Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for providing current from a DC power supply to pulsed loads in an array. The array comprises at least two electronic units. Each electronic unit comprises a regulator connected to an energy storage, to a pulsed load and to a charge control unit. The charge control unit is arranged to control the supply of DC current to the pulsed load connected to the electronic unit. The method comprises: selecting a pulse load pattern for the pulsed loads, selecting a charge control sequence by a control system connected to the electronic units and the DC power supply, starting the selected charge control sequence, starting the pulse load pattern, providing DC current from the DC power supply to each electronic unit at different times according to the selected charge control sequence set by the charge control unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for providing current from a DC power supply to pulsed loads in an array. The array comprises at least two electronic units. Each electronic unit comprises a regulator connected to an energy storage, to a pulsed load and to a charge control unit. The charge control unit is arranged to control the supply of DC current to the pulsed load connected to the electronic unit. The method comprises: selecting a pulse load pattern for the pulsed loads, selecting a charge control sequence by a control system connected to the electronic units and the DC power supply, starting the selected charge control sequence, starting the pulse load pattern, providing DC current from the DC power supply to each electronic unit at different times according to the selected charge control sequence set by the charge control unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radar system for a vehicle, a method for controlling a radar system, a computer program product, and a vehicle comprising such a radar system. The radar system comprises an antenna arrangement for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic waves, a power supply connected to the antenna arrangement, the power supply being arranged to supply the antenna arrangement with operating power. The radar system further comprises an antenna controller connected to the antenna arrangement, the antenna controller being configured to control an operation of the antenna arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radar system for a vehicle, a method for controlling a radar system, a computer program product, and a vehicle comprising such a radar system. The radar system comprises an antenna arrangement for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic waves, a power supply connected to the antenna arrangement, the power supply being arranged to supply the antenna arrangement with operating power. The radar system further comprises an antenna controller connected to the antenna arrangement, the antenna controller being configured to control an operation of the antenna arrangement.

Abstract: A switching mode DC/DC power converter for delivering a direct current to a pulse radar unit. A first switching element connects and disconnects the power converter from a power source in each cycle of the power converter. An inductor charges and discharges in each cycle. A capacitor maintains a DC output voltage as the inductor charges and discharges in each cycle. A second switching element transfers energy from the inductor to the capacitor when the first switch disconnects the switching mode power converter from the power source. A control loop regulates the voltage with a time constant, to a predetermined value by controlling the first switching element. An on time for the first switching element in each cycle is chosen to allow the current through the inductor to fall to zero in each cycle. The cycle is shorter than RF pulse duration and time constant of the control loop is longer than the RF pulses.

Abstract: Method for determining product surface distance in a tank comprising: i) generating a transmission signal as a first pulse train; ii) generating a reference signal having a second pulse train by time delaying said first pulse train; wherein each pulse in said first and second pulse trains have essentially identical waveforms and pulse repetition frequency; iii) guiding said transmission signal towards the product surface; iv) receiving a reflected signal; v) forming a correlation value based on a time correlation between the reference signal and the reflected signal; vi) carrying out steps i) to v) in sequence for at least three different pulse repetition frequencies, until at least three pairs of correlation values and associated pulse repetition frequencies have been stored; vii) determining said distance based on said at least three pairs of correlation values and associated pulse repetition frequencies, and said fixed time delay.

Abstract: A switching mode DC/DC power converter for delivering a direct current to a pulse radar unit. A first switching element connects and disconnects the power converter from a power source in each cycle of the power converter. An inductor charges and discharges in each cycle. A capacitor maintains a DC output voltage as the inductor charges and discharges in each cycle. A second switching element transfers energy from the inductor to the capacitor when the first switch disconnects the switching mode power converter from the power source. A control loop regulates the voltage with a time constant, to a predetermined value by controlling the first switching element. An on time for the first switching element in each cycle is chosen to allow the current through the inductor to fall to zero in each cycle. The cycle is shorter than RF pulse duration and time constant of the control loop is longer than the RF pulses.

