Capacitive fill level measurement device

US6823730B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• IFM Electronic GmbH · US

Inventors

• Bernd Buck · Nonnenhorn, DE
• Jochen Gundlach · Tettnang, DE
• Jaromir Palata · Friedrichshafen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 22, 2001
• Grant date: Nov 30, 2004
• Expiry date: Sep 1, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01F23/268
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A capacitive fill level measurement device with a fill level sensor having a plurality of sensor fields, electrical wires for electrically connecting the plurality of sensor fields to a multipole side of a selector switch, and a power supply and evaluation circuit electrically connected to a monopole side of the selector switch. The capacitive fill level measurement device can be made with simple production technology and thus economically for a host of different applications using a matrix of printed conductors which extend vertically and horizontally such that each horizontally extending printed conductor on one side is connected to one sensor field and on the other side connected to a vertically extending printed conductor. Each horizontally extending printed conductor is connected with a respective vertically extending printed conductor to form an electrical line or a part of an electrical line.