Patents Examined by K. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6857313
    Abstract: A capacitive gauge, suitable for measuring a fluid level in a container, includes upper and lower capacitive elements. Also provided is a control unit for calculating the fluid level in the container based on the capacitance of the upper and lower capacitors and a dielectric constant of the fluid in the container. The control unit also includes functionality for determining and storing the dielectric constant of the fluid in the container. The dielectric constant of the fluid is determined by first verifying whether the lower capacitive element is completely submerged based on a comparison of a measured capacitance of the upper capacitor to a reference capacitance of the upper capacitor. If the lower capacitor is verified to be submerged, then the dielectric constant of the fluid is calculated based on a measured capacitance of the lower capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Rochester Gauges, Inc.
    Inventor: Cecil M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 6637259
    Abstract: A portable grain moisture measurement device automatically initiates testing at a predetermined grain compression and is calibrated to commercial moisture testers found in various commercial grain elevators so the user can select the commercial tester he wants to match moisture measurements with. The portable meter user can thus set the tester to match the commercial tester which will be testing his grain and can also perform calibration offset adjustments to further conform measurements between his meter and the particular commercial tester actually used, relative to the default moisture curves for each commercial tester, and each type of grain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Worens Group Inc.
    Inventors: Trent A. McElhaney, James T. Falbo, John W. Dubay
  • Patent number: 6606906
    Abstract: A digital conversion adapter for magnetically coupled level meters includes a first rotatable magnet located adjacent a second rotatable magnet of a level meter. The first rotatable magnet is operable to rotate in response to rotation of the second rotatable magnet. The second rotatable magnet is operable to rotate in response to changes of a liquid surface level. An encoded disc is mechanically coupled with the first rotatable magnet and operable to rotate in response to rotation of the first rotatable magnet. A light sensor array operable to monitor a position of the encoded disc, with respect to the light sensor array, by reading transmitted light which passes through the encoded disc, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: TRN Business Trust
    Inventor: Herman Diaz Arias
  • Patent number: 6561022
    Abstract: A linear position sensor is provided which employs phase quadrature sensor windings, an excitation winding and a resonator. When an excitation current is applied to the excitation winding, it causes the resonator to resonate which in turn induces signals in the sensor windings. The sensor windings are spatially arranged so that the electromagnetic coupling between them and the resonator varies with the position of the resonator. The excitation windings, phase quadrature windings and resonant circuit are arranged so that the magnetic fields involved in the operation of the position sensor are substantially parallel to each other and the direction of movement of the resonator. Consequently, the effect of rotation of the resonator or lateral movement of it relative to the excitation and phase quadrature windings is alleviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Scientific Generics Limited
    Inventors: Richard Alan Doyle, Euan Morrison, Andrew James White, Victoria Ann Clark
  • Patent number: 6553830
    Abstract: The invention concerns a microwave level measuring device for measuring of material levels in containers, suitable for operation at extreme container conditions, comprising high temperatures, high pressures, and/or chemically aggressive substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KB
    Inventors: Josef Fahrenbach, Jurgen Motzar, Jurgen Dietmeier, Gunter Rapp
  • Patent number: 6546794
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a liquid level in a vessel using an acoustic wave. Acoustic tubes have first ends disposed vertically along a sidewall of the vessel for each of the liquid levels to be measured, and the tubes communicate with the inside of the vessel. Second ends of the tubes are connected to a common tube. A storage level sensor board generates the acoustic wave in the vessel, receives the acoustic wave propagated through the acoustic tubes and the common tube, and determines the level of liquid in the vessel based on the received acoustic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-geun Kim, Jin-soo Lee, Kwang-taek Lim
  • Patent number: 6481276
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring the filling level of a filing material in a container, having a sensor and a control/evaluation unit. The invention provides a device which permits optimized determination of the filling level and/or the monitoring of the filling level in a container. For this purpose a sensor is designed such that it is operated in conjunction with at least two different measurement methods and/or the sensor is operated in at least two different operating modes, that the control/evaluation unit operates the sensor respectively according to at least one of the two measurement methods and/or at least in one of the two operating modes, and that the control/evaluation unit determines the filling level of the filling material in the container with the aid of the measured data of the sensor, which are supplied via at least one measurement method and/or during at least one operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Joachim Neuhaus, Michael Krause, Udo Grittke, Gerd Wartmann
  • Patent number: 6301966
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enclosing a sensing device, such as an accelerometer, for reducing outside forces and strains on the sensing device. The cover includes two parts that bond to each other thereby forming a clamshell-type cover. The sensing device can float within the cover, is bonded to bonding points on one of the cover parts or is held in place by a pressure fit of the two cover parts on the sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven A. Foote