Abstract: A method for radar-based measurement of a filling level of a filling material in a container includes, in successive measurement cycles, generating an evaluation curve, and the relevant current evaluation curve is stored; a first difference curve is formed based on the evaluation curve of the current measurement cycle and a stored evaluation curve of a preceding measurement cycle; and the filling level is determined based on a maximum in the current first difference curve. The filling level is thus established from the difference curve rather than from the evaluation curve, and the filling level can be determined with greater certainty—in particular in the case of filling material having rippled surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting a faulty state of an FMCW-based fill level measuring device. For this, a correlation coefficient is ascertained by correlation, especially cross correlation, of the measurement signal with a reference signal. The faulty state is accordingly detected when the correlation coefficient subceeds a predefined minimum value. In this way, the functioning of the fill level measuring device can be monitored with a degree of safety allowing the fill level measuring device to be applied also in process plants and measuring environments, which require extremely reliable measuring apparatuses, and measurement data.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fastening device for fixing a radar-based fill level gauge to an outer grating of an intermediate bulk container tank. The device comprises a clamping retainer, which can be clamped to a grating bar of the outer grating, and an adapter having a first fastener configured such that the fill level gauge can be mounted detachably on the adapter. The adapter also includes a cut-out, through which radar signals of the fill level gauge can be sent towards the filling material when in the mounted state. In addition, the device comprises a second fastener configured such that the fill level gauge can be fastened indirectly to the clamping retainer. According to the present disclosure, the outer grating is used to fasten the fill level gauge to the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compensation device for the compensation of a phase shift caused a component of an electronic system unit of a vibronic sensor. The compensation device includes a bridging unit for the electrical bridging of at least the electromechanical converter; a signal generator for generating a test excitation signal; a phase detection unit for determining the phase shift between the test excitation signal and a test receive signal that passes through the bridging unit and the component of the electronic system unit; and a computer unit which determines a phase compensation instruction from the first phase shift.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting a fault state at an FMCW-based fill level measuring device, including performing two reference measurements successively in time, a first reference measurement signal and a second reference measurement signal, using the filling level measuring device under a predefined reference measurement condition. In each of the two reference measurement signals a characteristic parameter is determined, wherein a change in the characteristic parameter over time is determined by comparing the two reference measurement signals. A fault state is detected when the change in the characteristic parameter exceeds a predefined maximum characteristic parameter change.

Abstract: A method for radar-based measurement of a filling level of a filling material in a container includes, in successive measurement cycles, generating an evaluation curve, and the relevant current evaluation curve is stored; a first difference curve is formed based on the evaluation curve of the current measurement cycle and a stored evaluation curve of a preceding measurement cycle; and the filling level is determined based on a maximum in the current first difference curve. The filling level is thus established from the difference curve rather than from the evaluation curve, and the filling level can be determined with greater certainty—in particular in the case of filling material having rippled surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for measuring a fill level of a fill substance in a container. The method includes: transmitting a first signal toward the fill substance; receiving a first received signal after reflection of the first signal in the container; transmitting a second signal toward the fill substance, wherein the second signal has at least one defined property deviating from the first signal; receiving a second received signal after reflection of the second signal in the container; ascertaining a first fill level value based on the first received signal and a second fill level value based on the second received signal; and determining the first fill level value or the second fill level value as fill level when the first fill level value and the second fill level value agree. In this way, the fill level is determined in redundant manner.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and corresponding sensor for determining density and/or viscosity of a medium using a vibronic sensor. An oscillatable unit is excited using an electrical excitation signal to execute mechanical oscillations, and the mechanical oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit are received and transduced into an electrical, received signal. The excitation signal is produced based on the received signal such that at least one predeterminable phase shift is present between the excitation signal and the received signal, wherein a frequency of the excitation signal is determined from the received signal at the predeterminable phase shift. A damping and/or a variable dependent on the damping are/is determined from the received signal at the predeterminable phase shift. From the damping and/or the variable dependent on the damping and from the frequency of the excitation signal, the density and/or the viscosity of the medium are/is ascertained.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a container, comprising: a mechanically oscillatable unit, a driving/receiving unit for exciting the mechanically oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations by means of an electrical exciting signal and for receiving and transducing mechanical oscillations into an electrical, received signal, an electronics unit, which electronics unit is embodied, to produce the exciting signal starting from the received signal, to set a predeterminable phase shift (??) between the exciting signal and the received signal, and from the received signal, to determine and/or to monitor the at least one process variable.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for monitoring the condition of a component of an electromechanical resonator having a piezoelectrical element which can be excited to mechanical vibration using an electrical excitation signal and the mechanical vibrations of which can be received in the form of an incoming electrical signal. The method steps performed at a first point and a second point in time, including determining an amplification factor of the electromechanical resonator, determining a mechanical quality resonator, and establishing an electromechanical efficiency resonator at least from the amplification factor and the mechanical quality. A change over time in the electromechanical efficiency is calculated from the first point to the second point in time, the change over time in the electromechanical efficiency is compared with a pre-definable threshold, and a condition indicator is determined from the comparison.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting a faulty state of an FMCW-based fill level measuring device. For this, a correlation coefficient is ascertained by correlation, especially cross correlation, of the measurement signal with a reference signal. The faulty state is accordingly detected when the correlation coefficient subceeds a predefined minimum value. In this way, the functioning of the fill level measuring device can be monitored with a degree of safety allowing the fill level measuring device to be applied also in process plants and measuring environments, which require extremely reliable measuring apparatuses, and measurement data.

