RADAR LEVEL GAUGE SYSTEM WITH REDUCED ANTENNA REFLECTION
First Claim
1. A radar level gauge system for determining a filling level of a product in a tank, said radar level gauge system comprising:
- a transceiver configured to generate and transmit electromagnetic signals having a first polarization and to receive electromagnetic signals having a second polarization different from the first polarization;
a horn antenna for directing an electromagnetic transmit signal transmitted by said transceiver towards said surface of the product, and for returning back to said transceiver an electromagnetic surface reflection signal resulting from reflection of said electromagnetic transmit signal at said surface; and
processing circuitry connected to said transceiver for determining said filling level based on said electromagnetic surface reflection signal,wherein said horn antenna comprises;
a first opening coupled to said transceiver;
a second opening, larger than said first opening, directed towards said surface of said product in the tank; and
a conductive horn antenna wall connecting said first opening and said second opening to form a horn structure having a central longitudinal axis,wherein said conductive horn antenna wall exhibits;
a first electrical distance from said first opening to said second opening, along a first path defined by an intersection between said conductive horn antenna wall and a half-plane extending from said central longitudinal axis at a first rotational orientation in respect of said central longitudinal axis; and
a second electrical distance from said first opening to said second opening, along a second path defined by an intersection between said conductive horn antenna wall and a half-plane extending from said central longitudinal axis at a second rotational orientation in respect of said central longitudinal axis, said second electrical distance being different from said first electrical distance, andwherein a difference between said first electrical distance and said second electrical distance is such that an antenna reflection signal resulting from reflection of said electromagnetic transmit signal by said horn antenna has a polarization being different from said second polarization.
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Abstract
A radar level gauge system for determining a filling level in a tank. The radar level gauge system comprises a transceiver, a horn antenna having a first opening connected to the transceiver and a second opening facing a surface of the product in the tank, and processing circuitry connected to the transceiver for determining the filling level based on an electromagnetic surface reflection signal. The horn antenna is configured in such a way that an electrical distance from the first opening to the second opening, along a path defined by an intersection between a wall of the horn antenna and a half-plane starting from and extending in parallel with a cone axis of the horn antenna, is different for different orientations of the half-plane with respect to the cone axis. Hereby, disturbance from an antenna reflection signal can be reduced, which provides for improved measurement of high filling levels.
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Citations
115 Claims
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1. A radar level gauge system for determining a filling level of a product in a tank, said radar level gauge system comprising:
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a transceiver configured to generate and transmit electromagnetic signals having a first polarization and to receive electromagnetic signals having a second polarization different from the first polarization; a horn antenna for directing an electromagnetic transmit signal transmitted by said transceiver towards said surface of the product, and for returning back to said transceiver an electromagnetic surface reflection signal resulting from reflection of said electromagnetic transmit signal at said surface; and processing circuitry connected to said transceiver for determining said filling level based on said electromagnetic surface reflection signal, wherein said horn antenna comprises; a first opening coupled to said transceiver; a second opening, larger than said first opening, directed towards said surface of said product in the tank; and a conductive horn antenna wall connecting said first opening and said second opening to form a horn structure having a central longitudinal axis, wherein said conductive horn antenna wall exhibits; a first electrical distance from said first opening to said second opening, along a first path defined by an intersection between said conductive horn antenna wall and a half-plane extending from said central longitudinal axis at a first rotational orientation in respect of said central longitudinal axis; and a second electrical distance from said first opening to said second opening, along a second path defined by an intersection between said conductive horn antenna wall and a half-plane extending from said central longitudinal axis at a second rotational orientation in respect of said central longitudinal axis, said second electrical distance being different from said first electrical distance, and wherein a difference between said first electrical distance and said second electrical distance is such that an antenna reflection signal resulting from reflection of said electromagnetic transmit signal by said horn antenna has a polarization being different from said second polarization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of determining a filling level of a product in a tank, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting an electromagnetic transmit signal having a first polarization; propagating, using a horn antenna, said electromagnetic transmit signal towards said surface of the product; reflecting, by said horn antenna, a portion of said electromagnetic transmit signal as an antenna reflection signal having said first polarization; receiving an electromagnetic surface reflection signal resulting from reflection of said electromagnetic transmit signal at said surface of the product, said electromagnetic reflection signal having a second polarization different from said first polarization; and determining said filling level based on said electromagnetic surface reflection signal. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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101. A radar level gauge system for determining a filling level of a product in a tank, said radar level gauge system comprising:
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a transceiver configured to generate and transmit electromagnetic signals having a first polarization and to receive electromagnetic signals having a second polarization different from the first polarization; a horn antenna for directing an electromagnetic transmit signal transmitted by said transceiver towards said surface of the product, and for returning back to said transceiver an electromagnetic surface reflection signal resulting from reflection of said electromagnetic transmit signal at said surface; and processing circuitry connected to said transceiver for determining said filling level based on said electromagnetic surface reflection signal, wherein said horn antenna comprises; a first opening coupled to said transceiver; a second opening, larger than said first opening, directed towards said surface of said product in the tank; and a conductive horn antenna wall connecting said first opening and said second opening to form a horn structure having a central longitudinal axis, wherein said conductive horn antenna wall exhibits; a first electrical distance from said first opening to said second opening, along a first path defined by an intersection between said conductive horn antenna wall and a half-plane extending from said central longitudinal axis at a first rotational orientation in respect of said central longitudinal axis; and a second electrical distance from said first opening to said second opening, along a second path defined by an intersection between said conductive horn antenna wall and a half-plane extending from said central longitudinal axis at a second rotational orientation in respect of said central longitudinal axis, said second electrical distance being different from said first electrical distance, and wherein a difference between said first electrical distance and said second electrical distance is such that an antenna reflection signal resulting from reflection of said electromagnetic transmit signal by said horn antenna has a polarization being different from said second polarization. - View Dependent Claims (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113)
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114. A method of determining a filling level of a product in a tank, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting an electromagnetic transmit signal having a first polarization; propagating, using a horn antenna, said electromagnetic transmit signal towards said surface of the product; reflecting, by said horn antenna, a portion of said electromagnetic transmit signal as an antenna reflection signal having said first polarization; receiving an electromagnetic surface reflection signal resulting from reflection of said electromagnetic transmit signal at said surface of the product, said electromagnetic reflection signal having a second polarization different from said first polarization; and determining said filling level based on said electromagnetic surface reflection signal. - View Dependent Claims (115)
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Specification