Abstract: Method for determining product surface distance in a tank comprising: i) generating a transmission signal as a first pulse train; ii) generating a reference signal having a second pulse train by time delaying said first pulse train; wherein each pulse in said first and second pulse trains have essentially identical waveforms and pulse repetition frequency; iii) guiding said transmission signal towards the product surface; iv) receiving a reflected signal; v) forming a correlation value based on a time correlation between the reference signal and the reflected signal; vi) carrying out steps i) to v) in sequence for at least three different pulse repetition frequencies, until at least three pairs of correlation values and associated pulse repetition frequencies have been stored; vii) determining said distance based on said at least three pairs of correlation values and associated pulse repetition frequencies, and said fixed time delay.

Abstract: A device for using electromagnetic pulses to determine a distance to a surface includes a pulse generator, a real time sampler and a calibration unit having a signal generator for generating a calibration signal with a predefined frequency. In a calibration mode the real time sampler receives the calibration signal, and an average sample time delay of the sampler is determined based on the sampled calibration signal and the known calibration frequency. In a measurement mode, the real time sampler receives a reflection signal and the distance is determined based on a sampled reflection signal and the average sample time delay. Knowledge of the average delay of the sampler makes it possible to exactly determine the distance (in time and thus space) between two points in the sampled signal.

Abstract: A loop-powered field device for determining a process variable and providing a measurement signal indicative of the process variable to a remote location via a two-wire current loop, the loop-powered field device comprising: a measurement device for determining the process variable; and loop interface circuitry for providing the measurement signal to the two-wire current loop and for providing power from the two-wire current loop to the measurement device.

Abstract: A level gauge system comprising transmission signal generating circuitry for generating a transmission signal; a propagation device connected to the transmission signal generating circuitry and arranged to propagate the transmission signal towards a surface of the product inside the tank, and to return a reflected signal resulting from reflection of the transmission signal at the surface of the product contained in the tank. The level gauge system further comprises reference signal providing circuitry configured to provide a reference signal. At least one of the transmission signal generating circuitry and the reference signal providing circuitry comprises delay circuitry. The delay circuitry comprises a plurality of delay cells, and controllable switching circuitry arranged and configured to allow formation of a delay path comprising a subset of the plurality of delay cells connected in series, to thereby allow control of a signal propagation delay of the delay circuitry.

Abstract: A level gauge system comprising transmission signal generating circuitry for generating a transmission signal; a propagation device connected to the transmission signal generating circuitry and arranged to propagate the transmission signal towards a surface of the product inside the tank, and to return a reflected signal resulting from reflection of the transmission signal at the surface of the product contained in the tank. The level gauge system further comprises reference signal providing circuitry configured to provide a reference signal. At least one of the transmission signal generating circuitry and the reference signal providing circuitry comprises delay circuitry. The delay circuitry comprises at least one delay cell exhibiting a propagation delay for pulses passing through the at least one delay cell that varies in dependence of a supply voltage provided to the at least one delay cell, and voltage control circuitry connected to the at least one delay cell.

Abstract: A loop-powered field device for determining a process variable and providing a measurement signal indicative of the process variable to a remote location via a two-wire current loop, the loop-powered field device comprising: a measurement device for determining the process variable; and loop interface circuitry for providing the measurement signal to the two-wire current loop and for providing power from the two-wire current loop to the measurement device.

Abstract: Calibration of a device using electromagnetic waves to determine a distance to a surface, which device comprises a pulse generator, a real time sampler and a calibration unit having a signal generator for generating a calibration signal with a predefined frequency. In a calibration mode, the real time sampler receives the calibration signal, and an average sample time delay of the sampler is determined based on the sampled calibration signal and the known calibration frequency. In a measurement mode, the real time sampler receives a reflection signal and the distance is determined based on a sampled reflection signal and the average sample time delay. Knowledge of the average delay of the sampler makes it possible to exactly determine the distance (in time and thus space) between two points in the sampled signal.

