Patent ID: 6784671
Filing Date: 2004-08-31
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for estimating at least one of moisture content and density of a dielectric material, comprising:a generator for generating a radio frequency signal in the range above DC and up to and including 1000 MHz; at least one pair of electrodes for transmitting and receiving said radio frequency signal through said dielectric material; a meter for measuring signal strength and phase shift of said radio frequency signal caused by interaction of said dielectric material; and a micro-processor for developing predetermined values of said signal strength and phase shift for said dielectric material, comprising; a meter for measuring signal strength and phase shift of a radio frequency signal caused by interaction of said radio frequency signal with said dielectric material using a known moisture content; a micro-processor for using a regression equation to determine an unknown moisture content for said dielectric material; and a micro-processor for using a regression equation to determine density for said dielectric material; a micro-processor for comparing said measured signal strength and phase shift of said radio frequency signal to said predetermined values to determine at least one of moisture content and density values.