Famous Patents
The first match was accidentally discovered in 1826 when John Walker scraped a stick with chemicals on the end against a stone floor.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6555837 | Fluoropolymer fluid overfill probe An optically-based overfill detection probe is provided that has a prism made of a fluoropolymer, preferably TEFLON.RTM. PFA. The prism material has a high resistance to chemical solvents, is less prone to condensation and frost than plastic or glass, and... | 04/29/2003 |
| 6448573 | Fluoropolymer fluid overfill probe with infrared optical signal An optically-based overfill detection probe is provided that has a prism with a substantially quadrilateral cross-sectional shape, such that internal reflection angles are less than ninety degrees. The prism is made of a fluoropolymer, preferably TEFLON.R... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6389239 | Liquid detection device, fusing unit using the same, and electrophotographic apparatus Disclosed is a liquid detection device wherein a condition in which there is no liquid remaining in either a storage member or a tank and a condition in which there is liquid remaining in at least either the storage member or the tank are easily discrimin... | 05/14/2002 |
| 6057772 | Apparatus and method for optically sensing liquid level in cooking vessels An apparatus and method for optical sensing of liquid level in cooking vessels are disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a first sensor (P1) for detecting a liquid and generating a first signal indicating a vessel level of the detected liquid above a desire... | 05/02/2000 |
| 6047720 | Automatic air-vent valve for hydraulic systems A bleeder valve comprising a housing including a sensor device of material which is optically denser than gas arranged between a light transmitter and a photo-electric receiver, at least one external surface of the sensor device being disposed in a space ... | 04/11/2000 |
| 5880480 | Optical liquid level sensor including built-in test circuitry A liquid sensing apparatus for a fuel tank comprises a first optical sensor for producing an output having a first state that corresponds to the first optical sensor being exposed to air and a second state that corresponds to the first optical sensor bein... | 03/09/1999 |
| 5616929 | Ink tank with an ink level detector having a viewing window An inexpensive ink tank having an ink remaining amount detection section which can be used with ink of any color is disclosed. An optical ink detection section formed from a light transmitting material has an inclined interface and is formed integrally wi... | 04/01/1997 |
| 5534708 | Optical fuel/air/water sensor and detector circuit A liquid sensing apparatus for a fuel tank comprises a first optical sensor for producing an output having a first state that corresponds to the first optical sensor being exposed to air and a second state that corresponds to the first optical sensor bein... | 07/09/1996 |
| 5399876 | Optical point level sensor with lens An optical point level sensor for fluids includes a prism exposable to a fluid such that electromagnetic energy is reflected internally the prism dependent on the fluid level; and a lens optically connectable to an electromagnetic energy source and an ele... | 03/21/1995 |
| 5396079 | Fiber optic detector and depth sensor and method for doing same A fiber optic sensor for determining the presence and/or measuring the depth of a first substance capable of transmitting light. The fiber optic sensor includes a plurality of light receiving fibers, a plurality of light transmitting fibers surrounding th... | 03/07/1995 |
| 5381022 | Combined optical waveguide and prismatic liquid-level sensor In its preferred embodiment, a one-piece optical-prism sensor of liquid level internally incorporates waveguide structure, i.e., within the otherwise conventional conical external profile of the prism, the waveguide being a thin flat member which includes... | 01/10/1995 |
| 5279157 | Liquid level monitor A liquid level monitor for sensing the level of liquid in a tank or vessel, typically an automobile radiator, employing a probe with a light emitting diode and phototransistor mounted inside an enclosure, the enclosure having a transparent lens through wh... | 01/18/1994 |
| 5278426 | Optical liquid level sensor for pressurized systems utilizing prismatic element An optical sensor, having serviceable electronics, for monitoring the level of a liquid within a vessel having an exterior and an interior and for providing an electrical signal on the traverse of the liquid level past the sensor. The sensor comprises a f... | 01/11/1994 |
| 5055699 | Device for measuring the refractive index of a fluid, in particular intended for measuring the density of that fluid or the concentration of a substance dissolved in that fluid In order to measure the refractive index of a fluid use is made of a rod (1) which projects into the fluid and has a refractive index which is slightly larger than that of the fluid. At the end which is not immersed in the fluid, the rod is provided with ... | 10/08/1991 |
| 4998022 | Optical liquid level sensor using a polytetrafluoroethylene perfluoroalkoxy material An optical liquid level sensor has an optically-transmissive body (28) provided with a frusto-conical tip end portion (32). When the tip end portion is exposed to air, the angle of incidence (θi) of light at each of three points of reflection ... | 03/05/1991 |
