Metallic time-domain reflectometry roof moisture sensor
First Claim
1. Apparatus for detecting moisture in a roof, comprising:
- (a) electrical pulse generating means for transmitting and receiving a series of electrical pulses;
(b) a transmission line arranged within the roof and connected with said pulse generating means, said transmission line having first and remote ends and including a medium having a dielectric constant which changes when exposed to moisture; and
(c) signal analyzing means connected with said pulse generating means for interpreting said series of electrical pulses transmitted along said transmission line, whereby when said transmission line is exposed to moisture, a portion of said electrical pulses transmitted along said transmission line is analyzed by said signal analyzing means thereby allowing the presence and location of the moisture in the roof to be determined.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting the presence, location, and extent of the moise in a roof using metallic time-domain reflectomerry (TDR) includes an electrical pulses, a transmission line embedded within the roof and connected with the pulse generator, and a signal analyzer which interprets the electrical pulses transmitted along the transmission line. When the transmission line is exposed to moisture, the dielectric constant of the transmission line changes, thereby causing a portion of the energy of the transmitted pulse to be reflected back toward the source and a portion to pass through to the end of transmission line. The distance from the source and the length of the dielectric discontinuity are determined by analyzing the round-trip travel time of the reflected pulse.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. Apparatus for detecting moisture in a roof, comprising:
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(a) electrical pulse generating means for transmitting and receiving a series of electrical pulses; (b) a transmission line arranged within the roof and connected with said pulse generating means, said transmission line having first and remote ends and including a medium having a dielectric constant which changes when exposed to moisture; and (c) signal analyzing means connected with said pulse generating means for interpreting said series of electrical pulses transmitted along said transmission line, whereby when said transmission line is exposed to moisture, a portion of said electrical pulses transmitted along said transmission line is analyzed by said signal analyzing means thereby allowing the presence and location of the moisture in the roof to be determined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification