Patent ID: 6930492
Filing Date: 2005-08-16
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method using surface microwaves for measuring and determining density or moisture content of a material, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning the material within a proximate free space region spanning immediately above externally exposed flat top surface of a surface microwave waveguide, said surface microwave waveguide is comprised of: (b) transmitting microwaves into first end of said surface microwave waveguide, such that a first portion of said transmitted microwaves propagate within and through said surface microwave waveguide and a second portion of said transmitted microwaves propagate within and through said proximate free space region including the material, such that parameters of said propagating microwaves are perturbed by the material and are a function of density or moisture content of the material within said proximate free space region; and (c) receiving said first portion and said second portion of said propagating microwaves exiting second end of said surface microwave waveguide, for forming received microwaves, said parameters of said transmitted microwaves and of said received microwaves are useable for determining the density or moisture content of the material.