Radiometric measuring device with a two-wire supply

• US 8,084,740 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2010
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Original Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Inventors: Rauer, Winfried, Fehrenbach, Josef, Deck, Thomas, Sack, Holger
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANINGCO, MARCUS H
• Application Number:
  US12/714,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20100230600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 250/357.1, 250/395
• US Class Current: 250/357.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/288 X-rays; Gamma rays or other forms of ionising radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 9/24 by observing the transmission of wave or particle radiation through the material

Abstract

A measuring device with a two-wire supply for radiometric filling level measuring or density measuring of a feed material with a processor which is designed to change from an active mode to a power-saving mode.

Claims

1. A measuring device for radiometric measuring of one of a filling level and a density of a feed material, comprising:

a two-wire supply; and

a processor configured to change from an active mode to a power-saving mode,

wherein the processor is activated as soon as a new measurement value is present.

2. The measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an energy storage unit storing energy, the energy storage unit collecting currents of components of the measuring device and supplying the measuring device with current.

3. The measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the energy storage unit is an electrolytic power capacitor.

4. The measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a signal amplifier; and

a comparator,

wherein the processor switches off at least one of the signal amplifier and the comparator.

5. The measuring device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a switch regulating the energy supply of at least one of the comparator and the signal amplifier using the energy storage unit, the switch being controlled by the processor.

6. The measuring device according to claim 4, wherein the signal amplifier is configured for an intermittent operation.

7. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured for an intermittent operation.

8. A measuring system for the radiometric measuring of one of a filling level and a density of a feed material, comprising:

a two-wire supply;

a processor configured to change from an active mode to a power-saving mode; and

a radioactive source arrangement,

wherein the processor is activated as soon as a new measurement value is present.

9. A measuring method for a radiometric measuring of one of a filling level and a density of a feed material using a measuring device with a two-wire supply, comprising:

switching a processor of the measuring device from an active mode to a power-saving mode for saving power; and

activating the processor if a new measurement value is present.

10. A measuring method according to claim 9, further comprising:

collecting currents using an energy storage unit of the measuring device; and

supplying the power using the energy storage unit.

11. The measuring method according to claim 9, further comprising:

switching off at least one of a signal amplifier of the measuring device and a comparator of the measuring device using the processor for the power-saving mode.

12. The measuring method according to claim 9, further comprising:

performing an intermittent operation of a signal amplifier of the measuring device; and

performing an intermittent operation of the processor.

13. A program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium executable by a processor of a measuring device with a two-wire supply for radiometric measuring of one of a filling level and a density of a feed material directs the processor to carry out the following steps:

switching a processor from an active mode to a power-saving mode for saving power; and

activating the processor when a new measurement value is present.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which a program element is stored which when executed on a processor of a measuring device with a two-wire supply for radiometric measuring of one of a filling level and a density of a feed material directs the processor to carry out the following steps:

switching a processor from an active mode to a power-saving mode for saving power; and

activating the processor when a new measurement value is present.