A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel may include an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel and a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening. A sensing device may be locat
A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel may include an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel and a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening. A sensing device may be located within the lower portion and at least partially surrounded by a protective layer. The sensing device may be configured to obtain sensed input for the liquid through the protective layer. An alert system may be at least partially located within the upper portion and configured to generate an alert in response to the sensed input obtained by the sensing device.
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1. A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel, comprising: an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel;a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening;a sensing device centrally loc
1. A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel, comprising: an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel;a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening;a sensing device centrally located within the lower portion and completely surrounded by a protective layer that prohibits direct contact between the sensing device and the liquid, wherein the sensing device comprises: an upper pair of complementary capacitive sensors located adjacent to each other and configured to concurrently obtain a first set of capacitive measurements of a liquid that intersects both of the adjacent sensors of the upper pair, wherein the upper pair of complementary capacitive sensors includes a first capacitive sensor having a right triangle shaped sensor surface and a second capacitive sensor having a right triangle shaped sensor surface as the first capacitive sensor, and wherein a hypotenuse of the first capacitive sensor is adjacent to a hypotenuse of the second capacitive sensor;a lower pair of complementary capacitive sensors located adjacent to each other and configured to concurrently obtain a second set of capacitive measurements for determining a relative permittivity of the liquid, wherein the lower pair of complementary capacitive sensors includes another first capacitive sensor having a right triangle shaped sensor surface and another second capacitive sensor having a right triangle shaped sensor surface, and wherein a hypotenuse of the other first capacitive sensor is adjacent to a hypotenuse of the other second capacitive sensor, and the hypotenuse of the first capacitive sensor is parallel with the hypotenuse of the other first capacitive sensor, wherein the first set of capacitive measurements and the relative permittivity are used to determine the liquid level; andone or more rectangular capacitive sensors located between the upper pair of complementary capacitive sensors and the lower pair of complementary capacitive sensors, wherein the upper pair of complementary capacitive sensors, the one or more rectangular capacitive sensors, and the lower pair of complementary capacitive sensors are vertically arranged with respect to one another;an aperture extending into a bottom surface of the lower portion and configured to allow the liquid to enter the lower portion and encircle the sensing device, wherein the sensing device is configured to obtain sensed input through the protective layer for the liquid contained in the aperture; andan alert system at least partially located within the upper portion and configured to generate an alert in response to the sensed input obtained by the sensing device indicating the liquid level is below a desired value. 2. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensory input obtained by the sensing device comprises a capacitance for the liquid, wherein the alert system is configured to generate the alarm in response to the capacitance being below a desired value, and wherein the sensing device comprises: a first rectangular capacitive sensor having a first height and configured to sense a first capacitance associated with an absence of the liquid;a second rectangular capacitive sensor having the first height and residing below the first rectangular capacitive sensor, wherein the second rectangular capacitive sensor is configured to sense a second capacitance associated with a presence of the liquid; anda third rectangular capacitive sensor having a second height greater than the first height, the third rectangular capacitive sensor located between the first rectangular capacitive sensor and the second rectangular capacitive sensor, wherein the third rectangular capacitive sensor is configured to measure a third capacitance for determining a level of the liquid. 3. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensory input obtained by the sensing device comprises a capacitance for the liquid, wherein the alert system is configured to generate the alarm in response to the capacitance being below a desired value, and wherein the sensing device comprises: one or more capacitive sensing electrodes;a neutral layer bordering the one or more capacitive sensing electrodes and demarcating each of the one or more capacitive sensing electrodes from each other; anda ground layer bordering the neutral layer, the neutral layer separating the ground layer from the one or more capacitive sensing electrodes. 4. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer indicating an orientation of the liquid detection apparatus, wherein the alert system is further configured to generate a second alert in response to a change in the orientation of the liquid detection apparatus. 5. