Present invention refers in general to a sensor for measuring liquid levels in a tank, for example fuel levels in a fuel tank.
In particular, present invention refers to a capacitive level sensor adaptable to the tank dimensions.
Sensors are known in the art for measuring fuel level, for example, in nautical, automotive or aeronautical field.
The sensors in the above fields are, generally, of resistive or capacitive type and are connected to measuring or indicator instruments that display the measurements taken by the sensors.
A first technical problem in relation to the fuel sensors, capacitive sensors in particular, is that the above sensors require to be connected both to a power supply source and to an instrument for indicating the levels measured by the sensor.
As a matter of fact, capacitive type sensors require for operating at least three connection wires, at least one of which is dedicated to the power supply.
Obviously, such a situation involves higher costs and, in particular, higher error risks at the assembling and connecting stages.
A further particularly relevant problem present both in capacitive and resistive sensors is that the sensors do not adapt to the tank length or depth. They should be adjusted in the manufacturing phase, for example at the sensor building plant, to the type and size of the tank in which the sensor is installed.
Another problem is related to the precision of measurements taken by the sensors. They do not guarantee the exact measurement of refuelling and consumption levels.
As a matter of fact, as known, resistive sensors are intrinsically inaccurate.
Similar problems exist for capacitive sensors as well.
The technique used by the capacitive sensor for determining the fuel level is based on the change of permittivity measurement in the dielectric filled between the plates. Two electrodes facing each other are immersed in the liquid. By varying their free surface, the different dielectric constant (permittivity) of the liquid ∈T∈0 and of its vapour (or air) (≈∈0), is able to provide a capacity change that may be sensed by corresponding capacitive detectors.
The capacitive detectors in the sensor working field are able to convert the dielectric constant changes into an electric signal used for controlling by a measuring instrument. As known, in the sensors that do use such an effect it is important to monitor and adjust the detected values as a function of the operating frequency range (that is the frequency used by the sensor for communicating with the instrument) and possible external frequency signals and temperature changes. This is due to the fact that the dielectric constant, in a great number of materials, changes with the temperature and frequency (typically the dielectric constant decreases when the above quantities increase).
Hence taking into account the frequency is very important because the many level sensors are used in plastic tanks. Such a material is completely penetrable by external frequency signals.
In summary, Applicant notes that as of now no commercially known liquid level sensors or detectors, of capacitive type in particular, may be installed without any connection to an external power supply.
Moreover, Applicant notes that the existing sensors, the capacitive type in particular, do not demonstrate good precision of the measurement because they are sensitive to many factors that influence their functioning. In particular, the work of the known sensors is easily influenced by the operating frequency and/or by the frequency of external signals.
The object of the present invention is a sensor that resolves the prior art known problems. According to the present invention such an object is achieved by a sensor for the levels of fuels or other liquids that has the features set forth in the claims that follow.
The invention also relates to a method for sensing liquid levels, as well as to a computer program product loadable in the memory of at least one computer or microprocessor and including software code portions for performing the steps of the invented method when the product is run on at least one computer or microprocessor. The claims that follow are an integral part of the teaching according to the present invention.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the sensor is configured for connection with the measuring instrument without requiring any electric power supply. According to the further characteristic of the present invention the sensor is configured for being selectively adapted to the measuring instruments of different types. Because of this feature the sensor is able to measure accurately the levels of liquids unaffected by the operating frequency or the frequency of external signals and by the temperature of the environment.
In addition, the sensor is adaptable in field to the tank dimensions: it is possible to cut the sensor probe to accommodate the depth of the tank without compromising the measurement accuracy.
These and further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent more clearly from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, provided by way of non limiting examples with reference to the attached figures, wherein:
With reference to
The electronic device (device) 20 is connected to a measuring or indicator instrument (instrument or indicator) 14 of a certain type by means of the connection cable 18 that comprises, for example, two connection wires, 18a and 18b respectively.
The indicator 14 displays, in a known way, the fuel levels measured by the sensor 5. The probe 10 is apt to sense liquid levels in a tank and is configured to detect condensation as soon as it is immersed in a liquid with a certain dielectric constant. The probe comprises in the preferred embodiment (
The two tubes, for example, may have external diameters Ø(T1)=30 mm and Ø(T2)=25 mm and thickness of 1 mm and may be put together in such a way as to allow a capacitive coaxial probe to be cut, in a range between 15 cm to 100 cm. This will permit to adapt the sensor to the depth of the tank used.
According to a preferred embodiment, the probe 10 is designed to comprise a lower protective plug T3.
According to a preferred embodiment, the probe 10 comprises an universal type flange T4 that has 5 holes that guarantee secure fixing to the tank, and a gasket T5, known per se. Preferably, the flange T4 is made of Nylon and the gasket T5 is made of Biton but, as known by a skilled in the art, any material with suitable characteristics may be used.
The flange T4 and the gasket T5 are made of materials that guarantee a very reliable product, resistant both to the corrosion by temperature and/or by hydrocarbon pressure and to the critical environmental conditions.
The above characteristics allow the probe to have the following qualities:
The electronic device 20 (
The device 20 further comprises a control circuit (microcontroller) 30, as for example a microcontroller manufactured by Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. The microcontroller 30 is configured to enable analog signals management by means of digital and analog internal blocks, as will be disclosed later in detail.
In addition, The electronic device 20 comprises an interface circuit 26 (FIG. 3)—for example a monostable circuit connected with an electronic filter, of known type, which in its turn is connected to the probe 10 and configured for converting capacitive signals generated by the probe 10 into electric signals that are managed by the microcontroller 30. In particular, according to a preferred embodiment, the interface circuit 26 comprises a monostable circuit and a low-pass filter, known per se, apt to adjust or convert the signal that comes from the probe 10.
In addition to this, the monostable is apt to convert the capacity value received into a signal having a frequency proportional to such a capacity value.
The electronic filter is apt to filter the frequency signal and to take the mean value. This mean value is the input signal to be processed by the microcontroller 30.
Finally, the electronic device 20 comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a power supply extracting circuit (filter) 29, for example a low-pass filter, connected to the microcontroller 30 and configured for extracting the mean value of the signal sent to the instrument 14 and for using such a signal for providing power supply to the rest of the sensor 10, in the form, for example, of a voltage.
Thanks to such a filter 29, it is possible to obtain a sensor or system 5 auto-regenerative, capable of making use of the signal sent to the instrument 14 for providing power supply to the system itself 5.
The microcontroller 30, in a preferred embodiment, comprises, for example, a CPU 31 (
The RAM 40 is preferably configured for storing on a suitable table, e.g. a look up table, on the basis of computer program modules (firmware and/or software modules) implemented in the sensor 5 design phase, parameters corresponding or pertaining to a predetermined list of instruments connectable to the sensor 5.
The parameters may comprise, for example, temperature values, operative frequency intervals or ranges, or other parameters that permit, for example, as known to a skilled in the art, the calibration of the sensor 5, as will be disclosed later on in detail, and/or the attainment in the measurement phase of high precision.
The EPROM 46 is preferably configured, on the basis of computer program modules (firmware and/or software modules) implemented in the sensor 5 design phase, for storing maximum and minimum level values as measured during the sensor 5 calibration phase, whereby such values can not be lost in case of power outage.
The analog/digital converter (A/D converter) 36 (
The PWM block (Pulse Width Modulation) 34 is connected by means of the connection cable 18 to the instrument 14.
The PWM block 34, of known type, is configured for generating a square-wave signal having a determined length or duty cycle, for example, on the basis of a comparison made, for example by the CPU 31, between the mean value in input and the look up table values stored on the RAM 40. In other words, the PWM block 34 is configured for generating a square-wave having a duty cycle determined as a function of the mean value in input and of the instrument effectively connected to the sensor 5.
Naturally, such a square wave is the input signal to the indicating instrument 14.
The operation, the sensor 5 described here, comprises, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a calibration or set-up phase and a real use phase.
The calibration and/or real use phase may be, for example, implemented in the sensor 5 by means of suitable computer programs or computer program modules (software and/or firmware) stored on the electronic device 20.
The calibration phase is suitable for enabling to memorise or store, for example on the EPROM 46, both the maximum and minimum fuel level that the sensor 5 can measure and the type of the instrument 14 to be connected to the sensor 5.
Of course, such a calibration phase may be replaced by a programming phase wherein the expected above values are stored on the EPROM 46.
During the real use phase the levels of liquids or fuels measured inside the tank are displayed on the screen of the instrument 14.
During the calibration phase, the level sensor 5 is connected to the instrument 14, for example, by means of the wires 18a and 18b. The sensor is connected to the instrument for measuring the fuel level in a tank, but without any power supply to the instrument 14.
