Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a fluid sensor apparatus for capturing a filling level and/or a quality of a fluid in a fluid container. The fluid sensor apparatus may include: a printed circuit board having a recess extending at least partially into the printed circuit board along a thickness and a fastening area; an ultrasonic transducer fitted to the fastening area so the ultrasonic transducer extends at least partially over the recess; and a housing at least partially surrounding the printed circuit board and the ultrasonic transducer so a portion of the housing area is arranged in the recess.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a sensor device for determining an electrical conductivity of a fluid and a speed of sound in the fluid comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode electrically isolated from the first electrode; and a sound transducer to emit sound waves into the fluid toward the first electrode and/or the second electrode, and to receive sound waves reflected back by the respective electrode to determine the speed of sound in the fluid. Each electrode is in direct contact with the fluid and is operable to determine the electrical conductivity of the fluid using the conductive principle.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a system for determining a filling level of a fluid comprising: a fluid container with a first wall, a second wall opposite the first, and a bottom; a transducer mounted outside the first wall at a predetermined distance from the bottom, the transducer transmitting an ultrasonic signal through the first side wall into the fluid container; a reflection element inside the fluid container reflecting the signal back to the transducer; and a control device for activating the transducer. The control device identifies a current fluid filling level greater than a minimum filling level if the signal received by the transducer is an ultrasonic signal reflected by the reflection element, and identifies a fluid filling level less than the minimum filling level if the transducer does not receive an ultrasonic signal or receives an ultrasonic signal reflected by the first side wall.

Abstract: Various embodiments may include a method for producing an ultrasound sensor to detect the filling level and/or the temperature of a fluid in an internal combustion engine comprising: arranging an electronics system of the ultrasound sensor in an injection molding die; and encapsulating the electronics system by injection molding with a thermoplastic material and thereby forming a housing for the electronics system; and removing the encapsulated electronics system from the injection molding die. The housing includes a functional section to fulfill a predetermined function.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for determining a height of a fluid surface in a fluid container. In some embodiments, the device comprises: a first sound transducer and a second sound transducer for transmitting and receiving sound signals; a reference element disposed at a predetermined distance from the second sound transducer in a fluid space of the fluid container; a deflection element in the fluid space to deflect sound signals by a predetermined angle in the direction of the reference element; and a control unit. The two sound transducers are adjacent a base portion of the fluid container and aligned similarly. The control unit is configured to establish a speed of sound within a fluid in the fluid space based at least in part on travel of the second sound signals and thereby to establish the height of the fluid surface over the base portion of the fluid container dependent on the first sound signals and the speed of sound within the fluid.

Abstract: A container system, having a container with an outer wall and a cavity which has either a slotted-guide element or a sliding block, a sound transducer unit with a longitudinal axis, which includes the other of the sliding block or the slotted-guide element, and a coupling element for acoustically coupling the sound transducer unit with the container. A contour of the slotted-guide element is formed such that, when introducing the sound transducer unit into the cavity, a first path of movement of the sound transducer unit relative to the container occurs, without mechanical contact of the coupling element with either the sound transducer unit or the outer wall. A second path of movement occurs, where the sound transducer unit pivots relative to the container until the sound transducer unit reaches an end position, where the coupling element is pressed in between the outer wall and the sound transducer unit.

Abstract: Various embodiments may include a method for producing an ultrasound sensor to detect the filling level and/or the temperature of a fluid in an internal combustion engine comprising: arranging an electronics system of the ultrasound sensor in an injection molding die; and encapsulating the electronics system by injection molding with plastic and thereby forming a housing for the electronics system. The housing includes a functional section to fulfill a predetermined function.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor for determining a liquid level having an elongated housing which has an outer tube and an inner tube arranged therein and serves as a measurement chamber, and a base on which the housing is arranged and in the region of which an ultrasonic transceiver is located. To assemble these three parts, the ultrasonic sensor is provided with an outer-tube lower edge that is extended radially outward and serves to fix the housing to the base. The lower edge is latched with a hook-shaped latching element arranged on the base. The latching connection affords the possibility of arranging the housing in different positions in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A fluid level sensor may include a first sound transducer, a second sound transducer, a reference element, a first deflection element, and a control unit. The reference element may be disposed at a predetermined distance from the second sound transducer and arranged in a fluid space of the fluid container. The first deflection element may be arranged in the fluid space to deflect the second sound signals by a first predetermined angle toward the fluid surface. The control unit may establish a speed of sound within a fluid in the fluid space based at least in part on the second sound signals and establish the level of the fluid surface over a base portion of the fluid container based at least in part on the first sound signals, the second sound signals, and the speed of sound within the fluid.

Abstract: A filling level transmitter includes a sound-conducting tube and a filling level sensor. The filling level sensor has: a housing including a ceramic substrate and a metal lid soldered to the substrate, an ultrasonic transceiver arranged in the housing and having a sound-outputting region, the ultrasonic transceiver being connected by at least the sound-outputting region to the substrate, and sensor electronics arranged in the housing.

