Patent Description:
Measuring a liquid propellant in a launch vehicle enables characterization of onboard propellant levels both during ground operations and in flight. Understanding the amount of propellant on the vehicle enables proper mixture ratio control, propellant loading, and accurate engine shutoff. Typically, liquid propellant levels in launch vehicles are determined using a system that measures the difference in pressure or temperature at discrete points along the interior of the propellant tank. As a result, liquid levels between these points may be estimated, which is undesirable when working with launch vehicles. Moreover, other level sensing techniques may be unsuitable for the harsh operating conditions of launch vehicles. <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose background art.

Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure may overcome one or more of the aforementioned and other deficiencies experienced in conventional approaches for liquid level sensing, such as liquid level sensing for launch vehicles.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles "a", "an", "the", and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising", "including", and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Any examples of operating parameters and/or environmental conditions are not exclusive of other parameters/conditions of the disclosed embodiments. Additionally, it should be understood that references to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "certain embodiments", "other embodiments", or "various embodiments" of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Furthermore, reference to terms such as "above", "below", "upper", "lower", "side", "front", "back", or other terms regarding orientation or direction are made with reference to the illustrated embodiments and are not intended to be limiting or exclude other orientations or directions. Furthermore, when describing certain features that may be duplicative between multiple items, the features may be designated with similar reference numerals followed by a corresponding identifier, such as "A" or "B".

In various embodiments, systems and methods of the present disclosure include a level sensing system showing a front end electronics package and a flexible level sensing probe. In various embodiments, the front end electronics package may be an analog or digital package and types of probes, and may utilize information from the other probes in order to aggregate or otherwise adjustment measurement information to improve accuracy, among other benefits.

In various embodiments, the sensing probe carries a pulse, such as an electrical pulse received from the front end, along its length. As noted above, the sensing probe is positioned into contact with the liquid being sensed. The point of contact at which the probe contacts the liquid surface will produce a reflected pulse that is returned, along the probe, to the front end. In various embodiments, the sensing probe includes a conductive material, such as copper, aluminum, or the like, to form a trace that is at least partially submerged in the liquid. It should be appreciated that while embodiments are described in which the probe contacts the liquid, other embodiments may position the probe such that it does not contact the liquid. Certain embodiments are configured to provide a continuous range of measurements, such as a probe that extends substantially along an entire length of the tank, but other embodiments can also use the probe at discrete sensing locations or for particularly selected ranges. As noted above, the conductive material of the probe may be flexible or rigid, and as will be described below, may include a variety of different thicknesses or form factors based on one or more design or operating conditions. Furthermore, discussion of liquid level sensing is for illustrative purposes only and the probe may also be used for gas, solid, or combination (e.g., slurry) level measurements. As will be described in more details below, the probe may be formed on a variety of carriers, such as a rigid or flexible printed circuit board. Materials of construction may be particularly selected to enable compatibility with a variety of different fluids, such as liquid oxygen, Jet-A (kerosene), gaseous nitrogen, gaseous helium, or any other liquid, gas, or multiphase fluid, which may also include cryogenic, hazardous, and/or toxic fluids. As noted above, multiple probes may be utilized in various embodiments.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a tank (e.g., propellant tank) <NUM> that may be utilized with various launch vehicles. It should be appreciated that while embodiments of the present disclosure may discuss use with launch vehicles, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments various other liquid, gas, solid, or combinations thereof storage contains may also benefit from embodiments of the present disclosure. The illustrated tank <NUM> includes an elongated body portion <NUM> and end caps <NUM>, <NUM>, which may be dome-shaped or elliptical. It should be appreciated that various features have been removed for simplicity, such as inlet and outlet nozzles, ports for sensors, and the like. The illustrated tank <NUM> has a fluid <NUM> (e.g., gas, liquid, solid, or a combination thereof), arranged within an interior of the tank, which may be a propellant as described above for use with a launch vehicle. Vehicle operators, control computers, and support personnel may desire to know a level <NUM> of the fluid <NUM> to determine whether a refueling is needed, whether to adjust operation, or the like. Traditional methods for determining a liquid level are illustrated on the tank <NUM>, which include a sight glass <NUM> and a discrete sensing system <NUM>. The illustrated sight glass <NUM> may include a body portion that has a window that allows for a visual indication of the level <NUM>. Additionally, the sight glass <NUM> may be modified to include a floating ball or a magnetic sensing system, which may be electronically coupled to a controller or the like. Similarly, the discrete sensing system <NUM> may include sensors <NUM> along different portions of a length <NUM> of the tank <NUM> to provide information regarding the level <NUM>. Both of these systems have problems that may be overcome by embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, for tanks that are very large sight glasses are impractical. Moreover, visual inspection is not useful during operation of a launch vehicle, which may be subject to harsh conditions (e.g., high temperatures, high speeds, low oxygen environments, etc.). Similarly, discrete measurements may not provide sufficient information to make operational decisions and may be too costly to provide enough discrete sensors to provide a desired level of precision.

