Low power radar level instrument with enhanced diagnostics
AssigneeRosemount Inc.
InventorsKurt C. Diede, Eric R. Lovegren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low power radar level instrument with enhanced diagnostics is disclosed. A microwave transceiver generates a microwave signal that travels along a termination, through a reference impedance discontinuity, and into a process product interface. A first portion of the signal is reflected by the reference impedance discontinuity, and a second portion is reflected by a process product interface. A diagnostic signal is provided based upon a characteristic of the first reflected portion. A level output is provided based upon the first and second reflected portions.
Claims21
A low power radar level instrument with enhanced diagnostics, the instrument comprising:
- a probe having a reference impedance discontinuity and extendable into a process product through a process product interface;
- a transceiver coupled to the probe, the transceiver adapted to generate a microwave transmit pulse which is transmitted along the probe into the process product, a first portion of the transmit pulse being reflected at the reference impedance discontinuity and forming a first reflected wave pulse, and a second portion of the transmit pulse being reflected at the product interface and forming a second reflected wave pulse, wherein the transceiver is also adapted to receive the reflected first and second portions;
- and
- a processor coupled to the transceiver and adapted to provide a diagnostic signal as a function of amplitude of the reflected first portion, and adapted to provide a level output indicative of process product height based upon time of detection of the reflected second portion.
A low power radar level instrument with enhanced diagnostics, the instrument comprising:
- means for guiding microwave energy through a reference impedance discontinuity and into a process product through a process product interface;
- means for generating a microwave transmit pulse that is transmitted along the means for guiding, a first portion of the transmit pulse being reflected at the reference impedance discontinuity and forming a first reflected wave pulse, and a second portion of the transmit pulse being reflected at the product interface and forming a second reflected wave pulse;
- means for receiving the reflected wave pulses;
- and
- means for providing a diagnostic signal as a function of amplitude of the reflected first portion, and for providing a level output indicative of process product height based upon time of detection of the reflected second portion.
A method of providing enhanced diagnostics with a low power radar level instrument, the method comprising:
- generating a microwave transmit pulse and directing the transmit pulse through a reference impedance discontinuity;
- receiving a first reflected wave from the reference impedance discontinuity;
- and
- providing a diagnostic output based upon a characteristic of the first reflected wave.
A computer readable medium having stored instructions for execution on a processor associated with a low-power radar level instrument, the medium comprising:
- instructions for causing a low-power microwave instrument to generate a microwave transmit pulse that is transmitted along a waveguide, a first portion of the transmit pulse being reflected at a reference impedance discontinuity and forming a first reflected wave pulse, and a second portion of the transmit pulse being reflected at a product interface and forming a second reflected wave pulse;
- instructions for receiving the reflected wave pulses;
- and
- instructions for providing a diagnostic signal as a function of amplitude of the reflected first portion, and for providing a level output indicative of process product height based upon time of detection of the reflected second portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.