Field device with radar sensor and vibration limit sensor and method for operating a field device
A combined radar and vibration sensor field device integrates a conical antenna for both radar and mechanical oscillation, reducing assembly space and enhancing fill and limit level detection reliability and accuracy.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102024102774
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-31
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing field devices require significant assembly space and complexity, and existing fill level measurement technologies lack reliability, especially near the surface of the medium being measured.
Integration of a radar sensor for fill level measurement and a vibration limit sensor into a single housing, utilizing a conical antenna that functions as both a radar transmitter and mechanical oscillator, reducing assembly space and enhancing detection reliability by combining two measurement principles.
The combined field device minimizes installation space, simplifies assembly, and ensures reliable detection of fill and limit levels with improved accuracy, particularly near the surface of the medium, by integrating radar and vibration sensors into a single mechanism.
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Abstract
Claims
[1] Field device with a radar sensor for measuring a fill level and a vibration limit sensor, wherein the radar sensor has a transmitting and receiving unit and an antenna (14), wherein the vibration limit switch has a drive unit (34) and a mechanical oscillator (24) connected thereto, wherein the antenna (14) simultaneously serves as a mechanical oscillator (24). [2] Field device according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the antenna (14) is formed in at least two parts and has a first antenna part (16) and a second antenna part (18), and wherein the first antenna part (16) is a first mechanical oscillator (20) and the second antenna part (18) is a second mechanical oscillator (22). [3] Field device according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the first antenna part (16) and the second antenna part (18) each extend over an arc section of an imaginary conical antenna. [4] Field device according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized by that the first antenna part (16) and the second antenna part (18) are designed as half-shells of a cone and a slot (26) is formed between each of the half-shells. [5] Field device according to one of the three preceding claims, characterized by that the first antenna part (16) and the second antenna part (18) are plate-shaped. [6] Field device according to one of the four preceding claims, characterized by that the first antenna part (16) and the second antenna part (18) increase their distance from a housing (20) in the direction of a process end. [7] Field device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the drive unit (34) for displacing the at least one mechanical oscillator (24, 20, 22) is arranged off-center of a central axis (M) through the field device (10). [8] Field device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the drive unit (43) is ring-shaped. [9] Field device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a waveguide (32) for transmitting radar radiation extends along the central axis (M). [10] Method for operating a field device (10), wherein the field device (10) has a radar sensor and a fill level sensor, wherein a fill level is continuously detected by means of the radar sensor of one field device and a limit level is detected by means of the vibration limit level sensor, wherein an antenna (14) is set into vibration and simultaneously serves as a mechanical oscillator (24).
Citation Information
Patent Citations
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