Liquid level sensor for liquid receptacle

Abstract

Disclosed herein are various techniques and devices for detecting a level of fluid within a fluid collection receptacle. In one embodiment, a pressure sensor connected to a bottle is provided. The pressure sensor detects air pressure in the bottle as the bottle is filled with a liquid and provides information to determine a volume of the liquid in the bottle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid collection receptacle, comprising:
 a capacitive sensor installed between a base of the fluid collection receptacle and a top of the fluid collection receptacle, wherein the capacitive sensor detects a fluid level of fluid within the fluid collection receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid collection receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the capacitive sensor is installed on an inside surface of the fluid collection receptacle. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid collection receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the capacitive sensor is installed within a wall of the fluid collection receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid collection receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the capacitive sensor is installed on an outside surface of the fluid collection receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid collection receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the capacitive sensor includes a conductive trace. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid collection receptacle of  claim 5 , wherein the conductive trace connects a plurality of capacitive elements as part of the capacitive sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid collection receptacle of  claim 5 , wherein the capacitive sensor includes a second conductive trace. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid collection receptacle of  claim 7 , wherein the second conductive trace connects a second plurality of capacitive elements as part of the capacitive sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid collection receptacle of  claim 8 , wherein a capacitive effect is produced between the first plurality of capacitive elements and the second plurality of capacitive elements. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid collection receptacle of  claim 1 , further comprising a base which connects to the capacitive sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid collection receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein the base further connects to the fluid collection receptacle. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid collection receptacle of  claim 10 , further comprising a processor which identifies a relative amount of capacitance from the capacitance sensor and identifies, based on the relative amount of capacitance from the capacitance sensor, a level of fluid within the fluid collection receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . A capacitive sensor, comprising:
 a surface of a fluid collection receptacle,   a capacitive sensor installed on or in the surface of the fluid collection receptacle, and the capacitive sensor including a first capacitive element and a second capacitive element, wherein the capacitive sensor detects a level of fluid within the fluid collection receptacle.   
     
     
         14 . The capacitive sensor of  claim 13 , further comprising a first conductive trace connected to the first capacitive element and a second conductive trace conducted to the second capacitive element. 
     
     
         15 . The capacitive sensor of  claim 14 , wherein the first capacitive element is one of a plurality of first capacitive elements. 
     
     
         16 . The capacitive sensor of  claim 15 , wherein the second capacitive element is one of a plurality of second capacitive elements. 
     
     
         17 . The capacitive sensor of  claim 13 , wherein a capacitive effect is produced between the first capacitive element and the second capacitive element. 
     
     
         18 . The capacitive sensor of  claim 13 , further comprising a base which electrically connects to the first capacitive element and the second capacitive element. 
     
     
         19 . The capacitive sensor of  claim 18 , wherein the base further connects to the fluid collection receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . The capacitive sensor of  claim 18 , further comprising a processor which identifies a relative amount of capacitance between the first capacitive element and the second capacitive element and identifies, based on the relative amount of capacitance between the first capacitive element and the second capacitive element, a level of fluid within the collection receptacle.