Patents Assigned to KROHNE S.A.S.
  • Patent number: 11099051
    Abstract: A method for determining the fill level of a medium involves continuous wave radar measurement and a corresponding fill level measuring device. A coded transmit signal is emitted by a transmitter, reflected at the medium, and received by a receiver as a reflection signal. The reflection signal and a signal derived from the transmit signal are subjected to a correlation analysis, and a correlation outcome results. A control and evaluation unit determines the time offset of the correlated signals with the correlation outcome, and uses it to determine the fill level of the medium. The reflection signal and the derived signal are mixed with the analog mixer into a mixer output signal that is sampled and quantized to a digital mixer output signal. The correlator has a digital integrator with which a sequence of digital mixer output signals is digitally integrated into the correlation outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: KROHNE S.A.S.
    Inventors: Michael Vogt, Robert Storch, Gordon Notzon
  • Patent number: 10830630
    Abstract: A TDR fill level measuring device for measuring the fill level of a medium in a container, having a transmitting unit for transmitting a pulse-shaped electromagnetic measuring signal, a receiving unit for receiving a reflection signal, an evaluation unit for evaluating the reflection signal and a waveguide for guiding the measuring signal and the reflection signal, the waveguide having at least two waveguide sections, each of which has a functional waveguide cross-sectional face, wherein the functional waveguide cross-sectional face corresponds to the cross-sectional face of the waveguide conductor, wherein a reference reflector is present, at least a part of the measuring signal being reflected at least once on the reference reflector during operation. High reliability and a simply design are achieved by the reference reflection being formed by a transition between two waveguide sections having different shapes and/or different sizes of the functional waveguide cross-sectional face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: KROHNE S.A.S.
    Inventor: Mahmoud Khodjet Kesba
  • Patent number: 10782175
    Abstract: A method for determining the fill level of a process medium arranged in a container using a TDR fill level meter having at least one signal line for guiding an electromagnetic signal, a signal line head and an electronics unit, the signal line extending into the process medium, the method having at least the steps of generating a pulsed transmitter signal with the electronics unit, wherein the transmission signal propagates along the signal line as measuring signal with changing amplitude, detecting and evaluating at least one reflection signal with the electronics unit, wherein the reflection signal is a reflection of the measuring signal on an interface between a first and a second medium having different impedances, the relative permittivity of the second medium is determined at least in dependence on the amplitude of the measuring signal transmitted through the first medium and the amplitude of the reflection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: KROHNE S.A.S.
    Inventors: Mahmoud Khodjet-Kesba, Vincent Pichot
  • Patent number: 10718655
    Abstract: A level meter and a method for monitoring the level meter operating according to the radar principle, in which a signal conductor is lead out of an inner space of a leakage chamber of a bracket housing through a process-side opening of the leakage chamber and/or of the bracket housing into the process-side outer space of the bracket housing. The method involves transmitting a signal in the form of a pulse along the signal conductor, receiving a reflected received signal, relaying the received signal to the control and evaluation unit. In addition to the simple verification of the presence of a leak, a change in the received signal can also be quantified by the frequency spectrum of the received signal being determined and monitoring of the level meter carried out in the frequency domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: KROHNE S.A.S.
    Inventors: Vincent Pichot, Mahmoud Khodjet Kesba
  • Patent number: 10330516
    Abstract: A probe holder for a fill level measuring device operating with the radar principle has a holder housing, a signal conductor for guiding emitted and/or received signals and a spacer. The signal conductor is led out of the interior space of the holder housing through an opening of the holder housing into a process side exterior space of the holder housing. The spacer is arranged in the opening of the holder housing and keeps the signal conductor spaced from the holder housing in the opening. The probe holder realizes a seal relative to the process area in a simple, but effective manner in that the spacer is held in the holder housing by a shrink-fit so that a sealed closure is created between the holder housing and the spacer in the shrunken-in state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: KROHNE S.A.S.
    Inventors: Vincent Pichot, Laurent Peigat
  • Publication number: 20190063982
    Abstract: A TDR fill level measuring device for measuring the fill level of a medium in a container, having a transmitting unit for transmitting a pulse-shaped electromagnetic measuring signal, a receiving unit for receiving a reflection signal, an evaluation unit for evaluating the reflection signal and a waveguide for guiding the measuring signal and the reflection signal, the waveguide having at least two waveguide sections, each of which has a functional waveguide cross-sectional face, wherein the functional waveguide cross-sectional face corresponds to the cross-sectional face of the waveguide conductor, wherein a reference reflector is present, at least a part of the measuring signal being reflected at least once on the reference reflector during operation. High reliability and a simply design are achieved by the reference reflection being formed by a transition between two waveguide sections having different shapes and/or different sizes of the functional waveguide cross-sectional face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: KROHNE S.A.S.