| 4979797 | Multi-level fiber-optic liquid-level sensing system Plural sensor prisms and associated opticalfiber circuits are arrayed as a single vertical stem by which the individual prisms serve for response to each of a plurality of different liquid levels. Each prism is formed of light-transmitting plastic materia... | 12/25/1990 |
| 4974552 | Engine control system responsive to optical fuel composition sensor An engine control system for operating an internal combustion engine with any mixture of alcohol and gasoline. The control system includes an air/fuel ratio control system providing a desired fuel charge in relation to the alcohol and gasoline content of ... | 12/04/1990 |
| 4962395 | Liquid level sensor with wide temperature range capacity A liquid level sensor comprises a light source in the form of a semiconductor device, a light sensor also in the form of a semiconductor device, and an optical element arranged to transmit light from the light source and to receive reflected light and tra... | 10/09/1990 |
| 4942306 | Fibre optic sensor for the continuous measurement liquids level and other parameters A fibre optic sensor, particularly for ascertaining fluid levels, utilizes at least two optical fibres having at least a portion thereof embedded in a transparent substrate material of similar refractive index. One of the fibres is coupled to a light sour... | 07/17/1990 |
| 4924084 | Device for determining surface moisture A device for determining surface moisture, especially of absorbent materials, comprises a Dove reflection prism, a radiation source of such a design that its beams, which are aligned parallel, perpendicularly strike one of the two small surfaces of the pr... | 05/08/1990 |
| 4912319 | Detector device for mixing ratio for gasoline and alcohol or the like A detector device for mixing ratio for gasoline and alcohol include an optically permeable column, one end of which is coated with a light-reflective layer. The circumferential surface of the column is at least partly immersed in mixing liquid of gasoline... | 03/27/1990 |
| 4906845 | Optical sensor for detecting liquid medium An optical sensor comprises a probe (10) and an annular optical element (13) coupled optically to a pair of optical fibres (18). Light transmitted down one fibre is reflected around the element (13) and back up the other fibre to a photodetector. The leve... | 03/06/1990 |
| 4733933 | Fiber optic structure and method of making A fiber optic structure comprising an optical fiber having a body of material deposited upon the exterior surface such that the body of material is sufficiently strong and rigid to permit processing of the fiber for various fiber optics applications. The ... | 03/29/1988 |
| 4713552 | Optical probe The invention relates to an optical probe comprising an optical means (5) having a given refractive index. This optical means is able to reflect an incident light beam if it is located in a medium (3), whose refractive index is higher than the given index... | 12/15/1987 |
| 4422714 | Ellipsoidal optical coupling device An optical coupling device wherein at least two light conductors are coupled through the intermediary of a transparent block in the shape of a half-ellipsoid on whose foci converge the end sections of the two light conductors. A light beam emerging from o... | 12/27/1983 |
| 4410020 | Sensor syringe A sensor syringe or hollow needle arrangement for the automatic withdrawal of a liquid sample from a liquid contained within a vessel. A duct is enclosed in a sheath or jacket-like manner by a light conductor possessing an inlet for an optical source and ... | 10/18/1983 |
| 4320291 | Optical instrument An optical instrument for measuring the specific gravity of a solution, particularly the specific gravity of the acid in a lead acid battery, which incudes a base part and a transparent member, the transparent member including an incident light surface an... | 03/16/1982 |
| 4275295 | Limit and measurement value transmitter PCT No. PCT/CH78/00023 Sec. 371 Date May 23, 1979 Sec. 102(e) Date May 23, 1979 PCT Filed Oct. 2, 1978 PCT Pub. No. WO79/00180 PCT Pub. Date Apr. 19, 1979 In the measuring and control technics, indicators for a limit value and measurement value working fo... | 06/23/1981 |
| 4246489 | Liquid level detector for detecting a liquid level when reaching a prescribed height A liquid level detector for detecting whether a boundary surface between a liquid and a medium rises beyond a prescribed level comprises a rectangular prismatic refractor body formed of a material which only allows the transmission of a light having parti... | 01/20/1981 |
| 4038650 | Fluid level detector and probe assembly A device for gauging level of a liquid within a container employing an elongated fibrous optic assembly which is connected at one end to a probe which is mounted within the container and at the other end to an electrical control device, the end of the fib... | 07/26/1977 |
| 3995168 | Electro optical fluid measurement system A device for the outside display of the level and specific density of a liquid contained within a tank, particularly for inflammable liquids, characterized by a plurality of paired light pipes having optical interface means therebetween located at interva... | 11/30/1976 |
