# US 10,309,820 B2 · Method and device for distinguishing between a foam and/or liquid contacting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,820 B2 - Document ID: US10309820B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/806,036 - Filed: 2015-07-22 - Published: 2016-01-28 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-24 - Assignees: Tecan Trading AG - Applicants: TECAN Trading AG - Inventors: Philipp Ott; Lars Kamm; Markus Schöni; Remo Keller; Paul Zbinden - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309820B2 ## CPC - G01F 23/266: {measuring circuits therefor} - G01F 23/265: {for discrete levels} - G01F 23/80: Arrangements for signal processing - G01N 35/1011: {Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device} - G01N 2035/1018: {Detecting inhomogeneities, e.g. foam, bubbles, clots} - 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 method and device for distinguishing between a contacting of foam (2) or of liquid (1) in a liquid container (5) of a device (100) by employing a capacitively operating measuring device (M) having a sensor (3) which can be moved up and down in the liquid container (5), in which at least one output signal (sout(t)) is processed by the measuring device (M). ## Claims ### Claim 1 Method for distinguishing between a contacting of foam (2) or of liquid (1) in a liquid container (5) of a device (100) by means of a capacitively operating measuring device (M) having a sensor (3) which can be moved up and down in the liquid container (5), wherein at least one output signal (sout(t)) is processed by the measuring device (M), the method comprising the following steps: a. executing an up or down movement (B) of the sensor (3) in the liquid container (5); b. applying an input signal (sin(t)) having a first frequency (f1) to the sensor (3); c. applying the input signal (sin(t)) having a second frequency (f2) to the sensor (3), where the second frequency (f2) and the first frequency (f1) are different; d. within the framework of a first process (P1)—evaluating the output signal (sout(t)) in order to detect a first jump (ΔX1) of the output signal (sout(t)); e. within the framework of a second process (P2)—evaluating the output signal (sout(t)) in order to detect a second jump (ΔX2) of the output signal (sout(t)), f. comparing the first jump (ΔX1) with the second jump (ΔX2); g. outputting an identifier (Ks, Kf) which signals a contacting of the sensor (3) with foam (2) in the liquid container (5) if the comparison exceeds a specification, and which signals a contacting of the sensor (3) with liquid (1) in the liquid container (5) if the comparison does not exceed the specification. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that in step f. in the comparison, a quotient (Q) of the first jump (ΔX1) and the second jump (ΔX2) is determined and that in step g. a factor (F) serves as a specification, wherein the identifier (Ks, Kf) is output to signal a contacting of the sensor (3) with foam (2) in the liquid container (5) if the quotient (Q) exceeds the factor (F), and to signal a contacting of the sensor (3) with liquid (1) if the quotient (Q) does not exceed the factor (F). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a jumpy change in the output signal (sout(t)), which reaches at least a jump factor (SF) is identified as jump (ΔX1, ΔX2). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: a first sinusoidal signal (S1) having the first frequency (f1) is applied within the framework of the first process (P1) as input signal (sin(t)); and a second signal (S2) having the second frequency (f2) is applied within the framework of the second process (P2) as input signal (sin(t)). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, characterized in that: the first sinusoidal signal (S1) and the second sinusoidal signal (S2) are applied in a superposed manner simultaneously as input signal (sin(t)); and the output signal (sout(t)) is divided into a first output signal component (sout1(t))—corresponding to the first frequency (f1)—and a second output signal component (sout2(t))—corresponding to the second frequency (f2); the first output signal component (sout1(t)) is evaluated within the framework of the first process (P1) and the second output signal component (sout2(t)) is evaluated within the framework of the second process (P2) preferably simultaneously. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, characterized in that: the first sinusoidal signal (S1) and the second sinusoidal signal (S2) are applied alternately as input signal (sin(t)); and the output signal (sout(t)) corresponding to the first frequency (f1) or the second frequency (f2) is evaluated alternately within the framework of the first process (P1) or the second process (P2). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluation of the output signal (sout(t)) comprises the determination of a phase shift (Δφ) of a complex permittivity which signals a contacting of the sensor (3) with a liquid (1) below foam (2) in the liquid container (5). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that after output of the identifier (Ks) which signals a contacting of the sensor (3) with foam (2), the following steps are carried out: a. executing a further movement (B) of the sensor (3) in the previously executed direction of movement; b. within the framework of a fourth process (P4)—applying an input signal (sin(t)) to the sensor (3) and evaluating the output signal (sout(t)), in order to detect a foam-liquid phase boundary and optionally output an identifier (Kf) which signals a transition of the sensor (3) from foam (2) into liquid (1). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, characterized in that: the evaluation of the output signal (sout(t)) within the framework of the fourth process (P4) comprises the evaluation or processing of a complex permittivity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, characterized in that when evaluating within the framework of the fourth process (P4) a difference between two phase angles (PH1, PH2) in terms of magnitude or a phase shift (Δφ) is determined in order to then output an identifier (Kf) which signals a transition of the sensor (3) from foam (2) into liquid (1). ### Claim 11 Apparatus which is equipped with a capacitively operating measuring device (M) for distinguishing between a contacting of foam (2) or of liquid (1) in a liquid container (5), wherein the apparatus comprises a movable sensor (3), an input signal generator (E) and an evaluation circuit (A), wherein the input signal generator (E) is connectable in terms of circuitry to the sensor (3) or to the liquid container (5) and wherein the evaluation circuit (A) is connectable in terms of circuitry to the sensor (3) or to the liquid container (5) so that the output signal (sout(t)) is processable by the evaluation circuit (A), characterized in that the input signal generator (E) is configured to be able to determine the capacitance of the sensor (3) at a first frequency (f1) and at a second frequency (f2), where the second frequency (f2) and the first frequency (f1) are different, and in that the evaluation circuit (A) is configured to evaluate the output signal (sout(t)) in order to detect a first jump (ΔX1) of the output signal (sout(t)) and a second jump (ΔX2) of the output signal (sout(t)); is configured to compare the first jump (ΔX1) with the second jump (ΔX2); is configured to output an identifier (Ks Kf) which signals a contacting of the sensor (3) with foam (2) in the liquid container (5) if the comparison exceeds a specification, and which signals a contacting of the sensor (3) with liquid (1) in the liquid container (5) if the comparison does not exceed the specification. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that it is configured to form a quotient (Q) of the first jump (ΔX1) and the second jump (ΔX2) when comparing and to output the identifier (Ks Kf) to signal a contacting of the sensor (3) with foam (2) in the liquid container (5) if the quotient (Q) exceeds a factor (F) serving as a specification, and to signal a contacting of the sensor (3) with liquid (1) if the quotient (Q) does not exceed the factor (F). ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the input signal generator (E) is configured to provide two signals (S1, S2) which can be combined to produce a combined alternating voltage, wherein preferably a voltage adder (SA) is used to produce a combined alternating voltage which serves as input signal (sin(t)). ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the evaluation circuit (A) comprises a diplexer (TP, HP) which is configured to divide the output signal (sout(t)) into a first output signal (sout1(t)) and a second output signal (sout2(t)), wherein the first output signal (sout1(t)) and the second output signal (sout2(t)) are evaluable by the evaluation circuit (A). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the evaluation circuit (A) is configured to determine a phase shift (Δφ) of a complex permittivity which signals a contacting of the sensor (3) with a liquid (1) below or above foam (2) in the liquid container (5).