As will be described in detail below, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a level sensing system that may provide a continuous level sensing using time domain reflectometry. Embodiments of the system may include a front end coupled to a probe that is arranged within an interior of the tank. The probe may transmit a pulse (e.g., signal), such as an electrical pulse, along a length of the probe. Upon contact with the fluid, a portion of the pulse may be reflected back to the front end, which may record the time that the pulse is received to determine the level of the fluid.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of the tank <NUM> including a level sensing system <NUM>. The illustrated level sensing system <NUM>, as will be described in detail below, includes a front end <NUM> (e.g., control system, controller, etc.) and a probe <NUM>, which may be a flexible probe in various embodiments. In this embodiment, the probe <NUM> extends along substantially the length <NUM> of the tank <NUM> and at least a portion of the probe <NUM> is submerged within the fluid <NUM>.

<FIG> further illustrates a schematic representation of the time domain reflectometry that may be used to determine the level <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the front end <NUM> is coupled to the probe <NUM> and transmits a signal <NUM> (e.g., pulse) to the probe <NUM>. As shown, the signal <NUM> travels in a downward direction (relative to the plane of the page) toward the level <NUM> along a probe length <NUM>. Upon reaching the level <NUM>, a reflected signal <NUM> (e.g. partial pulse, reflected partial pulse) is returned, along the probe <NUM> to the front end <NUM>. Additionally, the remaining energy from the signal <NUM> reaches an end <NUM> of the probe <NUM> and returns to the front end <NUM>, along the probe <NUM>, as a fully reflected signal <NUM> (e.g., fully reflected pulse). As will be described, the time for the receipt of the reflected signal <NUM> may be utilized to determine the level <NUM>. For example, a faster return of the reflected signal <NUM> would indicate a higher level <NUM> in the configuration shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the level sensing system <NUM> illustrating components of the front end <NUM> and the probe <NUM>. As noted above, the front end <NUM> may include various electronics and circuitry for generating the signal (e.g., pulse), evaluating the return signal, and the like. The illustrated front end <NUM> is also coupled to the probe <NUM>, which as shown, extends for the probe length <NUM>, which may be particularly selected based on a variety of factors, such as the tank length. Furthermore, as will be described, features of the probe <NUM> may effectively increase a probe length, for example, by adding multiple pathways or traces along the length to increase a distance for the signal to travel.

In the illustrated embodiment, the front end <NUM> includes a power generator <NUM> (e.g., power system, power supply). The power generator <NUM> provides the requisite power (e.g., voltage) for system operations, but it should be appreciated in other embodiments that power may be provided from the vehicle system, a battery, or the like. In various embodiments, the system may operate between 12V and <NUM>. 3V for various different components of the front end <NUM>. As noted above, the power generator may be operable at approximately 28V and may include one or more low-dropout regulators (not pictured).

