Compact high resolution under wire water weight sensor array
US6087837A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 21, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 11, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 21, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N33/343
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A measurement apparatus for sensing three properties of materials including a fixed impedance element coupled in series with the sensor array between an input signal and a reference potential (e.g. ground). The sensor array of the apparatus is an electrode configuration which includes a first elongated electrode coupled to the reference potential and second and third segmented elongated electrodes being parallel to and essentially in the same plane as the first elongated electrode. The segments within the second and third electrodes are configured such that the segments in the second electrode are staggered with respect to segments in the third electrode thereby minimizing or eliminating spacing between detection cells within the sensor array, reducing overall size of the sensor array and increasing measurement resolution. The sensor array exhibits a variable impedance resulting from changes in physical characteristics of the material. The variable impedance of the sensor array relates to changes in property of the material being sensed which can then be related to changes in other physical characteristics of the material such as weight, chemical composition, and temperature. The r…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.