    Inventor: Mahmoud Khodjet Kesba
  • Publication number: 20180306632
    Abstract: A method for determining the fill level of a process medium arranged in a container using a TDR fill level meter having at least one signal line for guiding an electromagnetic signal, a signal line head and an electronics unit, the signal line extending into the process medium, the method having at least the steps of generating a pulsed transmitter signal with the electronics unit, wherein the transmission signal propagates along the signal line as measuring signal with changing amplitude, detecting and evaluating at least one reflection signal with the electronics unit, wherein the reflection signal is a reflection of the measuring signal on an interface between a first and a second medium having different impedances, the relative permittivity of the second medium is determined at least in dependence on the amplitude of the measuring signal transmitted through the first medium and the amplitude of the reflection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: KROHNE S.A.S.
    Inventors: Mahmoud Khodjet-Kesba, Vincent Pichot
  • Patent number: 9964426
    Abstract: A method and device for level measurement according to the propagation time method in which at least one conductor unit (1) is supplied with pulse-like electromagnetic transmission signals and in which electromagnetic response signals are tapped from the conductor unit (1). The method for level determination is improved as compared to the prior art by the conductor unit (1) being supplied with transmission signals with either positive or negative polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KROHNE S.A.S.
    Inventors: Michael Gerding, Vincent Pichot
  • Publication number: 20170328762
    Abstract: A level meter and a method for monitoring the level meter operating according to the radar principle, in which a signal conductor is lead out of an inner space of a leakage chamber of a bracket housing through a process-side opening of the leakage chamber and/or of the bracket housing into the process-side outer space of the bracket housing. The method involves transmitting a signal in the form of a pulse along the signal conductor, receiving a reflected received signal, relaying the received signal to the control and evaluation unit. In addition to the simple verification of the presence of a leak, a change in the received signal can also be quantified by the frequency spectrum of the received signal being determined and monitoring of the level meter carried out in the frequency domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: KROHNE S.A.S.
    Inventors: Vincent PICHOT, Mahmoud Khodjet KESBA
  • Publication number: 20170211964
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring a measured variable with a sensor device (2) and an output device, which generates at least one output signal based on at least one sensor signal of the sensor device (2). To provide a measuring device that is flexible in terms of signal output, the output device has at least two signal outlets (4, 5) for outputting of the at least one output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: KROHNE S.A.S.
    Inventors: Vincent Milhaud, Denis Graillat, Vincent Pichot
  • Patent number: 9698456
    Abstract: A fill level measuring device (3) operating with the transit time method and a termination element (1) for a waveguide (2) of the fill level measuring device (3) has a carrier element (13) that is arranged between a first cylinder element (11) and a second cylinder element (12) and has an impedance-matching component (15) that is arranged on the carrier element (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Krohne S.A.S.
    Inventor: Vincent Pichot
  • Publication number: 20170089747
    Abstract: A probe holder for a fill level measuring device operating with the radar principle has a holder housing, a signal conductor for guiding emitted and/or received signals and a spacer. The signal conductor is led out of the interior space of the holder housing through an opening of the holder housing into a process side exterior space of the holder housing. The spacer is arranged in the opening of the holder housing and keeps the signal conductor spaced from the holder housing in the opening. The probe holder realizes a seal relative to the process area in a simple, but effective manner in that the spacer is held in the holder housing by a shrink-fit so that a sealed closure is created between the holder housing and the spacer in the shrunken-in state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: KROHNE S.A.S.
    Inventors: Vincent Pichot, Laurent Peigat
  • Publication number: 20160245685
    Abstract: A method and device for level measurement according to the propagation time method in which at least one conductor unit (1) is supplied with pulse-like electromagnetic transmission signals and in which electromagnetic response signals are tapped from the conductor unit (1). The method for level determination is improved as compared to the prior art by the conductor unit (1) being supplied with transmission signals with either positive or negative polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: KROHNE S.A.S.
    Inventors: Michael Gerding, Vincent Pichot
  • Publication number: 20150340750
    Abstract: A fill level measuring device (3) operating with the transit time method and a termination element (1) for a waveguide (2) of the fill level measuring device (3) has a carrier element (13) that is arranged between a first cylinder element (11) and a second cylinder element (12) and has an impedance-matching component (15) that is arranged on the carrier element (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: KROHNE S.A.S.
    Inventor: Vincent Pichot