| 摘要 |
A fluid level detection system for determining the volume of fluid in a container, is disclosed. An embodiment includes a fluid container, a reference chamber, a pressure chamber, an air source, an air management system including at least one orifice, a pressure sensor, a time measurement device, and a computing device. The air management system selectively pressurizes the reference chamber or pressure chamber and selectively discharges the reference chamber or pressure chamber via the orifice. The time measurement device determines elapsed time ( DELTA tR) for pressure in the reference chamber to drop from pressure (PR1) to pressure (PR2) and elapsed time ( DELTA tP) for pressure in the pressure chamber to drop from pressure (PP1) to pressure (PP2). The computing device determines a volume of air in the pressure chamber based upon the reference chamber volume, elapsed time ( DELTA tR), elapsed time ( DELTA tP), and pressures (PR1), (PR2), (PP1), and (PP2), and determines the volume of fluid in the container based upon the pressure chamber volume and the volume of air in the pressure chamber. A printing device incorporating an embodiment of the fluid level detection system is also disclosed, as is a method for determining the volume of fluid in a container based upon the volume of air in a pressure chamber. An apparatus for use in a printing device is disclosed that includes a printing composition container, a printing composition port coupled to the container, a pressure chamber around the container, and an air port coupled to the pressure chamber.
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