IP Library Granted Patent US 8,078,414
Granted Patent B2
US 8,078,414 · App. 12/410,396 · Granted Dec 13, 2011

Water level measuring apparatus and measuring method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,078,414
App. No.
12/410,396
Granted
Dec 13, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A water level measuring apparatus and a water level measuring method, in which a water level L 0 of a liquid is read from a water level indicator secured to a liquid tank, and a filter value FLT is calculated by applying a filter with a time constant greater than one second to the water level L 0 . Furthermore when the filter value FLT is less than a minimum value Min, the minimum value Min is sequentially updated with the filter value FLT. Then the minimum value Min is output as the final water level L. Accordingly, even if the surface sloshes and the water level L 0 fluctuates up and down, by adopting the minimum value that utilizes the characteristic of the surface fluctuations, as the final water level L, there is little influence of the liquid sloshing, and the water level measurement accuracy can be improved.

Claims (13)

1. A water level measuring apparatus comprising:

a water level indicator configured to measure a water level of a liquid stored in a liquid tank; and

one of a computer and a control unit having the computer built therein,

wherein the one of the computer and the control unit is configured to retain a minimum value of a filter value while calculating the filter value by applying a filter with a time constant greater than one second to the water level measured by the water level indicator, and is configured to output the minimum value as a water level.

2. A water level measuring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one of the computer and the control unit is configured to sequentially update the minimum value with the filter value when the filter value is less than the minimum value.

3. A water level measuring apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the one of the computer and the control unit is configured to reset the minimum value when it is determined that the liquid tank has been replenished with the liquid.

4. A water level measuring apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the one of the computer and the control unit is configured to determine that the liquid tank has been replenished with the liquid when a condition where the filter value obtained by applying the filter with a time constant greater than one second to the water level measured by the water level indicator, has risen to a predetermined value or more, has continued for a predetermined time or more.

5. A water level measuring apparatus comprising:

a water level indicator configured to measure a water level of a liquid stored in a liquid tank; and

an electronic circuit configured to retain a minimum value of a filter value while calculating the filter value by applying a filter with a time constant greater than one second to the water level measured by the water level indicator, and is configured to output the minimum value as a water level.

6. A water level measuring method, which is performed by one of an electronic circuit, a computer, and a control unit having the computer built therein, comprising the steps of:

while calculating a filter value by applying a filter with a time constant greater than one second to a water level signal from a water level indicator that measures a water level of a liquid stored in a liquid tank, retaining a minimum value of the filter value; and

outputting the minimum value as a water level.

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Apr 9, 2021
From: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD.
To: UD TRUCKS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055886/0091 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2021
From: UD TRUCKS CORPORATION
To: VOLVO GROUP SWEDEN AB
Reel/Frame 055886/0107 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 9, 2021
From: VOLVO GROUP SWEDEN AB
To: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055886/0166 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2009
From: MATSUNAGA, HIDEKI
To: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 022451/0947 →