Method and apparatus for non-destructively determining ingredients of a sample
First Claim
1. A test apparatus for measuring the amount of at least one constituent present in a sample of material, wherein said at least one constituent bears a known relationship to the electrical conductivity of the sample, comprising:
- a sensor including receptacle means for receiving a sample of material therein and defining an axis, and field producing means;
said field producing means including means for producing an electromagnetic field within said receptacle means, means for substantially confining said electromagnetic field to a predetermined, fixed volume within said receptacle means and substantially coaxially therewith, and means for maintaining said confined electromagnetic field substantially uniform and continuous throughout said predetermined, fixed volume to which it is confined;
said predetermined, fixed volume being located such that the material of said sample extends over the entire axial length thereof when said sample is introduced into the test apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A test apparatus is provided for measuring the proportion of at least one constituent in a sample of material, which constituent bears a known relationship to the electrical conductivity of the sample. The test apparatus comprises a sensor including both a receptacle for receiving a sample of material and a field producing coil for producing an electromagnetic field within the receptacle. The coil is also designed confining said electromagnetic field to a predetermined, fixed volume within the receptacle and for producing a substantially constant magnitude electromagnetic field throughout this predetermined, fixed volume. A monitoring circuit is coupled with the sensor and is responsive thereto for producing an output signal which bears a predetermined relationship with the real impedance of the sensor and therefore with the conductivity of the sample.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A test apparatus for measuring the amount of at least one constituent present in a sample of material, wherein said at least one constituent bears a known relationship to the electrical conductivity of the sample, comprising:
- a sensor including receptacle means for receiving a sample of material therein and defining an axis, and field producing means;
said field producing means including means for producing an electromagnetic field within said receptacle means, means for substantially confining said electromagnetic field to a predetermined, fixed volume within said receptacle means and substantially coaxially therewith, and means for maintaining said confined electromagnetic field substantially uniform and continuous throughout said predetermined, fixed volume to which it is confined;
said predetermined, fixed volume being located such that the material of said sample extends over the entire axial length thereof when said sample is introduced into the test apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- a sensor including receptacle means for receiving a sample of material therein and defining an axis, and field producing means;
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28. A test apparatus for measuring the amount of at least one constituent in a sample of material, which constituent bears a known relationship to the electrical conductivity of the sample, comprising:
- a sensor including receptacle means for receiving a sample of material therein and field producing means for producing an electromagnetic field within said receptacle, and monitoring circuit means coupled with said sensor and responsive thereto for producing an output signal which bears a predetermined relationship with substantially only the real component of the impedance of said sensor and therefore with the conductivity of said sample substantially without regard for the dielectric constant of said sample, when said sample is received in said receptacle.
- View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A test apparatus for measuring the amount of at least one constituent present in a sample of material, wherein said at least one constituent bears a known relationship to the electrical conductivity of the sample, comprising:
- a sensor including receptacle means for receiving a sample of material therein and defining an axis, and field producing means, said field producing means including means for producing an electromagnetic field within said receptacle, means for substantially confining said electromagnetic field to a predetermined, fixed volume within said receptacle means and substantially coaxially therewith, means for producing a substantially constant magnitude electromagnetic field throughout said predetermined, fixed volume, and wherein said field producing means further includes means for substantially eliminating axial electric field components in said electromagnetic field.
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40. A test apparatus for measuring the amount of at least one constituent in a sample of material, which constituent bears a known relationship to the electrical conductivity of the sample, comprising:
- a sensor including receptacle means for receiving a sample of material therein and field producing means for producing an electromagnetic field within said receptacle, and monitoring circuit means coupled with said sensor and responsive thereto for producing an output signal which bears a predetermined relationship with the real impedance of said sensor and therefore with the conductivity of said sample when said sample is received in said receptacle, and wherein said field producing means further includes means for substantially eliminating axial electric field components in said electromagnetic field.
Specification