Patent ID: 6677763
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: G01N,G01R

Abstract:
A material analyzing apparatus, comprising an analyzer body, the analyzer body including:a material casing; material analyzing circuitry, the material analyzing circuit comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and a control, the material analyzing circuitry being encased by the material casing; an antenna system, the antenna system comprising a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna, and a ground layer; and a coupling structure that couples the antenna system to the material analyzing circuitry, wherein the transmitter of the material analyzing circuitry is adapted to generate an electromagnetic wave signal, the electromagnetic wave signal being adapted to be sent by the transmitting antenna into a material to be analyzed, the receiving antenna receiving a returned signal from the material, the returned signal then adapted to be sent to the receiver and to the control, the control adapted to analyze the returned signal for material characteristics of the material, wherein the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna of the antenna system and the ground layer comprise a configuration of a two conductor transmission line with in-between ground layer, wherein the antenna system provides a uniform coverage of the electromagnetic wave signal on a surface of the material, wherein the antenna system does not present a dead zone, and wherein the antenna system provides field shaping that results in the returned signal being less effected affected by material surface properties, characteristics, and configurations of a material surface of the material than without said field shaping.