Abstract: A container system, having a container with an outer wall and a cavity which has either a slotted-guide element or a sliding block, a sound transducer unit with a longitudinal axis, which includes the other of the sliding block or the slotted-guide element, and a coupling element for acoustically coupling the sound transducer unit with the container. A contour of the slotted-guide element is formed such that, when introducing the sound transducer unit into the cavity, a first path of movement of the sound transducer unit relative to the container occurs, without mechanical contact of the coupling element with either the sound transducer unit or the outer wall. A second path of movement occurs, where the sound transducer unit pivots relative to the container until the sound transducer unit reaches an end position, where the coupling element is pressed in between the outer wall and the sound transducer unit.

Abstract: A filling level transmitter for measuring a filing level of a liquid includes: a filling level sensor having: an ultrasonic transceiver configured to emit ultrasound, and sensor electronics; a sound-conducting tube having two reflectors spaced apart from one another, the first reflector being configured to deflect ultrasound emitted by the transceiver in the direction of the second reflector, and the second reflector being configured to deflect the emitted ultrasound in the direction of the surface of the liquid. A third reflector is arranged in the second reflector such that emitted ultrasound impacting the third reflector is reflected in the direction of the first reflector.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to sensors, and the teaching may be applied to a device for determining a speed of a sound signal in a fluid in a fluid container. A device may include: a sound transducer for transmitting and receiving sound; a first reflector element and a second reflector element integrally formed in a reference element to reflect sound generated by the sound transducer back to the sound transducer; and a control unit operating to: ascertain a first signal runtime related to a first reflection of the sound signal from the first reflector element; a second signal runtime related to of a second reflection of the sound signal from the second reflector element; and calculate the speed as a function of the two.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for determining a height of a fluid surface in a fluid container. In some embodiments, the device comprises: a first sound transducer and a second sound transducer for transmitting and receiving sound signals; a reference element disposed at a predetermined distance from the second sound transducer in a fluid space of the fluid container; a deflection element in the fluid space to deflect sound signals by a predetermined angle in the direction of the reference element; and a control unit. The two sound transducers are adjacent a base portion of the fluid container and aligned similarly. The control unit is configured to establish a speed of sound within a fluid in the fluid space based at least in part on travel of the second sound signals and thereby to establish the height of the fluid surface over the base portion of the fluid container dependent on the first sound signals and the speed of sound within the fluid.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to fluid level sensors in general and an apparatus and a corresponding method for determining a level of a fluid surface in a fluid container. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include a first sound transducer, a second sound transducer, a reference element, a first deflection element, and a control unit. The reference element may be disposed at a predetermined distance from the second sound transducer and arranged in a fluid space of the fluid container. The first deflection element may be arranged in the fluid space to deflect the second sound signals by a first predetermined angle toward the fluid surface. The control unit may establish a speed of sound within a fluid in the fluid space based at least in part on the second sound signals and establish the level of the fluid surface over a base portion of the fluid container based at least in part on the first sound signals, the second sound signals, and the speed of sound within the fluid.

Abstract: A fill level sensor for detecting the fill level of a liquid in a container includes an ultrasonic transceiver, an inner tube for arrangement inside the container, the inner tube being arranged above the ultrasonic transceiver such that a liquid present in the container forms a liquid column in the inner tube the level of which can be detected by the ultrasonic transceiver, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, and a cap which covers the inner tube and the outer tube toward the top. The cap has an inner tubular section adjoining the inner tube, an outer tubular section adjoining the outer tube, an inner vent opening for the inner tubular section and an outer vent opening for the outer tubular section.

Abstract: A method and a device determine a height of a fluid level in a fluid container by: emitting a sound signal by a transmitter and recording sound signals reflected at the fluid level and at the reference elements; determining, for the recorded sound signals, a first propagation time difference between a first propagation time of the sound signal emitted by the transmitter and reflected at the first reference element and a second propagation time of the sound signal emitted by the transmitter and reflected at the second reference element; determining a second propagation time difference or a third propagation time difference; and determining the height of the fluid level based upon the first propagation time difference, the second propagation time difference and the first distance or based upon the first propagation time difference, the third propagation time difference and the second distance.

Abstract: Temperature stability at the temperatures prevailing in a motor and stability that is required over an entire temperature range are provided by an attenuating mass. This enables continuous use at temperatures of approximately 150° C. while providing ultrasonic attenuation at low temperatures.

Abstract: A filling level transmitter includes a sound-conducting tube and a filling level sensor. The filling level sensor has: a housing including a ceramic substrate and a metal lid soldered to the substrate, an ultrasonic transceiver arranged in the housing and having a sound-outputting region, the ultrasonic transceiver being connected by at least the sound-outputting region to the substrate, and sensor electronics arranged in the housing.

Abstract: A filling level transmitter for measuring a filing level of a liquid includes: a filling level sensor having: an ultrasonic transceiver configured to emit ultrasound, and sensor electronics; a sound-conducting tube having two reflectors spaced apart from one another, the first reflector being configured to deflect ultrasound emitted by the transceiver in the direction of the second reflector, and the second reflector being configured to deflect the emitted ultrasound in the direction of the surface of the liquid. A third reflector is arranged in the second reflector such that emitted ultrasound impacting the third reflector is reflected in the direction of the first reflector.