公开(公告)号：US11835453B2

公开(公告)日：2023-12-05

申请号：US17044632

申请日：2019-04-03

Applicant: ELTEK S.p.A.

Inventor： Fabio Cavalli ,  Mauro Zorzetto ,  Costanzo Gadini

IPC: G01N21/43

CPC classification number: G01N21/43 ,  G01N2201/022

Abstract: An optical sensor device (1) for a fluid substance (LS) comprises a device body (2) having a detection portion (14), associated to which is a sensitive optical part that comprises at least one of an emitter (20) and a receiver (21) of an optical radiation (Re, Rr). The detection portion (14) is made of a material transparent to the optical radiation (Re, Rr) and has an inner surface (23a, 23b) and an outer surface (15), the outer surface (15) being designed to be in contact with the fluid substance (LS) and the inner surface (23a, 23b) being designed to be isolated from the fluid substance. The at least one of the emitter (20) and the receiver (21) of the sensitive optical part is optically coupled to the inner surface (23a, 23b) of the detection portion (14), in such a way that the optical radiation (Re, Rr) is at least in part propagated through the detection portion (14), in particular with an angle and/or an intensity that is variable as a function of a characteristic of the fluid substance. The optical sensor device (1) comprises a protection arrangement, configured for preventing possible deformation of the detection portion (14) caused by an increase in volume of the fluid substance (LS), in particular deformation of at least one of its inner surface (23a, 23b) and its outer surface (15). The protection arrangement comprises at least one compensation element (13) having an elastically deformable body, which is able to contract, for compensating thereby a possible increase in volume of the fluid substance (LS) or else for enabling a reversible displacement of the detection portion (14) following upon a possible increase in volume of the fluid substance (LS).

公开(公告)号：US10533887B2

公开(公告)日：2020-01-14

申请号：US15511401

申请日：2015-09-14

Applicant: ELTEK S.p.A.

Inventor： Matteo Rondano ,  Enrico Chiesa ,  Mauro Zorzetto ,  Domenico Cantarelli

IPC: G01F23/26

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a container, in particular a tank, comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated to the container (1), in particular so as to extend according to an axis of detection (X) of the level of the medium (L), the array of capacitive elements comprising a plurality of electrodes (Ji-Jn), in particular on a face of an electrically insulating substrate (20) having a generally elongated shape, the electrodes (Ji-Jn) being spaced apart from one another, in particular along the detection axis (X), and being preferably substantially coplanar with one another; at least one insulation layer (16) for insulating electrically the electrodes (Ji-Jn) with respect to the inside of the container (1); and a controller (24) having a plurality of inputs. Each capacitive element comprises at least one of a single electrode and a set of electrodes connected together in common, in particular in parallel, the single electrode or the set of electrodes being connected to a respective input of the plurality of inputs. The controller (24) is pre-arranged for discriminating a value of capacitance associated to each electrode (Ji-Jn) in order to deduce the level of the medium present container.

公开(公告)号：US11982561B2

公开(公告)日：2024-05-14

申请号：US17282222

申请日：2019-10-03

Applicant: ELTEK S.p.A.

Inventor： Fulvio Cerutti ,  Stefano Allera ,  Massimo Zanin ,  Matteo Rondano ,  Giorgio Fagnola ,  Mauro Zorzetto ,  Marco Pizzi

IPC: G01F23/263 ,  G01F23/24 ,  G01F25/20

CPC classification number: G01F23/268 ,  G01F23/24 ,  G01F23/266 ,  G01F25/20

Abstract: A level sensor comprises an electrical-connection structure and a level-detection structure. The level-detection structure comprises a plurality of elongated electrodes, which include at least three measuring electrodes. The elongated electrodes extend at least partially in side-by-sidey positions in a length direction of the level-detection structure and each have a proximal end and a distal end relative to the electrical-connection structure. The level-detection structure is divided, in the length direction, into a succession of detection sections, each of which includes two effective portions of two respective measuring electrodes, the two effective portions extending to a prevalent extent substantially parallel and equidistant, at a first predetermined distance from each other, in the length direction. In the detection sections there also extends, in the length direction, a non-effective portion of one further elongated electrode other than the two measuring electrodes that define the two effective portions of the corresponding detection section, the at least one further elongated electrode being one measuring electrode or else a reference electrode. The elongated electrodes are shaped in such a way that, at one or more of the detection sections, the non-effective portion of the at least one further elongated electrode extends to a prevalent extent at respective second predetermined distances from the corresponding two effective portions, the second predetermined distances being greater than the first predetermined distance.

