Fill level and topology determination
An antenna apparatus for a fill level measurement device is provided, including an antenna configured to emit a measurement signal towards a filling material surface and to receive a reflected measurement signal reflected by the filling material surface; a motor configured to rotate the antenna about an axis of rotation; and an elongate focussing arrangement configured to focus the emitted measurement signal and/or the reflected measurement signal, wherein the antenna includes an array of a plurality of radiator elements configured to emit the measurement signal and/or to receive the reflected measurement signal.
1. An antenna apparatus for a fill level measurement device, comprising:
an antenna configured to emit a measurement signal towards a filling material surface and to receive a reflected measurement signal reflected by the filling material surface;
a motor configured to rotate the antenna about an axis of rotation; and
an elongate focussing arrangement configured to focus the emitted measurement signal and/or the reflected measurement signal,
wherein the antenna comprises an array of a plurality of radiator elements configured to emit the measurement signal and/or to receive the reflected measurement signal.
2. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the elongate focussing arrangement comprises a dielectric cylindrical lens having a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the antenna.
3. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the elongate focussing arrangement comprises a parabolic trough as a main reflector, and a counter reflector arranged at a spacing from the parabolic trough, and
wherein the array is further configured to emit the measurement signal towards the counter reflector and is arranged either on or near to a surface of the parabolic trough.
4. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the array is a unidimensional array, having one column extending in a longitudinal direction of the antenna.
5. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the array is a two-dimensional array, having a plurality of columns extending in a longitudinal direction of the antenna, and a plurality of rows extending in a transverse direction of the antenna, and
wherein radiator elements of the plurality of radiator elements in each column of the plurality of columns are conductively interconnected.
6. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a high-frequency signal generator configured to generate the measurement signal, the high-frequency signal generator being integrated in the antenna.
7. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an electronic evaluation system configured to rotate together with the antenna when the antenna is rotated by the motor.
8. The antenna apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the electronic evaluation system is integrated in either the antenna or in the motor.
9. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of radiator elements are disposed in one plane that forms an angle α with an axis of rotation of the antenna that does not equal 90 degrees.
10. The antenna apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein the angle α is 45 degrees.
11. A fill level measurement device comprising an antenna apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fill level measurement device comprises digital evaluation circuitry configured to determine a topology of a medium in a container.
12. The fill level measurement device according to claim 11 , the device being further configured to determine a viscosity of a moving liquid.
13. The fill level measurement device according to claim 11 , the device being further configured to determine a mass flow rate of a bulk material on a conveyor belt.
14. A method for determining a topology of a surface of a filling material or a surface of a bulk material, comprising:
rotating an antenna about an axis of rotation, the antenna comprising an array of a plurality of radiator elements;
emitting, by the antenna, a measurement signal towards and/or receiving a reflected measurement signal from a filling material surface;
focussing, by an elongate focussing arrangement, the emitted measurement signal and/or the reflected measurement signal;
receiving the reflected measurement signal reflected by the surface of the filling material or the surface of the bulk material; and
calculating the topology of the surface of the filling material or the surface of the bulk material from the received measurement signal.
15. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the elongate focussing arrangement comprises a dielectric cylindrical lens having a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the antenna,
wherein the array is a two-dimensional array, having a plurality of columns extending in a longitudinal direction of the antenna, and a plurality of rows extending in a transverse direction of the antenna, and
wherein radiator elements of the plurality of radiator elements in each column of the plurality of columns are conductively interconnected.
16. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the elongate focussing arrangement comprises a parabolic trough as a main reflector, and a counter reflector arranged at a spacing from the parabolic trough,
wherein the array is further configured to emit the measurement signal towards the counter reflector and is arranged either on or near to a surface of the parabolic trough,
wherein the array is a two-dimensional array, having a plurality of columns extending in a longitudinal direction of the antenna, and a plurality of rows extending in a transverse direction of the antenna, and
wherein radiator elements of the plurality of radiator elements in each column of the plurality of columns are conductively interconnected.