System and method for on-the-go measurements of temperature and dielectric properties of soil and other semi-solid materials
US11185009B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 8, 2019 |
| Grant date | Nov 30, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 23, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/1738
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for measuring temperature and dielectric properties of soil and other semi-solid materials on-the-go uses a long-wearing non-ferrous wear plate with two metal prongs supported by the wear plate to measure dielectric properties. The metal prongs each have a mounting end soldered to a printed circuit board containing a capacitance sensor circuit. The metal prongs have exposed ends arranged to contact the semi-solid material being measured. The sensor circuit has an oscillation frequency of 50 to 100 MHz to allow rapid dielectric measurements to be made as the sensor moves through the semi-solid material. In one embodiment, the system includes an implement for traversing a field, a shank with a leading edge for opening a furrow in soil, and a spring-loaded mounting system for biasing the wear plate downwardly relative to a shank to maintain a consistent pressure of the wear plate and metal prongs against the soil.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.