Optical Liquid Level Sensing with Floating Beam Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid level sensors often provide erroneous results due to misalignment between signal transmitting and receiving units, necessitating improvements for accurate fluid level detection in closed containers.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained liquid level detector system comprising a stationary platform with light-emitting and light-sensing elements, and a floating platform with light-projecting devices, calculates liquid height based on the distance between projected light beams received on the stationary platform, using a processor to determine the liquid level accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional fluid level sensors are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to misalignment between signal transmitting and receiving units
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the fluid level detection into two independent parts: a stationary platform with light-emitting devices and a floating platform with light-receiving devices. This segmentation allows each platform to be optimized independently and eliminates alignment issues between signal transmitting and receiving units, as each unit only needs to align with its counterpart on the other platform at the moment of measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating platform dynamically adjusts its position based on the fluid level, automatically maintaining optimal alignment for light reception. This dynamic adaptation eliminates the need for complex mechanical alignment mechanisms, improving measurement precision while keeping the overall system relatively simple.
2Measurement precision
If a stationary platform with multiple light-emitting devices is used, then the measurement precision improves through multiple light beam detection, but the use of energy increases due to continuous operation of multiple light sources
Solution Approach 1:
The light-emitting devices on the stationary platform and light-receiving devices on the floating platform operate periodically rather than continuously. The system activates light beams only when needed for measurement, allowing both platforms to conserve energy while maintaining high measurement precision through multiple light beam detection when active.
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
The system provides precise liquid level measurements by calculating the distance between light beams, ensuring accurate determination of fluid levels within containers, with optional communication to a remote system for data collection and analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The stationary platform includes a number of light-emitting devices for emitting light for detection by the light sensor at the floating platform
Implementation Method 2
The floating platform includes at least one pair of light-projecting devices for projecting toward the stationary platform
Implementation Method 3
a light-sensing element for detection of light incident upon the light-receiving surface, and circuitry for generating light-detection signals based on the detection of light incident upon the light-receiving surface
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for detecting a liquid height level within a container include a stationary platform for positioning at a fixed position, a floating platform for floating proximate a surface level of a liquid, and a processor for calculating a height level of the liquid. The floating platform includes at least one pair of light-projecting devices for projecting toward the stationary platform and the stationary platform includes a light-receiving surface for reception of the projected light thereon, a light-sensing element for detection of light incident upon the light-receiving surface, and circuitry for generating light-detection signals based on the detection of light incident upon the light-receiving surface. The processor is configured to determine, based on the light-detection signals, the height level of the liquid.