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US5159761A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electronic level indicator

Assignee: Amrad Research and Development LP
•
Filing: 1991-03-04
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Granted: 1992-11-03
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Expires: 2011-03-04
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Abstract

Abstract An electronic level indicator, having a housing including at least one planar surface, at least one gravity responsive sensor mounted on the housing, the sensor constituting at least a part of two branches of an electronic bridge circuit, a pulse generator coupled to the bridge circuit for feeding the bridge circuit with short pulses, a differential amplifier connected to the output of the bridge circuit, an A/D converter connected in circuit for receiving signals from the amplifier and a display unit connected to the output of the converter for displaying numerical data indicative of the inclination of the planar surface.

Inventors

  • 👤 Uri Cagan
  • 👤 Lev Diamant
  • 👤 Geoffrey Goodman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 21:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C9/00; G01C9/18; G01C9/20; G01C9/02; G01C9/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 115 words
An electronic level indicator, comprising: a housing having at least one planar surface; at least one gravity responsive sensor means mounted on said housing, each of said sensor means constituting at least a part of two branches of an electronic bridge circuit; a pulse generator coupled to said bridge circuit for feeding said bridge circuit with short pulses; a differential amplifier connected to the output of said bridge circuit; an A/D convertor connected in circuit for receiving signals from said amplifier, and for receiving synchronization signals from said pulse generator, and at least one display unit connected to the output of said converter for displaying numerical data indicative of the inclination of said planar surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 115 words
An electronic level indicator, comprising: a housing having at least one planar surface; at least one gravity responsive sensor means mounted on said housing, each of said sensor means constituting at least a part of two branches of an electronic bridge circuit; a pulse generator coupled to said bridge circuit for feeding said bridge circuit with short pulses; a differential amplifier connected to the output of said bridge circuit; an A/D convertor connected in circuit for receiving signals from said amplifier, and for receiving synchronization signals from said pulse generator, and at least one display unit connected to the output of said converter for displaying numerical data indicative of the inclination of said planar surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
The level indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sensor means si an electrolytic-type sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
The level indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sensor means is a capacitive pendulum-type sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 155 words
An electronic level indicator, comprising: a housing having at least one planar surface; at least one gravity responsive sensor means mounted on said housing, each of said sensor means constituting at least a part of two branches of an electronic bridge circuit; a microprocessor coupled to said bridge circuit for feeding said circuit with short pulses; a differential amplifier connected to the output of said bridge circuit; a sample and hold circuit connected to receive output signals from said differential amplifier and said microprocessor; a comparator connected to receive a first signal, at its first input terminal from said sample and hold circuit, a second signal at its second input terminal from said microprocessor via a D/A converter, and to provide an output signal to said microprocessor, and at least one display unit connected to said microprocessor for displaying numerical data indicative of the inclination of said planar surface with respect to a reference level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 155 words
An electronic level indicator, comprising: a housing having at least one planar surface; at least one gravity responsive sensor means mounted on said housing, each of said sensor means constituting at least a part of two branches of an electronic bridge circuit; a microprocessor coupled to said bridge circuit for feeding said circuit with short pulses; a differential amplifier connected to the output of said bridge circuit; a sample and hold circuit connected to receive output signals from said differential amplifier and said microprocessor; a comparator connected to receive a first signal, at its first input terminal from said sample and hold circuit, a second signal at its second input terminal from said microprocessor via a D/A converter, and to provide an output signal to said microprocessor, and at least one display unit connected to said microprocessor for displaying numerical data indicative of the inclination of said planar surface with respect to a reference level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The indicator as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a pulse conditioner connected in circuit between said microprocessor and said bridge circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
The indicator as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a visual or acoustic signalling means activated whenever the indicator is positioned within a preset range of accuracy of measurements to be performed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
The indicator as claimed in claim 5 further comprising circuit means for selectively indicating on at least one said display unit a numerical value indicative of an inclination relative to any predetermined reference level.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3227951A Cited
US4208625A Cited
US4167818A Cited
GB2112524A Cited
US4549277A Cited
US4858331A Cited
US5027522A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-11-03 1996-05-04 1996-11-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-11-03 2000-05-04 2000-11-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-11-03 2004-05-04 2004-11-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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