Patents by Inventor Henry F. Depa

Henry F. Depa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5150683
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the percentage of two different fluids having substantially different dielectric properties such as a gasoline/alcohol or a water/oil mixture. An inductive coil element immersed in the mixture exhibits a distributed capacitance level which is directly proportional to the dielectric constant of the fluid mixture surrounding the coil which, in turn, is directly proportional to the percentage of each fluid in the mixture. The loops of wire in the coil act as equivalent electrodes in creating a capacitance between each loop. The dielectric constant of a mixture will increase with the percentage of the higher dielectric fluid thus increasing the capacitance. An amplifier is constructed that oscillates at the resonant frequency of the LC circuit formed by the coil in the mixture. The resonant frequency decreases as capacitance increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Henry F. Depa, John J. C. Kopera