# US 12,111,198 B2 · Detection of event-based states during a fill level measurement

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- Number: US 12,111,198 B2
- Document ID: US12111198B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/278,813
- Filed: 2019-08-19
- Published: 2022-02-03
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-09-24
- Assignees: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
- Applicants: Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KG
- Inventors: Jens Merle; Alexey Malinovskiy; Stefan Gorenflo; Markus Vogel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111198B2

## CPC

- G01F 23/284: Electromagnetic waves
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME

## Abstract

Disclosed is a method for detecting an event-based state, such as foam formation or a working stirring mechanism in a container during a radar-based measurement of a fill level of a filler located in a container. The method includes: generating an analysis curve and detecting a specified characteristic value of the analysis curve within at least one specified sub-region of the measurement region. The characteristic value can be the amplitude of a local maximum or the area under the analysis curve for example. A change or a dispersion of the characteristic value is ascertained over proceeding measurement cycles. The fill level measuring device detects the event-based state if the change or the dispersion exceeds a corresponding threshold. Thus, the occurrence of different events in the container can be imparted to a system controller automatically and without additional measurement instruments.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for detecting a foaming of a filling material in a container with a radar-based fill-level measuring device that serves for measuring a fill level of the filling material in the container, the method comprising the following method steps which are repeated in successive measurement cycles:
emitting a microwave signal in a direction of the filling material;
receiving a receive signal after a reflection of the microwave signal inside the container;
generating an analysis curve on the basis of at least the receive signal, wherein the analysis curve is generated such that a signal strength of the receive signal is reproduced as a function of a measuring distance;
dividing a measurement region of the analysis curve into a near region, a middle region, and a far region;
detecting an area under the analysis curve within the far measurement region;
ascertaining a change and/or a dispersion of the detected area over proceeding measurement cycles; and
detecting the foaming when the change or the dispersion of the detected area exceeds or undershoots a specified threshold.

### Claim 2

A radar-based fill-level measuring device for measuring a fill level of a filling material in a container, the fill-level measuring device comprising:
a signal generating unit designed to respectively emit a microwave signal in a direction of the filling material in successive measurement cycles;
a receiving unit designed to receive a receive signal after reflection of the microwave signal inside the container; and
an evaluation unit designed:
to generate, on the basis of at least the receive signal, per measurement cycle, an analysis curve representing a signal strength of the receive signal as a function of the measuring distance;
to divide a measurement region of the analysis curve into a near region, a middle region, and a far region;
to detect an area under the analysis curve within the far measurement region;
to ascertain a change and/or a dispersion of the detected area over proceeding measurement cycles;
to detect a foaming of the filling material when the change or dispersion of the detected area exceeds or undershoots a specified threshold; and
to determine the fill level via the analysis curve at least when the change or dispersion does not exceed or undershoot the specified threshold.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fill-level measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation unit is designed to output the occurrence of the foaming graphically or as an electrical signal.