Method and device for determining an expectancy range for a filling level echo and a false echo

An evaluator for determining at least one expectancy range for a filling level echo or a false echo generated by a filling level measurement device, wherein the evaluator comprises:

• means for identifying at least one filling level echo or false echo from a first filling level envelope curve, the first filling level envelope curve having been generated at a first time;
• means for identifying at least one second filling level echo or false echo from a second filling level envelope curve, the second filling level envelope curve having been generated at a second time different from the first time;
• means for determining at least one expectancy range for a filling level echo or false echo in consideration of the temporal behavior of the identified at least one first filling level echo or false echo and of the identified at least second filling level echo or false echo;
• means for sampling a filling level envelope curve currently received by the filling level measurement device by an analog-to-digital converter;
• means for storing the echoes of the sampled filling level envelope curve including their echo data in an array of a predeterminable size;
• means for processing the echo data stored in the array with image processing methods;
• means for searching individual echoes in the current filling level envelope curve;
• means for assigning the detected echoes to expectancy ranges determined in the past for a filling level echo or a false echo;
• means for determining the filling level using said echo in the case that an echo is assigned to the expectancy range for the filling level;
• and
• means for determining a new expectancy range for echoes to be expected in the future when the array is occupied by echo data.

A computer program for determining at least one expectancy range for a filling level echo or a false echo generated by an ultrasonic or radar filling level measurement device, with the computer program including instructions for performing the following operation:

• identifying at least one filling level echo or false echo from a first filling level envelope curve, the first filling level envelope curve having been generated at a first time;
• identifying at least one second filling level echo or false echo from a second filling level envelope curve, the second filling level envelope curve having been generated at a second time different from the first time;
• determining at least one expectancy range for a filling level echo or false echo in consideration of the temporal behavior of the identified at least one first filling level echo or false echo and of the identified at least second filling level echo or false echo;
• sampling a filling level envelope curve currently received by the filling level measurement device by an analog-to-digital converter;
• storing the echoes of the sampled filling level envelope curve including their echo data in an array of a predeterminable size;
• processing the echo data stored in the array with image processing methods;
• searching individual echoes in the current filling level envelope curve;
• assigning the detected echoes to expectancy ranges determined in the past for a filling level echo or a false echo;
• in the case that an echo is assigned to the expectancy range for the filling level, determining the filling level using said echo;
• and
• when the array is occupied by echo data, determining a new expectancy range for echoes to be expected in the future.

A computer readable medium adapted to be directly loadable into the memory of a computer and including instructions for carrying out the following process steps:

• identifying at least one filling level echo or false echo from a first filling level envelope curve, the first filling level envelope curve having been generated at a first time;
• identifying at least one second filling level echo or false echo from a second filling level envelope curve, the second filling level envelope curve having been generated at a second time different from the first time;
• determining at least one expectancy range for a filling level echo or false echo in consideration of the temporal behavior of the identified at least one first filling level echo or false echo and of the identified at least second filling level echo or false echo;
• sampling a filling level envelope curve currently received by the filling level measurement device by an analog-to-digital converter;
• storing the echoes of the sampled filling level envelope curve including their echo data in an array of a predeterminable size;
• processing the echo data stored in the array with image processing methods;
• searching individual echoes in the current filling level envelope curve;
• assigning the detected echoes to expectancy ranges determined in the past for a filling level echo or a false echo;
• in the case that an echo is assigned to the expectancy range for the filling level, determining the filling level using said echo;
• and
• when the array is occupied by echo data, determining a new expectancy range for echoes to be expected in the future.