Fluid level sensor

摘要

A capacitive fluid level sensor is provided for receiving data indicative of the level of fluid remaining in a fluid container. In various embodiments, the capacitive fluid level sensor may be spaced below and a distance away from the fluid container to be measured, and may comprise a fluid level sensor and an ambient sensor, wherein the fluid level sensor and the ambient sensor are coplanar. In various embodiments, the ambient sensor may be spaced a distance away from the fluid level sensor, such that electric fields generated by the fluid level sensor and the ambient sensor, respectively, do not overlap. Based at least in part on capacitance levels determined by the fluid level sensor and the ambient sensor, the fluid level sensor may generate data indicative of the fluid level in at least a portion of the fluid container located above the fluid level sensor.

主权项

1. A fluid dispensing system comprising:
a container defining an internal fluid volume configured for storing and dispensing fluid; a target capacitance sensor comprising a target transmitter electrode and a target receiver electrode that are coplanar with one another and positioned a distance away from the container, the target capacitance sensor being configured to generate a target electric field to detect a capacitance of a target zone comprising a target portion of the container's internal fluid volume; an ambient capacitance sensor comprising an ambient transmitter electrode and an ambient receiver electrode that are positioned a distance away from the container, the ambient capacitance sensor being configured to generate an ambient electric field to detect a capacitance of an ambient zone outside of the container; and one or more processors in communication with the target capacitance sensor and the ambient capacitance sensor, the one or more processors configured to generate a signal indicative of the level of fluid present within the internal fluid volume based at least in part on the capacitance detected by the target capacitance sensor and the capacitance detected by the ambient capacitance sensor.