Patents by Inventor Robert Storch

Robert Storch 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).

  • Patent number: 11841260
    Abstract: A fill level sensor for detecting a level of a fill medium in a container includes a generator having a feed line, an antenna, a supply and a controller. The generator generates electromagnetic waves having a resonant frequency and outputs the electromagnetic waves via the feed line having a line impedance with a line impedance value. The supply is arranged between the feed line and the antenna and transmits the electromagnetic waves from the feed line to the antenna. The supply has a resonant circuit. The resonant circuit and the antenna together have a resonant input impedance in the transmission direction. The resonant circuit transforms the resonant input impedance at the resonant frequency into a real impedance having a predetermined resonant impedance value. The antenna has an antenna resonant frequency different from the resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventor: Robert Storch
  • Patent number: 11099051
    Abstract: A method for determining the fill level of a medium involves continuous wave radar measurement and a corresponding fill level measuring device. A coded transmit signal is emitted by a transmitter, reflected at the medium, and received by a receiver as a reflection signal. The reflection signal and a signal derived from the transmit signal are subjected to a correlation analysis, and a correlation outcome results. A control and evaluation unit determines the time offset of the correlated signals with the correlation outcome, and uses it to determine the fill level of the medium. The reflection signal and the derived signal are mixed with the analog mixer into a mixer output signal that is sampled and quantized to a digital mixer output signal. The correlator has a digital integrator with which a sequence of digital mixer output signals is digitally integrated into the correlation outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: KROHNE S.A.S.
    Inventors: Michael Vogt, Robert Storch, Gordon Notzon
  • Publication number: 20210223088
    Abstract: A fill level sensor for detecting a level of a fill medium in a container includes a generator having a feed line, an antenna, a supply and a controller. The generator generates electromagnetic waves having a resonant frequency and outputs the electromagnetic waves via the feed line having a line impedance with a line impedance value. The supply is arranged between the feed line and the antenna and transmits the electromagnetic waves from the feed line to the antenna. The supply has a resonant circuit. The resonant circuit and the antenna together have a resonant input impedance in the transmission direction. The resonant circuit transforms the resonant input impedance at the resonant frequency into a real impedance having a predetermined resonant impedance value. The antenna has an antenna resonant frequency different from the resonant frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventor: Robert Storch
  • Patent number: 10605643
    Abstract: A fill level switch for determining a level limit of a medium in a container, has a sensor unit having an antenna unit, a process window for protecting the sensor unit and for connection to a container wall, an electronic unit and a sensor housing. The antenna unit has at least a first emitting element for emitting a first electromagnetic transmission signal, at least a feed line, at least a reference surface having a reference potential and at least a dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer is arranged between the reference surface and the emitting element. An aperture coupling is provided via which the emitting element is fed by the feed line during operation. The reference surface has an opening for passage of the electromagnetic transmission signal, and the first emitting element is arranged such that it has direct contact with the medium during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: KROHNE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Robert Storch
  • Patent number: 10408658
    Abstract: A fill level switch arrangement (1) for determining the fill level of a medium (2) in a container (3) and a method for determining the fill level of a medium (2) in a container (3) using a fill level switch arrangement (1). The fill level switch arrangement (1) has at least one alarm threshold that can be implemented in a simplified manner due to the fill level switch arrangement (1) having a transmitting element (4) and a receiving element (5), wherein the transmitting element (4) is used for transmitting a radio signal and is operatively connected to the receiving element (4), wherein the receiving element (5) is configured to detect radio signals, and wherein the receiving element (5) is configured such that it generates and transmits a switching signal in the event of a change in the received radio signal caused by the medium (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: KROHNE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Michael Gerding, Robert Storch
  • Publication number: 20190107428
