DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING OPTICAL DETECTION UNIT BY USING CAPACITIVE FILL STATE MEASUREMENT IN LIQUID CONTAINERS

The invention relates to a device for controlling an optical detection unit by using a capacitive fill state measurement in liquid containers (1). The device comprises a sensor (2) with a measurement electrode (3), a conductive base (4) which is suitable for arranging at least one liquid container (1) or a support unit with at least one receiving area for receiving a liquid container (1), an electronic sensor unit (7) which is connected to the measurement electrode (3) and the base (4) and is designed to determine the capacitance between the measurement electrode (3) and the base (4), an analysis unit (A), and a control unit for controlling the optical detection unit. The measurement electrode (3) is arranged substantially perpendicularly to the base (4), and the control unit is connected to the electronic sensor unit (7) or the analysis unit (A). A control signal can be generated by the electronic sensor unit (7) or the analysis unit (A) depending on the capacitance, and the optical detection unit can be con