Abstract: A method for determining a process variable of a product in a tank based on a time delay of electromagnetic waves. The method further comprises forming a measurement signal comprising a sequence of values, each value representing a time correlation between a pulse of a reference signal and a reflected signal, sampling and digitizing this measurement signal to form a digital signal, identifying a time window of the digital signal including the surface echo peak, determining a relative time period between a reference time corresponding to the predefined reference and a beginning of the time window, time-to-frequency transforming the digital signal in the time window to obtain a phase spectrum, determining a relative phase shift of the spectrum and using the relative phase shift to calculate a corresponding time shift, and determining the time delay by adding the relative time period and the time shift.

Abstract: A radar level gauge (RLG) system and method for determining a filling level of a filling material in a tank is disclosed. The RLG system comprises a transmitter for generating and transmitting an electromagnetic transmitter pulse signal, a transmitter controller for controlling means for pulse width adjustment for adjusting the pulse width of the transmitter pulse signal in dependence of at least one application specific condition. Further, the system comprises a signal medium interface connectable to means for directing said transmitter pulse signal towards said filling material and for receiving a reception pulse signal reflected back from said filling material; a receiver for receiving said reception pulse signal from the tank; and processing circuitry for determining the filling level of the tank based on said reflection pulse signal received by said receiver. The application specific condition(s) is e.g.

Abstract: A radar level gauge (RLG) using electromagnetic waves for determining a process variable of a product in a tank is provided which includes timing circuitry adapted to provide timing control of a transceiver, and a communication interface arranged to receive power in an intrinsically safe manner and to connect the radar level gauge externally thereof. The RLG further comprises an isolation interface arranged to galvanically isolate the transceiver from the timing circuitry and the communication interface, the isolation interface being arranged to transfer power and timing control from the timing circuitry and the communication interface to the transceiver circuitry.

Abstract: A radar level gauge (RLG) system and method for determining a filling level of a filling material in a tank is disclosed. The RLG system comprises a transmitter for generating and transmitting an electromagnetic transmitter pulse signal, a transmitter controller for controlling means for pulse width adjustment for adjusting the pulse width of the transmitter pulse signal in dependence of at least one application specific condition. Further, the system comprises a signal medium interface connectable to means for directing said transmitter pulse signal towards said filling material and for receiving a reception pulse signal reflected back from said filling material; a receiver for receiving said reception pulse signal from the tank; and processing circuitry for determining the filling level of the tank based on said reflection pulse signal received by said receiver. The application specific condition(s) is e.g.

Abstract: A field bus interface for connecting a device to a field bus, comprising communication circuitry for providing communication via the field bus, first power supply circuitry arranged to provide said communication circuit with a predefined communication power at a predefined drive voltage, and second power supply circuitry arranged to provide a processing circuitry with processing power at said bus voltage only when a power available from said field bus exceeds said communication power. More specifically, the power provided to the processing circuitry at a given bus current will be decided by the power actually available, instead of a power level decided by the lower limit of the voltage range of the field bus specification. The first circuitry and the communication circuitry will ensure that the field bus requirements are met in a case when the bus voltage falls close to the lower limit of the bus voltage range.

Abstract: A radar level detector for detecting that a surface of a product in a tank has entered a predefined distance range in an upper half of said tank, said level detector comprising a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic transmission signal into the tank, a propagation device for allowing said transmission signal to propagate towards said surface and for returning a reflection of said transmission signal from said surface, a selector for selecting a portion of said reflection, said portion defining said predefined distance range, a detector for setting a discrete signal to an active level if said portion includes information indicating a surface reflection, and an interface for communicating said discrete signal externally of said level detector. As it is not necessary to determine the filling level at every point in time, the signal processing of the detector according to the present invention can be significantly simplified, leading to a more cost efficient product and less power consumption.