In operation, a pulse generator <NUM> outputs the signal utilize to detect the level within the tank. The signal may be a high frequency, high voltage pulse. In various embodiments, the pulse is a square wave, however, different waveforms may also be utilized with systems and methods of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that a higher voltage may be desirable (e.g., approximately <NUM>-20V) because subsequent reflections may be easier to identify and/or may provide for improved thresholds (e.g., triggers). By way of example, for a 12V input where a reflected signal returns <NUM>% of the energy, the reflected signal is approximately 3V (not accounting for resistance in the lines and the like). This voltage may be easier to detect than a 1V input where <NUM>% of the energy reflected back is approximately <NUM> mV. Furthermore, noise may be more visible and/or intrusive at lower voltage levels. In certain embodiments, the pulse generator <NUM> may be formed by a <NUM> pF tank capacitor, a large (e.g., <NUM>) leak capacitor, and a high-pass filter (HPF). In operation, a field-effect transistor (FET) switches the capacitor to ground when charged.

As will be described below, embodiments of the present disclosure may incorporate one or more features to overcome potential problems with traditional power supplies with respect to reflected signals. For example, producing fast signals with high voltages may be cost prohibitive or difficult. While slow signals with high voltages are easier and cheaper to produce, their duration may lead to full reflections that destroy an initial partial reflection. As a result, the identification of the partial reflection, which corresponds to the level, may be lost. Embodiments of the present disclosure may incorporate one or more features, such as a launch zone and/or an elongated probe in order to reduce the likelihood of signal interference, thereby enabling use of cheaper pulse generators.

Further illustrated is a timer <NUM> that may be used to measure a difference between a transmission time (e.g., a first time) and a receipt time (e.g., a second time) for a signal. In certain embodiments, the timer <NUM> may measure a time between a start pulse until one or more stop pulses are received. In certain embodiments, the difference between the start and stop time may be very small, and as a result, high resolution timers may be utilized with embodiments of the present disclosure. By way of example only, a <NUM>-bit timer with a resolution of 55ps and a range of 12ns to 500ns may be utilized to provide accurate measurements of time between a pulse being transmitted and a reflected pulse being received.

In various embodiments, the front end <NUM> also includes a controller <NUM>, which may include an RF switch to permit switching the pulse transmission. As will be described below, various operations of the system <NUM> may be toggled between different modes, such as an active mode, one or more calibration modes, and the like. The controller <NUM> may also be used for sending and receiving instructions, for example from a computer device, to initiate a measurement, to transmit information, and the like. For example, the controller <NUM> may receive a signal that includes instructions for beginning a measurement operation, which may begin with first calibrating the probe and then obtaining a measurement.

A comparator <NUM> is also illustrated to compare returning signals against a threshold voltage. For example, if a returned signal exceeds the threshold or is within a designated range or window, the comparator <NUM> may emit a signal, which may be evaluated by a measurement module <NUM> to determine the level. It should be appreciated that in various embodiments the comparator <NUM> and the measurement module <NUM> may be integrated into a single component. Additionally, in embodiments, the measurement module <NUM> may be a single component with the timer/counter <NUM>. Furthermore, the determination of the level may be processed at a remote system, such as the vehicle control system, to reduce processing and/or operation at the front end. In operation, the comparator <NUM> characterizes an impedance change, which is indicative of interaction with the fluid. For example, as noted above, if the system expects a reflected voltage to be approximately <NUM>% (which may be a factor of an impedance difference between the probe in air and the probe in the fluid) of the initial voltage. So for an example transmission of 12V, a return of approximately 3V is expected. As a result, a threshold may be set that includes a range (e.g., above and below the expected return) that is indicative of the expected return voltage that would represent the liquid level. In various embodiments, the threshold may be dynamic, as a threshold that is too high may return voltages that are not indicative of the liquid level and a threshold that is too low may be indicative of noise. Furthermore, the threshold may change over time and may also include time stops or timers to begin and stop recording. For example, over time, it is expected that the level in the tanks will decrease, and as a result, measurements received prior to a certain time may be discarded as noise and/or not reasonably indicative of tank level.

The front end <NUM> of the illustrated embodiment also includes an input/output interface <NUM>. The interface <NUM> may include one or more couplings or connectors to operationally connect the probe <NUM> to the front end <NUM>. In this example, the interface <NUM> is a two-way interface that enables transmission of information (e.g., voltage) and receipt of information (e.g., reflected voltage). As noted above, in various embodiments, different configurations may block or otherwise restrict certain communications via the interface <NUM>. For example, information from a particular leg may be routed to a predetermined location and not utilized by the front end. Furthermore, multiple connections may enable a plurality of probes that are used with a single front end.

