# US 10,374,284 B2 · Topology determination of a filling material surface with uniform line scanning > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,374,284 B2 - Document ID: US10374284B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/510,003 - Filed: 2014-10-22 - Published: 2017-10-26 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-22 - Assignees: VEGA Grieshaber KG - Applicants: Vega Grieshaber KG - Inventors: Steffen Waelde; Roland Welle; Karl Griessbaum; Josef Fehrenbach - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374284B2 ## CPC - H01Q 1/225: {used in level-measurement devices, e.g. for level gauge measurement} - G01F 22/00: Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for - G01F 23/284: Electromagnetic waves - G01G 9/005: {using radiations, e.g. radioactive (analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation G01N23/00)} - G01N 11/00: Investigating flow properties of materials, e.g. viscosity, plasticity; Analysing materials by determining flow properties - G01S 13/88: Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications (electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00) - H01Q 3/08: for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation - H01Q 3/10: to produce a conical or spiral scan - H01Q 21/06: Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16) - 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) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract A fill level measurement device for determining a topology of a filling material surface is provided, including an antenna apparatus including an array of radiator elements and a rotatable mount configured to rotate the antenna apparatus about an axis that is in parallel with the array, such that a plurality of emission angles of the antenna apparatus are electronically and mechanically settable relative to the filling material surface without local overscanning occurring. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fill level measurement device for determining a topology of a filling material surface, comprising: an antenna apparatus comprising an array of radiator elements configured to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals, wherein the array is a unidimensional array that extends in a longitudinal direction; and a first rotatable mount configured to rotate the antenna apparatus about a non-vertical axis, wherein the non-vertical axis is in parallel with the longitudinal direction, wherein the device is configured to electronically and mechanically set a plurality of emission angles and/or receiving angles of the antenna apparatus relative to the filling material surface in order to scan the filling material surface line-by-line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fill level measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the non-vertical axis is in parallel with the array. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fill level measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the device is further configured to set the plurality of emission angles and/or receiving angles electronically by digital beam-forming processes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The till level measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the device is further configured to set the plurality of emission angles and/or receiving angles electronically by analogue phase shifters and/or by analogue switches. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fill level measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising an additional rotatable mount configured to rotate the antenna apparatus about a shaft that is not in parallel with the array. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The till level measurement device according to claim 5, wherein the additional shaft is a vertical shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The till level measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna apparatus is inclined in a longitudinal extension direction thereof relative to a horizontal direction, such that an angle between the longitudinal extension direction of the antenna apparatus and the horizontal direction is not equal to 0°. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fill level measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply and a communications interface configured to connect the fill level measurement device to a two-wire line, by which interface the fill level measurement device is supplied with power for measurement operation and by which measured data is transmittable to a remote control unit. ### Claim 9 A method for determining a topology of a filling material surface, comprising: providing a fill level measurement device; electronically and mechanically setting a first emission angle of an antenna apparatus of the fill level measurement device, the antenna apparatus comprising an array of radiator elements configured to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals, wherein the array is a unidimensional array that extends in a longitudinal direction; detecting an echo curve at the first emission angle; rotating the antenna apparatus about a non-vertical axis in parallel with the array, wherein the non-vertical axis is in parallel with the longitudinal direction; detecting another echo curve at a second emission angle; and determining the topology of the filling material surface by scanning the filling material surface line-by-line. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising determining, by the fill level measurement device, a viscosity of a moving liquid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising determining, by the fill level measurement device, a mass or a volume of a medium.