公开(公告)号：US11002586B2

公开(公告)日：2021-05-11

申请号：US16065571

申请日：2016-12-23

Applicant: ELTEK S.P.A.

Inventor： Matteo Rondano ,  Mauro Zorzetto ,  Enrico Chiesa

IPC: G01F23/26 ,  G01F25/00 ,  G01F23/00

Abstract: A capacitive level-sensor device, for detecting the level of at least one medium contained in a container comprises: a detection part that includes an array of capacitive elements, the array of capacitive elements comprising at least one set of electrodes on a substrate, the electrodes being set at a distance from one another according to a level-detection axis, the detection part including at least one insulating layer for electrically insulating the electrodes with respect to the medium; and a control circuit having a plurality of first inputs, electrically connected to which are the electrodes. The control circuit is prearranged for carrying out a sequential sampling of the inputs of the plurality of first inputs and for comparing a value representing the capacitance associated to each electrode with at least one corresponding reference threshold.
The detection part further comprises at least one temperature sensor, connected to at least one respective second input of the control circuit.
The control circuit is moreover prearranged for carrying out a compensation of at least one of the following: the value representing electrical capacitance associated to each electrode; a value indicating the medium facing each electrode and the at least one reference threshold, according to information representing at least one temperature value acquired on the at least one second input.

公开(公告)号：US10422681B2

公开(公告)日：2019-09-24

申请号：US15315225

申请日：2015-05-28

Applicant: ELTEK S.p.A.

Inventor： Matteo Rondano ,  Enrico Chiesa ,  Mauro Zorzetto ,  Domenico Cantarelli

IPC: G01F23/26

Abstract: A level sensor for detecting the level of a medium contained in a vessel comprises: an array of capacitive elements designed to be associated with the vessel (1), comprising a plurality of electrodes (J1-Jn), spaced apart from each other along an axis of detection (X), an insulation layer (16) for electrically insulating the electrodes (J1-Jn) with respect to the inside of the vessel (1), a controller (24) having a plurality of inputs. Each capacitive element comprises at least one of a single electrode and a group of electrodes connected in common to each other, the single electrode or the group of electrodes being connected to a respective input of the plurality of inputs.The controller (24) is prearranged for discriminating a value of electrical capacitance associated with each electrode (J1-Jn) to deduce the level of the medium present in the vessel.

公开(公告)号：US12185434B2

公开(公告)日：2024-12-31

申请号：US17277096

申请日：2019-09-06

Applicant: ELTEK S.p.A.

Inventor： Mauro Zorzetto ,  Marco Bizzarro ,  Alberto Barbano ,  Luca Vercellotti ,  Luca Costa ,  Marco Pizzi

IPC: H05B3/34

Abstract: A semifinished product of an electric heater device (1) has a structure that extends in a length direction (L) and that comprises: —two connection bodies (2), which substantially extend alongside one another or parallel to one another in the length direction (L) and are at least in part flexible or deformable in the length direction (L); and —a plurality of heating bodies (3), each heating body (3) including a material having a PTC effect. The heating bodies (3) are set at a distance from one another in the length direction (L) and generally extend in a direction transverse to the length direction (L). The material having a PTC effect is a polymer-based material that is in electrical contact with the at least two connection bodies (2). Each of the at least two connection bodies (2) comprises electrical- and mechanical-connection parts (2a), which have a mesh structure that is at least partially embedded or englobed in the polymer-based material.

公开(公告)号：US11533785B2

公开(公告)日：2022-12-20

申请号：US16611023

申请日：2018-04-30

Applicant: ELTEK S.P.A.

