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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 20, 1996
Joseph W Maresca, Jr, Mountain View, CA (US);
Alan A Burns, Mountain View, CA (US);
Eric G Eckert, Mountain View, CA (US);
Vista Research, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring liquid level in a container, the apparatus having a flexible measurement scale attached at one end to a weight for retainment at the bottom of the container and at the opposite end to a receiver at the top of the container. A float moves along the flexible scale, and has a configuration and density designed to place a portion of the float below the level of the liquid to be measured and a portion above the liquid level. The portion above the liquid level contains transmitter apparatus for applying energy to one side of the scale, and detection apparatus on the other side for detecting energy transmitted through the scale and converting it to a liquid level in the container. The accuracy of readings is enhanced through the use of a wide gap between the scale and float at the liquid-air interface for reducing surface effects between the float and the scale, and through the use of a special two-dimensional vertically offset gray scale code that allows for the use of a more narrow scale and larger spacing between components.