Liquid level sensing device having a plurality of emitter/receiver pairs on a circuit board
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for liquid level detection. The method may include providing a circuit board including a plurality of horizontally mounted emitter/receiver pairs arranged vertically along the circuit board within a liquid containment area. The method may further include determining, using one or more processors associated with the circuit board, if liquid is present between each of the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs based upon, at least in part, data received from one or more of the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a circuit board including a plurality of mounted emitter/receiver pairs arranged vertically along the circuit board; and
a processor configured to determine if liquid is present between at least one of the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs based upon, at least in part, a total output current from the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs, wherein the total output current is configured to increase for each mounted emitter/receiver pair of the plurality of mounted emitter/receiver pairs that detects liquid between an emitter and a receiver of a respective mounted emitter/receiver pair.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a support tube configured to house the circuit board and the processor.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the support tube is configured to be deployed within a liquid storage tank.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein determining if liquid is present includes determining a collector voltage at a photo transistor receiver associated with each of the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs are each separated by an approximately equivalent distance on the circuit board.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs are each separated by a variable distance on the circuit board and wherein the variable distance between each of the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs corresponds to an equivalent change in a liquid level.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of circuit boards that are electrically connected.
8. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the support tube is one of a straight support tube and a curved support tube.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein determining if liquid is present includes determining a level of liquid in a confined space.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board is a single circuit board including at least one of a plurality of processors or a ladder circuit.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs are included within one or more corner reflecting sensors.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an accelerometer configured to detect one or more tilt angles.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an accelerometer configured to detect one or more tilt angles to provide a correction to a liquid level for a non-stationary liquid.
14. A method for liquid level detection comprising:
providing a circuit board including a plurality of mounted emitter/receiver pairs arranged along the circuit board within a liquid containment area; and
determining, using one or more processors associated with the circuit board, if liquid is present between at least one of the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs based upon, at least in part, a total output current from the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs, wherein the total output current is configured to increase for each mounted emitter/receiver pair of the plurality of mounted emitter/receiver pairs that detects liquid between an emitter and a receiver of a respective mounted emitter/receiver pair.
15. The method for liquid level detection of claim 14 , wherein the circuit board is enclosed within a support tube configured to house the circuit board and the processor.
16. The method for liquid level detection of claim 15 , further comprising:
deploying the support tube within a liquid storage tank.
17. The method for liquid level detection of claim 14 , wherein determining if liquid is present includes determining a collector voltage at a photo transistor receiver associated with each of the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs.
18. The method for liquid level detection of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs are each separated by an approximately equivalent distance on the circuit board.
19. The liquid level detection apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs are each separated by a variable distance on the circuit board and wherein the variable distance between each of the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs corresponds to an equivalent change in a liquid level.
20. The method for liquid level detection of claim 14 , wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of circuit boards that are electrically connected.
21. The method for liquid level detection of claim 15 , wherein the support tube is one of a straight support tube and a curved support tube.
22. The method for liquid level detection of claim 14 , wherein determining if liquid is present includes determining a level of liquid in a confined space.
23. The method for liquid level detection of claim 14 , wherein the circuit board is a single circuit board including at least one of a plurality of processors or a ladder circuit.
24. The method for liquid level detection of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs are included within one or more corner reflecting sensors.
25. The method for liquid level detection of claim 14 , wherein the circuit board includes an accelerometer configured to detect one or more tilt angles.
26. The method for liquid level detection of claim 14 , further comprising:
an accelerometer configured to detect one or more tilt angles to provide a correction to a liquid level for a non-stationary liquid.