Dielectric mixture composition sensor with compensation for mixture electrical conductivity
First Claim
1. Apparatus for measuring the composition of an electrically conductive mixture, comprisinga single sensor including a first electrode and a second electrode with a measurement space therebetween for receiving a specimen of an electrically conductive mixture, the second electrode being connected to a fixed second electrode potential;
- a voltage source having as an output an applied voltage;
a voltage oscillator switch which alternatively switches the first electrode between two different circuit elements, the voltage oscillator switch being operable to alternatively connect the first electrode to a reference discharge voltage and to the applied voltage through a resistor, there being a first operational state encompassing the period when the first electrode is connected to the reference discharge voltage and a second operational state encompassing the period when the first electrode is connected to the applied voltage through the resistor;
a first measurement circuit element having an input in electrical communication with the first electrode and an output of a first operational state peak voltage measured during the first operational state;
a second measurement circuit element having an input in electrical communication with the first electrode and an output of a second operational state peak voltage measured during the second operational state; and
a mathematical circuit element having as inputs the first operational state peak voltage and the second operational state peak voltage, and as a voltage output a mathematical function of the first operational state peak voltage and the second operational state peak voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The composition of an electrically conductive mixture, such as a mixture of gasoline and alcohol, is measured using a single measurement cell having a first electrode and a second electrode with a measurement space therebetween for receiving a specimen of the mixture. With a specimen of the mixture in the measurement space, the first electrode is alternatively connected to a reference discharge voltage, preferably ground, and to an applied voltage through a resistor. A first operational state encompasses the period when the first electrode is connected to the reference discharge voltage and a second operational state encompasses the period when the first electrode is connected to the applied voltage through the resistor. A first operational state peak voltage is measured during the first operational state, and a second operational state peak voltage is measured during the second operational state. The first operational state peak voltage and a preselected constant proper fraction of the second operational state peak voltage are summed to obtain a summed voltage output, which may be correlated to the composition of the mixture.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for measuring the composition of an electrically conductive mixture, comprising
a single sensor including a first electrode and a second electrode with a measurement space therebetween for receiving a specimen of an electrically conductive mixture, the second electrode being connected to a fixed second electrode potential; -
a voltage source having as an output an applied voltage; a voltage oscillator switch which alternatively switches the first electrode between two different circuit elements, the voltage oscillator switch being operable to alternatively connect the first electrode to a reference discharge voltage and to the applied voltage through a resistor, there being a first operational state encompassing the period when the first electrode is connected to the reference discharge voltage and a second operational state encompassing the period when the first electrode is connected to the applied voltage through the resistor; a first measurement circuit element having an input in electrical communication with the first electrode and an output of a first operational state peak voltage measured during the first operational state; a second measurement circuit element having an input in electrical communication with the first electrode and an output of a second operational state peak voltage measured during the second operational state; and a mathematical circuit element having as inputs the first operational state peak voltage and the second operational state peak voltage, and as a voltage output a mathematical function of the first operational state peak voltage and the second operational state peak voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for measuring the composition of an electrically conductive mixture, comprising the steps of
providing a single sensor including a first electrode and a second electrode with a measurement space therebetween, the second electrode being connected to a fixed second electrode potential; -
placing a specimen of an electrically conductive mixture in the measurement space; alternatively connecting the first electrode to ground and to an applied voltage through a resistor, a first operational state encompassing the period when the first electrode is connected to ground and a second operational state encompassing the period when the first electrode is connected to the applied voltage through the resistor; measuring a first operational state peak voltage during the first operational state; measuring a second operational state peak voltage during the second operational state; and mathematically calculating a function of the first operation state peak voltage and the second operational state peak voltage to obtain a voltage output. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for measuring the composition of an electrically conductive mixture, comprising
a single sensor including a first electrode and a second electrode with a measurement space therebetween, the second electrode being connected to a fixed second electrode potential; -
a switch having a first pole in electrical communication with the first electrode and an applied voltage through a resistor, and a second pole in electrical communication with a reference discharge voltage, there being a first operational state encompassing the period when the switch is closed so that the first electrode is connected to the reference discharge voltage, and a second operational state encompassing the period when the switch is open so that the first electrode is connected only to the applied voltage through the resistor; a first measurement circuit element having an input in electrical communication with the first electrode and an output of a first operational state peak voltage measured during the first operational state; a second measurement circuit element having an input in electrical communication with the first electrode and an output of a second operational state peak voltage measured during the second operational state, wherein the second operational state peak voltage has an opposite sense relative to the first operational state peak voltage; and a mathematical circuit element having as inputs the first operational state peak voltage and the second operational state peak voltage, and as a voltage output a mathematical function of the first operational state peak voltage and the second operational state peak voltage. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification