IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0287223
(2016-10-06)
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등록번호 |
US-10240965
(2019-03-26)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Kumar, Arun
- Fulton, Steven John
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
5 |
초록
▼
A capacitive fluid sensor is provided having a substrate having upper and lower ends and conductive members supported by the substrate. The conductive members are provided between the upper and lower ends of the substrate. The conductive members include an upper end conductive member, a lower end co
A capacitive fluid sensor is provided having a substrate having upper and lower ends and conductive members supported by the substrate. The conductive members are provided between the upper and lower ends of the substrate. The conductive members include an upper end conductive member, a lower end conductive member, and at least one included conductive member which is positioned between the upper and lower end conductive members. Each conductive member is separated from every other one of the members, thereby providing that each member has distinct upper and lower ends and acts as an independent sensor. At least one pair of proximally positioned members are positioned relative to each other such that the distinct lower end of one of the pair of conductive members is positioned closer to the lower end of the substrate than is the distinct upper end of the other one of the pair of conductive members.
대표청구항
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1. A capacitive fluid level sensor assembly, the capacitive fluid level sensor assembly comprising: a substrate having upper and lower ends; anda plurality of conductive members supported by the substrate, the plurality of conductive members being provided between the upper and lower ends of the sub
1. A capacitive fluid level sensor assembly, the capacitive fluid level sensor assembly comprising: a substrate having upper and lower ends; anda plurality of conductive members supported by the substrate, the plurality of conductive members being provided between the upper and lower ends of the substrate, wherein the plurality of conductive members includes an upper end conductive member which is most proximate to the upper end of the substrate, a lower end conductive member which is most proximate to the lower end of the substrate, and at least one included conductive member which is positioned between the upper and lower end conductive members, wherein each conductive member is separated from every other one of the conductive members, thereby providing that each conductive member has distinct upper and lower ends and acts as an independent sensor, wherein at least one pair of proximally positioned conductive members are positioned relative to each other such that the distinct lower end of one of the pair of conductive members is positioned closer to the lower end of the substrate than is the distinct upper end of the other one of the pair of conductive members. 2. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the substrate is configured to be positioned alongside a wall of a vessel. 3. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the substrate is configured to be positioned alongside an exterior wall of the vessel. 4. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied to at least a portion of a mounting side of the substrate. 5. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the substrate is formed from a flexible material. 6. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the substrate is formed from a dielectric material. 7. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein a cover layer seals the plurality of conductive members to the substrate. 8. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the substrate defines an axis which extends from the upper end thereof to the lower end thereof, and wherein any imaginary line drawn normal to the axis which intersects an included conductive member also intersects at least one of the other conductive members. 9. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the substrate has an insertion portion which is configured to be inserted into a receiving slot of a receptacle connector. 10. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein the insertion portion of the substrate contains a plurality of contact pads which are electrically connected to the plurality of conductive members. 11. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein the insertion portion of the substrate is provided at one of the upper and lower ends of the substrate. 12. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein an intervening space is defined between adjacent conductive members. 13. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the substrate spans the intervening space. 14. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the intervening space intersects a longitudinal axis of the substrate at an angle. 15. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the intervening space extends in two different directions. 16. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the distinct lower end of a lowermost included conductive member is positioned closer to the lower end of the substrate than is the distinct upper end of the lower end conductive member. 17. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein the distinct lower end of the lowermost included conductive member is at least one point. 18. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein the distinct upper end of the lower end conductive member is at least one point. 19. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the distinct upper end of an uppermost included conductive member is positioned closer to the upper end of the substrate than is the distinct lower end of the upper end conductive member. 20. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 19, wherein the distinct upper end of the uppermost included conductive member is at least one point. 21. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 19, wherein the distinct lower end of the upper end conductive member is at least one point. 22. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each conductive member has a plate-like configuration. 23. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive members are provided in an array between the upper and lower ends of the substrate. 24. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the upper end conductive member and the at least one included conductive member have sides which are planar to one another. 25. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the lower end conductive member and the at least one included conductive member have sides which are planar to one another. 26. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the lower end conductive member and the upper end conductive member have sides which are planar to one another. 27. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one included conductive member comprises a plurality of included conductive members, and wherein at least one of the included conductive members have sides which are planar with sides of the lower end conductive member. 28. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 27, wherein all of the included conductive members have sides which are planar with sides of the lower end conductive member. 29. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one included conductive member comprises a plurality of included conductive members, and wherein at least one of the included conductive members have sides which are planar with sides of the upper end conductive member. 30. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 29, wherein all of the included conductive members have sides which are planar with sides of the upper end conductive member. 31. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper end conductive member has a configuration which is different from a configuration of the at least one included conductive member. 32. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the lower end conductive member has a configuration which is different from a configuration of the at least one included conductive member. 33. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper end conductive member has a configuration which is different from a configuration of the lower end conductive member. 34. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one included conductive member is four-sided. 35. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 34, wherein the at least one included conductive member is in the form of a parallelogram. 36. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one included conductive member is six-sided. 37. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 36, wherein the at least one included conductive member is in the form of a chevron. 38. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each conductive member is electrically connected to circuitry of a readout or processor. 39. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of proximally positioned conductive members includes the upper end conductive member and an uppermost included conductive member. 40. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of proximally positioned conductive members includes the lower end conductive member and a lowermost included conductive member. 41. The capacitive fluid level sensor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of proximally positioned conductive members includes two included conductive members.
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