A method comprises emitting detection radiation into a container; receiving a reflection of the emitted radiation from contents of the container; interpreting the received reflection to determine the contents of the container.

An open channel flow monitoring apparatus for measuring a fluid level is disclosed having a first sensor configured to obtain data indicative of a fluid level below a first threshold level, a second sensor configured to obtain data indicative of fluid level above a second threshold level, which is lower than the first threshold level, and both the first sensor and the second sensor are configured to obtain data indicative of the fluid level when the fluid level is between the first threshold level and the second threshold.

A fixture for flooding detection that includes a communication interface; a processor; and a computer-readable storage media coupled to the processor and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving, from a first sensor, a first signal indicative of a water level at a location within a facility, determining, based on the first signal, the water level at the location within the facility, determining a shut-off condition based on the water level at the location within the facility reaching a first predetermined height, and transmitting, via the communication interface, a shut-off signal to at least one water inlet at the location within the facility.

A fixture for flooding detection that includes a communication interface; a processor; and a computer-readable storage media coupled to the processor and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving, from a first sensor, a first signal indicative of a water level at a location within a facility, determining, based on the first signal, the water level at the location within the facility, determining a shut-off condition based on the water level at the location within the facility reaching a first predetermined height, and transmitting, via the communication interface, a shut-off signal to at least one water inlet at the location within the facility.

This method, for determining the local intensity (I.sub.0) of an acoustic field propagating in a target region of a soft solid, at a position located within said target region, includes at least the following steps: determining (102) a value of an ultrasound attenuation coefficient (α) of the soft body in the target region; determining (104) a value of the shear modulus (μ) of the soft body in the target region; determining (106) a value of the speed of sound (c) in the target region of the soft body; and building (110), with the values determined in steps a), b) and c), a viscoelastic model (M) of a steady-state displacement induced by an acoustic field having a time invariant shape or a viscoelastic model of a difference between two steady-state displacements induced by an acoustic field having a time invariant shape. Moreover, this method also includes the following steps: applying (112) to the target region the acoustic field emitted by an ultrasound source, for a duration such that the acoustic field induces a steady-state localized deformation (Formula (I)) of the soft body in the target region; measuring (114) at least one steady state displacement induced by the acoustic field at a given position in the target region; and computing (116) the amplitude of the intensity of the acoustic field at said given position by inverting the viscoelastic model (M) at said given position, for the displacement(s) measured at step f).

A device for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium comprises a sensor unit with a mechanically vibrating fork having a first and a second vibrating element and having a first piezoelectric element arranged in the first vibrating element. An electronic unit of the device is designed to excite mechanical vibrations in the mechanically vibratable unit, receive the mechanical vibrations of the vibratable unit and convert same into a first reception signal, generate the excitation signal on the basis of the first reception signal such that there is a specifiable phase shift between the excitation signal and the first reception signal, and ascertain the process variable using the first reception signal. The electronic unit has an adjustable impedance element connected in series to the first piezoelectric element.

A sonic monitor system for a tank is disclosed in which the system comprises a remote tank sensor device for installation in a bung opening of a storage tank for determining a level of fluid within the storage tank and for generating a signal indicative of the level of fluid within the storage tank, and a receiver device for receiving the signal indicative of the level of fluid within the storage tank, the receiver device having a display and a siren with the receiver device actuating the siren when the receiver device determines that the level of fluid within the tank is at a predetermined level.

A sonic monitor system for a tank is disclosed in which the system comprises a remote tank sensor device for installation in a bung opening of a storage tank for determining a level of fluid within the storage tank and for generating a signal indicative of the level of fluid within the storage tank, and a receiver device for receiving the signal indicative of the level of fluid within the storage tank, the receiver device having a display and a siren with the receiver device actuating the siren when the receiver device determines that the level of fluid within the tank is at a predetermined level.

A vibronic sensor used to determine a process variable of a medium in a container comprises a mechanically vibratable unit, a drive/receiving unit, and an electronic unit. The drive/receiving unit excites mechanical vibrations in the mechanically vibratable unit via an electric excitation signal and receives the mechanical vibrations of the mechanically vibratable unit and convert same into an electric reception signal. The electronic unit is designed to generate the excitation signal on the basis of the reception signal and determine the process variable from the reception signal. The electronic unit includes an adaptive filter and is designed to set the filter characteristic of the adapter filter to produce a target phase offset between the excitation and reception signals. The sensor also has a detection unit to determine a phase offset between the excitation signal and the reception signal and/or the amplitude of the reception signal using a quadrature demodulation.

A vibronic sensor used to determine a process variable of a medium in a container comprises a mechanically vibratable unit, a drive/receiving unit, and an electronic unit. The drive/receiving unit excites mechanical vibrations in the mechanically vibratable unit via an electric excitation signal and receives the mechanical vibrations of the mechanically vibratable unit and convert same into an electric reception signal. The electronic unit is designed to generate the excitation signal on the basis of the reception signal and determine the process variable from the reception signal. The electronic unit includes an adaptive filter and is designed to set the filter characteristic of the adapter filter to produce a target phase offset between the excitation and reception signals. The sensor also has a detection unit to determine a phase offset between the excitation signal and the reception signal and/or the amplitude of the reception signal using a quadrature demodulation.