Hollow Conductor Antenna Signal Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fill level measurement technologies, such as pulse radar methods, face interference issues when the fill level is near the antenna, leading to corrupted measurements due to signal disturbances.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a hollow conductor antenna with a coupling element and a radiating element, along with a connecting line that time delays transmission and received signals, effectively isolating them from disturbances by increasing the signal path and considering the time delay in determining the fill level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional radar module with circulator is used for fill level measurement, then the measurement can be performed, but when the fill level is near the antenna, the received signal is corrupted by disturbances from the transmission signal path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the circulator from the signal path, replacing it with a hollow conductor antenna design that directly couples transmission and reception signals without the intermediate circulator component that generates disturbances
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow conductor acts as an intermediary structure that separates the transmission and reception signal paths spatially, allowing the transmission signal to be directed away from the reception path while maintaining antenna function
2Device complexity
If the transmission signal path is shortened for compact device design, then the device size is reduced, but the received signal arrives too quickly and is superimposed by disturbances from signal production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the spatial conflict by transitioning to a different dimensional approach - using the temporal dimension (time delay) to separate signals that are spatially constrained, allowing compact physical design while maintaining signal isolation through temporal separation
3Reliability
If the connecting line is lengthened to time delay signals, then signal isolation from disturbances is improved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of the hollow conductor with the antenna structure itself, so the antenna serves dual purposes: radiation and time delay, eliminating the need for separate lengthening components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows accurate fill level determination even near the antenna by isolating the received signal from disturbances, ensuring reliable measurements.
Implementation Method 1
Travel-time methods, for example, the pulse radar method and the frequency modulation continuous wave radar method (FMCW radar), utilize the physical law by which travel distance equals the product of travel time and propagation velocity
Implementation Method 2
The received signal, thus the transmission signal reflected on the surface of the fill substance
Implementation Method 3
The connecting line and/or the hollow conductor are/is embodied in such a way that the transmission signals and/or the received signals time are transferred delayed
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for determining the fill level of a fill substance in a container, comprising at least one antenna element. The at least one antenna element has a hollow conductor, wherein there is arranged at a first end region of the hollow conductor a coupling element for the out-coupling of transmission signals and for the in-coupling of received signals, wherein there is arranged at a second end region of the hollow conductor a radiating element directed toward the fill substance, a transmitting/receiving unit having a signal generator for producing the transmission signals. The transmitting/receiving unit determines the fill level of the fill substance in the container based on the travel time of the transmission- and received signals. The connecting line and/or the hollow conductor are/is embodied in such a way that the transmission signals are transmitted time delayed, so that the distance between the at least one antenna element and the surface of the fill substance is virtually increased and the received signal is isolated in time from disturbances of the transmitting/receiving unit, which arise in the case of producing the transmission signals.