Apparatus for determining the properties of a medium in the form of a fluid or a soft material

US9121816B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SENSACTION AG · DE

Inventors

• Hendrik Faustmann · Coburg, DE
• Michael Muench · Coburg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 17, 2010
• Grant date: Sep 1, 2015
• Expiry date: Apr 7, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2291/048
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus determines the properties of a medium in the form of a fluid or soft material. An acoustic waveguide has two opposing guide elements delimiting an interior space to be filled with a medium. The guide elements, upon filling the interior space with a medium, form an interface with the medium with an inner surface. A transmitter generates acoustic surface waves in the waveguide, which are received by a receiver. The waveguide can be coupled with an evaluation unit for determining physical properties of the medium based on a signal generated by the receiver. A housing accommodates the guide elements, transmitter and receiver. On the respective inner surface, at least a part of the acoustic surface waves can be converted into volumetric sound waves of the medium and at least a part of the volumetric sound waves can be converted into acoustic surface waves of the waveguide.