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:
Jan. 31, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 25, 2009
Peter J. Lagergren, Point Roberts, WA (US);
Christian N. Staats, Gresham, OR (US);
Kenneth M. Wegrzyn, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Kelvin L. Woltring, Gresham, OR (US);
Wayne A. Case, Portland, OR (US);
Peter J. Lagergren, Point Roberts, WA (US);
Christian N. Staats, Gresham, OR (US);
Kenneth M. Wegrzyn, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Kelvin L. Woltring, Gresham, OR (US);
Wayne A. Case, Portland, OR (US);
Schmitt Measurement Systems, Inc., Portland, OR (US);
Abstract
An ultrasonic liquid level monitoring system includes an ultrasonic transducer unit that is externally mountable to a tank. An ultrasonic emitter may generate an ultrasonic beam and receive an echo of the ultrasonic beam off a liquid surface inside a tank. An acoustic lens is coupled to the ultrasonic emitter to shape the ultrasonic beam to compensate for lensing effects of the tank wall. An acoustic coupler may be disposed between the acoustic lens and the tank wall to improve the acoustic coupling between the ultrasonic emitter and the tank wall. The system determines a time-of-flight between generating the ultrasonic beam and receiving the echo. Using the time-of-flight and geometry of a tank, the system may calculate the liquid volume inside the tank. The time-of-flight may be transmitted via a satellite data link or a local data link. The local data link may further be used to configure and maintain the system.