether the particular quadrature signal has an amplitude above the second predetermined threshold, the means for storing being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the means for storing comprises a non-volatile memory for storing a digital number related to the first stored value and for storing a digital number related to the second stored value.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the threshold detector means comprises first resistor means for establishing the first predetermined threshold and second resistor means for establishing the second predetermined threshold, there being means for connecting the first resistor means to the second resistor means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the means for connecting comprises switching means for selecting one of the first resistor means and the second resistor means, the switching means being connected to the threshold detector means.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 20, 38, or 41 wherein at least one of the capacitive sensors comprises a capacitive probe having an essentially uniform capacitance per unit length.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 20, 38, or 41 wherein at least one of the capacitive sensors comprises a dielectric sensor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-12-13 | 1986-06-14 | 1986-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-13 | 1990-06-14 | 1990-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-13 | 1994-06-14 | 1994-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |