A liquid container, comprising: a housing containing therein liquid; a liquid supply opening formed in the housing for withdrawing the liquid from the housing; a liquid sensor mounted on the housing for detecting a level of the liquid which is variable in accordance with a consumption of the liquid; and a first partition wall extending in an interior of the housing and defining the interior of the housing into at least two liquid accommodating chambers which communicate with each other, the liquid accommodating chambers comprising: an air-communication side liquid accommodating chamber which communicates with ambient air; and a detection side liquid accommodating chamber in which the liquid sensor is disposed at an upper portion thereof.

Liquid container having liquid consumption detecting device

An ultrasonic method and apparatus for measuring liquid level in a vessel employing an acoustic waveguide (16) connected to an ultrasonic transducer (14) and the vessel (18). Guiding means (24) situated inside a vessel (18) directs the acoustic energy pulse to a surface (22) of the liquid. The acoustic energy pulse is reflected from the surface (22) and returned along the guiding means (24) to the acoustic waveguide (16). A pulser/receiver (10) connected thereto measures the reflected acoustic energy pulse for determining liquid level from the transit time.

Ultrasonic method and apparatus for determining water level in a closed vessel

An ink cartridge (800) is provided with a liquid sensor (802) comprising a piezoelectric device The actual consumption detecting section (816) in a recorder control section (810) detects an actual consumption state by detecting an oscillatory state corresponding to an ink consumption state using the piezoelectric device On the other hand, an estimated consumption calculating section (814) determines an estimated consumption state by calculating an ink consumption state based on an ink-based printing amount For example, consumption is calculated by integrating the number of print dots Estimated consumption calculation for determining consumption in detail and actual consumption detection for detecting consumption accurately are employed in combination Preferably, passing of a liquid level is detected as actual consumption detection Consumption before and after passing is estimated by integrating the number of print dots

Method and apparatus for detecting consumption of ink

A guide pipe is formed from a metal material, and its internal cross section has a circular shape whose diametric dimension gradually becomes smaller with a distance from an ultrasonic sensor. That is, the guide pipe is formed so that a route for transmitting an ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic sensor may be tapered from this ultrasonic sensor toward a reflector plate. Thus, the acoustic pressure level of the ultrasonic wave which enters the reflector plate can be made higher than a value in a prior-art liquid level detecting apparatus. Accordingly, the energy of the ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic sensor can be utilized for liquid level detection at a high efficiency, so that a fuel liquid level detecting apparatus capable of accurate liquid level detection can be provided.

Liquid level detecting apparatus

A liquid detection device attached on a liquid container for detecting a liquid consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container, the liquid detection device including a vibrating section symmetrical about a center thereof, and at least one electrode electrically connecting with said vibrating section.

Liquid detecting piezoelectric device, liquid container and mounting module member

A liquid level measuring system having a tubular ultrasonic probe with a length in excess of the depth of liquid to be measured; for vertical insertion into a tank. A transducer inside the tube, at a first distance above the bottom end of probe body, responds transmits a sinusoidal acoustical pulse through the probe to the surface of the liquid. An echo returns from the surface of the liquid to the transducer and provides a sinusoidal echo signal. A receiver responds to the echo signal by providing a start signal corresponding to the transmitter signal crossing a predetermined amplitude in a predetermined direction and by providing a stop signal corresponding to a first selected echo signal crossing a second predetermined reference level in a predetermined direction. The speed of sound in the liquid is measured by measuring the echo time to a calibration rod in the tube at a known distance from the transducer. A timer measures the time between the start and stop signals and provides the time to a sequential controller. The depth of the liquid and the leak rate of the tank are calculated for display.

Joseph W. Caldwell

Papers

Ultrasonic liquid level monitoring system