Clock pulse control device of a microwave pulse radar

• US 20060274871A1
• Filed: 05/17/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Original Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Inventors: Griessbaum, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 7,619,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/354
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/284 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/18 wherein range gates are used
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/28 Details of pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/288 Coherent receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/135 by the use of time reference signals, e.g. clock signals

Abstract

The invention relates to a clock pulse control circuit for generating a transmit clock pulse (ts) and a sampling clock pulse (ta; tb; tc), wherein the clock pulse control circuit comprises a first oscillator (20) for generating a first clock pulse (ts) of a first frequency, and a second oscillator (21) for generating a plurality of second clock pulses (ta; tb; tc), that are shifted in time in relation to each other, of a second frequency. The clock pulse control circuit is designed such that based on the first clock pulse (ts) and the plurality of second clock pulses (ta; tb; tc) the transmit clock pulse (ts) is providable to a transmit pulse generator (2), and the sampling clock pulse (ta; tb; tc) is providable to a sampling pulse generator (6).

Claims

1. A clock pulse control circuit for generating a transmit clock pulse and a sampling clock pulse, wherein the clock pulse control circuit comprises:

a fist oscillator for generating a first clock pulse of a first frequency;

a second oscillator for generating a plurality of second clock pulses, that are shifted in time in relation to each other, of a second frequency;

wherein the clock pulse control circuit is adapted in such a way that based on the first clock pulse and the plurality of second clock pulses the transmit clock pulse can be made available to a transmit pulse generator, and the sampling clock pulse can be made available to a sampling pulse generator.

2. The clock pulse control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first oscillator and/or the second oscillator is or are adjustable, controllable or regulable.

3. The clock pulse control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one time delay element for generating a plurality of second clock pulses that are shifted in time in relation to each other.

4. The clock pulse control circuit according to claim 3, comprising a plurality of time delay elements of which at least a part is in series and/or parallel connection in relation to each other.

5. The clock pulse control circuit according to claim 3, wherein the at least one time delay element is designed to be variably adjustable, controllable or regulable by a control input.

6. The clock pulse control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one subtraction unit to form at least one differential frequency from the first clock pulse and from the plurality of second clock pulses.

7. The clock pulse control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a logical gate, wherein the logical gate is designed to receive the sampling clock pulses and to provide a common output signal.

8. The clock pulse control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit or regulating unit to control or regulate the first oscillator and/or the second oscillator.

9. The clock pulse control circuit according to claim 8, wherein the control unit or regulating unit for comparing a differential frequency with a desired value.

10. The clock pulse control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a selection device for selecting one of the second clock pulses, wherein one of the first clock pulse and of the selected second clock pulse is conveyable as the transmit clock pulse to a transmit pulse generator and the other of the first clock pulse and of the selected second clock pulse is conveyable as the sampling clock pulse to a sampling pulse generator.

11. The clock pulse control circuit according to claim 10, wherein the selection device is controllable by way of a control input.

21. A distance measuring device for measuring distances,

comprising a clock pulse control circuit according to claim 1.

22. The distance measuring device according to claim 21,

comprising the transmit pulse generator;

comprising the sampling pulse generator;

comprising a sampling mixer;

wherein by the clock pulse control circuit the transmit clock pulse is providable for triggering the transmit pulse generator, and the sampling clock pulse is providable for triggering the sampling pulse generator;

wherein the transmit pulse generator is designed to generate transmit pulses according to the transmit clock pulse and to convey the transmit pulses for transmitting by way of an antenna;

wherein the sampling pulse generator is designed to generate sampling pulses according to the sampling clock pulse and to convey the sampling pulses to the sampling mixer; and

wherein in the sampling mixer, by using the sampling pulses, values of the transmit pulses that are reflected by a surface of the product contained in the container can be sampled and can be made available to an output.

23. The distance measuring device according to claim 22, wherein the sampling mixer provides an image of the reflected transmit pulses on an output, which image is true to the original and/or has been time expanded.

24. The distance measuring device according to claim 21, wherein the distance measuring device is a fill level meter.

25. The distance measuring device according to claim 21, wherein the distance measuring device is a microwave pulse radar device.

12. A method for generating a transmit clock pulse and a sampling clock pulse for a clock pulse control circuit, wherein the method involves the following steps:

generating a first clock pulse of a first frequency;

generating a plurality of second clock pulses of a second frequency, which second clock pulses are shifted in time in relation to each other;

providing a transmit pulse generator with the transmit clock pulse, and providing a sampling pulse generator with the sampling clock pulse based on the first clock pulse and the plurality of second clock pulses.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein by a time delay the plurality of second clock pulses that are offset in time in relation to each other are generated.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein in each instance a differential frequency is formed by comparing the first clock pulse with a respective one of the second clock pulses.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the differential frequency is compared with a desired value and wherein in accordance with the comparison the frequency of one of the first and the second clock pulses is adjusted.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein by selecting one of the second clock pulses the transmit clock pulse is made available to the transmit pulse generator, or the sampling clock pulse is made available to the sampling pulse generator.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the selecting is controlled on the basis of a measuring process control system.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein by a logical operation an output signal is formed from the plurality of second clock pulses.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein by a subtraction unit a differential frequency is formed from the output signal and from the first clock pulse.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein by a measuring process control system the time delay of a clock pulse is set, and wherein the clock pulse triggers a sampling pulse generator and/or a transmit pulse generator and/or is made available to a subtraction unit to form a differential frequency.