Fill level and topology determination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016352437-A1
Application number	US-201415117654-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 11, 2014
Priority date	Feb 11, 2014
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An antenna apparatus for a fill level measurement device is provided, including an antenna configured to emit a measurement signal towards a filling material surface and to receive a reflected measurement signal reflected by the filling material surface; a motor configured to rotate the antenna about an axis of rotation; and an elongate focussing arrangement configured to focus the emitted measurement signal and/or the reflected measurement signal, wherein the antenna includes an array of a plurality of radiator elements configured to emit the measurement signal and/or to receive the reflected measurement signal.

First claim

1 . An antenna apparatus for a fill level measurement device, comprising:
an antenna configured to emit a measurement signal towards a filling material surface and to receive a reflected measurement signal reflected by the filling material surface; a motor configured to rotate the antenna about an axis of rotation; and an elongate focussing arrangement configured to focus the emitted measurement signal and/or; the reflected measurement signal, wherein the antenna comprises an array of a plurality of radiator elements configured to emit the measurement signal and/or to receive the reflected measurement signal.

2 . The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the elongate focussing arrangement comprises a dielectric cylindrical lens having a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the antenna.

3 . The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the elongate focussing arrangement comprises a parabolic trough as a main reflector, and a counter reflector arranged at a spacing from the parabolic trough, and wherein the array is further configured to emit the measurement signal towards the counter reflector and is arranged either on or near to a surface of the parabolic trough.

4 . The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the array is a unidimensional array, having one column extending in a longitudinal direction of the antenna.

5 . The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the array is a two-dimensional array, having a plurality of columns extending in a longitudinal direction of the antenna, and a plurality of rows extending in a transverse direction of the antenna, and wherein radiator elements of the plurality of radiator elements in each column of the plurality of columns are conductively interconnected.

6 . The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a high-frequency signal generator configured to generate the measurement signal, the high-frequency signal generator being integrated in the antenna.

7 . The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an electronic evaluation system configured to rotate together with the antenna when the antenna is rotated by the motor.

8 . The antenna apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the electronic evaluation system is integrated in either the antenna or in the motor.

9 . The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of radiator elements are disposed in one plane that forms an angle α with an axis of rotation, of the antenna that does not equal 90 degrees.

10 . The antenna apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein the angle α is 45 degrees.

11 . A fill level measurement device comprising an antenna apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fill level measurement device comprises digital evaluation circuitry configured to determine a topology of a medium in a container.

12 . The fill level measurement device according to claim 11 , the device being further configured to determine a viscosity of a moving liquid.

13 . The fill level measurement device according to claim 11 , the device being further configured to determine a mass flow rate of a bulk material on a conveyor belt.

14 . A method for determining a topology of a surface of a filling material or a surface of a bulk material, comprising:
rotating an antenna about an axis of rotation, the antenna comprising an array of a plurality of radiator elements; emitting, by the antenna, a measurement signal towards and/or receiving a reflected measurement signal from a filling material surface; focussing, by an elongate focussing arrangement, the emitted measurement signal and/or the reflected measurement signal; receiving the reflected measurement signal reflected by the surface of the filling material or the surface of the bulk material; and calculating the topology of the surface of the filling material or the surface of the bulk material from the received measurement signal.

15 . The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the elongate focussing arrangement comprises a dielectric cylindrical lens having a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the antenna, wherein the array is a two-dimensional array, having a plurality of columns extending in a longitudinal direction of the antenna, and a plurality of rows extending in a transverse direction of the antenna, and wherein radiator elements of the plurality of radiator elements in each column of the plurality of columns are conductively interconnected.

16 . The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the elongate focussing arrangement comprises a parabolic trough as a main reflector, and a counter reflector arranged at a spacing from the parabolic trough, wherein the array is further configured to emit the measurement signal towards the counter reflector and is arranged either on or near to a surface of the parabolic trough, wherein the array is a two-dimensional array, having a plurality of columns extending in a longitudinal direction of the antenna, and a plurality of rows extending in a transverse direction of the antenna, and wherein radiator elements of the plurality of radiator elements in each column of the plurality of columns are conductively interconnected.

Assignees

• Grieshaber Vega Kg

Inventors

• Welle Roland
• Dieterle Levin

Classifications

• H01Q19/062

  for focusing · CPC title

• H04B17/103 Primary

  Reflected power, e.g. return loss · CPC title

• H01Q15/08

  formed of solid dielectric material · CPC title

• G01F23/284 Primary

  Electromagnetic waves · CPC title

• H01Q21/065

  Patch antenna array · CPC title