Method and apparatus for time domain reflectometry moisture sensing in various media
US6441622B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 18, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 27, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 28, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q1/04
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for time domain reflectometry sensing of moisture in a test material. The sensor (200) having a generally helical shaped electrode (206) and at least one secondary electrode (208) spaced apart from the generally helical shaped electrode (206) to enable the test material to be present in the space (210) between the helical shaped electrode (206) and the secondary electrode (208). A wave pulse generator (202) is coupled to the generally helical shaped electrode (206) and the secondary electrode (208) that results in a reflection of the generated wave from the wave pulse generator (202). Additionally, a reflected pulse detector (204) is coupled to the generally helical shaped electrode (206) and the secondary electrode (208), in which the reflected wave pulse detector (204) receives a reflected wave pulse from the wave pulse generator (202). A controller that activates the wave pulse generator (202) also controls a counter (114) that records the delay between the generated wave pulse and reflected wave pulse from which the moisture content of the test material (212) is determined.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.