To Determine Water Content Patents (Class 324/634)
  • Patent number: 12000788
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of determining a free moisture content and/or a degree of calcination of a gypsum panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignees: Gold Bond Building Products, LLC, MALCAM Ltd.
    Inventors: Eli Stav, Danny Moshe
  • Patent number: 11994479
    Abstract: A method and system for determining bale properties of crop material bales includes transmitting a first microwave signal through a bale of crop material located within an agricultural baler at a first frequency and transmitting a second microwave signal through the bale of crop material at a different second frequency and calculating, with at least one computing device, a phase angle displacement between the first and second microwave signals and determining, with the at least one computing device, a bale property of the bale of crop material based at least in part on the calculated phase angle differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nicola Lenzini, Luca Ferrari
  • Patent number: 11940314
    Abstract: A Time Domain Return measurement system for measuring liquid level, linear movement or other measurements which includes a first and second electrode, the second electrode spaced from the first electrode to define a gap, and an electronics assembly connected to the first and second electrodes equipped with a generator for transmitting an electromagnetic signal for propagation along the electrodes. The signal generator has a first analog timing circuit for actuating a slow-rising function of voltage versus time, a second analog timing circuit associated with the first analog timing circuit for actuating a fast-rising function of voltage versus time, and a receive circuit electrically connected to the electrodes, the receive circuit being activated for receiving return echo data associated with the electromagnetic signal transmitted when the fast-rising function is equal or greater than the slow-rising function to determine the position of the second medium with respect to the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Rochester Sensors, LLC
    Inventor: Chester Roy Wildey
  • Patent number: 11415451
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for interacting instrumentation with high and/or low energy systems are disclosed. In some illustrative embodiments, a sensor assembly for level measurement of high and/or low energy systems may comprise an instrumentation head to determine a level of media in a tank; a coupler including a body having a mounting end for connection to equipment of a high or low energy system and a receiving end for receiving connection of the instrumentation head, a coaxial hardline extending between the mounting and receiving ends and including a conduction tip arranged near the mounting end; and a sealing system including a first seal section disposed between the conduction tip and the receiving end of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Yvan Mimeault, Patrick Couture, Simon Lamarre
  • Patent number: 11348053
    Abstract: Methods and systems include receiving vehicle data that is associated, at least in part, with one or more vehicle-related products/services. One or more predictions that are associated with the one or more vehicle-related products/services are determined. The one or more predictions are based, at least in part, on the vehicle data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Themi Anagnos, Robert Faust D'Avello, Robert Allen Gee, Tomasz J. Kaczmarski, Brian Droessler
  • Patent number: 10866133
    Abstract: A capacitive limit level switch comprises a measuring electrode which protrudes into and forms an electric circuit with a container and ground. Impedance at the measuring electrode depends on the presence of a medium. The switch includes a control unit including a burst generator and a diode bridge. A switching point is determined by spectral analysis of the amplitude response at the measuring electrode. The diode bridge is connected to a controllable delay circuit. A computing unit compares the spectrum of a burst signal influenced by the medium with the spectrum of a known burst signal not influenced by the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: IFM ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventor: Gernot Wistuba
  • Patent number: 10773843
    Abstract: A machine for making capsules of the type including a container and a dose of product inside the container, including a feed system for feeding at least a first container along a feed path in a direction of feed; at least one filling station for supplying a dose of said product into said first container, at least one detecting station positioned along said feed path downstream of said filling station in the direction of feed and including a detecting sensor operating at said first seat configured to detect the moisture of the product supplied into the first container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: AZIONARIA CONSTRUZIONI MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE A.C.M.A. S.P.A.
