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:
May. 19, 2009
Filed:
Jul. 26, 2006
Paul H. Dietz, Hopkinton, MA (US);
William S. Yerazunis, Acton, MA (US);
David C. Reynolds, Scarborough, ME (US);
Jonathan Westhues, Cambridge, MA (US);
Darren L. Leigh, Somerville, MA (US);
Dirk Brinkman, Cambridge, MA (US);
Paul H. Dietz, Hopkinton, MA (US);
William S. Yerazunis, Acton, MA (US);
David C. Reynolds, Scarborough, ME (US);
Jonathan Westhues, Cambridge, MA (US);
Darren L. Leigh, Somerville, MA (US);
Dirk Brinkman, Cambridge, MA (US);
Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc., Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus measures a fluid level in a container. A light source emits a light beam. A light sensor can sense the light beam. An optical conduit is arranged in a container for holding fluid. The optical conduit is arranged between the light source and the light sensor along a path of the light beam, such that at least one part of the light beam passes through the optical conduit, and at least an other part of the light beam passes through the fluid when the container holds the fluid. The sensor senses the light beam when a level of the fluid coincides with the one part of the light beam passing through the optical conduit, and the sensor does not sense the light beam when the level of the fluid coincides with the other part of the light beam passing through the fluid due to internal reflection at the fluid level.