Patent · US Expired

Microwave sensor for identifying the surface properties of a workpiece and associated method

US5497098A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
5References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 10, 1994
Grant dateMar 5, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 10, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N22/00
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A sensor and method for identifying the surface properties of a workpiece includes a microstrip sensor for transmitting and receiving microwave signals and surface properties determining means for determining the surface properties of the workpiece, including the type of material from which the workpiece is constructed, based upon the strength of the detected microwave signals. The surface properties identifying sensor also includes a microwave generator for producing microwave signals at a predetermined frequency for transmission by the microstrip sensor and a detector for detecting the microwave signals received by the microstrip sensor from the workpiece. Thus, workpieces comprised of a conductive material, an insulative material and a conductive material coated with a radar absorbing material can be readily distinguished by the surface properties identifying sensor and method.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.