US6336362B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for measuring and remotely reporting the liquid level of tanks and the usage thereof
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1999-01-22
•
Granted: 2002-01-08
•
Expires: 2019-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A system and a method for periodically detecting the level of liquid propane in industrial, commercial and residential tanks; and transmitting this information from a remote location to a host system located at a host facility or at the site of the propane supplier in order to, among other purposes, prevent out-of-gas situations to improve safety and minimize economic and civil liability; to optimize and schedule refill trips to the tank and increase customer service and satisfaction; to keep track of propane usage on a periodically or daily basis for billing purposes; to know when the tanks have been serviced or refilled for personnel control and anti-fraud purposes; to keep an inventory of available empty space in the tanks to optimize the purchasing and delivery of bulk propane through the future options market.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy A. Duenas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/30; G01F23/32; G01F23/36; G01F23/366; G01F15/00; G01F15/06; G01F15/061; G01F15/063; G01F15/07; G01F15/075; G01F15/0755
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for monitoring the content level of a tank, said system comprising a host system and a remotely located system wherein: a) said host system and said remotely located system are capable of direct or indirect communication with each other; and b) a sensor unit associated with said remotely located system comprising an encoded disc, wherein said encoded disc rotates as a function of the content level of said tank; at least one light source, wherein light is projected onto or passed through said encoded disc; and at least one optical sensor, wherein said optical sensor receives light reflected off of or passed through said encoded disc and converts the light into a signal representative of content level, wherein said encoded disc comprises at least one color-coded track radially distributed about said disc to be read by said optical sensor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for monitoring the content level of a tank, said system comprising a host system and a remotely located system wherein: a) said host system and said remotely located system are capable of direct or indirect communication with each other; and b) a sensor unit associated with said remotely located system comprising an encoded disc, wherein said encoded disc rotates as a function of the content level of said tank; at least one light source, wherein light is projected onto or passed through said encoded disc; and at least one optical sensor, wherein said optical sensor receives light reflected off of or passed through said encoded disc and converts the light into a signal representative of content level, wherein said encoded disc comprises at least one color-coded track radially distributed about said disc to be read by said optical sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said optical sensor is a colorimetric sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
A sensor unit for measuring the content level of a tank comprising an encoded disc, wherein said encoded disc rotates as a function of the content level of said tank; at least one light source, wherein light is projected onto or passed through said encoded disc; and at least one optical sensor, wherein said optical sensor receives light reflected off of or passed through said encoded disc and converts the light into a signal, wherein said encoded disc comprises at least one color-coded track radially distributed about said disc to be read by said optical sensors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
A sensor unit for measuring the content level of a tank comprising an encoded disc, wherein said encoded disc rotates as a function of the content level of said tank; at least one light source, wherein light is projected onto or passed through said encoded disc; and at least one optical sensor, wherein said optical sensor receives light reflected off of or passed through said encoded disc and converts the light into a signal, wherein said encoded disc comprises at least one color-coded track radially distributed about said disc to be read by said optical sensors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
A sensor unit for measuring the content level of a tank comprising an encoded disc, wherein said encoded disc rotates as a function of the content level of said tank; at least one light source, wherein light is projected onto or passed through said encoded disc; and at least one optical sensor, wherein said optical sensor receives light reflected off of or passed through said encoded disc and converts the light into a signal, and wherein said encoded disc comprises at least one binary-coded track radially distributed about said disc to be read by said optical sensors, and wherein said encoded disc further comprises at least one color-coded track radially distributed about said disc to be read by said optical sensors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
A sensor unit for measuring the content level of a tank comprising an encoded disc, wherein said encoded disc rotates as a function of the content level of said tank; at least one light source, wherein light is projected onto or passed through said encoded disc; and at least one optical sensor, wherein said optical sensor receives light reflected off of or passed through said encoded disc and converts the light into a signal, and wherein said encoded disc comprises at least one binary-coded track radially distributed about said disc to be read by said optical sensors, and wherein said encoded disc further comprises at least one color-coded track radially distributed about said disc to be read by said optical sensors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sensor unit of claim 4 , wherein said color-coded tracks are designed with a gradient shading to represent angular orientation of said disc.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for remotely monitoring the content level of a tank comprising sensing the content level of said tank with the sensor unit of claim 3 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein said encoded disc further comprises at least one color-coded track radially distributed about said disc to be read by said optical sensors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein said color-coded tracks are designed with a gradient shading to represent angular orientation of said disc.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3258968A
Cited
US3486479A
Cited
US3879136A
Cited
US3824587A
Cited
US4004097A
Cited
US4102394A
Cited
US4387434A
Cited
US4375592A
Cited
US4466189A
Cited
US4501963A
Cited
US4486625A
Cited
US4594675A
Cited
US4571995A
Cited
US4554494A
Cited
US4788648A
Cited
US4716534A
Cited
US4845486A
Cited
US4812654A
Cited
US4985624A
Cited
US5111201A
Cited
US5023806A
Cited
US5265032A
Cited
US5224051A
Cited
US5089708A
Cited
US5659302A
Cited
US5138564A
Cited
US5406269A
Cited
US5319964A
Cited
US5655403A
Cited
US5305639A
Cited
US5532687A
Cited
US5357815A
Cited
US5627380A
Cited
US5454031A
Cited
US5365420A
Cited
US5416725A
Cited
US5483831A
Cited
US5642097A
Cited
US5950487A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-01-07 | 2005-07-09 | 2006-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-01-07 | 2009-07-09 | 2010-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-01-07 | 2013-07-09 | 2014-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |