公开(公告)号：DE69434702T2

公开(公告)日：2007-03-29

申请号：DE69434702

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