Patent ID: 7284427

Claim:
A fluid level sensing apparatus for placement in a container comprising: a sensor further comprising an electrically conductive first body having a first surface contact area, an electrically conductive third body having a third surface contact area, an electrically conductive second body having a second surface contact area disposed in opposition to the first and the third bodies; a container progressively filled with a fluid in order to change a fluid level, wherein the fluid electrically couples a first fraction of the first surface contact area and a third fraction of the third surface contact area with a second fraction of the second surface contact area; a means for energizing the first body and the third body at a voltage compared to the second body; a first means for detecting the variability in voltage as the fluid level in the container changes as the first fraction of the first surface contact area and the second fraction of the second surface contact area changes; a second means for detecting the variability of voltage as the fluid level in the container changes as the third fraction of the third surface contact area and the second fraction of the second surface contact area changes, wherein a surface geometry of the third body varies along the first surface contact area as the fluid level in the container changes to create forced variations in the voltage detected by the means for detecting the variability of the voltage for both the first and the second means for detecting the variability of both voltage.