Patent ID: 6707307
Filing Date: 2004-03-16
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A sensor for measuring the dielectric constant of a fluid, the sensor comprising:a conduit for the fluid, the conduit having first and second ends, between which electrical energy may pass; an electrical generator having as output an electrical transient, the electrical generator being operably connected to the conduit for transmitting the electrical transient along the conduit, wherein propagation of the electrical transient is affected by the fluid, the electrical transient having a rise time; a receiver connected to the conduit for detecting electrical transients that have passed along the conduit from the electrical generator; and a processor operably connected to the electrical generator and to the receiver, the processor being programmed to cause the electrical transient to be generated by the electrical generator for passage along the conduit and determine the dielectric constant of the fluid from, the propagation time of the electrical transient detected at the receiver being adjusted to remove variability of the propagation time caused by the rise time of the electrical transient.