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:
Oct. 07, 2008
Filed:
Mar. 15, 2006
Philip J. Sieh, Chandler, AZ (US);
Bradley C. Stewart, Austin, TX (US);
Michael A. Steffen, Rockford, IL (US);
Philip J. Sieh, Chandler, AZ (US);
Bradley C. Stewart, Austin, TX (US);
Michael A. Steffen, Rockford, IL (US);
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
The present disclosure provides several systems. In general, it provides E-field sensor systems that utilize at least one electrodeadapted for creating an E-field in an areawithin a detection volume where fluid presenceor presence of a solid bodyis to be detected. The electrical field sensor is configured to generate a detected signal responsive to a change in capacitance of the electric field, and is communicatively coupled to the electrode. In addition, a processoris configured to determine a quantitative measure of a fluid or solid body within the detection volume in accordance with a capacitive relationship with the detection volume. Described are examples of the system for fluid presence detection, fluid level measurement and measurement of proximity to a solid object.