Abstract: A measurement transducer, comprising: a sensor module having a sensor element, sensor electronics and a main electronics module. The sensor element emits sensor signals, and the sensor electronics processes the digitized sensor signals with a transmission function and provides processed sensor measurement values on a digital interface. The main electronics module is functionally connected to the sensor electronics and a logic unit, and a communications interface. The logic unit is configured to receive the sensor measurement values provided on the digital interface and to cause the output of a measurement signal corresponding to the sensor measurement values through the communications interface. The logic unit is configured to carry out a monitoring function. The monitoring comprises, in addition to a currently provided sensor measurement value, the reception of the associated digitized sensor signals, with the aid of a test function which comprises the transmission function.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compensation device for the compensation of a phase shift caused a component of an electronic system unit of a vibronic sensor. The compensation device includes a bridging unit for the electrical bridging of at least the electromechanical converter; a signal generator for generating a test excitation signal; a phase detection unit for determining the phase shift between the test excitation signal and a test receive signal that passes through the bridging unit and the component of the electronic system unit; and a computer unit which determines a phase compensation instruction from the first phase shift.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting a fault state at an FMCW-based fill level measuring device, including performing two reference measurements successively in time, a first reference measurement signal and a second reference measurement signal, using the filling level measuring device under a predefined reference measurement condition. In each of the two reference measurement signals a characteristic parameter is determined, wherein a change in the characteristic parameter over time is determined by comparing the two reference measurement signals. A fault state is detected when the change in the characteristic parameter exceeds a predefined maximum characteristic parameter change.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for monitoring the condition of a component of an electromechanical resonator having a piezoelectrical element which can be excited to mechanical vibration using an electrical excitation signal and the mechanical vibrations of which can be received in the form of an incoming electrical signal. The method steps performed at a first point and a second point in time, including determining an amplification factor of the electromechanical resonator, determining a mechanical quality resonator, and establishing an electromechanical efficiency resonator at least from the amplification factor and the mechanical quality. A change over time in the electromechanical efficiency is calculated from the first point to the second point in time, the change over time in the electromechanical efficiency is compared with a pre-definable threshold, and a condition indicator is determined from the comparison.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and corresponding sensor for determining density and/or viscosity of a medium using a vibronic sensor. An oscillatable unit is excited using an electrical excitation signal to execute mechanical oscillations, and the mechanical oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit are received and transduced into an electrical, received signal. The excitation signal is produced based on the received signal such that at least one predeterminable phase shift is present between the excitation signal and the received signal, wherein a frequency of the excitation signal is determined from the received signal at the predeterminable phase shift. A damping and/or a variable dependent on the damping are/is determined from the received signal at the predeterminable phase shift. From the damping and/or the variable dependent on the damping and from the frequency of the excitation signal, the density and/or the viscosity of the medium are/is ascertained.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a container, comprising: a mechanically oscillatable unit, a driving/receiving unit for exciting the mechanically oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations by means of an electrical exciting signal and for receiving and transducing mechanical oscillations into an electrical, received signal, an electronics unit, which electronics unit is embodied, to produce the exciting signal starting from the received signal, to set a predeterminable phase shift (??) between the exciting signal and the received signal, and from the received signal, to determine and/or to monitor the at least one process variable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measurement transducer (1) comprising a sensor module (10), having a sensor (11) and sensor electronics (12), wherein the sensor (11) emits sensor signals, and wherein the sensor electronics processes the digitized sensor signals with a transmission function and provides processed sensor measurement values on a digital interface. The measurement transducer further comprises a main electronics module (20), which is functionally connected to the sensor electronics and a logic unit (22), and a communications interface (36), wherein the logic unit (22) is configured to receive the sensor measurement values provided on the digital interface and to cause the output of a measurement signal corresponding to the sensor measurement values through the communications interface (36).