Patent ID: 9341687
Filing Date: 2016-05-17
CPC Classification: G01N,G01R

Claim Text:
1. A method for determining the presence, quantity, spatial distribution, and composition of a target material that may be present in an environment, the method comprising: generating, using a pair of electrodes, a first electromagnetic field having a first set of characteristics, the first electromagnetic field interacting with the target material if present; measuring a first trans-impedance between the pair of electrodes based on the generated first electromagnetic field; generating, using the pair of electrodes, a second electromagnetic field having a second set of characteristics, the second electromagnetic field differing from the first electromagnetic field and the second electromagnetic field interacting with the target material if present; measuring a second trans-impedance between the pair of electrodes based on the generated second electromagnetic field; perturbing a forward model to compare the first trans-impedance to a first known intrinsic dielectric property of the target material and to compare the second trans-impedance to a second known intrinsic dielectric property of the target material, wherein the first known intrinsic dielectric property of the target material and the second known intrinsic dielectric property of the target material are stored in a library of known intrinsic dielectric properties of a plurality of materials, and the forward model is based on a lumped electrical circuit representation of the environment; and determining the presence, quantity, and location of the target material within the environment based on the perturbing.