    Inventors: Luca Cerati, Massimo Scrivani, Eura Trivisonno, Ivan Eusepi
  • Patent number: 10509019
    Abstract: The method for determining soil moisture includes the following steps: measuring an initial electrical conductivity and an initial dielectric constant of a training sample of a soil, adjusting the training sample's water content by adding a fixed amount of water and obtaining a plurality of adjusted electrical conductivities and dielectric constants from the adjusted training sample, entering the initial and adjusted electrical conductivities and dielectric constants into a computing device, obtaining a regression value from the initial and adjusted electrical conductivities and dielectric constants of the training sample, measuring a final electrical conductivity and a final dielectric constant from a real sample of the soil, and determining the soil moisture of the soil using the regression value and the final electrical conductivity and dielectric constant of the real sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Inventor: Hou Kuan Lee
  • Patent number: 10352743
    Abstract: An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SENSORS THAT COUNT, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Larry M. Conrad, Robert J. Weber
  • Patent number: 10241059
    Abstract: Provided in some embodiments is a method of manufacturing a pipe conformable water-cut sensors system. Provided in some embodiments is method for manufacturing a water-cut sensor system that includes providing a helical T-resonator, a helical ground conductor, and a separator at an exterior of a cylindrical pipe. The helical T-resonator including a feed line, and a helical open shunt stub conductively coupled to the feed line. The helical ground conductor including a helical ground plane opposite the helical open shunt stub and a ground ring conductively coupled to the helical ground plane. The feed line overlapping at least a portion of the ground ring, and the separator disposed between the feed line and the portion of the ground ring overlapped by the feed line to electrically isolate the helical T-resonator from the helical ground conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology
    Inventors: Muhammad Akram Karimi, Atif Shamim, Muhammad Arsalan
  • Patent number: 10136561
    Abstract: A method of cooling electronic equipment is disclosed and includes substantially continuously circulating ambient air across a plurality of rack-mounted electronic devices, monitoring the temperature of air in or around a group of devices in the plurality of rack-mounted electronic devices, and providing substantially cooler-than-ambient air to the group of devices when the monitored air temperatures rises above a set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Jimmy Clidaras, Winnie Leung
  • Patent number: 9804105
    Abstract: Provided in some embodiments are systems and methods for measuring the water content (or water-cut) of a fluid mixture. Provided in some embodiments is a water-cut sensor system that includes a T-resonator, a ground conductor, and a separator. The T-resonator including a feed line, and an open shunt stub conductively coupled to the feed line. The ground conductor including a bottom ground plane opposite the T-resonator and a ground ring conductively coupled to the bottom ground plane, with the feed line overlapping at least a portion of the ground ring. The separator including a dielectric material disposed between the feed line and the portion of the ground ring overlapped by the feed line, and the separator being adapted to electrically isolate the T-resonator from the ground conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Muhammad Akram Karimi, Atif Shamim, Muhammad Arsalan
  • Patent number: 9007050
    Abstract: A wireless soil sensor includes a curved surface and at least two groups of sensor-pin electrodes. A tine-catching block is disposed within the sensor body, near a top of the sensor to protect against aeration tools damaging components of the sensor. The electrical circuitry and the battery are separately potted in an epoxy material and oriented vertically, creating a central gap through which an incoming aeration tine is directed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventor: Jason Lester Hill
  • Patent number: 8991240
    Abstract: A resonance frequency shift amount ?f and a peak level change amount ?P are measured using a microwave resonator, V1 and V2 are obtained based on V1=(?f·??2/Kf??P·??2/Kp)/(??1·??2???1·??2), and V2=(?f·??1/Kf??P·??1/Kp)/(??1·??2???1·??2), and an absolute dry basis weight and a moisture amount are obtained based on absolute dry basis weight=?·V1, and moisture amount=?·V2. For the constants Kf, Kp, ??1, ??2, ??1 and ??2, the constants ??1, ??2, ??1 and ??2 are determined so that the variance values of Kf and Kp are smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Oji Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Nagata, Hidetada Sawamoto, Masahiro Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 8981795
    Abstract: A measuring arrangement for determining electrical conductivity of a measured liquid, comprising: a container, in which the measured liquid is accommodated, a gradiometer arrangement, comprising an exciter coil, a first receiving coil and a second receiving coil, wherein the first and the second receiving coils are arranged symmetrically relative to the exciter coil, and a measurement circuit embodied to excite the exciter coil for producing an alternating magnetic field passing through the first receiving coil, the second receiving coil and the measured liquid. The receiving coils are influenced in different manner by the magnetic field induced by the alternating magnetic field in the measured liquid and directed counter to the alternating magnetic field. The measurement circuit is furthermore embodied to register an electrical signal of the receiving coils and to derive from such the electrical conductivity of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Conducta Geselllschaft fur Mess-Und Regeltechnik mbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Jagiella, Marco Völker
