Liquid Level Detection Using Multi-Receiver Light Summation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the amount of liquid in a vessel, such as tubes or cuvettes, face inaccuracies due to variations in refractive properties, turbidity, and manufacturing tolerances, especially in small diameter tubes, making precise liquid measurement challenging in automated analyzers.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a transparent vessel equipped with a radiation unit and light detectors that radiate and receive light along the vessel's axis, using either discrete or continuous light sources and detectors, allowing for precise determination of liquid amount by processing the total light received, minimizing wiring complexity and improving measurement reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a light barrier with light source and light detector is used to detect fill level, then the amount of liquid can be measured, but measurement precision deteriorates due to refractive index variations, turbidity, dirt, and manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light detection function into multiple independent light receivers distributed along the vessel. Instead of relying on a single light barrier measurement that is sensitive to refractive index variations and turbidity, multiple light receivers detect light transmission at different positions. The liquid amount is determined by evaluating the combined signals from all light receivers, which compensates for local variations and improves measurement precision and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple light sources and light receivers are used to improve measurement accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the outputs of multiple light receivers into a single evaluation channel. Instead of processing signals from each light receiver separately through complex individual circuits, the signals are merged and evaluated together by a data processing unit. This merging approach maintains measurement precision through multi-point detection while significantly simplifying the overall circuit architecture and reducing device complexity.
3Device complexity
If discrete points of radiation entry are used, then wiring complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the radiation unit universal by enabling it to radiate light at multiple discrete points along the vessel. A single radiation unit can be positioned at different locations and oriented at different angles to create multiple radiation entry points. This multi-functional capability allows the system to achieve precise multi-point measurement while maintaining simple wiring architecture, as the same radiation unit serves multiple measurement positions rather than requiring separate radiation units for each point.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides precise and reliable liquid measurement, reducing inaccuracies and simplifying circuit technology, while allowing for use in analyzers for determining substance concentrations in process automation engineering.
Implementation Method 1
a light barrier with a light source and a light detector that are arranged on a tube are used. Depending on the arrangement, the received amount of light increases or decreases with the filled tube compared to the empty tube
Implementation Method 2
the refractive properties of the filled tube depend on the refractive index of the filled-in liquid
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for determining a value that represents an amount of liquid in a vessel, wherein the vessel is configured to be a tube or a cuvette. The vessel for the liquid is basically transparent, with at least one radiation unit, that is arranged alongside the longitudinal axis of the vessel and that radiates light into the vessel, as well as at least one light detector with at least one light receiver that is assigned to the radiation unit and that receives the light that is coming through the vessel and forwards it to the light detector. The apparatus comprises a data processing unit that determines the value that represents the amount of the liquid in the vessel from the light that was detected by the light detector. The apparatus is characterized in that the light detector detects the sum total of the light that was radiated through the vessel and was received by all light receivers. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the apparatus in an analyzer.