Contamination capacitance probe system
US5125265A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 9, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jun 30, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N27/221
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A contamination capacitance probe system is disclosed that capacitively mtors whether or not two or more fluids or materials that have to remain separated have been mixed or mingled and that provides first and second control signals respectively representative of the unmingled and mingled conditions. The system includes a capacitance sensor constituted by spaced-apart first and second capacitor plates of preselected size and spacing. The plate size and spacing is selected to render negligible any effect that the different materials or fluids or materials might have on the capacitance of the sensor. Circuit means are disclosed that includes a capacitance to frequency convertor, a frequency to voltage convertor, and a Schmidt trigger operative to provide the first and second control signals. The contamination capacitance probe system of the present invention is operable with any two or more fluids or materials having different dielectric constants and that are either immiscible or miscible.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.