  • Patent number: 8947102
    Abstract: Soil water content and bulk electrical conductivity may be determined by time domain reflectometry at multiple depths in the soil such that the entire soil profile from the surface to a user-selected depth may be characterized. A short rise-time pulse is passed into an electrode and the reflected pulse is captured at multiple times. A waveform of reflection coefficient versus time is determined, which may be used to determine the pulse travel time, effective frequency and reflection coefficients at times necessary for the determination of the soil water content and bulk electrical conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Steven R. Evett, Scott K. Anderson, Joaquin J. Casanova, Robert C. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 8725284
    Abstract: An electromagnetic field tuning and detection apparatus generates in to a material space and in at least two different directions radio frequency electromagnetic fields adapted to resonate in different directions at a different frequency on the basis of a material insertable into the material space; and a signal processing unit configured to determine a moisture content of the material on the basis of a resonance frequency of each electromagnetic field and quality of each resonance in different directions. While controlling a process, a control system comprises a measurement chamber and an electromagnetic field tuning and detection apparatus placed on each material feed line of the process. A controller may control the process on the basis of each determined moisture content on each feed line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Senfit Oy
    Inventors: Pekka Jakkula, Markku Seppänen, Mikko Vuolteenaho
  • Patent number: 8691323
    Abstract: A method for monitoring and controlling the thickness of coating on a creping cylinder is disclosed. The methodologies involve a coordinated scheme of apparatuses that function to monitor various aspects of a creping cylinder coating so that the thickness of the coating can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: William A. Von Drasek, Rodney H. Banks, Gary S. Furman
  • Patent number: 8570050
    Abstract: This invention relates to a measuring instrument for measurement of a flow (1) comprising—a dielectric resonator sensor (3) arranged in a pipeline (2), said resonator (3) having a surface (4) facing a flow volume, —a sensor drive unit (12) being coupled to said sensor (3) and which is adapted to provide a driving or excitation signal to said sensor (3) resulting in the excitation of an electromagnetic resonance in said sensor causing a fringing electromagnetic field (5) adjacent to said surface (4) facing said wet gas flow (1), —a recording unit (10) coupled to said sensor (3) and which is adapted to measure a resonance property of said sensor (3) while said wet gas flow (1) moves past said sensor surface (4), and—a processing unit (11) which is adapted to estimate a property of at least a part of said wet gas flow (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Roxar Flow Measurements AS
    Inventor: Ebbe Gustaf Nyfors
  • Patent number: 8456177
    Abstract: An occupant detection system that includes an electrode arranged proximate to an expected location of an occupant for generating an electric field between the electrode and the occupant proximate thereto. An electrical network coupled to the electrode forms a resonant circuit that includes the occupant as part of the resonant circuit. A controller coupled to the resonant circuit is configured to determine a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit indicative of an occupant presence, and a network signal magnitude at the resonant frequency indicative of a humidity value proximate to the electrode. 7. A method for detecting a vehicle applies an excitation signal to the resonant circuit, determine a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit and determines a humidity value based on a network signal magnitude at the resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis P. Griffin, Mark C. Hansen
  • Patent number: 8334702
    Abstract: The invention relates to a detection device of small size, allowing direct in situ detection of particles with no labelling, enabling the particles to be rapidly analysed, and having both a specificity and a sensitivity that are at least equivalent to the existing devices. In one embodiment, the invention provides a device having a nanowire, intended for interacting with the particles of interest, which is suspended between two anchors that define a source and a drain, the source and the drain are configured to be connected to an AC voltage generator and to a DC voltage generator, respectively, in order to generate a first input signal; an excitation electrode, placed laterally facing the nanowire and configured to be connected to an AC voltage generator, in order to generate a second input signal; and a measurement electrode placed opposite the excitation electrode relative to the nanowire and generating a single output signal representative of the particles of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Vincent Agache, Guillaume Delapierre
  • Patent number: 8334727
    Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a radio frequency (RF) Robinson oscillator comprising: a resonator comprising a sensor rhumbatron, the sensor rhumbatron comprising a cavity member, the cavity member having a re-entrant boss member, the re-entrant boss member being arranged to project into a cavity portion of the cavity member; a feedback element arranged to provide positive radio frequency (RF) feedback to the cavity member thereby to increase a quality factor Q of the cavity member, the feedback element having first and second terminals coupled to the cavity member, the apparatus being operable to cause the oscillator to oscillate at a resonant frequency; and an output arranged to provide a signal that varies according to a value of at least one electrical parameter of the oscillator, said at least one electrical parameter being selected from amongst an electromagnetic loss and a resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Isis Innovation Limited
