Apparatus and method to detect moisture
US6906530B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 17, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jun 14, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 20, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N27/048
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting moisture. An oscillatory electrical signal S1 generated by an oscillator is propagated into a body that includes an electrically insulative material. A signal due to S1 emerges from the body as an oscillatory electrical signal S2. The signals S1 and S2 differ in phase by Δφ, wherein Δφ is indicative of moisture along a path traversed by S1 within the insulative material, and wherein the conductance σ of the insulative material is also indicative of the moisture along the path traversed by S1 within the insulative material. S2 is received at a sensing surface of a sensing part (e.g., probe, sensing antenna, etc.) and then transmitted to a moisture detecting device. The moisture detecting device determines from S1 and S2 a measure M of the moisture as a function of Δφ or as a function of σ.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.