초록 ▼

An optical device for measuring a level of a fluid in a container wherein a light conducting body having a top surface and a bottom surface is positioned within the container and into the fluid. A first end of the light conducting body and an oppositely disposed second end, preferably having stepped

An optical device for measuring a level of a fluid in a container wherein a light conducting body having a top surface and a bottom surface is positioned within the container and into the fluid. A first end of the light conducting body and an oppositely disposed second end, preferably having stepped end surfaces, reflect and refract light in a predetermined manner based upon the fluid level in the container. A resulting brightness of the top surface is therefore inversely proportional to the level of the fluid. Such an optical device is particularly suited toward application to a vehicle fuel tank.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An optical device for measuring a fluid level in a container, the optical device comprising:a light conducting body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end and a second end; a plurality of stepped end surfaces formed on each of the first end and the second end, the stepped end surface

1. An optical device for measuring a fluid level in a container, the optical device comprising:a light conducting body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end and a second end; a plurality of stepped end surfaces formed on each of the first end and the second end, the stepped end surfaces arrayed in one or more columns along a periphery of the light conducting body; and a brightness of the top surface inversely proportional to an amount of the light conducting body submerged in fluid, wherein the fluid level is detected along an entire length of the light conducting body between the top surface to the bottom surface.