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. 09, 2017
Filed:
Nov. 19, 2014
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Tuong K. Truong, Bellevue, WA (US);
Dennis G. Koshinz, Bellevue, WA (US);
Eric Y. Chan, Mercer Island, WA (US);
Todd C. Thomas, Mukilteo, WA (US);
J. Everett Groat, Snohomish, WA (US);
Sigvard J. Wahlin, Everett, WA (US);
John L. Vento, Arlington, WA (US);
Sham S. Hariram, Seattle, WA (US);
Richard J. Nesting, Everett, WA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
Systems and methods that use an optical impedance sensor that eliminates electricity for measuring fuel quantity in fuel tanks. The optical impedance sensor comprises two optical fibers spaced apart inside a meniscus tube, one to transmit light along its length and the other to receive light along its length. The meniscus tube minimizes the sloshing of fuel level. The fuel level in the tank modulates the optical impedance between the two optical fibers, resulting in changes in the total light received by an optical detector. Depending on fuel tank height, the optical impedance sensor may comprise different embodiments in which the detection apparatus shapes the light to be unidirectional (emitted and collected only on one side of the fiber) or omnidirectional (all directions).