Bourns Incorporated

Eoin Paul O'Regan

James Gregory Stanley

Don Blandino

Kenneth R Turner

Jay Jamshid Khazaai

Katherine Murphy

A system for detecting a characteristic of a fluid. In one example, the system includes a tube, a float, a sensor, and a controller. The tube is configured to receive the fluid. The float is located within the tube. The sensor is configured to sense a position of the float. The controller is configured to receive, from the sensor, the position of the float, and determine a characteristic of the fluid based on the position of the float. The characteristic may be a density or a concentration.

Detecting fluid characteristics via a float

A fluid sensor including a guide, a float, a permanent magnet, and a magnetic angle sensor. In one example, the float is constrained at least in part by the guide to move along a vertical axis. The permanent magnet is mechanically coupled to the float. The magnetic angle sensor is configured to measure an angle of a magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet and is positioned such that movement of the float along the vertical axis varies the angle of the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet through the magnetic angle sensor.

Detecting fluid level via a float

A variable resistive element for use in a sensing unit for measuring liquid level in a container, through interaction with a sliding electrical contact operating in conjunction with a float, includes a conductor pattern deposited on a substrate. A region of resistive material is also deposited on the substrate and makes electrical contact with the conductive pattern. A region of the conductor pattern functions as a contact area for the sliding electrical contact. This region is coated with a plating material, for example nickel or a nickel alloy. The use of the plating reduces the requirements for expensive metals in the conductor pattern. The variable resistive element is particularly suited for use in a fuel level sensor.

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Douglas, Ireland

Eoin Paul O'Regan