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. 11, 2010
Filed:
Jun. 30, 2006
Takeo Sasanuma, Komaki, JP;
Yoshikuni Sato, Nagoya, JP;
Takashi Yamamoto, Niwa-gun, JP;
NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd., Aichi, JP;
Abstract
A liquid state detecting sensor is provided in which a level detecting unit for detecting the level of a liquid and a concentration detecting unit for detecting the concentration of a particular component contained in the liquid are integrated. In a liquid state detecting sensorcapable of measuring the level and a urea concentration of a urea aqueous solution, a level detecting unitand a liquid property detecting unitare connected in an insulated state. An outer cylinder electrodeand an inner electrodefor forming the level detecting unitform a capacitor, and level detection is performed on the basis of the electrostatic capacity which changes in response to the level of the urea aqueous solution which is present therebetween. A holderfor holding a ceramic heateris fitted to a leading end portionof the inner electrode, and the holderis supported inside a leading end portionof the outer cylinder electrodeby a rubber bushing. Further, the urea concentration is determined by a liquid property detecting circuit unit of a circuit boardby energizing a heat generating resistor pattern provided on the ceramic heaterfor a fixed time duration and on the basis of a voltage value corresponding to a resistance value of the heat generating resistor pattern obtained at this time.