Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Siemens Milltronics Process Instruments, Inc.

Edson Ferreira

Jean-René Larocque

A method, which allows, in an acoustic pulse-echo ranging system, the direct use of a digitized raw echo signal for correlation-based echo distance estimation, where an acoustic pulse having a carrier frequency is transmitted, a digital expected echo shape is provided with a time resolution higher than the carrier frequency, an echo is received from the acoustic pulse, the received echo is sampled and digitized at a sampling frequency higher than the carrier frequency, correlation values are created from the digitized received echo and the digital expected echo shape, the correlation values are weighted by emphasizing stronger correlation values, and the echo distance is determined from the center of mass of the weighted values.

Method for determining an echo distance in an acoustic pulse-echo ranging system

A power decoupling circuit for a time-of-flight ranging or level measurement system coupled to a current loop. The level measurement system receives power from the current loop and includes a loop current regulator. The loop current regulator is responsive to signals from a controller for regulating the current in the loop to transmit level measurement data and other information. Power is also taken from the current loop to energize a transducer for generating pulses for performing level measurements. The power decoupling circuit comprises a feedback circuit and a step-up converter. The step-up converter provides charging current to an energy storage device for the transducer and may also generate a voltage gain. The feedback circuit controls the voltage drop across the loop current regulator to minimize losses on it and maximize power available for measurement.

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Peterborough, Canada

Edson Ferreira