    Inventors: John Francis Gregg, Mazhar Bari
  • Patent number: 8330473
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for the measurement of mass or density and/or for the measurement of the humidity in a plurality of portioned units in a non-metallic carrier material, which provides the following: a microwave measuring instrument, consisting of at least one microwave resonator for generating at least one resonance mode in a spatially limited measurement area and an analyzing unit for analyzing at least one variable of the at least one resonance mode, a conveying device for the carrier material, which transports the carrier material with the portioned units through the measurement area, the microwave measuring instrument measures at least one variable of the at least one resonance mode at a time when only the carrier material without portioned unit is in the measurement area, and at a time when the portioned unit is at least partially in the measurement area, the analyzing unit subtracts the variable measured for the carrier material from the measurement values for the portioned unit, and determines a va
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: TEWS Elektronik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Herrmann, Udo Schlemm, Stefan Zaage, Harald Ceslik
  • Patent number: 8278942
    Abstract: A self-checking analyzer system is provided according to an embodiment of this disclosure. The analyzer system includes a pipeline for receiving a multi-phase fluid flow. The analyzer system also includes a first measuring device configured to provide a first reflected power/insertion loss measurement corresponding to the multi-phase fluid flow, and a second measuring device differing in frequency response from the first measuring device and configured to provide a second reflected power/insertion loss measurement corresponding to the multi-phase fluid flow. The analyzer system is configured to validate the first reflected power/insertion loss measurement using the second reflected power/insertion loss measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Phase Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Bentley N. Scott
  • Patent number: 8188751
    Abstract: For measuring the water content of a web in the wire section of a paper machine, at least one radiofrequency-operated resonator sensor forms an electric near field, in which a web affects the resonance frequency of each resonator sensor. The water content of the web is measured as a function of the resonance frequency of each resonator sensor in a measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: Senfit Oy, Metso Paper, Inc
    Inventors: Pekka Jakkula, Jarmo Karhu, Kari Luostarinen, Matti Limingoja
  • Patent number: 8056401
    Abstract: In-line systems for and methods of measuring the moisture content of ceramic material within an extrusion system used to form ceramic articles are disclosed. One method includes arranging, relative to the extrusion system, at least one radio-frequency (RF) sensor system having an RF antenna, and generating through the RF antenna an RF field that resides substantially entirely within the ceramic material. The method also includes, in response to the RF field interacting with the ceramic material, generating in the RF sensor system a signal representative of a raw moisture-content measurement of the ceramic material. The method also includes generating calibration data by performing RF moisture-content measurements on samples of the ceramic material having different known moisture contents, and establishing a calibrated moisture-content measurement using the raw moisture-content signal and the calibration data. Both contact and non-contact systems and measurement methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: David Dasher, Robert John Locker, James Monroe Marlowe
  • Patent number: 8044669
    Abstract: An admittance meter having an electrical alternating signal source, a diode ring operated as a synchronous rectifier with at least four diodes connected in series and in the same direction in succession, a measuring sensor, and an evaluation unit. The diode ring is subjected to an alternating signal via first second feed points, which are each connected via two series-connected diodes. The measuring sensor is connected to the first feed point, and the evaluation unit is connected to a first or a second measurement point of the diode ring. The first and second measurement points are each connected via one diode to the first and second feed points, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: ifm electronic GmbH
    Inventors: Jaromir Palata, Jochen Gundlach
  • Publication number: 20110234240
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for monitoring dehydration levels of a subject using Radio Frequency (RF) dielectric resonant oscillators (DROs) that may be affixed to the skin of the subject. According to some example aspects, a sensor comprising a microstrip ring resonator may be affixed to the skin and used to determine the change in hydration of a person quantitatively and/or qualitatively. An RF emitter can be configured to emit a scanning signal to the sensor, where the scanning signal can be swept over a specified frequency range. The sensor is configured to resonate in response to the scanning signal, where characteristics of the sensor's resonance (e.g., the specific frequency and “Q” factor of the resonance) is impacted by dielectric losses of the sensor to the skin due to hydration level of the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Empire Technology Development, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Yager
  • Patent number: 8008928
    Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement of mass and/or moisture of dielectric objects, with an analysing unit, at least one high frequency generator, at least one high frequency detector and with a high frequency resonator, wherein the at least one high frequency generator can generate at least two modes which are independent from each other, having different resonance frequencies in the resonator, the at least one high frequency detector can measure the occurring frequencies for each mode in the resonator, and the analysing unit can determine a shift of the resonance frequency (A) and a change of the resonance curve for the measured frequencies in each mode, and can calculate the mass and/or moisture of the dielectric object from the determined values for the shift of the resonance frequency (A) and the change of the resonance curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: TEWS Elektronik
    Inventors: Rainer Herrmann, Udo Schlemm
  • Publication number: 20110169507
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining water content in a bulk heterogeneous material using electromagnetic radiation. A radiation source and a radiation receiver are positioned such that the material to be measured is located between them. As the radiation signal is transmitted from the source to the receiver, the signal experiences a path loss due, at least in part to the presence of the material located between the source and the receiver. The path loss in the transmitted signal, when recorded over time may be used to determine the water content of the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: WHLK, LLC d/b/a Voltree Power
    Inventors: Andreas Mershin, Stella J. Karavas, Yiannis G. Karavas, Chris J. Lagadinos, Patrick J. Moran
  • Patent number: 7911212
    Abstract: A filter rod measuring station is equipped with measuring devices which measure at least the mass (M) of a filter rod and the draw resistance (PD) of the filter rod, and a microwave measuring device is provided for measuring the mass of the softener and/or the moisture content and/or the dry mass of the filter rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Tews Elektronik Dipl. -Ing. Manfred Tews
    Inventors: Rainer Herrmann, Udo Schlemm, Wolfgang Sexauer
  • Publication number: 20100244855
    Abstract: The invention relates to a detection device of small size, allowing direct in situ detection of particles with no labelling, enabling the particles to be rapidly analysed, and having both a specificity and a sensitivity that are at least equivalent to the existing devices. In one embodiment, the invention provides a device having a nanowire, intended for interacting with the particles of interest, which is suspended between two anchors that define a source and a drain, the source and the drain are configured to be connected to an AC voltage generator and to a DC voltage generator, respectively, in order to generate a first input signal; an excitation electrode, placed laterally facing the nanowire and configured to be connected to an AC voltage generator, in order to generate a second input signal; and a measurement electrode placed opposite the excitation electrode relative to the nanowire and generating a single output signal representative of the particles of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Vincent Agache, Guillaume Delapierre
  • Patent number: 7804406
    Abstract: A quality control system of concrete and cement products is provided in which the manufacturing information on cement products of mortar or concrete can be checked at any time, the reliability is such that there is no possibility of the recorded information being lost or falsified, there is no possibility of damage in concrete, and the directivity of the sensitivity of an antenna can be broadened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Mitomo Corporation
    Inventors: Kikuo Kaga, Shigeo Ashizawa, Yasuo Kano
  • Patent number: 7800378
    Abstract: A microwave resonator for or on a textile machine, especially a card, draw frame, combing machine or the like, for attachment to a measuring device for measuring the mass and/or moisture content of textile fiber material conveyable continuously through a resonator chamber, has a housing with wall elements, wherein through-openings in spaced wall elements lying opposite one another are coaxially connected by a tubular element and the interior space of the housing is hollow. In order substantially to simplify manufacture and permit an uninterrupted resonance field, the housing comprises a hollow profile with profile walls in which at least one tubular element connects through-openings in opposite profile walls with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Fa. Trützschler GmbH & Co.Kg
    Inventors: Steffen Peters, Frank Sundermeier
  • Patent number: 7793664
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for detection and segregation of faulty cigarettes in a production/packaging installation for cigarettes having an apparatus by means of which faulty cigarettes are segregated from the conveyed sequence of cigarettes, wherein the apparatus and method use a generator and evaluation circuits for radio-frequency electromagnetic fields and use a sensor past whose end surface the ends of the cigarettes are passed and which applies the radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to the end surface of the sensor, whose size corresponds approximately to the size of the end surface of the cigarettes, with the changes in the electromagnetic fields as a cigarette passes being evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: TEWS Elektronik Dipl.-Ing. Manfred Tews
    Inventors: Rainer Herrmann, Udo Schlemm, Hendrik Richter
  • Patent number: 7775482
