| US 7,610,805 B2 | ||
| Combination capacitive proximity sensor and ultrasonic sensor for material level monitoring | ||
| Brett Crider, Bremen, Ala. (US) | ||
| Assigned to The GSI Group, LLC, Assumption, Ill. (US) | ||
| Appl. No. 11/883,110 PCT Filed Jan. 24, 2006, PCT No. PCT/US2006/002627 § 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Jul. 24, 2007, PCT Pub. No. WO2006/081291, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 03, 2006. |
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| Prior Publication US 2008/0148845 A1, Jun. 26, 2008 | ||
| Int. Cl. G01F 23/26 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 73—304C | 15 Claims |
| 1. A device (10) for sensing the level of material (16) in a container (11), comprising:
a) a continuous ultrasonic sensor (12); and
b) a capacitive proximity sensor (13);
c) wherein said capacitive proximity sensor is positioned to detect the material only at a level proximate or within the limit
of a dead zone (15) of said ultrasonic sensor and said ultrasonic sensor provides a level detection signal only when said capacitive proximity
sensor does not detect the material.
|