US 11,988,540 B2
Liquid level detection based on tunable inductive-capacitive tank circuit
Reed Hebert, Bedford, MA (US); Benjamin Newton, Bedford, MA (US); and Len Merrill, Bedford, MA (US)
Assigned to Instrumentation Laboratory Co., Bedford, MA (US)
Filed by Instrumentation Laboratory Co., Bedford, MA (US)
Filed on Aug. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/887,658.
Prior Publication US 2024/0053184 A1, Feb. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. G01F 23/26 (2022.01); G01F 23/263 (2022.01); G01F 23/80 (2022.01)
CPC G01F 23/265 (2013.01) [G01F 23/266 (2013.01); G01F 23/268 (2013.01); G01F 23/802 (2022.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a probe configured to provide at least a portion of capacitance of an inductance-capacitance (LC) circuit of a detection circuit, the capacitance of the LC circuit being dependent on a distance between the probe and a surface of a liquid in a biochemical analysis system wherein the liquid has an ionic conductivity of less than 1 mS/cm;
a movement mechanism configured to move the probe; and
circuitry configured to perform operations comprising:
causing the movement mechanism to move the probe with respect to the liquid;
measuring one or more characteristics of an output signal of the detection circuit, the one or more characteristics being dependent on the capacitance of the LC circuit; and
detecting, based on the one or more characteristics of the output signal, a contact between the probe and the surface of the liquid.