Method for the automated classification of a liquid as well as method for the automated adaption of presettings for a capacitive liquid level measurement
A device which has a deliverable sensor, a container for receiving a liquid, a container environment and a signal processing circuit, the input side of which can be connected circuitry-wise to the sensor. The device is designed to perform a capacitive liquid level measurement in normal operation using the sensor, wherein a threshold value can be predefined for the signal processing circuit for normal operation. The device has a classification module which can be connected with an input side or line connection circuitry-wise to the sensor, is designed to make a capacitive measurement of the liquid in the container using the sensor and can be connected circuitry-wise to the signal processing circuit in order to trigger the specification of a threshold value using the sensor for capacitive measurement of the liquid.
1. Method ( 200 ) for executing a capacitive liquid level measurement (cLLD) of a liquid ( 1 ) in a container ( 101 ), wherein the method ( 200 ) comprises the following steps:
providing the liquid ( 1 ) in a container ( 101 ),
executing the capacitive liquid level measurement (cLLD)
when executing an immersion movement of a sensor ( 102 ) into the liquid ( 1 ) or
when executing an emerging movement of a sensor ( 102 ) from the liquid,
wherein before or during execution of the immersion movement or the emerging movement a sensitivity adaptation of the capacitive liquid level measurement (cLLD) is made by means of a series of predefined discrete threshold values (vS 1 ; vS 2 ) or by means of a predefined threshold value function (vS(FV); vS(bO)) and the discrete threshold values (vS 1 ; vS 2 ) or the threshold value function (vS(FV); vS(bO)) have a dependence on the liquid volume (FV) of the liquid ( 1 ) in the container ( 101 ) and/or on the wetted surface area,
wherein the capacitive measurement ( 200 ) for the automated classification of the liquid is performed in a device ( 100 ) and comprises the following steps:
providing the liquid ( 1 ) in a container ( 101 ),
providing a line connection 105 between a classification module 104 and a sensor 102 , which can be operated at different sensitivities
performing a capacitive measurement of this liquid ( 1 )
when executing an immersion movement of the sensor ( 102 ) into the liquid ( 1 ) or
when executing an emerging movement of the sensor ( 102 ) out from the liquid ( 1 ),
wherein a signal jump of a signal (s(t)) of the capacitive measurement is processed which is formed during the immersion movement of the sensor ( 102 ) into the liquid ( 1 ) or during the emerging movement of the sensor ( 102 ) from the liquid ( 1 ) in order to perform the automated classification of the liquid ( 1 ).
2. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the intensity (SI) of the signal (s(t)) in the region of the signal jump and/or the amplitude of the signal jump are processed in order to perform the automated classification of the liquid ( 1 ).
3. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the following steps are executed for the automated classification of the liquid ( 1 ):
classification (S 4 ) of the liquid ( 1 ) into a first sensitivity class if the signal jump of the signal (s(t)) of the capacitive measurement lies above a predefined threshold value (vS),
classification (S 5 ) of the liquid ( 1 ) into a second sensitivity class if the signal jump of the signal (s(t)) of the capacitive measurement lies below the predefined threshold value (vS).
4. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 3 , characterized in that the automated classification of the liquid ( 1 ) is made with the aid of desired values which were determined in a predefined determination environment of the device ( 100 ) and then stored.
5. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 3 , characterized in that the dedicated sample container serves as container ( 101 ) which is filled with a known liquid volume (FV) of the liquid ( 1 ), wherein a processor-controlled procedure for automated determination of the sensitivity of this liquid ( 1 ) is executed for automated classification of the liquid ( 1 ).
6. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 3 , characterized in that within the framework of the capacitive measurement a plurality of sensors ( 102 ) consecutively execute an immersion movement into the container ( 101 ), wherein during immersion of a first sensor ( 102 ) a first signal jump or a first intensity value and during immersion of a second sensor ( 102 ) a second signal jump or a second intensity value are determined and wherein an average value is formed from the two signal jumps or the two intensity values.
7. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 3 , characterized in that within the framework of the capacitive measurement for the liquid ( 1 )
a threshold value (vS 1 ; vS 2 ) and/or
a series of discrete threshold values (vS 1 ; vS 2 ) and/or
a threshold value function (vS(FV); vS(bO)) is/are determined, wherein the threshold value function (vS(V); vS(bO)) has a dependence on the liquid volume (FV) of the liquid ( 1 ) in the container ( 101 ) or on the wetted surface area in the container ( 101 ).
8. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 3 , characterized in that in a subsequent step in the device ( 100 ) a capacitive liquid level measurement (cLLD) is performed using a signal (s(t); sl(t), s 2 (t)) which is provided by the sensor ( 102 ) wherein for this capacitive liquid level measurement (cLLD) an adjustment of the sensitivity (El, E 2 ) of the capacitive liquid level measurement (cLLD) is automatically made by means of the previously accomplished classification.
9. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the automated classification of the liquid ( 1 ) is made with the aid of desired values which were determined in a predefined determination environment of the device ( 100 ) and then stored.
10. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 9 , characterized in that the automated classification of the liquid ( 1 ) is accomplished in a defined classification environment of the device ( 100 ), wherein the classification environment is identical to the determination environment at least with reference to one of the following specifications:
the liquid volume (FV) of the liquid ( 1 ) in the container ( 101 ),
surface area wetted by the liquid ( 1 ) in the container ( 101 ),
the type of sensor ( 102 ),
the type of container ( 101 ),
the type of carrier ( 103 . 1 ) for the container ( 101 ),
the type of worktable ( 103 . 2 ) on which the carrier ( 103 . 1 ) is disposed.
11. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 10 , characterized in that the dedicated sample container serves as container ( 101 ) which is filled with a known liquid volume (FV) of the liquid ( 1 ), wherein a processor-controlled procedure for automated determination of the sensitivity of this liquid ( 1 ) is executed for automated classification of the liquid ( 1 ).
12. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 10 , characterized in that within the framework of the capacitive measurement a plurality of sensors ( 102 ) consecutively execute an immersion movement into the container ( 101 ), wherein during immersion of a first sensor ( 102 ) a first signal jump or a first intensity value and during immersion of a second sensor ( 102 ) a second signal jump or a second intensity value are determined and wherein an average value is formed from the two signal jumps or the two intensity values.
13. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 10 , characterized in that within the framework of the capacitive measurement for the liquid ( 1 )
a threshold value (vS 1 ; vS 2 ) and/or
a series of discrete threshold values (vS 1 ; vS 2 ) and/or
a threshold value function (vS(FV); vS(bO)) is/are determined, wherein the threshold value function (vS(V); vS(bO)) has a dependence on the liquid volume (FV) of the liquid ( 1 ) in the container ( 101 ) or on the wetted surface area in the container ( 101 ).
14. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 10 , characterized in that in a subsequent step in the device ( 100 ) a capacitive liquid level measurement (cLLD) is performed using a signal (s(t); sl(t), s 2 (t)) which is provided by the sensor ( 102 ) wherein for this capacitive liquid level measurement (cLLD) an adjustment of the sensitivity (El, E 2 ) of the capacitive liquid level measurement (cLLD) is automatically made by means of the previously accomplished classification.
15. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that a dedicated sample container serves as container ( 101 ) which is filled with a known liquid volume (FV) of the liquid ( 1 ), wherein a processor-controlled procedure for automated determination of the sensitivity of this liquid ( 1 ) is executed for automated classification of the liquid ( 1 ).
16. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 7 , characterized in that within the framework of this procedure the sensor ( 102 ) is immersed from a position above a level of the liquid ( 1 ) in the dedicated sample container into the liquid ( 1 ), wherein during immersion of the sensor ( 102 ) the capacitive measurement (cLLD) is executed and wherein by means of a capacitance change which is obtained during immersion either a sensitivity value is determined for this liquid ( 1 ) or the liquid ( 1 ) is classified into a sensitivity class by means of a comparison with predefined quantities.
17. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that within the framework of the capacitive measurement a plurality of sensors ( 102 ) consecutively execute an immersion movement into the container ( 101 ), wherein during immersion of a first sensor ( 102 ) a first signal jump or a first intensity value and during immersion of a second sensor ( 102 ) a second signal jump or a second intensity value are determined and wherein an average value is formed from the two signal jumps or the two intensity values.
18. The method ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that in a subsequent step in the device ( 100 ) a capacitive liquid level measurement (cLLD) is performed using a signal (s(t); sl(t), s 2 (t)) which is provided by the sensor ( 102 ) wherein for this capacitive liquid level measurement (cLLD) an adjustment of the sensitivity (El, E 2 ) of the capacitive liquid level measurement (cLLD) is automatically made by means of the previously accomplished classification.