APM Customer Support Technical Training Part 1 Technology

1. APM Customer SupportTechnical TrainingPart 1Technology

2. Agenda • Company Introduction • 3DLevelScanner video • Acoustic mapping technology • Inherent tradeoffs in Acoustics • Level measurement – Narrow beam solutions • Surface mapping with a wide angle beam • Advance Radar Signal Processing • Multi Beams, Multi Frequency, Challenges • Self Cleaning • Volume Accuracy • Product Line • Summary

3. Company Profile Privately held company Specializing in developing technologically innovative, effective and economical non-contact 3D level measurement instruments for a range of industrial applications. APM's headquarters and state-of-the-art R&D and manufacturing facilities are located in Israel Sales and support are provided by a network of distributors in the US and over 30 countries worldwide

4. What is the 3DLevelScanner? • The only device presently available that delivers accurate measurement of bulk solids and powders to achieve an unrivalled degree of process measurement and inventory control • Patented algorithm • Considering the type of material, product characteristics, type and size of storage (silo, open bin and stock pile) • Suitable for harshness installation environment • Incorporates unique dust-penetrating technology • Self-cleaning Click on image for3DLevelScanner II video

5. Inherent tradeoffs in Acoustics • Beam angle Vs. Frequency • θ - Beam opening angle • λ - Wavelength • D - Antenna size D Low frequency => Wide Beam

6. Beam angle Vs. Frequency F = 2.5KHz λ = 13cm θ = 108⁰ D = 7.5cm

7. Beam angle Vs. Frequency F = 4.5KHz λ = 7.5cm θ = 60⁰ D = 7.5cm

8. Beam angle Vs. Frequency F = 10KHz λ = 3.4cm θ = 27⁰ D = 7.5cm

9. Beam angle Vs. Frequency F = 20KHz λ = 1.7cm θ = 13⁰ D = 7.5cm Narrow beam requires Ultrasonic Frequency

10. Inherent tradeoffs in Acoustics • Sound is a pressure wave • Dust particles and humidity in the air attenuate the wave energy • Attenuation grow sharply over 5KHz Animation courtesy of Dr. Dan Russell, Kettering University Low freq. => Effective dust penetration

11. Acoustic wave attenuation Very high attenuation at ultrasonic frequencies

12. Acoustic wave attenuation Effective penetration at lower frequencies

13. Level measurement with narrow beam • Goal: Measure the distance to a single, well defined point on the material surface • Point measurement requires narrow beam • Narrow  Ultrasonic  poor dust penetration • Distance measurement • Traveling twice the distance • C~340 Meter per Second • Measuring the time of flight

14. Surface mapping - wide angle beam • Goal: Multipoint (X, Y, Z) measurement of the surface • Large coverage  Transmit a Wide angle pulse • Wide beam  Low freq.  Effective dust penetration • Multiple reflected echoes coming from • Large surfaces and Extremum points • Material and Silo’s wall interface • Silo Walls – False echo to be filtered • Separated by Time of Arrival

15. Direction of Arrival (DOA) - Array processing • Example: one dimensional Array processing • Wave propagation at angle – θ • Speed of sound – C • Spacing between antenna’s elements – d • Time of Arrival (TOA) is different • Wave Path difference between antennas ΔP=d*Cos θ • Therefore, time of arrival difference:ΔT =ΔP/C= d*Cosθ/C Path difference => TOA difference => θ

16. Multiple Antennas Enable Mapping R1,θ1 Multiple antennas device R2,θ2 Distance and direction R3,θ3 Single antenna device R2 R1 R3 Distance measurement

17. 3 Dimensional Surface Reconstruction • 2 Dimensional Array of 3 Antennas • Distance (R) • Azimuth (Ф) and elevation (Θ) angles • Convert R, Ф, Θto Silo X, Y, Z coordinates • Optimal 3D surface reconstruction • Extremum and boundary points • Assume maximal material slope Surface integral is Volume

18. Advance Radar Signal Processing • Range resolution – Key figure – the minimal distance between two echo sources that are still separable • Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR): Required for the detection of small echo • Long pulse higher energy better SNR • It is a challenge to create pulses that excel in both range resolution and SNR • A very active research topic for military radars

19. Advance Radar Signal Processing (2) Long pulse (7M ) - modulated sine wave, rectangular envelope After match filter – Very poor range resolution – limited to 7 Meter !

20. Advance Radar Signal Processing (3) State of the art – Chen and Cantrell 2002 After match filter – 50cm resolution, 1/13 side lobes

21. Advance Radar Signal Processing (4) APM Propriety – Patent pending After detection: Significantly improved resolution, virtually no side lobes!