In this configuration, the probe <NUM> is coupled to the front end <NUM> and extends for the probe length <NUM>, which may be particularly selected based on expected operating conditions. The probe <NUM> shown in <FIG> includes a connecting region <NUM> (e.g., first segment) and an extending region <NUM> (e.g., second segment, a sensor zone). As will be described below, different channels <NUM> of the connecting region <NUM>, coupled to the front end <NUM>, may be designated for different purposes. By way of example, the connecting region <NUM> may include a sensing or measurement channel, a calibration channel, and a free channel. Accordingly, a signal transmitted to the sensing channel may travel through the connecting region <NUM> and along the extending region <NUM>, while in contrast, a signal sent to the calibration channel may remain on the connecting region <NUM>. In this manner, different signal configurations may be used for different purposes. In various embodiments, the various embodiments, the channels <NUM> may include a trace, made from copper, aluminum, or any conductive material, for transmission of the signal. As will be described below, a pattern or channel configuration may be utilized to increase a distance that the signal travels, thereby reducing the likelihood of signal overlap. For example, in various embodiments, a "launch zone" and/or an "end zone" may be incorporated into at least one of the connecting region <NUM> and the extending region <NUM>. The respective launch or end zones may include a meandering trace. By way of example, a launch zone positioned within the connecting region <NUM> may prohibit or reduce the likelihood of receiving an erroneous reading from a reflection at the connecting region <NUM> by providing a distance of travel for the pulse, which may then be gated for the receiver to ignore signals before the end of the launch zone. Similarly, the end zone may be arranged along the extending region <NUM> to provide additional travel after a signal is received to prevent a fully reflected signal from overwhelming a partially reflected signal.

<FIG> is a top plan view of an embodiment of the connecting region <NUM> including four different channels <NUM> that may be used for transmitting and/or receiving a signal. It should be appreciated that four channels <NUM> are shown for illustrative purposes only and that other embodiments may include more or fewer channels. For example, embodiments may include one channel, two channels, three channels, five channels, or any reasonable number of channels.

A first channel 318A may be referred to as a sensing or measurement channel and includes a trace <NUM> that extends between the connecting region <NUM> and the extending region <NUM>. As described above, the trace <NUM> may be formed from a conductive material, such as copper, and in certain embodiments may be thin to provide flexibility to the connecting region <NUM>, which as noted above may be a PCB that is also thin to enable flexibility and reduce overall weight. The illustrated trace <NUM> may have a configuration <NUM> referred to as a wave pattern with a short wavelength (e.g., high frequency). In other words, the trace <NUM> may be a compressed wave pattern. The illustrated trace <NUM> extends along a connecting region length <NUM> and is coupled to the interface <NUM>. In operation, a command may be transmitted to send a signal along the first channel 318A, which will travel down the extending region <NUM> until it contacts the liquid. This contact will lead to a partial reflected pattern to travel back up along the trace <NUM> and the first channel 318A to provide information to the front end <NUM>, which may be used to determine the liquid level.

As noted herein, the trace <NUM> for the first channel 318A may be referred to as a launch zone that prevents or reduces a likelihood that an erroneous reflection will be recorded. For example, the pattern of the trace <NUM> effectively increases a distance of travel (e.g., a trace length is longer than the connecting region length <NUM>). Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure overcome problems with existing measurement systems that utilize expensive components to obtain pulses to try to overcome erroneous reflections.

A second channel 318B is illustrated proximate the first channel 318A, but is shown isolated from the first channel 318A. In other words, the second channel 318B is not connected to the first channel 318A in the illustrated embodiment. The second channel 318B may be referred to as a calibration channel and includes a continuous trace <NUM> that extends along a third channel 318C and a fourth channel 318D. In various embodiments, the channels 318B and 318C may be utilized to perform different calibrations of the probe. By way of example, the second channel 318B may be a calibration channel to calibrate for wavefront velocity on the probe <NUM>. For example, the calibration may be based on a specific length of the trace <NUM>. As another example, the third channel <NUM> does not include a connection to the probe and may be used to calibrate for wavefront velocity and time of flight across the SumMiniature version A (SMA) connectors of the front end <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the fourth channel 318D may be used as an auxiliary connector to enable coupling to another sensor, provide additional redundancy, or the like.

