Patent ID: 6823731
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
A sensing assembly for sensing a level of liquid in areservoir, said sensing assembly comprising: a first input port for receiving a first input voltage signal; a second input port for receiving a second input voltage signal; an excitation circuit electrically connected to said first and second input ports for receiving the first and second input voltage signals and for generating a first excitation signal and a second excitation signal; and a receiving circuit disposed adjacent said excitation circuit defining a variable capacitance with said excitation circuit, wherein said receiving circuit includes first and second receiving electrodes extending along a portion of the reservoir, wherein said first receiving electrode extends along a first non-linear path and said second receiving electrode extends along a second non-linear path differing from said first non-linear path, said receiving circuit producing an output voltage signal variable with the level of liquid in the reservoir due to capacitance changes between said excitation circuit and said receiving circuit due to dielectric changes created by the liquid.