Abstract: A radar-based, fill-level measurement device for measuring a fill-level of a filling material in a container, the high-frequency unit of which can be checked with regard to its functionality, is designed redundantly and thus comprises two, activatable, high-frequency sources for generating the high-frequency signal and two, activatable receivers for sampling the received signal such that a time-prolonged evaluation signal is generated. As a result, a correspondingly designed diagnosis unit can switch between the active high-frequency source and/or between the active receiver, wherein before and after the switching, a defined property of the evaluation signal, such as a signal amplitude, is ascertained. If the defined property of the evaluation signal changes at least by a defined value as a result of the switching, the high-frequency unit is classified as not functional.

Abstract: A method for determining the fill level of a fill substance located in a container. The method, which is based on the pulse travel time principle, is distinguished by the fact that extra-range echos can be recognized. For this, the method includes two method portions, in which microwave pulses are transmitted in the direction of the surface of the fill substance with different repetition rates in measuring cycles following one after the other. In each method portion, travel times are ascertained. The fill level is ascertained based on the first travel time and/or based on the second travel time, to the extent that they approximately agree. Otherwise, it is assumed that such echo pulses concern extra-range echos. Thus, by means of the method of the invention, it can be assured for pulse radar-based fill-level measurements that extra-range echos do not result in erroneous fill level values.

Abstract: A method for determining the fill level of a fill substance located in a container. The method, which is based on the pulse travel time principle, is distinguished by the fact that extra-range echos can be recognized. For this, the method includes two method portions, in which microwave pulses are transmitted in the direction of the surface of the fill substance with different repetition rates in measuring cycles following one after the other. In each method portion, travel times are ascertained. The fill level is ascertained based on the first travel time and/or based on the second travel time, to the extent that they approximately agree. Otherwise, it is assumed that such echo pulses concern extra-range echos. Thus, by means of the method of the invention, it can be assured for pulse radar-based fill-level measurements that extra-range echos do not result in erroneous fill level values.

Abstract: A field device has a housing providing EMC-protection. The housing includes a conductive housing core, which is surrounded on all sides by a non-conductive housing jacket secured thereon by force-interlocking, e.g. frictional interlocking, or by material bonding. At least one electrically conductive barrier is placed on and connected with an electrically conducting region of the housing core and divides the interior of the housing into at least two chambers with different degrees of EMC-protection. The barrier contains a passageway, with which at least a first electronic circuit and a second electronic circuit, which are located in different chambers, are contacted with one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a field device for automation engineering having a housing, wherein the housing has at least one associated pushbutton switch. Operation of the pushbutton switch is detected, according to the invention, inside the housing without the presence of mechanical or electrical passageway through the wall of the housing. For this, the housing does not need to have a blind hole or an inwardly directed depression. This is achieved by a rigid arrangement of a first element for producing a magnetic field on the outer wall of the housing. By means of interaction with a second element for influencing the magnetic field of the first element, which is arranged in an operating element, a variable magnetic field is produced inside the housing. This magnetic field is sensed by a sensor. On the basis of the alteration in the magnetic field, the sensor can determine whether the pushbutton switch is currently being operated.

