PULSED RADAR LEVEL GAUGING WITH EFFICIENT START-UP
First Claim
1. A pulsed radar level gauge system for measuring the distance to a surface of a material contained in a tank, said system comprising:
- frequency generating circuitry, adapted to generate a first clock frequency and a second clock frequency;
a frequency regulator configured to control a frequency separation between the first and second clock frequencies towards a frequency separation set-point;
a frequency separation evaluation circuit arranged to generate a power-up signal when said frequency separation is within a predefined frequency range;
a radar level gauge circuit configured to;
generate a transmit signal in the form of a pulse train with a transmit pulse repetition frequency based on said first clock frequency,generate a reference signal in the form of a pulse train with a reference pulse repetition frequency based on said second clock frequency,transmit said transmit signal towards said surface,receive a return signal caused by a reflection of said transmit signal at said surface,provide a level output based on a relationship between said return signal and said reference signal; and
power management circuitry configured to;
in absence of said power-up signal, not power said radar level gauge circuit to provide a level output, andin presence of said power-up signal, power said radar level gauge circuit to provide a level output.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for powering a radar level gauge, comprising an initial frequency stabilization procedure, ensuring a stable separation frequency between a first and a second clock frequencies, during which frequency stabilization procedure said radar level gauge is not powered to provide a level output, and a subsequent measurement cycle, performed only when a stable separation frequency has been established, during which said radar level gauge is powered to provide a level output.
The present invention allows a radar level gauge system to save power by not providing power to and operating the radar level gauge circuit during such times when the frequency separation would not enable the radar level gauge to provide proper level measurements.
60 Citations
101 Claims
-
1. A pulsed radar level gauge system for measuring the distance to a surface of a material contained in a tank, said system comprising:
-
frequency generating circuitry, adapted to generate a first clock frequency and a second clock frequency; a frequency regulator configured to control a frequency separation between the first and second clock frequencies towards a frequency separation set-point; a frequency separation evaluation circuit arranged to generate a power-up signal when said frequency separation is within a predefined frequency range; a radar level gauge circuit configured to; generate a transmit signal in the form of a pulse train with a transmit pulse repetition frequency based on said first clock frequency, generate a reference signal in the form of a pulse train with a reference pulse repetition frequency based on said second clock frequency, transmit said transmit signal towards said surface, receive a return signal caused by a reflection of said transmit signal at said surface, provide a level output based on a relationship between said return signal and said reference signal; and power management circuitry configured to; in absence of said power-up signal, not power said radar level gauge circuit to provide a level output, and in presence of said power-up signal, power said radar level gauge circuit to provide a level output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for measuring the distance to a surface of a material contained in a tank, said method comprising the steps of:
-
generating a first clock frequency and a second clock frequency; controlling a frequency separation between the first and second clock frequencies towards a frequency separation set-point; generating a power-up signal when said frequency separation is within a predefined frequency range; in absence of said power-up signal, not powering a radar level gauge circuit; and in presence of said power-up signal, powering said radar level gauge circuit, thereby enabling the radar level circuit to; generate a transmit signal in the form of a pulse train with a transmit pulse repetition frequency based on said first clock frequency, generate a reference signal in the form of a pulse train with a reference pulse repetition frequency based on said second clock frequency, transmit said transmit signal towards said surface, receive a return signal caused by a reflection of said transmit signal at said surface, provide a level output based on a relationship between said return signal and said reference signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method for powering a radar level gauge, comprising:
-
an initial frequency stabilization procedure, ensuring a stable separation frequency between a first and a second clock frequencies, during which frequency stabilization procedure said radar level gauge is not powered to provide a level output, and a subsequent measurement cycle, performed only when a stable separation frequency has been established, during which said radar level gauge is powered to provide a level output.
-
-
101-121. -121. (canceled)
Specification