Patents Assigned to Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
  • Patent number: 6266022
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for determining the filling level in a container (4). Moreover, the invention also relates to a method for fastening an input coupling unit (9) on the antenna (7), the antenna (7) being used in the device (1) according to the invention. It is the object of the invention to provide overvoltage protection for an antenna (7), and a method for producing such an antenna (7). The object is achieved by virtue of the fact that the antenna (7) comprises at least two dielectric layers (12, 13). The first dielectric layer (12) has at least one cutout (15) for holding the input coupling unit (9). The second dielectric layer (13) bears an antenna structure (16) on the side facing the first dielectric layer (12) and has a conductive coating (17) with openings (18) on the side averted from the first dielectric layer (12). Contacts (19) are provided in the second dielectric layer (13) and the conductive layer (17) which connect the input coupling unit (9) to the conductive coating (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Roland Müller, Thomas Malzahn, Karl-Peter Hauptvogel, Dietmar Birgel
  • Patent number: 6252759
    Abstract: In order to avoid short-circuits between the electrodes, the pressure sensor comprises: a substrate (11) made of ceramic material, on one surface of which an electrode (13) and a glass layer (14) formed from an original glass frit are disposed; a diaphragm (12) made of ceramic material, which is permanently joined and pressure-sealed to the substrate by means of the original glass frit acting as a spacer (17) holding the diaphragm and the substrate from each other to form a cavity (16), and which on the cavity side is provided with an electrode (15); and leads (18, 19) which extend inwards and/or through the diaphragm (12) to the electrodes (13, 15) in the region of the spacer (17). The differential pressure sensor is formed in a mirror-inverted arrangement in relation to the centre plane of the substrate, so that it carries two pressure sensors. These are pressure-linked by a hole (41) filled with oil and connecting the two cavities and leading through the substrate and outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Jürgen Lange, Norbert Gill
  • Patent number: 6249244
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for the determination of the fill state of solid or liquid material in a container with a signal-generating/transmitting unit, a receiving unit, a time-delay circuit which transforms the high-frequency signals into low-frequency signals, and an evaluating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventor: Frank Heidecke
  • Patent number: 6236322
    Abstract: An apparatus for establishing and/or monitoring a predetermined filling level in a container is described, which apparatus can be used in a wide range of applications, that is to say in many different media, which apparatus comprises: a housing (1), an oscillating element for projecting into the container, a diaphragm (5), which is fixedly clamped into the housing (1) at its edge and to which the oscillating element is fastened, and an electromechanical transducer for exciting the diaphragm (5) to produce oscillations in dependence on a transmission signal (S) present at the transducer and for receiving and converting oscillations thereof into an electrical reception signal (E), in which a percentage interval between a resonant frequency fr and an antiresonant frequency far divided by the resonant frequency fr exceeds 20% when the oscillating element oscillates in air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Sergej Lopatin, Helmut Pfeiffer, Alexander Müller, Volker Dreyer, Wolfgang Brutschin
  • Patent number: 6229476
    Abstract: A liquid level meter is provided for measuring a level of a liquid (1) in a container (3), which meter measures acceptably in the case of liquids with low dielectric constants, and the installation and maintenance of which are simple and cost effective. This meter comprises an electronic circuit (13), which generates electromagnetic signals in operation, a conductor (7), which projects into the container (3), along which a float (11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e) moves along with the level, which has at least one segment reflecting electromagnetic signals, an injector (9), which transmits the signals from the circuit (13) to the conductor (7), which conductor (7) leads the signals into the container (3) and leads out a signal reflected at the float (11) and a receiving and evaluating circuit (15), which receives the reflected signals, which determines a travel time of the signals and which ascertains the level from the travel time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Endress+ Hauser GmbH+ Co.
    Inventors: Wolfram Lütke, Joachim Neuhaus, Ralf Reimelt, Werner Thoren
  • Patent number: 6216172
    Abstract: For automatic CAN address allocation each bus subscriber still to be allocated an address, generates a random value for a provisional address on system power up. On receiving a request to commence address allocation each bus subscriber writes a telegram claiming the provisional address into the CAN send buffer. If a bus subscriber receives a telegram claiming an address which agrees with its own provisional address, a new random value is generated for a provisional address and a telegram claiming this provisional address is written into the CAN send buffer. If the telegram claiming the provisional address is sent before a telegram claiming the same provisional address is received, the provisional address is deposited in the writeable non-volatile memory as the final address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Robert Kölblin, Wolfgang Eiche
  • Patent number: 6205855
    Abstract: A device for monitoring a predetermined level in a container contains a sensor formed by a mechanical vibratory system comprising two vibratory rods, of which at least one vibratory rod is tubular and surrounds the other vibratory rod coaxially. Each of the two vibratory rods is secured to a common support via a resilient holding member acting as a return spring so that each rod is able to execute vibrations transversely to its longitudinal direction. An excitation arrangement causes the two vibratory rods to vibrate transversely in opposite senses at the natural resonant frequency of the mechanical vibratory system. The sensor is fitted to the container so that the tubular outer vibratory rod comes into contact with the material in the container when the material attains the level to be monitored. An evaluation circuit serves to trigger display or switching actions as a function of the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibratory system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventor: Helmut Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 6202485
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Andreas Wien, Klaus-Peter Oberle, Alexander Hardell, Stefan Burger