22. Advance Radar Signal Processing (5) State of the art APM 3 targets: The importance of resolution and low side lobs More points Better mapping

23. Advance Radar Signal Processing (6) • APM propriety algorithm combines • The resolution in detection of a short pulse • The energy of a long pulse • Using relatively small bandwidth, optimized for the application • Virtually no side lobes • Applicable for the entire scanning range • Maintain constant resolution across the scanning range • The longer the distance – the higher the pulse energy • Very efficient numerical implementation

24. Beam steering technology • Beam direction can be tilted by modifying the signal phase in the antennas • Significantly improve false echo separation and the investigation of complex surfaces by: • Looking at the same point through several beam tilts to solve symmetry problems (i.e. dual echo at ±10 degrees) • Pointing null to suspicious point to verify null reception • Allowing high SNR at much larger sphere

25. Multi frequency technology • Gather information from different perspectives • Beam angle - Interaction with silos wall • Interaction with material, specular vs. scattering reflections • Different multipath trajectories • Different dust penetration capabilities • Improved robustness to acoustic noise sources

26. Directional False echo filtering • Automatic mapping of false echo from silo structure • Multipath between the walls and ceiling of the silo and the topography of the material • Filtering analysis based on • Distance and Direction measurement • Information from other frequencies • Information from other beams • Silo geometry

27. Self Cleaning Self Cleaning due to acoustic energy vibration

28. Volume Accuracy • Accuracy is less than 3% • Accuracy estimation considerations • Surface topography scenarios – typically, a complex surface yields more points! • Direction of arrival accuracy • Distance measurement accuracy • Silo geometry • Beams coverage – MVL for very large silos

29. Product Line

30. 3DLevelScanner Model S • 30º opening beam angle – covers more area than other traditional level measurement devices • Low frequency – dust penetrating • Fast response – suitable for small silosor fast-changing process silos requiring fast tracking • Provides average Distance/Level • Provides % Volume (4-20 mA) • Linear mode enabled (for non standard and segmented silos) • Suitable for small and narrow silos

31. 3DLevelScanner model M • 70º opening beam angle – covers wide surface area • Low frequency – dust penetrating • Suitable for large silos that require high accuracy and inventory control • Provides minimum/maximum and average measurements of distance / level • Provides % volume (4-20 mA) • Visualization disabled

32. 3DLevelScanner Model MV • 70º opening beam angle - covers wide surface area • Low frequency – dust penetrating • Suitable for large silos that require high accuracy and inventory control • Provides minimum/maximum and average measurements of distance / level • Provides % volume (4-20 mA) • 3D Visualization of material shape is enabled

33. 3DLevelScanner MVL System • Combines the capabilities of model MV in a connection of more then one scanner • Using the 3DVision software to synchronize between the scanners and to make a combined calculations • Suitable for large silos that require high accuracy and inventory control • Provides % volume (4-20 mA), PLC/DCS can be connected to any of the scanners • 3D Visualization of material shape is enabled including the scanners location

34. 3DLevelManager • PC software that allows the configuration of any of the 3DLevelScanner models • Provides easy to use monitoring for process and inventory control • Allow advance configuration and fine tuning for installers and customer support • Generate log files and graphs that can be viewed any time from any date the scanner was connected to the computer • Compatible with Windows XP and 7

35. 3DVision / 3DMultiVision • Advanced Server-Client application, based on MS .NET Framework 3.5 • Using an easy-to-use graphical interface • Provides an immediate view over all vessels connected • Hierarchy organized: Sites – Vessels – Scanners • Synchronize MVL scanners • 3DVision limited to a single vessel (no limitation on the amount of scanners) • 3DMultiVision has not limitations • Unlimited number of clients connected to a single server • Report generation • Compatible with Windows XP and 7

36. 3DLinkPro – Remote Communication • The 3DLinkPro is used for remote connection and allows immediate support and assistance • Requires SIM card with SMS (Text) and GPRS enabled (preferred with static IP) • Auto power reset when losing cellular signal • Enable remote FW upgrade and continuous monitoring • Modem Wizard application for advanced configuration

37. Accessories • Neck Extension • Head-Body separation • USB-RS-485 converter • TCP/IP-RS-485 converter • DN250 and DN200 Flanges

38. Summery • Technology • Radar • Mapping • Echoes • Volume • Advantages • Accuracy • Self cleaning • Products • Questions?