Dielectric antenna and fill level sensor using the radar principle
AssigneeKROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
InventorsChristoph Baer, Christian Schulz, Michael Gerding
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dielectric antenna (1) having at least one supply element (2) and at least one lens (3) formed of a dielectric material. The dielectric antenna makes it possible to measure the surface of a medium with an essentially consistent measuring accuracy in that the lens (3) has an outer component (4) and an inner component (5). The outer component (4) has a radiating surface (6) that is spherical and an inner surface (7) that is spherical, and the inner component (5) has a contact surface (8) that spherical. Furthermore, the antenna is usable as part of a fill level sensor operating on the radar principle.
Claims21
Dielectric antenna, comprising:
- at least one electronics unit which generates electromagnetic radiation,
- at least one lens made of at least one dielectric material for guiding and radiating the electromagnetic radiation,
- at least one supply element which supplies the electromagnetic radiation from the electronics unit to the at least one lens,
- wherein the lens has at least one outer component and an inner component,
- wherein the outer component has an outer, radiating surface that is at least partially spherical and an inner surface that is at least partially spherical, and
- wherein the inner component receives the electromagnetic radiation from the supply element and has a contact surface that is at least partially spherical and contacts the inner surface of the outer component.
Fill level sensor using the radar principle, comprising:
- a vessel for containing a medium and
- a dielectric antenna mounted to said vessel at a location situated above an area of the vessel in which a medium will be disposed in use, said dielectric antenna comprising:
- at least one electronics unit which generates electromagnetic radiation,
- at least one lens made of at least one dielectric material for guiding and radiating the electromagnetic radiation,
- at least one supply element which supplies the electromagnetic radiation from the electronics unit to the at least one lens,
- wherein the lens has at least one outer component and an inner component,
- wherein the outer component has an outer, radiating surface that is at least partially spherical and an inner surface that is at least partially spherical, and
- wherein the inner component receives the electromagnetic radiation from the supply element and has a contact surface that is at least partially spherical and contacts the inner surface of the outer component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.