Abstract: A field device has a housing providing EMC-protection. The housing includes a conductive housing core, which is surrounded on all sides by a non-conductive housing jacket secured thereon by force-interlocking, e.g. frictional interlocking, or by material bonding. At least one electrically conductive barrier is placed on and connected with an electrically conducting region of the housing core and divides the interior of the housing into at least two chambers with different degrees of EMC-protection. The barrier contains a passageway, with which at least a first electronic circuit and a second electronic circuit, which are located in different chambers, are contacted with one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a field device for automation engineering having a housing, wherein the housing has at least one associated pushbutton switch. Operation of the pushbutton switch is detected, according to the invention, inside the housing without the presence of mechanical or electrical passageway through the wall of the housing. For this, the housing does not need to have a blind hole or an inwardly directed depression. This is achieved by a rigid arrangement of a first element for producing a magnetic field on the outer wall of the housing. By means of interaction with a second element for influencing the magnetic field of the first element, which is arranged in an operating element, a variable magnetic field is produced inside the housing. This magnetic field is sensed by a sensor. On the basis of the alteration in the magnetic field, the sensor can determine whether the pushbutton switch is currently being operated.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for converting from a differential signal path (IFoutA - IFoutB) at the output of a mixer to a signal path (Ssin gle) referenced to a reference potential. A controllable switch element is provided in each of the two single signal paths (IFoutA, IFoutB) of the differential signal path (IFoutA-IFoutB), wherein a first memory element is connected in series with the two switch elements, and wherein there is provided for the two switch elements at least one control, which during a charging phase of the first memory element connects the differential signal path (IFoutA-IFoutB) at the output of the mixer with the first memory element and applies the output signal on the differential output of the mixer for charging the first memory element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for converting from a differential signal path (IFoutA-IFoutB) at the output of a mixer (18) to a signal path (Ssin gle) referenced to a reference potential (GND), wherein a controllable switch element (24a, 24b) is provided in each of the two single signal paths (IFoutA-IFoutB) of the differential signal path (IFoutA-IFoutB), wherein a first memory element (25) is connected in series with the two switch elements (24a, 24b), wherein there is provided for the two switch elements (24a, 24b), at least one control (23), which during a charging phase of the first memory element (25) connects the differential signal path (IFoutA-IFoutB) at the output of the mixer (18) with the first memory element (25) and applies the output signal on the differential output of the mixer (18) for charging the first memory element (25), and which during the discharging, respectively reverse charging, phase connects the first memory element (25) with the signal path referenced to the

Abstract: An apparatus for ascertaining and monitoring a fill level and includes a transmitting/receiving unit and a delay circuit. The delay circuit includes at least a sampling clocking oscillator, which produces a sampling signal having a sampling frequency, a transmission clocking oscillator, which produces a pulse repetition signal having a pulse repetition frequency, and a frequency converter, which produces by means of sequential sampling a difference signal. The apparatus further includes a control/evaluation unit, which determines on the basis of travel time the fill level. Provided on the control/evaluation unit is an external clocking input, which is connected via a clocking line with a first clocking output of the sampling clocking oscillator or with a second clocking output of the transmission clocking oscillator. A stabilized and cost-favorable control circuit for producing an intermediate frequency signal with a highly accurately determinable, transformation factor results.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transfer of broadband, high-frequency signals of a center wavelength (?c), including a conductor structure, which includes at least one signal path and two reference paths arranged symmetrically to the signal path. Together the conductor structure and the two reference paths form a coplanar line, with the conductor structure being arranged on two oppositely lying sides of at least one dielectric substrate layer of a predetermined thickness in such a manner that the conductor structure overlaps in predetermined coupling regions, whereby the coupling region of the conductor structure transfers the high-frequency signals by an electromagnetic coupling, wherein the thickness of the substrate layer (18) is smaller than ?c/4, and wherein multiple electromagnetic couplings are arranged serially one after the other. The apparatus enables a galvanic isolation having good transfer properties in the case of frequencies greater than 6 GHz.

Abstract: An apparatus for ascertaining and monitoring a fill level and includes a transmitting/receiving unit and a delay circuit. The delay circuit includes at least a sampling clocking oscillator, which produces a sampling signal having a sampling frequency, a transmission clocking oscillator, which produces a pulse repetition signal having a pulse repetition frequency and a frequency converter, which produces by means of sequential sampling a difference signal. The apparatus further includes a control/evaluation unit, which determines on the basis of travel time the fill level. Provided on the control/evaluation unit is an external clocking input, which is connected via a clocking line with a first clocking output of the sampling clocking oscillator or with a second clocking output of the transmission clocking oscillator. A stabilized and cost-favorable control circuit for producing an intermediate frequency signal with a highly accurately determinable, transformation factor results.

