A method and apparatus for controlling pulses in a pulse-echo level measurement or time-of-flight ranging system. The apparatus comprises a controller, a transducer, and an energy storage device. The energy storage device is operatively coupled to the transducer through a relay. The relay is enabled and disabled by the controller and in the disabled state the energy storage device is allowed to accumulate energy. The energy is stored in the energy storage at a variable voltage level. The controller includes a component for determining a voltage level corresponding to an acceptable confidence level for echo pulses. The controller includes another component for determining a voltage level an increased response time.
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