In the preferred embodiment, it is expected that the button 15 is pressed and kept pressed while the instrument is turned on and until at least one LED 12 is lighted, for example a LED arranged for signalling a correct connection to the instrument 14. Such an operation will enable the sensor 5 to store a minimum level value.
At that time, the button 15 is released and the probe 10 is vertically immersed in a tank previously filled with, for example, fuel, up to reach, for example, a predetermined nick of the probe 10, that will indicate the maximum level to be memorised or stored on the electronic device 20 of the sensor 5.
The button 15 is pressed again and kept pressed until, for example, the LED 12 previously lighted becomes turned off.
At that time, the instrument 14 connected to the sensor 5 is selected by repeatedly pressing the button 15 until a predetermined number of LEDs 12 lights up according to a configuration or combination corresponding to the connected instrument.
Such an operation allows to complete the calibration and to enable the electronic device 20 to memorize, for example on the EPROM 46, the maximum and minimum level values, and the parameters pertinent to the instrument or type of instrument associated or connected to the sensor 5.
Installation and start of work is made by connecting the sensor 5 to the indicating instrument 14 through the wires 18a and 18b and by, thereafter, verifying the lighting of at least one of the LEDs 12, for example a LED arranged for signalling a correct connection to the instrument 14.
If the LED does not light, this could indicate, for example, a connection with an incorrect polarity and, in such a condition, it will be necessary to repeat the connection phase by altering the wires 18a and 18b.
In normal use the CPU 31, following the reception and storing of the level values measured by the probe, compares through the A/D converter 36 the received signal with the maximum and minimum level values stored on the EPROM 46 and, taking into account the look up table stored on the RAM 40 generates through the PWM block 34 a square wave that has the length or duty cycle in conformance with the characteristics of the connected instrument 14.
According to one of the features of present invention, the mean value of the square wave, generated by the PWM block 34, is extracted by the power supply extracting circuit 29 in the form of an electric voltage adequate for powering the sensor 5 itself.
Advantageously, thanks to such a feature, the capacitive sensor according to present invention may be connected to the instrument without requiring any power supply.
As a matter of fact, thanks to the above feature of the present invention, the sensor is suitably designed for not requiring power supply (the power supply is directly extracted from the indicating instrument it is interfaced with) and, preferably, in such a way as to reduce the number of connections to only two wires directly connected, for example, to the proper terminals of the indicating instruments.
Therefore the sensor according to the present invention may be installed instead of resistive sensors that, as known, require only two wires for installation and operation. Moreover, the sensor according to the present invention, allows for very stable measurements, obtained by accurately optimising the adjustment of the measured values. Such an adjustment is a function of the frequency and of the operative temperature and is preferably obtained by storing on the sensor 5 a table (look up table) including parameters which represent the respective characteristics of a set of instruments connectable to the sensor 5.
The use of a parameter table, permits the measurement of the fuel level independently both of the frequency and of the operative temperature.
Furthermore, the sensor adjustment through the calibration and the use of a look up table make the device insensitive to basic capacitance changes and permit the sensor, as disclosed, to measure and filter possible undesirable capacitive changes that may arise in the tank.
The firmware or software modules (management software), implemented in the device, are configured for permitting, as professionals would appreciate, the self-regulation of the measured values by filtering the values corrupted by humidity and by dirt that may deposit on the not immersed probe surface and that may distort the sensor output values.
The sensors, as disclosed, are apt to measure absolute changes of capacitance values with a very high sensitivity, such as few pF changes.
Moreover, the sensors according to the present invention, may be protected, by means of suitable shields, from any external noise.
Thanks to this additional characteristic, the sensor may be installed near high frequency devices, without being damaged by electronic noise or by electrostatic emissions. Such a further characteristic is important because the level sensors are used inside of the tanks made mainly of plastic material. In such conditions scraping against the tanks walls may create very high electrostatic fields and, consequently, electrostatic emissions destructive to the electronic devices of the sensor.
Lastly, as the sensor is capable of auto-learning, it is possible to configure the sensor in order to measure the maximum and minimum liquid level inside the tank and to automatically interface with an indicating instrument.
Obvious changes and variations may be possible to the above disclosure, as regards dimensions, shapes, materials, components, circuit elements, connections and contacts, as well as circuitry, depicted construction and functioning method details without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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04425848.1 | Nov 2004 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/IB05/02166 | 7/18/2005 | WO | 00 | 11/19/2007 |