Abstract: A method of measuring level in a vessel by means of a level measuring device operating with pulses is disclosed. Based on waves being transmitted into the vessel and reflected from the contents of the vessel a digital sampling sequence, representative of the amplitudes of the waves, is generated and a transit time difference, representative of the measuring level, is determined. For determining the difference, a first data tuple, representative of a reference point in the envelope signal and a second data tuple, representative of an echo pulse in the envelope signal, are derived from the sampling sequence, each of the data tuple having an amplitude value and a time value.

Abstract: A differential pressure pickup with a small hysteresis volume which has a sensor element, two pressure measuring chambers adjacent thereto, two pressure receiving chambers closed off by separating diaphragms and two overload chambers separated from each other by an overload diaphragm, in which pickup the overload diaphragm has a closed outer edge and a closed inner edge and is firmly restrained along its outer edge and its inner edge.

Abstract: Provision is made for a level measuring instrument for measuring a level of a filled material (1) in a container (3), in the case of which electromagnetic signals (S) generated by means of an electronic circuit (5) are guided into the container (3) via a waveguide (17) and signals (R) reflected at a filled material surface are guided out, in the case of which an impedance-matching device active in a frequency band of a bandwidth is connected upstream of the waveguide (17). For this purpose, the level measuring instrument comprises an injector (15, 15′),which transmits the signals (S) from the circuit (5) to the waveguide (17), and which has an inner conductor (19), which inner conductor (19) has, for the purpose of increasing the characteristic impedance, a conductor section (45, 45′) with a geometry deviating from a cylindrical shape.

Abstract: A pressure measuring device with a housing (21, 53) and a pressure measuring cell is provided, the pressure measuring cell being protected from interference, in particular independently of its installation position in the housing (21, 53), and comprising: a housing (21, 53), a pressure measuring cell, which has at least one pressure-sensitive measuring diaphragm (3, 35, 37), on the outer side of which a pressure (P, P1, P2) acts during operation, which has a transducer for converting a pressure-dependent deflection of the measuring diaphragm (3, 35, 37) into an electrical measured variable and which has free outer circumferential surfaces, which are provided with an electrically conductive coating (31, 61), and an electronic circuit (13, 49) for converting the electrical measured variable into a measuring signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining the fill level of a filling substance in a container. The device includes a signal generator unit which generates high-frequency signals, a transmitter/receiver pair which transmits the signals via an antenna and receives the signals which have been reflected on the surface of the filling substance. A coaxial line is also included which has an inner conductor and an outer conductor for bearing the signals, and an evaluation unit which determines the fill level in the container using the transit time of the signals. The antenna has a wave duct which is delimited by a rear wall. A send line is provided on the rear wall of the wave duct, which runs substantially within the wave duct, whereby a first end section of the send line is connected to the inner conductor of the coaxial line.

Abstract: A filling level gage operating with microwaves, for measuring a filling level of a filling material (5) in a container (1), is provided which functions with a single antenna (7) constructed as simply as possible, and in which a minimum distance required for measurement between the filling material (5) and the antenna (7) is as small as possible, having a microwave generator (9), and an antenna (7) with planar antenna structure, which is used to transmit the microwaves in the direction of the filling material (5) and to receive microwaves reflected from a filling material surface, in which the planar antenna structure has at least two transmission and/or reception elements (11, 13, 33, 35, 37, S, E).

Abstract: A diaphragm 30 and basic body 20 of a pressure sensor 10 are interconnected via a joint F. A groove 26 is provided in the basic body 20 in order to reduce the stress concentration in the region of the joint F.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a time domain reflectometry (TDR) signal having a plurality of reflection pulses to generate a valid output result corresponding to a process variable for a material in a vessel. The method includes the steps of determining a reference signal along a probe in the vessel, establishing a first fiducial reference point, a reference end of probe location, a measuring length and a maximum probe length. The method also includes the steps of periodically detecting a TDR signal along the probe, establishing a second fiducial reference point, a detected end of probe location, an end of probe peak to peak amplitude, and attempting to determine a process variable reflection on the TDR signal. The method indicates a broken cable condition, a loss of high frequency connection, a low amplitude reflection condition, an empty vessel condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for transmitting radio-frequency signals using a signal generation unit (2), a signal line (3), a radiating element (4) and a waveguide (5) which is terminated in an end region by a back wall (6), where the signal generation unit (2) generates the radio-frequency signals, where the signal line (3) routes the radio-frequency signals to the radiating element (4), and where the radiating element (4) projects into the waveguide (5). The object is achieved by virtue of the radiating element (4) being arranged at an angle to the back wall (6) of the waveguide (5) or to a plane of the waveguide (5) which is parallel to the back wall (6).

