Patent ID: 7997121

Claim:
A milliwave melter monitoring system, comprising: a waveguide having a portion capable of contacting a molten material in a melter for use in measuring one or more properties of the molten material; a passive receiver configured for use in obtaining signals transferred through the waveguide, wherein the passive receiver is configured for receiving signals from the waveguide when contacting the molten material for use in determining the viscosity of the molten material; a reflection receiver capable of detecting a reflected probed signal that is directed through the waveguide to the melter and is reflected back for detection by the reflection receiver; and a chopper that blocks signals transferred through the waveguide from reaching the reflection receiver while allowing signals transferred through the waveguide to reach the passive receiver, wherein the chopper is capable of being rotated so that signals transferred through the waveguide do not reach the passive receiver while being allowed to reach the reflection receiver such that the reflected probed signal moves past the chopper towards the melter and then is reflected to move back past the chopper to the reflection receiver.