Patents by Inventor Ralf Armbruster

Ralf Armbruster has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230273064
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a modular fill-level gauge based on a capacitive, an ultrasonic, or a radar based measuring principle and including components as follows: a sensor module, an electronics module and a transmission module comprises connecting the transmission module with the sensor module, calibrating the sensor module, and instructing the electronics module relative to the installed height. This simplifies the calibrating of the fill-level gauge, since it does not have to be applied to the entire fill-level gauge but only to the sensor module. In this way, a corresponding calibration setup only needs to be kept at the site of the sensor module manufacture, and not supplementally at the site of the final manufacture, where all modules of the fill-level gauge are put together. Correspondingly, also the possible creating of a calibration protocol is simplified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Lars Karweck, Ralf Armbruster, Marc Andreas Schlachter
  • Patent number: 9243932
    Abstract: A measuring device, comprising: an input circuit having a supply line and a return line. Energy supply occurs over a line-pair. Input voltage is applied to the measuring device via the line pair. A series regulator for controlling an electrical current flowing via the line-pair, a shunt regulator installed in a parallel branch, and an apparatus for controlling a voltage drop across the series regulator are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Schleith, Bernd Strutt, Ralf Armbruster, Wolfgang Brutschin
  • Publication number: 20130271156
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring a process variable, comprising: an input circuit having a supply line and a return line, connectable to a superordinated unit. Energy supply of the measuring device and signal transmission, between the measuring device and a superordinated unit occurs over a line-pair. Input voltage is applied to the measuring device via the line pair. A series regulator installed in the supply line for controlling an electrical current flowing via the line-pair, a shunt regulator connected after the series regulator and installed in a parallel branch, and an apparatus for controlling a voltage drop across the series regulator are provided. The apparatus sets the voltage drop across the series regulator as a function of the applied input voltage, which is greater than a predetermined minimum input voltage, to a value predetermined by a characteristic curve for the particular input voltage and lying above a minimum value required for operation of the series regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH = Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Schleith, Bernd Strutt, Ralf Armbruster, Wolfgang Brutschin
  • Patent number: 8410793
    Abstract: An apparatus for ascertaining and/or monitoring at least one fill-level of at least one medium in a container according to a travel-time measuring method and/or a capacitive measuring method by means of at least one measuring probe. A capacitive measurement circuit, which produces a low frequency measurement signal on the measuring probe, a time-domain reflectometer measurement circuit, which produces a high frequency, electromagnetic signal sent out as a sent signal and a control/evaluation unit, which controls both measurement circuits are included. Also included is a diplexer, which sends the low-frequency measurement signal and the high-frequency, electromagnetic measurement signal to the measuring probe and effects a signal separation of the high-frequency, electromagnetic measurement signal into the first signal path of the time-domain reflectometer measurement circuit and the low-frequency measurement signal into the second signal path of the capacitive measurement circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Armbruster, Roland Grozinger, Bernhard Michalski
  • Publication number: 20100301878
    Abstract: An apparatus for ascertaining and/or monitoring at least one fill-level of at least one medium in a container according to a travel-time measuring method and/or a capacitive measuring method by means of at least one measuring probe. The apparatus comprises a capacitive measurement circuit, a time-domain reflectometer measurement circuit, and a control/evaluation unit. There invention results from the provision of a diplexer, which sends the low-frequency measurement signal and the high-frequency, electromagnetic measurement signal to the measuring probe and effects a signal separation of the high-frequency, electromagnetic measurement signal into the first signal path of the time-domain reflectometer measurement circuit and the low-frequency measurement signal into the second signal path of the capacitive measurement circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Armbruster, Roland Grozinger, Bernhard Michalski
  • Patent number: 6512358
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a measuring device for measuring an industrial process variable with a predetermined maximum power consumption by the measuring device. More specifically, the invention relates to a measuring device for connection to a current loop, in particular a 4-20 ma current loop, or to a digital communication, comprising devices for regulating the measuring operation of the measuring device in adaptation to the predetermined power consumption, wherein the regulating devices regulate to power consumption by the measuring operation of the measuring device in such fashion that this power consumption is approximated to the predetermined power consumption without the predetermined power consumption being exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Peter Klöfer, Alexander Hardell, Ralf Armbruster
  • Publication number: 20020005713
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a measuring device for measuring an industrial process variable with a predetermined maximum power consumption by the measuring device. More specifically, the invention relates to a measuring device for connection to a current loop, in particular a 4-20 ma current loop, or to a digital communication, comprising devices for regulating the measuring operation of the measuring device in adaptation to the predetermined power consumption, wherein the regulating devices regulate the power consumption by the measuring operation of the measuring device in such fashion that this power consumption is approximated to the predetermined power consumption without the predetermined power consumption being exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Peter Klofer, Alexander Hardell, Ralf Armbruster