Patent ID: 8412473
Filing Date: 2013-04-02
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
1. A method of measuring a liquid level in a tank, comprising: providing an externally mounted ultrasonic transducer to generate an ultrasonic beam to pass through a tank wall; providing a battery in electrical communication with the ultrasonic transducer to provide power; generating an ultrasonic beam using the ultrasonic transducer; receiving an echo of the ultrasonic beam off a surface of a liquid; determining a time-of-flight calculated as a time elapsed from generating the ultrasonic beam and receiving the echo; generating an indication of a volume of the liquid in the tank based on the time-of-flight; comparing the indication of the volume of the liquid to a threshold; and selectively transmitting, to conserve battery power, the indication of the volume of the liquid in the tank based on the comparison of the indication of the volume of the liquid to the threshold.