Abstract: An apparatus for optimizing power consumption of an electrical circuit component in an operating- and evaluating-circuit of a two-conductor field device, wherein a control unit is provided, which switches the electrical circuit component with a clock signal. An energy supply unit is provided for supplying the circuit component with energy, and wherein at least one energy-storing component is connected to at least one output, at least one input and/or a supply input of the electrical circuit component. The apparatus provides for a field device, a suitable electronics for enabling improvement of the energy budget of the evaluating- and operating-circuit, especially its circuit component.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus for optimizing power consumption of an electrical circuit component in an operating- and evaluating-circuit of a two-conductor field device, wherein a control unit is provided, which switches the electrical circuit component with a clock signal. An energy supply unit is provided for supplying the circuit component with energy, and wherein at least one energy-storing component is connected to at least one output, at least one input and/or a supply input of the electrical circuit component. The apparatus provides for a field device, a suitable electronics for enabling improvement of the energy budget of the evaluating- and operating-circuit, especially its circuit component.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining the distance on the basis of the travel-time of high-frequency measuring signals, wherein at least one periodic, pulsed, transmission signal having a pulse repetition frequency is transmitted and at least one reflected measuring signal is received. The transmission signal and the reflected measuring signal are transformed by means of a sampling signal produced with a sampling frequency into a time-expanded, intermediate-frequency signal having an intermediate-frequency. The time-expanded, intermediate-frequency signal is filtered by means of at least one filter and a filtered, intermediate-frequency signal is produced, wherein the intermediate-frequency is matched to a limit frequency and/or a center frequency of the filter. The matching of the filter to the intermediate-frequency of the time-expanded measuring signal results, reducing production costs.

Abstract: Emission values of pulse echo methods known to this point in time, especially those, which are used in industrial measurements technology for fill level measurements, frequently reach the allowable limit values. To avoid possible radio permitting of such measuring devices, the invention provides a method and a circuit for optimizing emission of broadband transmission pulses of a pulse echo method, wherein the transmission pulses are transmitted with a pre-selected pulse repetition frequency. The method and circuit of the invention provide that the polarity of a pulse is switched with each cycle of the pulse repetition frequency, depending on a random sequence, or that individual pulses are suppressed with each cycle of the pulse repetition frequency, depending on a random sequence.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transfer of broadband, high-frequency signals of a center wavelength (?c), including a conductor structure, which includes at least one signal path and two reference paths arranged symmetrically to the signal path. Together the conductor structure and the two reference paths form a coplanar line, with the conductor structure being arranged on two oppositely lying sides of at least one dielectric substrate layer of a predetermined thickness in such a manner that the conductor structure overlaps in predetermined coupling regions, whereby the coupling region of the conductor structure transfers the high-frequency signals by an electromagnetic coupling, wherein the thickness of the substrate layer (18) is smaller than ?c/4, and wherein multiple electromagnetic couplings are arranged serially one after the other. The apparatus enables a galvanic isolation having good transfer properties in the case of frequencies greater than 6 GHz.

Abstract: A method for determining the fill level (l) on the basis of the travel time (t) of a high-frequency measuring signal (SHF), which is transformed into a lower frequency, intermediate-frequency measuring signal (SZF), wherein the transformation factor (KT) is obtained from a difference frequency (fSweep) between a pulse repetition frequency (fPRF) and a sampling frequency (fsample) The pulse repetition frequency (fPRF) or the sampling frequency (fsample) is altered on the basis of a control with a control variable (c_var) through an appropriate control algorithm, such that a desired value (fSweep—setpoint) of the difference frequency is controlled to; wherein a gradient (grad) of at least two values is determined, and on the basis of the gradient (grad) and the difference frequency (fSweep), or difference time (tSweep), in the case of a set control variable (c_var), an operating point (OP) of the control is determined, and the control algorithm is adjusted accordingly thereto.