Pulsed radar level detection system using pulse dithering to eliminate inaccuracies caused by tank rattle
First Claim
1. A through air radar level measurement instrument for use in minimizing tank rattle comprising:
- a housing;
an antenna secured to the housing;
a process adapter associated with the antenna and the housing for securing the instrument to a closed tank with the antenna directed into an interior of the closed tank; and
a control in the housing for generating or receiving a high frequency signal using an electromagnetic radiating element proximate the antenna, the control comprising an equivalent time sampling circuit including a main oscillator driving a timing circuit controlling timing between transmitted and sampled pulses, and a noise generator operatively associated with the main oscillator to randomly modulate timing of the main oscillator, wherein the control minimizes inaccuracies caused by tank rattle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A through air level measurement instrument for use in minimizing tank rattle comprises a housing and an antenna secured to the housing. A process adaptor is associated with the antenna and the housing for securing the instrument to a closed tank with the antenna directed into an interior of the closed tank. A control in the housing generates and receives a high frequency signal using an electromagnetic radiating element proximate the antenna. The control comprises an equivalent time sampling circuit including a main oscillator driving a timing circuit controlling timing between transmitted and sample pulses. A noise generator is operatively associated with the main oscillator to randomly modulate timing of the main oscillator. The control minimizes inaccuracies caused by tank rattle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A through air radar level measurement instrument for use in minimizing tank rattle comprising:
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a housing; an antenna secured to the housing; a process adapter associated with the antenna and the housing for securing the instrument to a closed tank with the antenna directed into an interior of the closed tank; and a control in the housing for generating or receiving a high frequency signal using an electromagnetic radiating element proximate the antenna, the control comprising an equivalent time sampling circuit including a main oscillator driving a timing circuit controlling timing between transmitted and sampled pulses, and a noise generator operatively associated with the main oscillator to randomly modulate timing of the main oscillator, wherein the control minimizes inaccuracies caused by tank rattle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. The method of eliminating tank rattle inaccuracies in a through air radar level sensor comprising:
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providing a housing, with an antenna secured to the housing and a process adapter associated with the antenna and the housing for securing the sensor to a closed tank with the antenna directed into an interior of the closed tank; generating and receiving a high frequency signal using an electromagnetic radiating element proximate the antenna, comprising providing an equivalent time sampling circuit including a main oscillator driving a timing circuit controlling timing between transmitted and sampled pulses, and generating noise to the main oscillator to randomly modulate timing of the main oscillator to minimize inaccuracies caused by tank rattle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A through air radar level sensor for use in minimizing tank rattle comprising:
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a housing; an antenna secured to the housing; a process adapter associated with the antenna and the housing for securing the instrument to a closed tank with the antenna directed into an interior of the closed tank; and a control for generating and receiving a high frequency signal using an electromagnetic radiating element proximate the antenna, the control comprising an equivalent time sampling circuit including a main oscillator driving a timing circuit providing precise timing between transmitted and sampled pulses in a cycle, and a noise generator operatively associated with the main oscillator providing dithering of transmit pulses of different cycles to minimize inaccuracies caused by tank rattle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 20)
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19. The through air radar level sensor of claim 19 wherein the timing circuit comprises a delay lock loop is operatively associated with a sampling detector to perform the function of equivalent time sampling.
Specification