Leakage detection system and method
US11977179B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 26, 2019 |
| Grant date | May 7, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S13/886
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of detecting leakage, comprising the steps of: performing a sequence of monitoring operations; and providing, when it is determined that leakage is present, a signal indicative of detected leakage. Each monitoring operation includes the steps of: generating a transmit signal exhibiting a time-varying frequency; receiving a reflection signal resulting from reflection of the transmit signal at the surface; forming an intermediate frequency signal for the present monitoring operation based on the transmit signal and the reflection signal; determining a phase of the intermediate frequency signal for the present monitoring operation; determining, based on the phase for the present monitoring operation and the phase associated with at least one previous monitoring operation, a measure indicative of a present rate of change of the phase; comparing the measure with a predefined threshold value; and determining a presence of leakage based on the comparison.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.