    Abstract: A method for determining the fill level of a medium involves continuous wave radar measurement and a corresponding fill level measuring device. A coded transmit signal is emitted by a transmitter, reflected at the medium, and received by a receiver as a reflection signal. The reflection signal and a signal derived from the transmit signal are subjected to a correlation analysis, and a correlation outcome results. A control and evaluation unit determines the time offset of the correlated signals with the correlation outcome, and uses it to determine the fill level of the medium. The reflection signal and the derived signal are mixed with the analog mixer into a mixer output signal that is sampled and quantized to a digital mixer output signal. The correlator has a digital integrator with which a sequence of digital mixer output signals is digitally integrated into the correlation outcome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Vogt, Robert Storch, Gordon Notzon
  • Publication number: 20180224316
    Abstract: A fill level switch for determining a level limit of a medium in a container, has a sensor unit having an antenna unit, a process window for protecting the sensor unit and for connection to a container wall, an electronic unit and a sensor housing. The antenna unit has at least a first emitting element for emitting a first electromagnetic transmission signal, at least a feed line, at least a reference surface having a reference potential and at least a dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer is arranged between the reference surface and the emitting element. an aperture coupling is provided via which the emitting element is fed by the feed line during operation. The reference surface has an opening for passage of the electromagnetic transmission signal, and the first emitting element is arranged such that it has direct contact with the medium during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Robert Storch
  • Publication number: 20180120140
    Abstract: A fill level switch arrangement (1) for determining the fill level of a medium (2) in a container (3) and a method for determining the fill level of a medium (2) in a container (3) using a fill level switch arrangement (1). The fill level switch arrangement (1) has at least one alarm threshold that can be implemented in a simplified manner due to the fill level switch arrangement (1) having a transmitting element (4) and a receiving element (5), wherein the transmitting element (4) is used for transmitting a radio signal and is operatively connected to the receiving element (4), wherein the receiving element (5) is configured to detect radio signals, and wherein the receiving element (5) is configured such that it generates and transmits a switching signal in the event of a change in the received radio signal caused by the medium (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Convent, Michael Gerding, Robert Storch
  • Patent number: 9113543
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for measuring the density of a plasma by determining an impulse response to a high-frequency signal coupled into a plasma. The density, electron temperature and/or collision frequency as a function of the impulse response can be determined. A probe having a probe head and a probe shaft can be introduced into the plasma, wherein the probe shaft is connected to a signal generator for electrically coupling a high-frequency signal into the probe head. The probe core is enclosed by the jacket and has at its surface mutually insulated electrode areas of opposite polarity. A balun is arranged at the transition between the probe head and an electrically unbalanced high-frequency signal feed to convert electrically unbalanced signals into balanced signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM
    Inventors: Ralf Peter Brinkmann, Jens Oberrath, Peter Awakowicz, Martin Lapke, Thomas Musch, Thomas Mussenbrock, Ilona Rolfes, Christian Schulz, Robert Storch, Tim Styrnoll, Christian Zietz
  • Patent number: 8664980
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizer for generating a low noise and low jitter timebase of a reference signal generates first and second output signals a difference frequency that is low enough for use in sub-scanning is implemented with a first incrementer, having a preset increment and a preset end value E1 controlling a first fractional divider and a second incrementer having a preset increment and a present end value E2 controlling a second fractional divider, wherein each of the incrementers is clocked from the output signal of each fractional divider so that, when the end value E1, E2 is reached, an end signal is output and the incrementers are reset to a carryover value as a new starting value and the end signal is switched between the division factors of the fractional dividers so that the switching sequence of the end signal is periodic with the output signals of the fractional dividers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Musch, Robert Storch
  • Publication number: 20130160523
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for measuring the density of a plasma by determining an impulse response to a high-frequency signal coupled into a plasma. The density, electron temperature and/or collision frequency as a function of the impulse response can be determined. A probe having a probe head and a probe shaft can be introduced into the plasma, wherein the probe shaft is connected to a signal generator for electrically coupling a high-frequency signal into the probe head. The probe core is enclosed by the jacket and has at its surface mutually insulated electrode areas of opposite polarity. A balun is arranged at the transition between the probe head and an electrically unbalanced high-frequency signal feed to convert electrically unbalanced signals into balanced signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM
    Inventors: Ralf Peter Brinkmann, Jens Oberrath, Peter Awakowicz, Martin Lapke, Thomas Musch, Thomas Mussenbrock, Ilona Rolfes, Christian Schulz, Robert Storch, Tim Styrnoll, Christian Zietz