# US 10,119,852 B2 · Adjustment-free fill level sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,852 B2 - Document ID: US10119852B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/090,213 - Filed: 2016-04-04 - Published: 2016-10-13 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-07 - Assignees: VEGA Grieshaber KG - Applicants: VEGA Grieshaber KG - Inventors: Levin Dieterle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119852B2 ## CPC - G01F 23/802: {Particular electronic circuits for digital processing equipment} - G01F 23/24: by measuring variations of resistance of resistors due to contact with conductor fluid - G01F 23/263: by measuring variations in capacitance of capacitors - G01F 23/265: {for discrete levels} - G01F 23/268: {mounting arrangements of probes} - G01F 23/296: Acoustic waves - G01F 23/2961: {for discrete levels (G01F23/2962 - G01F23/2968 take precedence)} - G01F 23/2962: Measuring transit time of reflected waves - G01F 23/80: Arrangements for signal processing - G01F 23/804: {containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level} - G01F 25/20: of apparatus for measuring liquid level - G01N 9/36: Analysing materials by measuring the density or specific gravity, e.g. determining quantity of moisture (methods of measurement in general G01N9/02 - G01N9/32) - G01N 15/082: {Investigating permeability by forcing a fluid through a sample} - G01N 29/07: by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves - G01N 2291/02836: Flow rate, liquid level - G01N 2291/045: External reflections, e.g. on reflectors - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A measuring instrument for detecting a fill level or a limit level of a medium, for example fill levels in containers or chambers, is provided. The measuring instrument includes a sensor unit, which takes at least two measurements at two different penetration depths in the medium. For this purpose, an arithmetic-logic unit makes calculations so as to distinguish complete covering of the sensor unit by a medium from adhesion of parts of the medium to the sensor unit, using the results of the measurements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A measuring instrument for detecting a fill level or a limit level of a medium, comprising: a sensor unit configured to take two measurements at two different penetration depths in the medium, the two different penetration depths being relative to a position on the sensor unit, and an arithmetic-logic unit configured to distinguish complete covering of the sensor unit by a medium from adhesion of parts of the medium to the sensor unit, using the results of the at least two measurements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The measuring unit according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic-logic unit is further configured to determine a physical substance property of the medium by evaluating the at least two measurements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The measuring instrument according to claim 1, further comprising: a passive guard configured to actively evaluate the influence of the covering and/or adhering medium. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit comprises two sensor elements, and wherein the measuring instrument further comprises: a passive guard is configured to largely limit the volume measured by the at least two sensor elements to the region in front of the sensor surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The measuring instrument according to claim 3, wherein the passive guard is a guard electrode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the measuring instrument is a limit level measuring instrument configured to determine one of the states “covered by medium” and “not covered by medium”. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the measuring instrument is a fill level measuring instrument is configured to detect the height of a filling material or the level of a fluid in a container. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The measuring instrument according to claim 2, wherein the physical medium property to be detected is the density or the relative permittivity of the medium. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit comprises two electrodes, and wherein the first electrode is configured to take the first measurement and the second electrode is configured to take the second measurement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is configured to take a measurement of the impedance of the electrodes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The measuring instrument according to claim 9, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged rotationally symmetrically on the sensor unit, and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are enclosed by an insulating layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is configured as a vibration limit level measuring instrument. ### Claim 13 A method for detecting a fill level or limit level of a medium, comprising: taking at least two measurements at at least two different penetration depths in the medium using a sensor unit, the two different penetration depths being relative to a position on the sensor unit, and deciding whether the sensor unit is completely covered by a medium or parts of the medium are adhering to the sensor unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of: determining at least one physical substance properties of the medium using an arithmetic-logic unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A program element which, when executed on an arithmetic-logic unit of a measuring instrument, instructs the measuring instrument to carry out the method according to claim 13. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A computer-readable medium on which a program element is stored, wherein when the program element is executed on an arithmetic-logic unit of a measuring instrument, instructs the measuring instrument to carry out the method according to claim 13.