Patent ID: 8305091

Claim:
A method for determining the moisture content of wood ( 1 ), comprising the operating steps of: inserting the wood ( 1 ) between a first plate and a second plate ( 3 ) of a capacitor ( 4 ); applying a first signal to the first plate ( 2 ) of the capacitor ( 4 ) using the plate as a transmitting antenna; detecting on the second plate ( 3 ) a second signal induced by the first signal, using the second plate ( 3 ) as a receiving antenna; and determining the moisture content of the wood ( 1 ) based on the value of the second, induced signal detected; the method being characterised in that it also comprises the operating steps of: taking from the second, induced signal detected a third reference signal, obtaining a differential signal; determining the components of the differential signal in phase and in quadrature relative to the first signal; filtering the components of the differential signal in phase and in quadrature to obtain a filtered in phase component and a filtered in quadrature component which are substantially independent of the frequency of the first signal; and calculating the moisture value for the wood ( 1 ) based on the value of the filtered in phase and in quadrature components of the differential signal.