CAPACITIVE FILLING LEVEL PROBE WITHOUT DEAD ZONE

The invention relates to a filling level measuring device and to a method for capacitive filling level measurement of filling material in a container that includes a counter electrode integrated therein using a filling level probe, and to a method for calibrating a filling level probe. The filling level probe to be introduced into the container has a first and a second electrode provided thereon spaced apart from one another and extending one after the other and substantially parallel to the counter electrode such that a measurement section is defined along the first and second electrodes and the spacing therebetween. The filling level probe can be operated in a first, second, or third measurement mode, by being able to switch over between a measurement potential or a shielding potential that can each be applied to the first and second electrodes, respectively, while a counter electrode potential is always applied to the counter electrode. For calibrating the filling level probe, relative changes in capacitance are determined between an empty container and a maximum filling level. For capacitive filling level measurement, relative changes in capacitance as measured using a calibrated filling level probe in each of the three measurement modes compared to an empty container are used to calculate the filling level.