Magnetic Fill Level Detection for Sealed Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the logistics and food industries, there is a need to determine the filling level and composition of storage containers without opening them, as existing methods are invasive or impractical, especially for containers that cannot be opened without destruction, and there is a risk of foreign substances like metal parts contaminating food products.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using a magnetic excitation field to generate a response field, varying its frequency to determine the fill level by comparing phase and amplitude responses with reference values, allowing non-invasive characterization of the contents, including the detection of electrically conductive and magnetically permeable objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual checking of container contents is performed, then accuracy of fill level determination is improved, but time consumption and labor cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated electromagnetic field-based measurement system. The system uses excitation fields to induce currents in conductive materials within the container and detects the resulting response fields, automatically determining fill levels without human intervention, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs frequency sweeping of the excitation field to extract multiple parameters (amplitude, phase, frequency shift) from the response field. By analyzing these varying parameters across different frequencies, the system achieves accurate fill level determination through automated parameter comparison, eliminating manual checking while maintaining precision.
2Loss of information
If container contents are inspected by opening the container, then composition identification is improved, but container integrity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an electromagnetic field as an intermediary between the inspection system and the container contents. The excitation field penetrates the container walls and interacts with the contents without physical contact, allowing composition identification through response field analysis while preserving container integrity, thus resolving the contradiction between information acquisition and container protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical opening and manual inspection with non-contact electromagnetic measurement. The system determines composition by analyzing how different materials (conductive vs. non-conductive) respond to electromagnetic excitation, providing full compositional information without compromising the sealed container.
3Ease of operation
If magnetic field measurement system is implemented, then non-invasive fill level determination is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a multi-functional measurement system that can identify different material types (conductive, non-conductive, magnetic, non-magnetic) using a single electromagnetic excitation approach. The system determines fill levels, composition, and material properties simultaneously through frequency sweeping and response field analysis, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices while maintaining ease of operation.
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
Enables real-time, non-destructive determination of the filling level and composition of storage containers, ensuring accurate identification of contents without opening them and detecting potential contaminants like metal parts, thus enhancing logistics and food safety.
Implementation Method 1
generating a magnetic excitation field, wherein the magnetic excitation field is configured to excite the contents of the storage container to produce a magnetic response field
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for determining a fill level of a storage container is proposed. The method includes the generation of a magnetic excitation field. The magnetic excitation field is designed to excite contents of the storage container for the purpose of generating a magnetic response field. The method also includes the determination of at least one measured value for the magnetic response field. The method also includes the determination of the fill level of the storage container on the basis of a position of the storage container and a comparison of the at least one measured value with reference measured values. A fill level of the storage container is assigned to each of the reference measured values.