Abstract: A novel and useful sensor and sensing system employs a transmission electrode which provides a length of transmission electrode that is greater than the physical length of the sensor, allowing for the effective and accurate determination of the moisture content of a volume of material using high-frequency measurement methods. The construction of the sensor allows the sensor to be directly inserted into the material, without requiring excavation or backfilling of the sensors in the material. The sensor can be employed as part of a sensing system, with one or more sensors preferably being managed by a field node, which in turn, interoperates with a system master node.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 19, 2013
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2014
Assignee:
ESI Environmental Sensors Inc.
Inventors:
Ronald A. McFarlane, Basel Zohny, Trevor Moat
Abstract: A novel and useful sensor and sensing system employs a transmission electrode which provides a length of transmission electrode that is greater than the physical length of the sensor, allowing for the effective and accurate determination of the moisture content of a volume of material using high-frequency measurement methods. The construction of the sensor allows the sensor to be directly inserted into the material, without requiring excavation or backfilling of the sensors in the material. The sensor can be employed as part of a sensing system, with one or more sensors preferably being managed by a field node, which in turn, interoperates with a system master node.
Abstract: A novel and useful sensor and sensing system employs a transmission electrode which provides a length of transmission electrode that is greater than the physical length of the sensor, allowing for the effective and accurate determination of the moisture content of a volume of material using high-frequency measurement methods. The construction of the sensor allows the sensor to be directly inserted into the material, without requiring excavation or backfilling of the sensors in the material. The sensor can be employed as part of a sensing system, with one or more sensors preferably being managed by a field node, which in turn, interoperates with a system master node.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 5, 2008
Date of Patent:
March 19, 2013
Assignee:
ESI Environmental Sensors Inc.
Inventors:
Ronald A. McFarlane, Basel Zohny, Trevor Moat
Abstract: A sensor for measuring the dielectric constant of a fluid uses time of flight measurements. The sensor has a conduit for the fluid, preferably a transmission line. The dielectric constant of the fluid affects tranmission of electrical energy along the transmission line. An electrical generator, having as output an electrical transient, is operably connected to one end of the transmission line for transmitting the electrical transient along the conduit, where propagation of the electrical conduit is affected by the fluid. A receiver is connected to the other end of the conduit for detecting electrical transients that have passed along the conduit from the electrical generator.