Patent ID: 8179272

Claim:
A device for monitoring a fluid level within a tank equipped with a sensor that provides electrical signals indicative of whether or not the fluid level within the tank has dropped below a predetermined minimum level, the device comprising: a housing mounted to the tank; a battery; a strobe light; a lens that cooperates with the housing to encase at least the strobe light, the lens having a top that is above a top of the tank such that light emitted from the strobe light is observable from any angle in a horizontal plane that includes the strobe light during daylight hours and at night from a distance of at least 200 yards; and a microprocessor programmed to query the sensor and determine, based on electrical signals received from the sensor, whether or not the fluid level within the tank has dropped below a predetermined minimum level, query the battery and determine, based on electrical signals received from the battery, whether the battery has reached a preset low power threshold, and send signals to the strobe light to flash in either a double-pulse mode or a single-pulse mode when it is determined that the fluid level within the tank has dropped below the predetermined minimum level, the double-pulse mode being utilized when it is determined that the battery has not reached the preset low power threshold and the single pulse-mode being utilized when it is determined that the battery has reached the preset low power threshold, said flashing of the strobe light continuing until the tank is refilled such that the fluid level is not below the predetermined minimum level or the life of the battery is completely exhausted.