The illustrated channels 318B-318D include a similar configuration <NUM> to the first channel 318A with the compressed, high frequency wave. As noted above, such a configuration enables a longer length of trace <NUM> over a smaller axial distance of the connecting region <NUM>, thereby reducing the likelihood of overlapping signals, among other benefits. In various configurations, the channels 318B-318D are coupled to one another, but it should be appreciated that the channels 318B-318D may be disparate and disconnected.

Application of the connecting region <NUM> provides numerous advantages and benefits over existing techniques. By way of example, the connecting region <NUM>, in part with other features of the present embodiments, enable accommodation of a destructive interference problem that may be found in traditional techniques. Moreover, additional functionality may also be incorporated to improve accuracy. As an example, embodiments include the connecting region <NUM> (e.g., a meandering launch zone) that takes up approximately 20ns of time for an incoming pulse before it reaches the actual measurement zone of the probe (e.g., the sensor portion <NUM>). In embodiments, the timer <NUM> is particularly selected to disregard or not read reflections for the initial 12ns of counting. Accordingly, the launch zone provides a buffer so that the time counted by the timer is always in-bounds. Furthermore, the connecting region <NUM> provides an additional 50ns buffer at the end, and accordingly, the "large" pulse that typically is reflected and destructively interferes with the signal of interest is not reflected for an additional approximately 100ns, giving the comparator time to react.

The connecting region <NUM> further includes a separate calibration lines, such as the channels 318B, 318C. For example, in various embodiments, the "CAL-<NUM>" line has no signal line to enable the timer to conclude how much time it takes for a transmitted probe from the front end to reach the probe itself, for calibration purposes. The separate "CAL" line on the same probe may have a particularly selected, known length. Using this fixed distance and the time it takes for a pulse to reach the end and reflect, the system can fully identify the wavefront propagation velocity of pulses. As an example, for a length of approximately <NUM> inches, v = d/t = <NUM>"/treflect) = ~ <NUM>.

Embodiments of the present disclosure overcome multiple problems with existing time domain reflectometry measurement techniques. For example, when the probe <NUM> (e.g., the extending region <NUM>) is a single trace, most of the reflections reach the comparator <NUM> at nearly the same instance (e.g., nanoseconds apart). In other words, an initial reflection from the liquid level is reflected and reaches comparator <NUM> and then nearly immediately afterwards, an inverted, much larger reflection reflects from the end of the probe and reaches the comparator <NUM>. Being much larger and inverted, it effectively decimates the much smaller signal from the liquid level interface. As noted above, one way to overcome this problem is to utilize larger, more expensive pulse generators <NUM>. By way of example, given a 100ps wide pulse, the pulse fully hits and is read by the comparator <NUM> far before the much larger 100ps pulse reflects and decimates this. This is because the time it takes for the pulses to travel is a few ns, so a 100ps pulse is not likely to be affected. For a larger pulse, such as approximately <NUM>-30ns, the partial reflected signal will be decimated. Rather than utilizing higher rise, narrower pulses, which may be challenging and expensive, embodiments of the present disclosure, as discussed herein, add a long path at the end of the probe to extend the time it would take for this pulse to return.

<FIG> is a top plan view of an embodiment of the extending region <NUM> coupled to the connecting region <NUM> via the trace <NUM> extending to the first channel 318A. The illustrated extending region <NUM> extends for an extending region <NUM>, which may be greater than the connecting region length <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the extending region length <NUM> may be particularly selected based on expected operating conditions. For example, the extending region length <NUM> may be selected based on a size of the tank, a desired region of detection, and the like. The illustrated configuration <NUM> includes a lead trace <NUM>, which may also be referred to as a sensing line, that extends from a first end <NUM> (e.g., proximate the connecting region <NUM>) to a second end <NUM> (e.g., opposite the connecting region <NUM>). Further illustrated are columns <NUM> having the configuration <NUM> (e.g., high frequency wave). These columns <NUM> may also be referred to as an end zone and include the meandering trace pattern described above with reference to the launch zone. As a result, the effective length of travel for a signal over the entire extending region length <NUM> is increased, which may be advantageous in various embodiments where full reflections may obscure or otherwise overtake partial reflection signals. It should be appreciated that the two columns <NUM> are for illustrative purposes and more or fewer columns <NUM> may be included to adjust the total length of the trace <NUM>.

