| Enraf B.V. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20110163910 | RADAR LIQUID LEVEL DETECTION USING STEPPED FREQUENCY PULSES - The invention relates to a method for accurately determining the level L of a liquid by means of radar signals emitted to the liquid surface and radar signals reflected from the liquid surface. The invention further relates to a device for accurately determining the level of a liquid by means of the method according to the invention, which device comprises at least a radar antenna disposed above the liquid for emitting radar signals to the liquid and receiving radar signals reflected from the liquid surface, as well as means for determining the liquid level on the basis of the emitted radar signals and the reflected radar signals. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20100086172 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC SEDIMENT OR SLUDGE DETECTION, MONITORING, AND INSPECTION IN OIL STORAGE AND OTHER FACILITIES - A method includes receiving an image of a storage tank at a processing system, where the storage tank is capable of storing one or more materials. The method also includes processing the image to identify a level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment present in the storage tank. Processing the image could include segmenting the image into multiple segments and using the segments to identify a non-linearity in the image. The image could be segmented into segments having different grey levels using grey level values associated with previously-identified sediment or sludge. The identified level or amount of sludge or sediment could be used to automatically schedule maintenance for the storage tank. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100070209 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADAPTIVELY HANDLING LEVEL MEASUREMENTS UNDER UNSTABLE CONDITIONS - A method includes retrieving at least one first measurement associated with material in a tank from a memory at a level gauge. The method also includes comparing the at least one first measurement to at least one second measurement associated with the material in the tank. The method further includes determining whether a difference between the at least one first measurement and the at least one second measurement exceeds a threshold. In addition, the method includes identifying a current level of the material in the tank in a first manner if the difference does not exceed the threshold or a second manner if the difference does exceed the threshold. The first manner could include correcting a level measurement using the difference between the at least one first measurement and the at least one second measurement. The second manner could include identifying an offset value based on differences between pairs of level measurements. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100070208 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC PEAK DETECTION, IDENTIFICATION, AND TRACKING IN LEVEL GAUGING APPLICATIONS - A method includes receiving data identifying wireless signals including wireless signals reflected off a surface of material in a tank and detecting a plurality of reflection peaks associated with the wireless signals. The method also includes classifying at least some of the detected reflection peaks and tracking at least some of the classified reflection peaks. The method further includes identifying a level of the material using at least one of the tracked reflection peaks. The classified peaks could include main-mode and/or high-mode reflection peaks, where the material level is identified using the main-mode peak or using an estimated location of the main-mode peak based on the high-mode peak. The classified peaks could also include level, bottom, and obstruction peaks, where the material level is identified by using a known permittivity, the bottom peak, and a tank height to estimate a location of the level peak when the level peak is lost or obscured. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100070207 | METHOD FOR ROBUST GAUGING ACCURACY FOR LEVEL GAUGES UNDER MISMATCH AND LARGE OPENING EFFECTS IN STILLPIPES AND RELATED APPARATUS - A method includes transmitting wireless signals towards a material in a tank and receiving wireless signals reflected off the material. The method also includes calculating a phase velocity of the wireless signals reflected off the material and identifying a level of the material in the tank using the phase velocity. Calculating the phase velocity of the wireless signals could include identifying a plurality of linearly-spaced frequencies and performing linear interpolation using the data identifying the wireless signals to identify data points at the linearly-spaced frequencies. The identification of the data points at the linearly-spaced frequencies could represent the only interpolation operation performed during the calculation of the phase velocity and the identification of the level of the material. Moreover, a mismatch could exist between an inner diameter of a stillpipe through which the wireless signals are transmitted and a diameter of an antenna used to receive the wireless signals. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100066589 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HIGHLY ACCURATE HIGHER FREQUENCY SIGNAL GENERATION AND RELATED LEVEL GAUGE - An apparatus includes a stable local oscillator, which includes a first control loop. The first control loop includes a first voltage-controlled oscillator configured to generate a first output signal and a first phase-locked loop. The apparatus also includes a frequency up-converter configured to increase a frequency of the first output signal. The apparatus further includes a second control loop configured to receive the up-converted first output signal. The second control loop includes a second voltage-controlled oscillator configured to generate a second output signal and a second phase-locked loop. The second control loop may further include a mixer having a first input coupled to the frequency up-converter, a second input coupled to the second voltage-controlled oscillator, and an output coupled to the second phase-locked loop. A reference frequency source may be configured to generate a signal identifying a reference frequency and to provide that signal to the phase-locked loops. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100037673 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING TANKS IN AN INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A method includes lowering a sensor unit in a tank, where the tank is capable of receiving a material. The method also includes determining a first distance between the material and the sensor unit and determining a second distance between the sensor unit and a main unit that lowers the sensor unit. In addition, the method includes determining a level of the material in the tank using the first and second distances. The method could further include calibrating the sensor unit to compensate for variations in a medium within the tank, where the sensor unit transmits wireless signals through the medium to determine the first distance. Determining the first distance could include using an ultrasonic measurement technique, and determining the second distance could include using a non-contact servo measurement technique. | 02-18-2010 |
