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Title: Fluorescent optical liquid level sensor

Abstract

A liquid level sensor comprising a transparent waveguide containing fluorescent material that is excited by light of a first wavelength and emits at a second, longer wavelength. The upper end of the waveguide is connected to a light source at the first wavelength through a beveled portion of the waveguide such that the input light is totally internally reflected within the waveguide above an air/liquid interface in a tank but is transmitted into the liquid below this interface. Light is emitted from the fluorescent material only in those portions of the waveguide that are above the air/liquid interface, to be collected at the upper end of the waveguide by a detector that is sensitive only to the second wavelength. As the interface moves down in the tank, the signal strength from the detector will increase.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
873488
Patent Number(s):
6172377
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01F - MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
fluorescent; optical; liquid; level; sensor; comprising; transparent; waveguide; containing; material; excited; light; wavelength; emits; upper; connected; source; beveled; portion; input; totally; internally; reflected; air; interface; tank; transmitted; below; emitted; portions; collected; detector; sensitive; moves; signal; strength; increase; sensor comprising; internally reflected; fluorescent material; level sensor; input light; light source; liquid level; signal strength; liquid interface; /250/

Citation Formats

Weiss, Jonathan D. Fluorescent optical liquid level sensor. United States: N. p., 2001. Web.
Weiss, Jonathan D. Fluorescent optical liquid level sensor. United States.
Weiss, Jonathan D. Mon . "Fluorescent optical liquid level sensor". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/873488.
@article{osti_873488,
title = {Fluorescent optical liquid level sensor},
author = {Weiss, Jonathan D},
abstractNote = {A liquid level sensor comprising a transparent waveguide containing fluorescent material that is excited by light of a first wavelength and emits at a second, longer wavelength. The upper end of the waveguide is connected to a light source at the first wavelength through a beveled portion of the waveguide such that the input light is totally internally reflected within the waveguide above an air/liquid interface in a tank but is transmitted into the liquid below this interface. Light is emitted from the fluorescent material only in those portions of the waveguide that are above the air/liquid interface, to be collected at the upper end of the waveguide by a detector that is sensitive only to the second wavelength. As the interface moves down in the tank, the signal strength from the detector will increase.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001}
}