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US 10,502,610 B2Granted
Propagation time sensor comprising a long-term energy store
AssigneeVEGA Grieshaber KG
InventorsJosef Fehrenbach, Karl Griessbaum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fill level measurement device including a long-term energy store, the discharging of which is prevented by a diode and a switch or by two switches when the fill level measurement device is switched off Therefore, energy is storable for a long period of time, even if the field device is switched off.
Claims12
A fill level measurement device comprising:
- a connection for an external energy supply;
- sensor electronics for detecting an electrical sensor signal, from which a fill level can be deduced;
- a long-term energy store which is configured to be charged by the external energy supply and is designed as a source of energy for charging a buffer capacitor or for directly compensating for a fluctuating energy consumption of the fill level measurement device;
- a first component which connects the long-term energy store with the external energy supply and is configured to prevent current from flowing from the long-term energy store towards the connection;
- and
- a second component which connects the long-term energy store with the sensor electronics and is configured to prevent current from flowing from the long-term energy store towards the sensor electronics when the fill level measurement device is not supplied with energy by the external energy supply.
3 more elements
A method for operating a fill level measurement device and for carrying out first measurements once said device has been switched on, comprising:
- preventing current from flowing from a long-term energy store towards an external energy supply by a first component which connects the long-term energy store with the external energy supply;
- preventing current from flowing from the long-term energy store towards sensor electronics when the fill level measurement device is not supplied with energy by the external energy supply by a switch which connects the long-term energy store with the sensor electronics;
- switching on the fill level measurement device;
- closing the switch, which is arranged between the long-term energy store and the sensor electronics of the fill level measurement device, in order to allow current to flow from the long-term energy store towards the sensor electronics;
- and
- charging the long-term energy store by the external energy supply which also supplies energy to the sensor electronics, measurement electronics and a communication circuit of the fill level measurement device.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.