In operation, a signal will travel through the connecting region <NUM> and along the lead trace <NUM>. A portion of the extending region <NUM> may be in contact with a fluid and, when the signal contacts the area in contact with the fluid, a partial reflection may return to the front end <NUM>. As noted above, in various embodiments differences in impedance are evaluated to set thresholds for reading or otherwise regarding signals. The illustrated extending region <NUM>, as well as the entire probe <NUM>, may be manufactured to have a particularly selected impedance. This impedance is dependent on the surroundings of the probe <NUM>. Accordingly, the impedance in air or a gas (e.g., the empty part of the tank) and the impedance in liquid (e.g., the full part of the tank) will be different, and as a result, the reflected partial signal may be anticipated and measured.

<FIG> is a schematic representation <NUM> of a response <NUM> responsive to the illustrated tank <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the tank <NUM> may include one or more features from the tank <NUM> shown in <FIG>, including the level sensing system <NUM>. The response <NUM> is illustrated on a chart that includes an x-axis <NUM> illustrative of time and a y-axis <NUM> illustrative of voltage (V).

In this example, an input pulse is provided to the probe <NUM> (indicated by <NUM> on the tank <NUM> and the response <NUM>). As shown, the voltage forms a valley <NUM> in the negative region for the period of time the pulse is provided, which may be a pulsed square wave, as described above. Thereafter, as the pulse travels along the probe <NUM>, the liquid level <NUM> is encountered (indicated by <NUM> on the tank <NUM> and the signal response <NUM>). A reflected partial response is provided back to the front end, which is indicated at a peak <NUM>.

As described above, an impedance in the probe <NUM> may be different for the probe in a first medium (e.g., air) and the probe in a second medium (e.g., the fluid <NUM>). Accordingly, an anticipated value of the reflected partial response may be predicted and a gate or threshold <NUM> may be established, for example at the comparator <NUM>. In this example, the threshold <NUM> has a high threshold level <NUM> and a low threshold level <NUM>. Values outside of this level may be discarded.

The remainder of the pulse continues along the probe <NUM> and reaches the end and provides a fully reflected pulse (indicated by <NUM> on the tank <NUM> and the response <NUM>), shown as the valley <NUM>. In various embodiments, a gap between the peak <NUM> and the valley <NUM> is desirable to prevent the valley <NUM> from decimating or otherwise obscuring the peak <NUM>. As noted above, various features of the present embodiment, such as the launch zones and increased length of the trace provide this gap to enable identification of the peak <NUM>. Accordingly, the information from the response <NUM> may be used to determine the liquid level <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method <NUM> for determining a liquid level. It should be appreciated that for this method, and all methods described herein, that there may be more or fewer steps. Additionally, the steps may be performed in a different order, or in parallel, unless otherwise specifically stated. Furthermore, various steps of the method may be carried out on a processor in response to instructions stored on machine-readable memory. The processor may receive the instructions from the memory, along with information from various sensors, to execute the instructions to perform one or more steps of the method. In this example, a probe is positioned within a tank <NUM>. The tank may include a fluid (e.g., a gas, liquid, solid, or combination thereof) that includes a level indicative of how full the tank is. In various embodiments, the probe may be a flexible probe that includes a conductive trace, such as a copper trace, for transmission of pulse s along a length of the probe. The probe may include multiple regions, as discussed above, and moreover may have a particularly selected length in order to provide measurement capabilities over substantially the entire tank and/or over certain regions of the tank. Furthermore, in embodiments, the tank is a fuel tank for a launch vehicle and the probe is a lightweight probe.

