Abstract: A sensor device for monitoring dielectric strength of a dielectric fluid has a sensor body which supports a sensitive part (SGi), designed for contact with the dielectric fluid. The sensitive part (SGi) comprises at least one pair of electrodes (E1, E2) having respective surface portions arranged at a predefined micrometric or sub-micrometric distance, to define therebetween at least one detection gap between which part of the dielectric fluid is suitable to seep in. The sensor device has a circuit arrangement comprising: —means for generating an electric field between the two electrodes of the at least one pair of electrodes (E1, E2) starting from a known supply voltage, and—means (V) for measuring a voltage representative of possible occurrence of an electric discharge between the two electrodes of the at least one pair of electrodes (E1, E2) through the dielectric fluid (5) present in the at least one detection gap (G), following generation of the electric field.

Abstract: A level sensor comprises an electrical-connection structure and a level-detection structure. The level-detection structure comprises a plurality of elongated electrodes, which include at least three measuring electrodes. The elongated electrodes extend at least partially in side-by-sidey positions in a length direction of the level-detection structure and each have a proximal end and a distal end relative to the electrical-connection structure. The level-detection structure is divided, in the length direction, into a succession of detection sections, each of which includes two effective portions of two respective measuring electrodes, the two effective portions extending to a prevalent extent substantially parallel and equidistant, at a first predetermined distance from each other, in the length direction.

Abstract: A capacitive level sensor comprises a control circuit, a supporting structure and a detection structure on the supporting structure. The detection structure comprises a plurality of electrodes, each including a connection part and a plurality of detection parts which extend in a transverse direction relative to a length direction of the sensor, the detection parts of a first electrode being interdigitated with respect to the detection parts of a second electrode. The detection structure includes a plurality of detection sections, which extend in succession in the length direction and include an upper section and one or more underlying lower sections. Each detection section includes respective first and second electrodes, which are electrically insulated from one another and with respect to the first and second electrodes of the other detection sections.

Abstract: A capacitive level sensor comprises a control circuit, a supporting structure and a detection structure on the supporting structure. The detection structure comprises a plurality of electrodes, each including a connection part and a plurality of detection parts which extend in a transverse direction relative to a length direction of the sensor, the detection parts of a first electrode being interdigitated with respect to the detection parts of a second electrode. The detection structure includes a plurality of detection sections, which extend in succession in the length direction and include an upper section and one or more underlying lower sections. Each detection section includes respective first and second electrodes, which are electrically insulated from one another and with respect to the first and second electrodes of the other detection sections.

Abstract: A level sensor comprises an electrical-connection structure and a level-detection structure. The level-detection structure comprises a plurality of elongated electrodes, which include at least three measuring electrodes. The elongated electrodes extend at least partially in side-by-sidey positions in a length direction of the level-detection structure and each have a proximal end and a distal end relative to the electrical-connection structure. The level-detection structure is divided, in the length direction, into a succession of detection sections, each of which includes two effective portions of two respective measuring electrodes, the two effective portions extending to a prevalent extent substantially parallel and equidistant, at a first predetermined distance from each other, in the length direction.

Abstract: A capacitive level-sensor device, for detecting the level of at least one medium contained in a container comprises: a detection part that includes an array of capacitive elements, the array of capacitive elements comprising at least one set of electrodes on a substrate, the electrodes being set at a distance from one another according to a level-detection axis, the detection part including at least one insulating layer for electrically insulating the electrodes with respect to the medium; and a control circuit having a plurality of first inputs, electrically connected to which are the electrodes. The control circuit is prearranged for carrying out a sequential sampling of the inputs of the plurality of first inputs and for comparing a value representing the capacitance associated to each electrode with at least one corresponding reference threshold. The detection part further comprises at least one temperature sensor, connected to at least one respective second input of the control circuit.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a container, in particular a tank, comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated to the container (1), in particular so as to extend according to an axis of detection (X) of the level of the medium (L), the array of capacitive elements comprising a plurality of electrodes (J1-Jn), in particular on a face of an electrically insulating substrate (20) having a generally elongated shape, the electrodes (J1-Jn) being spaced apart from one another, in particular along the detection axis (X), and being preferably substantially coplanar with one another; at least one insulation layer (16) for insulating electrically the electrodes (J1-Jn) with respect to the inside of the container (1); and a controller (24) having a plurality of inputs. Each capacitive element comprises a set of electrodes connected together in common, in particular in parallel, each set of electrodes being connected to a respective input of the plurality of inputs.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a container, in particular a tank, comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated to the container (1), in particular so as to extend according to an axis of detection (X) of the level of the medium (L), the array of capacitive elements comprising a plurality of electrodes (Ji-Jn), in particular on a face of an electrically insulating substrate (20) having a generally elongated shape, the electrodes (Ji-Jn) being spaced apart from one another, in particular along the detection axis (X), and being preferably substantially coplanar with one another; at least one insulation layer (16) for insulating electrically the electrodes (Ji-Jn) with respect to the inside of the container (1); and a controller (24) having a plurality of inputs.