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence of ice includes a sensory circuit including a sensor operable to be coupled to a surface exposed to moisture. The sensory circuit is operable to create an electromagnetic standing wave. A heating element is coupled to the surface and a first transmission line. A first source is coupled to the first transmission line and is operable to inject a driving signal into the first transmission line, the driving signal being operable to drive the heating element. A mixing element is coupled to the sensory circuit and first transmission line and is operable to produce a mixed signal from the driving signal and a measure of the standing wave. A comparator is operable to compare at least one characteristic of the mixed signal with reference data for determining the presence of ice contacting the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Grant A. Gordon
  • Patent number: 7755368
    Abstract: A Method and an apparatus for measuring the mass and/or moisture of the contents of incompletely filled capsules, containing, in particular, medicinal products, pharmaceutical products, vitamins and similar products, with the aid of microwaves is disclosed. The displacement of the resonant frequency and broadening of the resonance curve caused by the capsules in at least one resonator is determined and evaluated. Measurements are made integrated over the whole capsule as well as with high local resolution for various portions and cross sections of the capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: TEWS Elektronik Dipl.-Ing. Manfred Tews
    Inventors: Rainer Herrmann, Udo Schlemm
  • Publication number: 20100141270
    Abstract: A process to measure at least one qualitative measure of a moving fibrous web. The fibrous web being a web of paper or cardboard. The process including the steps of influencing, evaluating and determining. The influencing step includes the influencing of at least one microwave resonator by the fibrous web. The evaluating step including the evaluating of at least one resonance curve of the at least one microwave resonator. The determining step including the determining of at least one quality measure of the fibrous web dependent upon results of the evaluating step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Oliver Kaufmann, Rudolf Münch, Helena Johnansson, Jens Haag, Thomas Ischdonat, Susanne Moses
  • Patent number: 7560937
    Abstract: The measurement device includes a microwave sensor, a microwave analyzer which is essentially composed of a microwave signal generator and a microwave power meter, and a processing unit to which the analyzer is interfaced. The sensor 3 includes a resonator 9 and an open coaxial probe 11. The resonator 9 is produced by means of a length of microstrip line 13, terminating with the probe 11 and short-circuited at one end 13A. The microstrip is produced on a laminate of low-loss dielectric material 15. The collector plate forming the ground is indicated with 17. Operating on the microstrip 13 are two weakly coupled ports with coaxial output, indicated with 19 and 21 respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche
    Inventors: Marco Bini, Amleto Ignesti, Roberto Olmi, Lapo Pieri, Saverio Priori, Cristiano Riminesi
  • Publication number: 20090009189
    Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement of mass and/or moisture of dielectric objects, with an analysing unit, at least one high frequency generator, at least one high frequency detector and with a high frequency resonator, wherein the at least one high frequency generator can generate at least two modes which are independent from each other, having different resonance frequencies in the resonator, the at least one high frequency detector can measure the occurring frequencies for each mode in the resonator, and the analysing unit can determine a shift of the resonance frequency (A) and a change of the resonance curve for the measured frequencies in each mode, and can calculate the mass and/or moisture of the dielectric object from the determined values for the shift of the resonance frequency (A) and the change of the resonance curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: TEWS Elektronik
    Inventors: Rainer Herrmann, Udo Schlemm
  • Publication number: 20080211514
    Abstract: In a method for determining the moisture of a running material web, in particular a paper web or paperboard web, the material web is scanned by way of a sensor including a microwave resonator, the resonance response of the microwave resonator is investigated, and the moisture in the material web is established in the light of this resonance response while taking account of the distance between the microwave resonator and the material web. Also disclosed is a corresponding apparatus for determining the moisture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Oliver Kaufmann, Peter Biener, Rainer Wenzl
  • Publication number: 20080211516
    Abstract: For measuring the water content of a web in the wire section of a paper machine, at least one radiofrequency-operated resonator sensor forms an electric near field, in which a web affects the resonance frequency of each resonator sensor. The water content of the web is measured as a function of the resonance frequency of each resonator sensor in a measuring unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Elektrobit Microwave Oy
    Inventors: Pekka Jakkula, Jarmo Karhu, Kari Luostarinen, Matti Limingoja
  • Publication number: 20080186031
    Abstract: A Method and an apparatus for measuring the mass and/or moisture of the contents of incompletely filled capsules, containing, in particular, medicinal products, pharmaceutical products, vitamins and similar products, with the aid of microwaves is disclosed. The displacement of the resonant frequency and broadening of the resonance curve caused by the capsules in at least one resonator is determined and evaluated. Measurements are made integrated over the whole capsule as well as with high local resolution for various portions and cross sections of the capsule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Rainer Herrmann, Udo Schlemm
  • Patent number: 7330034