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid detection apparatus further comprises a light located in the upper portion, wherein the light is configured to illuminate in response to the alert system generating the alert. 6. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ejection-resisting apparatus affixed to the lower portion, the ejection-resisting apparatus comprising one or more members extending from a perimeter of the lower portion. 7. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wireless reading device configured to determine an identification of the wine barrel. 8. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 7, wherein a barrel identification device is attached to the wine barrel, and wherein the wireless reading device is configured to determine the identification of the wine barrel by reading the barrel identification device. 9. A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid within a container for storing wine, comprising: an upper portion configured to float above a surface level of the liquid in the container, wherein the upper portion moves in a vertical direction within the container as the surface level of the liquid rises or falls due to a change in liquid volume;a lower portion configured to be submerged in the liquid and to support the upper portion above the liquid;a signaling device located in the upper portion and configured to transmit a signal and to receive the signal reflected from an inner surface of the container for determining the surface level of the liquid within the container;a communication device configured to transmit information indicating the surface level of the liquid;a sensing device located within the lower portion and completely surrounded by a protective layer that prohibits direct contact between the sensing device and the liquid, wherein the sensing device is configured to obtain sensed input for the liquid through the protective layer, and wherein the communication device is further configured to transmit information associated with the sensed input, wherein the sensing device comprises: an upper pair of complementary capacitive sensors located adjacent to each other and configured to concurrently obtain a first set of capacitive measurements associated with a liquid level that intersects both of the adjacent sensors, wherein the upper pair of complementary capacitive sensors includes a first capacitive sensor having a right triangle shaped sensor surface and a second capacitive sensor having a right triangle shaped sensor surface, and wherein a hypotenuse of the first capacitive sensor is adjacent to a hypotenuse of the second capacitive sensor;a lower pair of complementary capacitive sensors located adjacent to each other and configured to concurrently obtain a second set of capacitive measurements for determining a relative permittivity of the liquid, wherein the lower pair of complementary capacitive sensors includes another first capacitive sensor having a right triangle shaped sensor surface and another second capacitive sensor having a right triangle shaped sensor surface, and wherein a hypotenuse of the other first capacitive sensor is adjacent to a hypotenuse of the other second capacitive sensor, and the hypotenuse of the first capacitive sensor is parallel with the hypotenuse of the other first capacitive sensor; wherein the first set of capacitive measurements and the relative permittivity are used to determine the liquid level;one or more rectangular capacitive sensors located between the upper pair of complementary capacitive sensors and the lower pair of complementary capacitive sensors, wherein the upper pair of complementary capacitive sensors, the one or more rectangular capacitive sensors, and the lower pair of complementary capacitive sensors are vertically arranged with respect to one another; anda processing device configured to determine, as the sensed input, the first set of capacitive measurements when a difference in capacitance between the capacitive sensors of the upper pair is greater than a difference in capacitance between the capacitive sensors of the lower pair, orthe second set of capacitive measurements when a difference in capacitance between the capacitive sensors of the lower pair is greater than the difference in capacitance between the capacitive sensors of the upper pair; andan aperture extending into a bottom surface of the lower portion and configured to allow the liquid to enter the lower portion and encircle the sensing device, wherein the sensing device is configured to obtain sensed input through the protective layer for the liquid contained in the aperture. 10. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processing device is configured to: determine a unique identifier associated with the container;determine a liquid level of the liquid stored in the container based on the sensed input;determine information associated with liquid stored in the container, the information indicating the determined liquid level, and wherein at least a portion of the liquid detection apparatus is submerged in the liquid; andcontrol the communication device to transmit the information together with the unique identifier to provide a status of the liquid stored in the container. 11. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing device is configured to: generate an alert to be included in the information in response to the liquid level being at or below a desired level or outside a desired range of levels. 12. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 10, wherein the liquid detection apparatus further comprises a temperature sensing device, and the processing device is configured to: determine, based on an output of the temperature sensing device, a temperature inside the container; andgenerate an alert to be included in the information in response to the determined temperature being at or above a desired temperature or outside a desired range of temperatures. 13. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing device is configured to: determine, based on the sensed input, an acceleration of the liquid detection apparatus associated with an ejection of a stopper of the liquid detection apparatus from the container; andgenerate an alert to be included in the information in response to the determined acceleration. 14. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing device is configured to: control storage of the information for a period of time;obtain a request for the information for the period of time; andcontrol the communication device to transmit the information for the period of time in response to receipt of the request. 15. A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel by floating in the liquid or being submerged in the liquid, the liquid detection apparatus comprising: an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel;a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening;a sensing device located within the lower portion and at least partially surrounded by a protective layer, wherein the sensing device is configured to obtain sensed input for the liquid through the protective layer, the sensing device comprising: an upper pair of complementary capacitive sensors located adjacent to each other, a lower pair of complementary capacitive sensors located adjacent to each other and below the upper pair of complementary sensors, and a processing device coupled with the upper pair and lower pair of capacitive sensors, the processing device is configured to: obtain capacitive measurements from the capacitive sensors of the upper pair and the capacitive sensors of the lower pair,determine, based on the obtained capacitive measurements, a first ratio of a capacitance of air to a total area of the upper pair of capacitive sensors and a second ratio of a capacitance of the liquid to a total area of the lower pair of capacitive sensors,determine the sensed input using the first ratio when a difference in capacitance between the capacitive sensors of the upper pair is greater than a difference in capacitance between the capacitive sensors of the lower pair,determine the sensed input using the second ratio when the difference in capacitance between the capacitive sensors of the lower pair is greater than the difference in capacitance between the capacitive sensors of the upper pair, anddetermine a liquid level based on the sensed input; anda communication device configured to transmit information indicating the determined liquid level. 16. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing device is configured to: determine a unique identifier associated with the wine barrel;determine a liquid level of the liquid stored in the wine barrel based on the sensed input; andcontrol the communication device to transmit the determined liquid level together with the unique identifier to provide a status of the liquid stored in the wine barrel. 17. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processing device is configured to: generate an alert in response to the liquid level being at or below a desired level or outside a desired range of levels; andcontrol the communication device to transmit the alert together with the unique identifier to provide the status of the liquid stored in the wine barrel. 18. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 16, wherein the liquid detection apparatus further comprises a temperature sensing device, and the processing device is configured to: determine, based on an output of the temperature sensing device, a temperature inside the wine barrel;generate an alert in response to the determined temperature being at or above a desired temperature or outside a desired range of temperatures; andcontrol the communication device to transmit the alert together with the unique identifier to provide the status of the liquid stored in the wine barrel. 19. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processing device is configured to: control storage of the information for a period of time;obtain a request for the information for the period of time; andcontrol the communication device to transmit the information for the period of time in response to receipt of the request. 20. The liquid detection apparatus of claim 15, wherein: the upper pair of complementary capacitive sensors includes a first capacitive sensor having a right triangle shaped sensor surface and a second capacitive sensor having a right triangle shaped sensor surface, and wherein a hypotenuse of the first capacitive sensor is adjacent to a hypotenuse of the second capacitive sensor;the lower pair of complementary capacitive sensors includes another first capacitive sensor having a right triangle shaped sensor surface and another second capacitive sensor having a right triangle shaped sensor surface, and wherein a hypotenuse of the other first capacitive sensor is adjacent to a hypotenuse of the other second capacitive sensor, and the hypotenuse of the first capacitive sensor is parallel with the hypotenuse of the other first capacitive sensor; andone or more rectangular capacitive sensors located between the upper pair of complementary capacitive sensors and the lower pair of complementary capacitive sensors, wherein the upper pair of complementary capacitive sensors, the one or more rectangular capacitive sensors, and the lower pair of complementary capacitive sensors are vertically arranged with respect to one another.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (7)
Matulek Andrew M., Capacitive liquid level indicator.
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