Eltek S.p.a.

Matteo Rondano

Mauro Zorzetto

Enrico Chiesa

Domenico Cantarelli

Marco Pizzi

Giorgio Fagnola

Massimo Zanin

Stefano Allera

Piercarlo Merlano

Fulvio Cerutti

Enrica Mortara

Luiz Wagner Main

A level sensor comprises an electrical-connection structure and a level-detection structure. The level-detection structure comprises a plurality of elongated electrodes, which include at least three measuring electrodes. The elongated electrodes extend at least partially in side-by-sidey positions in a length direction of the level-detection structure and each have a proximal end and a distal end relative to the electrical-connection structure. The level-detection structure is divided, in the length direction, into a succession of detection sections, each of which includes two effective portions of two respective measuring electrodes, the two effective portions extending to a prevalent extent substantially parallel and equidistant, at a first predetermined distance from each other, in the length direction. In the detection sections there also extends, in the length direction, a non-effective portion of one further elongated electrode other than the two measuring electrodes that define the two effective portions of the corresponding detection section, the at least one further elongated electrode being one measuring electrode or else a reference electrode. The elongated electrodes are shaped in such a way that, at one or more of the detection sections, the non-effective portion of the at least one further elongated electrode extends to a prevalent extent at respective second predetermined distances from the corresponding two effective portions, the second predetermined distances being greater than the first predetermined distance.

Level sensor for detecting the level of a medium

A capacitive level sensor comprises a control circuit, a supporting structure and a detection structure on the supporting structure. The detection structure comprises a plurality of electrodes, each including a connection part and a plurality of detection parts which extend in a transverse direction relative to a length direction of the sensor, the detection parts of a first electrode being interdigitated with respect to the detection parts of a second electrode. The detection structure includes a plurality of detection sections, which extend in succession in the length direction and include an upper section and one or more underlying lower sections. Each detection section includes respective first and second electrodes, which are electrically insulated from one another and with respect to the first and second electrodes of the other detection sections. The control circuit is prearranged for selectively applying an electrical potential difference between the first and second electrodes of a corresponding detection section, for detecting a value of electrical capacitance therebetween, and deriving therefrom the level of a medium.

Capacitive sensor for detection of the level of a medium

A capacitive level-sensor device, for detecting the level of at least one medium contained in a container comprises: The control circuit is prearranged for carrying out a sequential sampling of the inputs of the plurality of first inputs and for comparing a value representing the capacitance associated to each electrode with at least one corresponding reference threshold. The detection part further comprises at least one temperature sensor, connected to at least one respective second input of the control circuit. The control circuit is moreover prearranged for carrying out a compensation of at least one of the following: according to information representing at least one temperature value acquired on the at least one second input.

Device and method for detecting the level of a medium

A sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a container, in particular a tank, comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated to the container (), in particular so as to extend according to an axis of detection (X) of the level of the medium (L), the array of capacitive elements comprising a plurality of electrodes (J-J), in particular on a face of an electrically insulating substrate () having a generally elongated shape, the electrodes (J-J) being spaced apart from one another, in particular along the detection axis (X), and being preferably substantially coplanar with one another; at least one insulation layer () for insulating electrically the electrodes (J-J) with respect to the inside of the container (); and a controller () having a plurality of inputs. Each capacitive element comprises a set of electrodes connected together in common, in particular in parallel, each set of electrodes being connected to a respective input of the plurality of inputs. The controller () is pre-arranged for discriminating a value of capacitance associated to each electrode (J-J) in order to deduce the level of the medium present container.

Sensor for detecting the level of a medium

A sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a container, in particular a tank, comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated to the container (), in particular so as to extend according to an axis of detection (X) of the level of the medium (L), the array of capacitive elements comprising a plurality of electrodes (Ji-Jn), in particular on a face of an electrically insulating substrate () having a generally elongated shape, the electrodes (Ji-Jn) being spaced apart from one another, in particular along the detection axis (X), and being preferably substantially coplanar with one another; at least one insulation layer () for insulating electrically the electrodes (Ji-Jn) with respect to the inside of the container (); and a controller () having a plurality of inputs. Each capacitive element comprises at least one of a single electrode and a set of electrodes connected together in common, in particular in parallel, the single electrode or the set of electrodes being connected to a respective input of the plurality of inputs. The controller () is pre-arranged for discriminating a value of capacitance associated to each electrode (Ji-Jn) in order to deduce the level of the medium present container.

A level sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a vessel comprises: Each capacitive element comprises at least one of a single electrode and a group of electrodes connected in common to each other, the single electrode or the group of electrodes being connected to a respective input of the plurality of inputs. The controller () is prearranged for discriminating a value of electrical capacitance associated with each electrode (J-J) to deduce the level of the medium present in the vessel.

A sensor for detecting the properties of the fuel of an internal combustion engine includes at least one pair of internal electrodes (), extending in an axial direction relative to a further or third external electrode () which surrounds them. The invention also relates to a fuel rail () to which the sensor may be mounted, and a method for detecting the properties of the fluid.

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Casale Monferrato, Italy

Matteo Rondano