Flexible fluid level sensor with improved measurement capability

摘要

A capacitive fluid sensor is provided that utilizes a flexible substrate. It has a plurality of conductive members supported on it which are connected to a connecting end. The conductive members are arranged in an array and are aligned with a longitudinal axis of the substrate and the members are separated by intervening spaces. The intervening spaces are arranged so that they cross the longitudinal axis at an angle such that adjacent conductive members overlap each other when viewed from a side edge of the sensor. Such an arrangement provide more accurate measurement of fluid levels within containers.

主权项

1. A capacitive fluid level sensor assembly for sensing a level of a fluid within a vessel, the sensor assembly comprising:
a substrate configured to be positioned alongside a wall of the vessel, such that the wall separates the substrate from the fluid, the substrate having upper and lower ends; and a plurality of conductive members supported by the substrate, the plurality of conductive members being provided between the upper and lower ends of the substrate, wherein the plurality of conductive members includes an upper end conductive member which is most proximate to the upper end of the substrate, a lower end conductive member which is most proximate to the lower end of the substrate, and at least one included conductive member which is positioned between the upper and lower end conductive members, wherein each conductive member is separated from an adjacent conductive member by an intervening space, thereby providing that each conductive member has distinct upper and lower ends and acts as an independent sensor which has a given measurement tolerance between the distinct upper and lower ends, wherein the distinct lower end of a lowermost included conductive member is positioned closer to the lower end of the substrate than the distinct upper end of the lower end conductive member.