Inventor： Marco Pizzi ,  Alberto Barbano ,  Luca Vercellotti ,  Mauro Zorzetto ,  Costanzo Gadini ,  Luca Costa

IPC: H05B3/03 ,  H05B3/06 ,  H05B3/20 ,  H05B3/14 ,  H05B1/02 ,  H05B3/34

Abstract: An electrical heating device comprises: a first electrode layer (13), made of electrically conductive material; a second electrode layer (14), made of electrically conductive material; and a heating layer, made of a material having a PTC effect, wherein the first electrode layer (13) and the second electrode layer (14) face one another, with at least one part of the heating layer that is set between the first electrode layer (13) and the second electrode layer (14), in contact with them. At least one region (21) of the at least one from among the first electrode layer (13), the second electrode layer (14), and said at least one part of the heating layer has a plurality of electrically non-conductive sites (30a, 30b, 30c), which are prearranged for bringing about: —an emission of heat by the heating device (10) in said at least one region (21) that is different from the emission of heat by the heating device (10) in at least one other region (22) of the at least one from among the first electrode layer (13), the second electrode layer (14), and said at least one part (15′) of the heating layer (15); and/or —an emission of heat by the heating device (10) at the first electrode layer (13) that is different from the emission of heat by the heating device (10) at the second electrode layer (14).

公开(公告)号：US11079327B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-03

申请号：US16080197

申请日：2017-03-01

Applicant: ELTEK S.p.A.

Inventor： Marco Pizzi ,  Piercarlo Merlano ,  Fabio Cavalli ,  Mauro Zorzetto

IPC: G01N21/552 ,  G01N21/43

Abstract: An optical sensor has a body including a transparent interface wall having an outer surface in contact with a liquid, to define therewith a reflection interface. An optical module is coupled at an inner surface of the interface wall, to detect a characteristic of the liquid substance via light reflection. The optical module includes a light emitter and a light receiver facing respective inclined surfaces of the interface wall. The optical module also includes a supporting structure which is elastically flexible, to enable the light emitter and the light receiver of the optical module to vary a relative position thereof and with respect to the inclined surfaces of the interface wall, when the supporting structure is secured to the inner surface of the interface wall.

公开(公告)号：US10935411B2

公开(公告)日：2021-03-02

申请号：US16094073

申请日：2017-04-12

Applicant: ELTEK S.p.A.

Inventor： Mauro Zorzetto

IPC: G01F23/68 ,  G01F23/26

Abstract: A capacitive level-sensor device comprises: —a circuit substrate made of electrically insulating material (20) that extends longitudinally according to a level-sensing axis; —a first array of electrodes or capacitive elements on a sensing region (23) of the circuit substrate (20), which comprises at least one first series of first electrodes (J1-Jn) coplanar to one another at a major face of the circuit substrate (20); —a circuit, which comprises circuit components associated to a second region (24) of the circuit substrate (20); and—a casing body (14-16), which comprises at least: a sensing portion (15), which is electrically insulating and fluid-tight and coats at least the sensing region (23) of the circuit substrate (20); and a mounting portion (14, 16), which coats at least partially the second region (24) of the circuit substrate (20) and is configured for fluid-tight fixing at an opening (6) of a container (1). The sensing portion (15) and at least part of the mounting portion (14, 16) comprise at least one material (M) overmoulded on at least part of the circuit substrate (20). The second region (24) of the circuit substrate (20) includes at least one restricted substrate portion (30), having a substrate width (Wr) smaller than the substrate width (W) of the sensing region (23). At least part of the at least one restricted substrate portion (30) extends axially in the mounting portion (16).

公开(公告)号：US10906390B2

公开(公告)日：2021-02-02

申请号：US15773384

申请日：2016-10-31

Applicant: ELTEK S.p.A.

Inventor： Alberto Barbano ,  Marco Bizzarro ,  Mauro Zorzetto ,  Costanzo Gadini ,  Marco Pizzi ,  Piercarlo Merlano

IPC: B60K15/03 ,  F01N3/20 ,  F01N3/24

Abstract: Component of tank of liquid additive of system for treating exhaust gases of internal combustion engine, has body positioned in fluid-tight way at opening of the tank and incorporates plurality of functional devices for managing liquid additive to be delivered to treatment system. Body of tank component is moulded using plastic material chemically resistant to liquid additive and is provided with at least one passageway for liquid additive. The plurality of functional devices comprises pump and pressure sensor having pressure-sensitive element. Passageway comprises delivery path for the liquid additive, which is defined at least in part in first wall of body of tank component and has inlet end configured for connection to delivery duct of the pump. Defined at outer side of first wall is at least one seat for positioning at least one part of pressure sensor. Moreover defined in the first wall is at least one passage for setting delivery path for liquid additive in fluid communication with sensitive element of pressure sensor.