Analysis instrument
First Claim
1. An analysis instrument for measuring the contents of a sample of a material comprising:
- a test cell for receiving said sample, said test cell comprising a capacitor whose electrical properties are modified in accordance with the dielectric constant of the sample, which dielectric constant is a function of the contents thereof, circuit means including means for applying two electrical signals of different predetermined frequencies to said test cell, means for applying said two electrical signals to said test cell when said test cell is empty and for again applying said two electrical signals to said test cell when said sample is received therein, test circuit means including said capacitor for receiving said applied signals and for producing test signals in response to said applied electrical signals, said test signals corresponding to said dielectric constant of said material, said circuit means further including measurement circuits for receiving said test signals and providing an indication corresponding to said contents of said material in accordance with said test signals.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An analysis instrument for measuring selected constituents present in a sample of a material such as a bulk commodity includes a test cell to receive the sample. The test cell comprises a capacitor whose electrical properties are modified in accordance with the dielectric constant of the sample, which dielectric constant is a function of the contents of the sample. Weight and temperature sensors are provided for producing signals corresponding to the weight and temperature of the sample in the test cell. An electronic measuring circuit is connected to a test circuit including the test cell capacitor and to the weight and temperature sensors for producing an indication of the contents of the sample. The measuring circuit produces the indication by correcting a measurement taken across the test cell in accordance with the variation in the temperature of the sample from a reference temperature and the variation in the bulk density of the sample from a reference bulk density. Control circuits are provided for controlling the overall operation of the analysis instrument in accordance with predetermined instructions stored therein and with operator instructions from a control panel.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An analysis instrument for measuring the contents of a sample of a material comprising:
- a test cell for receiving said sample, said test cell comprising a capacitor whose electrical properties are modified in accordance with the dielectric constant of the sample, which dielectric constant is a function of the contents thereof, circuit means including means for applying two electrical signals of different predetermined frequencies to said test cell, means for applying said two electrical signals to said test cell when said test cell is empty and for again applying said two electrical signals to said test cell when said sample is received therein, test circuit means including said capacitor for receiving said applied signals and for producing test signals in response to said applied electrical signals, said test signals corresponding to said dielectric constant of said material, said circuit means further including measurement circuits for receiving said test signals and providing an indication corresponding to said contents of said material in accordance with said test signals.
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2. A moisture tester for measuring the moisture content of a sample of a bulk commodity comprising:
- a test cell for receiving said sample, said test cell comprising a capacitor whose electrical properties are modified in accordance with the dielectric constant of a sample which dielectric constant is proportional to the moisture content thereof, circuit means including means for applying two electrical signals of different predetermined frequencies to said test cell and means for applying said two electrical signals to said test cell when said test cell is empty and again applying said two electrical signals to said test cell when said sample is received therein, test circuit means including said capacitor for receiving applied signals and for producing test signals in response to said applied electrical signals corresponding to said dielectric constant of said sample, said circuit means further including a measurement circuit for receiving said test signals and for providing an indication corresponding to said moisture content in accordance with said test signals.
- View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A moisture tester for measuring the moisture content of a sample of a bulk commodity comprising:
- a test cell for receiving said sample, said test cell comprising a capacitor, and circuit means connected to said capacitor for taking measurements across said capacitor and for providing an indication of said moisture content of said sample in accordance therewith, said circuit means including microprocessor means operating in a predetermined sequence in accordance with a set of predetermined instructions stored therein for taking said measurements and for providing output data corresponding to said moisture content in accordance with said measurements, and visual display means for receiving said output data and providing a visual display corresponding to said moisture content in accordance therewith.
- View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A tester for measuring a constituent content of a sample of bulk commodity comprising:
- a test cell for receiving a sample, means for producing a weight signal corresponding to the weight of said sample in said test cell, means for producing a temperature signal corresponding to the temperature of said sample in said test cell, and microprocessor means operating in a predetermined sequence in accordance with a set of predetermined instructions stored therein, for applying predetermined signals to said test cell and receiving test signals therefrom in response to said applied signals, for receiving said weight signal and said temperature signal and for providing output data corresponding to said constituent content of the sample in accordance with said test signals said weight signal and said temperature signal.
- View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
Specification