IWR1443BOOST: Fluid Level Sensor reading error

Hi Akash,

 Thanks for the reply.

 This time, fluid was approximately 30 cm away and the reading was 2636 mm.

 Please have a look at the picture and let me know what you think.

 DJ

Hi DJ,

The walls of your tank seem rather narrow and could be causing some disturbance. The beam width of the sensor is +/- 50 degrees in the azimuth direction (so 100 degrees total). It seems very likely that the walls of your tank are being caught in this.

Is it possible for you use a wider mouth tank? Do you have access to a dielectric lens?


Cheers,
Akash

Hi Akash,

Per your suggestion, I tried with a bucket with a wider diameter (~30cm). As you can see from the photo, the device was approximately 10 cm away from the fluid level. I also placed a plexiglass as indicated from the user-guide. Still the reading was bouncing between 1100 mm to 1120 mm.  Even considering the 100 degrees of beam width, it should be able to detect something that's ~10 cm away..  Any idea why it would be off by this much?

DJ

Akash,

The dielectric lens should be placed in front of the antenna correct? Where could I get one?

I also noticed that any background noise (behind the device) can substantially affect the reading.

However, false reading by more than factor of 3 is still there... Maybe a defect?

DJ

Hi DJ,

Since it seems you are still having this problem then I'd highly recommend obtaining a lens. You will one that is specifically for millimeter-wave radar.

Your sensor is definitely not defective, the incorrect reading is just a result of your test setup. For Future correspondence I'd ask you to include a zoomed in Range Profile from the visualizer that shows everything from less than two meters away (or whatever the reading is giving you if it is more).


Cheers,
Akash

Hi Akash,

Thanks for the reply.

What specific type of lens do you recommend that I get. Can I buy one from TI? Or can you let me know a specific brand?

DJ

Thanks Akash.