Patent ID: 8860418
Filing Date: 2014-10-14
Classification: G01N,G01R,G01V

Abstract:
1. A coaxial-based sensor probe for making dielectric measurements of a solid sample, the probe comprising: a central conductor having a tip for contacting a surface of the solid sample, the central conductor defining a longitudinal axis of the probe; a dielectric material surrounding at least a portion of the central conductor; an outer conductor surrounding at least a portion of the dielectric material, and having a circular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along at least a portion of the outer conductor; a shaped conductor having a circular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along a portion of the shaped conductor and having an edge shape that corresponds to an expected shape of a non-flat surface of the solid sample, wherein the outer conductor and shaped conductor are arranged such that the outer and shaped conductors are centered about the longitudinal axis and are in electrical contact with each other; and wherein the shaped conductor and outer conductor are dimensioned such that the shaped conductor slides along an outer surface of the outer conductor while maintaining electrical contact with the outer conductor.