公开(公告)号：EP1205756A3

公开(公告)日：2002-08-07

申请号：EP02001046.8

申请日：1994-09-22

Applicant: Abbott Laboratories

Inventor： Clark, Frederick L. ,  Clemens, John M. ,  Hance, Robert B. ,  Hendrick, Kendall B. ,  Tayi, Apparao ,  Kanewske, William J., III ,  Lagocki, Peter A. ,  Martin, Richard R. ,  McDowell, Douglas D. ,  Merriam, Richard A. ,  Moore, Larry W. ,  Oleksak, Carl M. ,  Pennington, Charles D. ,  Raymoure, William J. ,  Rumbaugh, William D. ,  Schmidt, Linda S. ,  Schrier, Paul R. ,  Smith, Jane B. ,  Spronk, Adrian M. ,  Walker, Edna S. ,  Vaught, James A. ,  Vickstrom, Richard L. ,  Walker, Donny Ray ,  Watkins, William E., III ,  Winter, Gary E. ,  Wohlford, Robert A. ,  Clift, Gilbert ,  Cloonan, Kevin M. ,  Mitchell, James E. ,  Stanton, Alyn K. ,  Yost, David A. ,  Hills, David B.

IPC: G01N35/10 ,  G01F23/284

CPC classification number: G01N35/0092 ,  B01F11/0022 ,  B01L3/5025 ,  B29C45/00 ,  G01N21/6445 ,  G01N21/6452 ,  G01N21/76 ,  G01N33/5302 ,  G01N33/542 ,  G01N33/54313 ,  G01N35/0099 ,  G01N35/025 ,  G01N35/1004 ,  G01N35/1065 ,  G01N2001/007 ,  G01N2021/6482 ,  G01N2035/00148 ,  G01N2035/00356 ,  G01N2035/0405 ,  G01N2035/0441 ,  G01N2035/0443 ,  G01N2035/0444 ,  G01N2035/0446 ,  G01N2035/1025 ,  G01N2035/1076 ,  G01N2035/1086 ,  H01J49/04

Abstract: The invention relates to an automated liquid level sensing system for detecting the presence of liquid in a container, said liquid level sensing system comprising: a vertically oriented, electrically conductive probe positioned above said container; means for vertically moving said probe into and out of said container; a signal source electrically connected to said probe, said signal source energizing said probe with an electrical signal and causing said probe to transmit said electrical signal; a receiving antenna positioned below said container for receiving said transmitted electrical signal; means for analyzing said received electrical signal for indications that said probe has contacted liquid in said container; means for transferring said received electrical signal from said receiving antenna to said analyzing means; and means for indicating that liquid has been detected. Further, the invention also provides for a method for automatically detecting the presence of liquid in a container, said method comprising the steps of: vertically positioning an electrically conductive probe above said container; vertically moving said probe into and out of said container; electrically connecting a signal source to said probe, said signal source energizing said probe with an electrical signal and causing said probe to transmit said electrical signal; positioning a receiving antenna below said container for receiving said transmitted electrical signal; analyzing said received electrical signal for indications that said probe has contacted liquid in said container; transferring said received electrical signal from said receiving antenna to said analyzing means; and indicating that liquid has been detected.