The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jul. 24, 2018

Filed:

Sep. 01, 2016
Applicants:

Kazuho Satoh, Kanagawa, JP;

Tomoki Shimohira, Kanagawa, JP;

Tetsuhiko Mizuyama, Kanagawa, JP;

Tetsuro Hirota, Kanagawa, JP;

Inventors:

Kazuho Satoh, Kanagawa, JP;

Tomoki Shimohira, Kanagawa, JP;

Tetsuhiko Mizuyama, Kanagawa, JP;

Tetsuro Hirota, Kanagawa, JP;

Assignee:

Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01F 23/296 (2006.01); G03G 15/10 (2006.01); G03G 15/08 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01F 23/2968 (2013.01); G03G 15/086 (2013.01); G03G 15/0858 (2013.01); G03G 15/105 (2013.01);
Abstract

A fluid detection apparatus to detect quantity of a fluid having flowability and stored in a casing includes an oscillator disposed outside the casing to output a frequency of an oscillation signal corresponding to a magnetic flux passing through a space near the oscillator, a vibrator made of material effecting the magnetic flux and disposed inside the casing, a vibration trigger disposed inside the casing to vibrate the vibrator, and circuitry to acquire frequency-related information related to the frequency of the oscillation signal output from the oscillator, detect the vibration of the vibrator based on a change of the frequency-related information, determine whether the vibration of the vibrator converges during a convergence-checking time period defined after the vibrator is vibrated by the vibration trigger, and detect the quantity of the fluid in the casing based on a convergence determination result of the vibration of the vibrator.


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