Patent ID: 6568263
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
A system for detecting the level of fluid in a fluid containing vessel, comprising:a substrate; a heater for applying energy to a selected location on the vessel, said heater being mounted on said substrate; a sensor in proximity to said location for detecting the energy level at said location during a first and second time interval, said sensor being mounted on said substrate; a memory device for storing data representative of the energy detected by said sensor at said first and second time intervals, said memory device being mounted on said substrate; a logic circuit for comparing the amount of energy of said first time interval to that of said second time interval, said logic circuit making said comparison independently of any other energy amount detected by any other sensor thermally coupled to the vessel, said logic circuit being mounted on said substrate; a means for displaying data corresponding to the level of fluid in the vessel; and a power supply for operating the system.