Abstract: A sensor which includes a sensor section and an electronics section. The sensor section includes a sensor element. The electronics section includes a insert containing electronics. A passageway extends between the sensor section and the electronics section, through which the electronics section is connected to the sensor section. A connection element for the electrical connection of the sensor element of the sensor section to the electronics of the electronics section, which is an integral part of the insert, extends into and seals the passageway. With a sensor in accordance with the present invention, the sensor element is permanently protected against moisture.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is provided having a housing, a process connection which is connected to the housing and serves to feed a medium whose pressure (p) is to be measured to a membrane which his arranged in the housing, said membrane, in operation, undergoing a deflection which depends on the pressure (p) which is to be measured, which pressure sensor can have a seal made of a chemically highly resistant material and in which the membrane can consist either of ceramic or metal, which pressure sensor has a seal which seals a gap found between the housing and the process connection and/or the membrane, bears directly against the gap and covers the gap, and which is clamped between the housing and the membrane, and which pressure sensor has a spring which is two-legged in cross section, whose first and second legs enclose an acute angle, whose first leg has a leg surface which faces away from the second leg, rests on a supporting surface and is connected fixedly to the latter, and whose second leg has a leg surface

Abstract: In a method for time coordination of the transmission of cyclic data values on a bus to which data transmitters and data receivers are connected, each data transmitter is assigned a cycle time in which it periodically transmits its data values, wherein the cycle times are integer multiples of a minimum cycle time. Furthermore, each data value is assigned a delay time related to the start of the cycle time of its data transmitter. A synchronization message is transmitted via the bus to each data transmitter with a period corresponding to the cycle time of the respective data transmitter and has a phase which is specific for the data transmitter with respect to the start of the minimum cycle time. The reception of its synchronization message in each data transmitter initiates the transmission of its data values with the respective delay time.

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.

Abstract: A ceramic pressure measuring cell with a basic body (1, 3), a diaphragm (5) connected to the basic body (1, 3) to form a measuring chamber (7, 9), which during operation undergoes a deflection dependent on a pressure (p1-p2) to be measured and the deflection of which is registered by means of an electromechanical transducer and is made accessible for further evaluation and/or processing, and a bore (13, 17) which penetrates the basic body (1, 3) and into which a small pressure tube (15, 19) is soldered in a pressure-resistant and gastight manner, and via which a pressure (p1, p2) is introduced into the measuring chamber (7, 9), is provided, in which a volume inside the measuring cell and the small pressure tube is precisely known, since the mechanical stop (33, 35) fixes a depth of penetration of the small pressure tube (15, 19) into the basic body (1, 3).

Abstract: This level measuring instrument which operates with microwaves, has a radiation characteristic with a pronounced forward lobe and can be used to transmit and/or receive microwaves with a large frequency bandwidth. A housing section is designed as a waveguide short-circuited at one side and one end by a rear wall, and is virtually completely filled with an insert made of a dielectric. An exciter element, projects into the housing section and is connected to a microwave source. An antenna adjoins the housing section, for transmitting and/or receiving microwaves. A gap is arranged in the insert between the exciter element and the antenna. The gap forms a filter which is essentially non-transparent to higher modes of the waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring the filling level of a filing material in a container, having a sensor and a control/evaluation unit. The invention provides a device which permits optimized determination of the filling level and/or the monitoring of the filling level in a container. For this purpose a sensor is designed such that it is operated in conjunction with at least two different measurement methods and/or the sensor is operated in at least two different operating modes, that the control/evaluation unit operates the sensor respectively according to at least one of the two measurement methods and/or at least in one of the two operating modes, and that the control/evaluation unit determines the filling level of the filling material in the container with the aid of the measured data of the sensor, which are supplied via at least one measurement method and/or during at least one operating mode.

Abstract: The invention concerns an assembly for the pressure-tight separation of a first waveguide (12) from a second waveguide (16), having a pressure-resistant conductor body (22) and a first adaptor (26), which is arranged between the first waveguide (12) and the end of the conductor body (22) facing the latter, and a second adaptor (30), which is arranged between the second waveguide (16) and the end of the conductor body (22) facing the latter, the dielectric constants of the first and second adaptors (26, 30) lying between those of the conductor body (22) and the waveguides (12, 16). An assembly of this kind can be used in particular for an electronic device with a contact pin (10) and an antenna (18), the contact pin (10) radiating into a first waveguide (12) and the antenna (18) being connected to a second waveguide (16) and a pressure-tight bushing for microwave radiation being required between the first and second waveguides (12, 16).

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus for determining a physical variable of a medium (2) in which the formation of deposits or buildups of the medium (2) on a subelement (4) of the apparatus (1) which comes into contact with the medium (2) is reduced or avoided. For this purpose, at least the subelement (4) is provided with a microstructured surface layer (7).

Abstract: This circuit board contains electronic components having electrical contacts. At least one of the electrical contacts is initially glued to the circuit board using a conductive adhesive and at least one of the electrical contacts is connected to the circuit board by soldering. The circuit board is suitable for fast mechanical mass production. Further a method for the manufacture of the connection between the circuit board and the electronic components is disclosed, in which a solder is applied to soldering points and a conductive adhesive is applied to adhesive points. The circuit board with the components is then placed in a furnace to connect the components to the circuit board.

Abstract: The active brazing solder for brazing ceramic parts of alumina, particularly of high-purity alumina, contains a maximum of 12 wt. % Ti, a maximum of 8 wt. % Be, and less than 16.5 wt. % Fe, the remainder being Zr and any impurities that may be present. The active brazing solder has the following behaviour/features: Brazing temperature: lower than 1,000° C.; the brazed joint is high-vacuum-tight over a long period of time; the coefficient of thermal expansion of the active brazing alloy is substantially identical to that of the alumina ceramic in the entire temperature range covered during the brazing process; the strength of the brazed joint between the two ceramic parts is so high that under tensile loading, fracture will result not at the joint, but in the adjacent ceramic; the pressure resistance of the active brazing solder is greater than 2 GPa; the active brazing solder is very good processable into powders having particle sizes on the order of 10 &mgr;m.