A pulse (e.g., signal) is transmitted to the probe <NUM>. The pulse may be a square wave that includes a particularly selected voltage and width (e.g., duration). In various embodiments, it may be desirable to generate pulses s that have tall and thin structures. However, as noted above, doing so may be costly or difficult. Embodiments of the present disclosure may utilize pulses with tall and wide structures and incorporate additional features, such as the launch zones described above and increase a trace length, in order to account for the additional pulse duration. The probe receives the pulse, for example along the conductive trace, and transmits the pulse along a length of the probe. In operation, the probe may be designed to have a particular impedance in a particular medium, such as air. As noted above, differences in impedance may facilitate identification of partially reflected peaks.

As the pulse travels along the probe, the pulse may encounter an interface between the first medium and the liquid and at least a portion of the signal is reflected back <NUM>. The reflected pulse may be less than the initial pulse (e.g., have a lower voltage) and may be received before a fully reflected pulse. The partially reflected pulse is evaluated against a threshold <NUM>. For example, an upper threshold and a lower threshold may be established based on an expected value due to the impedance differences between the probe out of and within the fluid. If the pulse is within the threshold, then a fluid level is determined <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the partially reflected pulse itself may not be indicative of the level, but rather, the time of flight of the partially reflected pulse, which in this example is within the threshold, may be utilized to determine the fluid level. If the pulse is not within the threshold, the pulse may be discarded. In this manner, a fluid level may be determined within a tank.

<FIG> is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method <NUM> for determining a fluid level within a tank, such as a fuel tank for a launch vehicle. In this example, a pulse (e.g., signal) is transmitted to a launch zone of a probe <NUM>. As discussed, the launch zone may include a segment of trace that provides a time delay between a first time, corresponding to a time the pulse was transmitted, and a second time, corresponding to a time the pulse reaches a sensor zone (e.g., the extending region <NUM>, the lead trace <NUM>). In various embodiments, the time delay may facilitate use of less sensitive or less expensive components in the system. A partially reflected pulse is received from the sensor zone <NUM>. For example, the pulse may travel along a trace of the sensor zone and contact a fluid level, where the pulse is reflected back. In various embodiments, the pulse is evaluated against a threshold. For example, a pulse value range may be predetermined, and filters or the like may be established to restrict or discard pulses s outside of the range. In various embodiments, the partially reflected pulse is determined to be indicative to a fluid level <NUM>. For example, the pulse may be within the expected range and/or arrive at an anticipated time. A fully reflected pulse is also received from the sensor zone <NUM>. The fully reflected pulse may arrive after the partially reflected pulse, and in various embodiments, additional trace may be added to an end of the sensor zone in order to increase the time of arrival for the fully reflected pulse, thereby reducing the likelihood of losing the partially reflected pulse, which may be smaller than the fully reflected pulse.

Claim 1:
A fluid level detection system (<NUM>), comprising:
a probe (<NUM>), the probe (<NUM>) including a conductive trace extending along at least a portion of the probe (<NUM>), the probe (<NUM>) being positioned within an interior of a tank (<NUM>), the tank (<NUM>) containing a fluid (<NUM>) with a level (<NUM>), and at least a portion of the probe (<NUM>) being in contact with the fluid (<NUM>);
a pulse generator (<NUM>), the pulse generator (<NUM>) adapted to supply a pulse to the probe (<NUM>) for transmission along the conductive trace;
a timer (<NUM>), the timer (<NUM>) adapted to identify a first time, corresponding to a transmission time of the pulse, and a second time, corresponding to a receipt time of a reflected pulse;
a comparator (<NUM>), the comparator (<NUM>) adapted to receive at least the reflected pulse from the probe (<NUM>) and to determine a value for the reflected pulse;
characterised by
a connecting region (<NUM>) forming at least a portion of the probe (<NUM>), the connecting region (<NUM>) including a plurality of channels (318A-D) to separately receive the pulse from the pulse generator (<NUM>); and
a launch zone formed in the connection region (<NUM>) corresponding to a trace pattern (<NUM>) having a longer length than a connection region length (<NUM>) to provide a time delay between transmission of the signal and entry of the signal at a sensor zone of the probe (<NUM>).