The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 06, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 12, 2001
Roland Müller, Steinen, DE;
Winfried Maier, Maulburg, DE;
Wolfgang Lubcke, Steinen, DE;
Thomas Malzahn, Rheine, DE;
Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co., Maulburg, DE;
Abstract
The invention relates to an apparatus for determining the filling level of a filling material in a container having a signal production unit which produces measurement signals, having at least one antenna which transmits the measurement signals in the direction of the surface of the filling material and which receives the measurement signals reflected on the surface of the filling material, and having a control/evaluation unit which uses the delay time of the measurement signals to determine the filling level of the filling material in the container. The apparatus allows a filling level measurement device, which operates on the delay-time principle, to be mounted on a container in a cost-effective and simple manner. An opening is provided in the upper region of one sidewall of the container, and in that the at least one antenna is positioned in this opening with the antenna being arranged and configured such that the measurement signals are emitted essentially in the direction of the surface of the filling material and such that the measurement signals reflected on the surface of the filling material are received by the at least one antenna.