Abstract: A level sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a vessel comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated with the vessel (1), comprising a plurality of electrodes (J1-Jn), spaced apart from each other along an axis of detection (X), an insulation layer (16) for electrically insulating the electrodes (J1-Jn) with respect to the inside of the vessel (1), a controller (24) having a plurality of inputs. Each capacitive element comprises at least one of a single electrode and a group of electrodes connected in common to each other, the single electrode or the group of electrodes being connected to a respective input of the plurality of inputs. The controller (24) is prearranged for discriminating a value of electrical capacitance associated with each electrode (J1-Jn) to deduce the level of the medium present in the vessel.

Abstract: A capacitive level-sensor device, for detecting the level of at least one medium contained in a container comprises: a detection part that includes an array of capacitive elements, the array of capacitive elements comprising at least one set of electrodes on a substrate, the electrodes being set at a distance from one another according to a level-detection axis, the detection part including at least one insulating layer for electrically insulating the electrodes with respect to the medium; and a control circuit having a plurality of first inputs, electrically connected to which are the electrodes. The control circuit is prearranged for carrying out a sequential sampling of the inputs of the plurality of first inputs and for comparing a value representing the capacitance associated to each electrode with at least one corresponding reference threshold. The detection part further comprises at least one temperature sensor, connected to at least one respective second input of the control circuit.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the properties of the fuel of an internal combustion engine includes at least one pair of internal electrodes (12, 13), extending in an axial direction relative to a further or third external electrode (14) which surrounds them. The invention also relates to a fuel rail (2) to which the sensor may be mounted, and a method for detecting the properties of the fluid.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a container, in particular a tank, comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated to the container (1), in particular so as to extend according to an axis of detection (X) of the level of the medium (L), the array of capacitive elements comprising a plurality of electrodes (J1-Jn), in particular on a face of an electrically insulating substrate (20) having a generally elongated shape, the electrodes (J1-Jn) being spaced apart from one another, in particular along the detection axis (X), and being preferably substantially coplanar with one another; at least one insulation layer (16) for insulating electrically the electrodes (J1-Jn) with respect to the inside of the container (1); and a controller (24) having a plurality of inputs. Each capacitive element comprises a set of electrodes connected together in common, in particular in parallel, each set of electrodes being connected to a respective input of the plurality of inputs.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a container, in particular a tank, comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated to the container (1), in particular so as to extend according to an axis of detection (X) of the level of the medium (L), the array of capacitive elements comprising a plurality of electrodes (Ji-Jn), in particular on a face of an electrically insulating substrate (20) having a generally elongated shape, the electrodes (Ji-Jn) being spaced apart from one another, in particular along the detection axis (X), and being preferably substantially coplanar with one another; at least one insulation layer (16) for insulating electrically the electrodes (Ji-Jn) with respect to the inside of the container (1); and a controller (24) having a plurality of inputs.

Abstract: A level sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a vessel comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated with the vessel (1), comprising a plurality of electrodes (J1-Jn), spaced apart from each other along an axis of detection (X), an insulation layer (16) for electrically insulating the electrodes (Ji-L) with respect to the inside of the vessel (1), a controller (24) having a plurality of inputs. Each capacitive element comprises at least one of a single electrode and a group of electrodes connected in common to each other, the single electrode or the group of electrodes being connected to a respective input of the plurality of inputs. The controller (24) is prearranged for discriminating a value of electrical capacitance associated with each electrode (J1-Jn) to deduce the level of the medium present in the vessel.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the properties of the fuel of an internal combustion engine includes at least one pair of internal electrodes (12, 13), extending in an axial direction relative to a further or third external electrode (14) which surrounds them. The invention also relates to a fuel rail (2) to which the sensor may be mounted, and a method for detecting the properties of the fluid.