公开(公告)号：AT323290T

公开(公告)日：2006-04-15

申请号：AT02001046

申请日：1994-09-22

Applicant: ABBOTT LAB

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: G01N33/483 ,  B01F11/00 ,  B01L3/00 ,  B29C45/00 ,  G01F23/22 ,  G01F23/26 ,  G01N1/00 ,  G01N21/25 ,  G01N21/64 ,  G01N21/76 ,  G01N21/78 ,  G01N33/53 ,  G01N33/542 ,  G01N33/543 ,  G01N33/553 ,  G01N35/00 ,  G01N35/02 ,  G01N35/04 ,  G01N35/10 ,  H01J49/04 ,  G01F23/284

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.

公开(公告)号：DE69432687T2

公开(公告)日：2003-11-06

申请号：DE69432687

申请日：1994-09-22

Applicant: ABBOTT LAB

Inventor： CLARK FREDERICK L ,  CLEMENS JOHN M ,  HANCE ROBERT B ,  HENDRICK KENDALL B ,  TAYI APPARAO ,  KANEWSKE 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 B JANE ,  SPRONK ADRIAN M ,  WALKER EDNA S ,  VAUGHT ,  VICKSTROM ,  WALKER ,  WATKINS III ,  WINTER ,  WOHLFORD ,  CLIFT ,  CLOONAN ,  MITCHELL ,  STANTON ,  YOST ,  HILLS

IPC: G01N33/483 ,  B01F11/00 ,  B01L3/00 ,  B29C45/00 ,  G01F23/22 ,  G01F23/26 ,  G01N1/00 ,  G01N21/25 ,  G01N21/64 ,  G01N21/76 ,  G01N21/78 ,  G01N33/53 ,  G01N33/542 ,  G01N33/543 ,  G01N33/553 ,  G01N35/00 ,  G01N35/02 ,  G01N35/04 ,  G01N35/10 ,  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.

公开(公告)号：DE69432687D1

公开(公告)日：2003-06-18

申请号：DE69432687

申请日：1994-09-22

Applicant: ABBOTT LAB

Inventor： CLARK FREDERICK L ,  CLEMENS JOHN M ,  HANCE ROBERT B ,  HENDRICK KENDALL B ,  TAYI APPARAO ,  KANEWSKE 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 B JANE ,  SPRONK ADRIAN M ,  WALKER EDNA S ,  VAUGHT ,  VICKSTROM ,  WALKER ,  WATKINS III ,  WINTER ,  WOHLFORD ,  CLIFT ,  CLOONAN ,  MITCHELL ,  STANTON ,  YOST ,  HILLS

IPC: G01N33/483 ,  B01F11/00 ,  B01L3/00 ,  B29C45/00 ,  G01F23/22 ,  G01F23/26 ,  G01N1/00 ,  G01N21/25 ,  G01N21/64 ,  G01N21/76 ,  G01N21/78 ,  G01N33/53 ,  G01N33/542 ,  G01N33/543 ,  G01N33/553 ,  G01N35/00 ,  G01N35/02 ,  G01N35/04 ,  G01N35/10 ,  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.

公开(公告)号：CA2643126A1

公开(公告)日：1995-03-30

申请号：CA2643126

申请日：1994-09-22

Applicant: ABBOTT LAB

Inventor： KANEWSKE WILLIAM J III ,  MOORE LARRY W ,  MCDOWELL DOUGLAS D ,  CLIFT GILBERT ,  CLARK FREDERICK L

IPC: G01N33/483 ,  G01N35/02 ,  B01F11/00 ,  B01J19/24 ,  B01L3/00 ,  B29C45/00 ,  G01F23/22 ,  G01F23/26 ,  G01N1/00 ,  G01N21/25 ,  G01N21/64 ,  G01N21/76 ,  G01N21/78 ,  G01N33/53 ,  G01N33/542 ,  G01N33/543 ,  G01N33/553 ,  G01N35/00 ,  G01N35/04 ,  G01N35/10 ,  H01J49/04

Abstract: The invention discloses an automated liquid level sensing system for detecti ng the presence of liquid in a container, comprising an electrically conductive and movable probe positioned above said container; a signal source electrically connected to said probe, said signal source capable of energizing said probe thereby causing said probe to transmit said electrical signal at a given frequency; a receiving antenna and means for transferring said received electrical signal from said receiving antenna to an analyzing means; wherein analyzing said received electrical signal includes: (1) means for detecting changes in received signal amplitude, wherein said means for detecting changes in received signal amplitude includes:(a) means for multiplying said received signal by a reference signal, said reference signal having a frequency substantially equal to the frequency of the transmitted signal; and (b) a low pass filter through which is passed said multiplied received signal; and (2) means for measuring rate of change of said change in received signal amplitude; and means connected to said analyzing means for indicating that liquid has been detected. The invention further discloses a method of automatically detecting the presence of liquid in a container using the system of the invention. An automated liquid sensing system for us e in a clinical analysis system having a pipettor for dispensing or aspirating liqu id in a container, the pipettor being electrically conductive and moveable verticall y into the container, using the automated liquid sensing system of the invention furthe r comprising a means electrically connected to the pipettor for applying a RF signal thereto and causing the pipettor to radiate an electromagnetic field, the propagation of which changes when the pipettor contacts the surface of the liquid in the container is further disclosed.