    Abstract: A process for measuring the moisture content and the mass-moisture content of materials is presented that requires no air reference or calibration sequence. A microwave signal is split into a reference and a transmission signal, and the reference signal is applied directly to the phase detector, whereas the transmission signal is first transmitted through the sample before being presented to the other side of the phase detector. This measurement provides a phase-constant measurement that is due to the dielectric characteristics of the material under test. The system measures the material's phase-constant across a band of frequencies. The slope of the phase-constant versus frequency is then utilized to predict the density of the material which is then combined with the corrected phase-constant measurement to calculate the moisture content of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Mathew G. Pelletier, Michael E. Gvili
  • Patent number: 7276916
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement of measuring conductive component content of a multiphase fluid flow and uses thereof. The claimed device comprises two coils arranged around the pipe containing the fluid to be measured, where the induced power loss in the mixture is determined, thereby determining the content of the conductive component. Alternatively, a number of coils are arranged on the outside surface of the fluid transporting pipe and the power loss or attenuation of magnetic field is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Epsis AS
    Inventor: Erling Hammer
  • Patent number: 7239150
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a material property of a pavement material from a microwave field generally includes generating a microwave frequency electromagnetic field of a first mode about the pavement material. The frequency response of the pavement material in the electromagnetic field can be measured, such as by a network analyzer. The measurement of the frequency response permits correlating the frequency response to a material property of the pavement material sample, such as the density. A method of correcting for the roughness of a pavement material divides the pavement into a shallow layer and a deep layer. Two planar microwave circuits measure the permittivity of the shallow and deep layer. The permittivities are correlated to correct for roughness. An apparatus for obtaining the density of a pavement sample includes a microwave circuit and a network analyzer. The network analyzer measures the frequency response to determine the density of the pavement material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Ernest Troxler, William T. Joines
  • Patent number: 7176696
    Abstract: In a method of detecting and eliminating foreign bodies in tobacco, a flow of tobacco advances first through a preparation zone where it is gathered into a continuous ribbon of tobacco filler, then through a forming station at which the filler is used to fashion a continuous cigarette rod, and finally through a cutter device that divides the rod into cigarette sticks; the advancing flow is directed at a given point through a detection device and exposed to electromagnetic radiation of microwave frequency emitted and received in such a way as to generate output signals reflecting any variations in moisture content along the flow of tobacco, caused by the inclusion of foreign bodies and associated with given portions of the flow each coinciding with a singly identifiable cigarette stick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: G.D S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luca Cerati, Fiorenzo Draghetti
  • Patent number: 7151380
    Abstract: Sensor and process for measuring mass of water on a sheet forming fabric. The sensor includes a microwave element positionable to couple an electromagnetic field into a stock layer to be measured, and a microwave signal generator coupled to the microwave element to generate, in the microwave element, a microwave signal having a frequency lower than a relaxation frequency of water. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Pekka Typpö, Rudolf Münch, Thomas Ischdonat, Oliver Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 7123024
    Abstract: A device is disclosed, comprising a microwave resonator, for or on a spinner preparation machine with drawing gear (2) for drawing fiber material (FB), in particular a carding, drawing or combing machine, whereby the resonator (30) is embodied for connection to a measuring device (16) for measuring the strip density (mass per unit length) or the strip thickness and/or the dampness of the fiber material (FB), continuously passing through the resonator chamber (31). Said device is characterized in that the resonator (30) is integrated in a functional group (20; 120; 220; 320; 420) of the spinner preparation machine which is typical for the machine. A spinner preparation machine, in particular a carding, drawing or combing machine, is further disclosed which comprises a corresponding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Rieter Ingolstadt Spinnereimaschinenbau AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Göhler, Chokri Cherif
  • Patent number: 7038470
    Abstract: The invention provides a sensor for monitoring an environmental parameter in concrete including an enclosure; a detecting device connected to the enclosure for a detecting at least one environmental parameter in concrete, wherein the detecting device includes at least one capacitive element; an active material connected to the enclosure, wherein the active material is liable to respond to the environmental parameter and is operably connected to the capacitive element; a RFID chip mounted within the enclosure and operably connected to the detecting device; and an antenna operably connected to the RFID chip and the detecting device, wherein the antenna is part of an L-R-C circuit whose resonance frequency shifts within an assigned frequency band. The invention also provides a MEMS-based capacitive element that responds to an environmental parameter in concrete. The invention further provides a method of forming a MEMS-based capacitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Design Consulting, USA, Ind.
    Inventor: Eric Arthur Johnson