US 2002/0053239 A1 · Device and a process for determining the positions of border areas between different mediums

Abstract

A process for determining the position of the border areas between different mediums with the aid of electromagnetic waves, in which process a departing wave which is emitted from a wave transmitter has at least one propagation speed component that is parallel to the normal lines of the border area of the different mediums; the emitted departing wave is at least partially reflected at the border areas; the portions of the reflected returning wave are received by a wave receiver; the travel times between emission of the departing wave and reception of the returning wave are determined; the positions of the border areas are determined from the travel times, with account taken of the different propagation speeds of the wave in the different mediums, while the various portions of the reflected waves in the different mediums (4, 5) are made use of. It is important to take into account here the quadratic relationship of εr to the reflection factor r.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A process for determining the position of at least one border area between different mediums with the aid of electromagnetic waves, in which

a departing wave is emitted from a wave transmitter and exhibits at least one propagation speed component that is parallel to the normal line(s) of the border area of the different mediums;
the emitted departing wave is at least partially reflected on at least one border area;
portions of the reflected returning wave are received by a wave receiver;
the travel times between emission of the departing wave and reception of the returning wave are determined;
the position of at least one border area is determined from the travel times, with account taken of the different propagation speeds of the waves in the different mediums,
wherein
the portions of the reflected returning wave are employed to determine the different propagation speeds (v) in the different mediums (4, 5), while
the different propagation speeds (v) in the different mediums (4, 5) are determined with the aid of the amplitude ratios (r) of the departing wave (UH1) to the returning wave (UR1), while taking into account a quadratic relationship of the dielectric constants εr to the amplitude ratios (r)(=reflection factor).

5 more elements

A device for determining the positions of the border areas between different mediums (4, 5) with the aid of electromagnetic waves

with a wave transmitter for emitting a departing wave which exhibits at least one propagation speed component that is parallel to the normal lines of the border area of the different mediums and which is at least partially reflected at the border areas;
with a wave receiver for receiving the portions of the reflected returning wave;
with an initial evaluation unit for determining the various travel times between emission of the departing wave and reception of the reflected returning wave;
with a second evaluation unit for determining the positions of the border areas from the travel times while taking account of the different propagation speeds of the wave in the different mediums,
wherein
a third evaluation unit is provided for determining the different propagation speeds (v) in the different mediums (4, 5) from the portions (UR1) of the reflected returning wave, while the different propagation speeds (v) of the wave in the different mediums (4, 5) are determined with the aid of the amplitude ratios (r) of the departing wave (UH1) to the returning wave (UR1), while taking into account a quadratic relationship of the dielectric constants εr to the amplitude ratios (r)(=reflection factor).

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device and a process for determining the positions of border areas between different mediums

Life of this patent

Device and a process for determining the positions of border areas between different mediums

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20