Patents by Inventor Kenneth MACGILLIVARY

Kenneth MACGILLIVARY 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: 10520300
    Abstract: An optical liquid height determination system of the present embodiments includes light sensors capturing different amounts of light, based on level of liquid in the tank that blocks or limits light to particular sensors. The tank is enclosed in a container with a light source and the light sensors are installed on walls of the container. Light emitted by the light source is transmitted to the light sensors by passing through the liquid product, scattered, diffused, diffracted or reflected by the dairy product, through the tank walls which may be transparent or translucent, or from other surfaces in the container within which the tank is enclosed by. The set of electrical signals received from all the light sensors are compared against sets of calibrated signals corresponding to known liquid levels in the tank. The known height corresponding to the nearest set of calibrated signals is determined as the measured liquid height in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: A.C. Dispensing Equipment Inc.
    Inventors: Ian MacLean, Daniel Cantin, Anthony Alkins, Derek Cole, P. Gregory Erman, Michael Rankin, Brian Gay, Kenneth MacGillivary
  • Publication number: 20180335297
    Abstract: An optical liquid height determination system of the present embodiments includes light sensors capturing different amounts of light, based on level of liquid in the tank that blocks or limits light to particular sensors. The tank is enclosed in a container with a light source and the light sensors are installed on walls of the container. Light emitted by the light source is transmitted to the light sensors by passing through the liquid product, scattered, diffused, diffracted or reflected by the dairy product, through the tank walls which may be transparent or translucent, or from other surfaces in the container within which the tank is enclosed by. The set of electrical signals received from all the light sensors are compared against sets of calibrated signals corresponding to known liquid levels in the tank. The known height corresponding to the nearest set of calibrated signals is determined as the measured liquid height in the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Ian MACLEAN, Daniel CANTIN, Anthony ALKINS, Derek COLE, Gregory P. ERMAN, Michael RANKIN, Brian GAY, Kenneth MACGILLIVARY