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Apparatus and method to detect moisture

  • US 6,906,530 B2
  • Filed: 05/17/2003
  • Issued: 06/14/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting moisture, comprising:

  • an oscillator for generating a first oscillatory electrical signal S1;

    means for propagating S1 into a body at an electrical conductor disposed entirely within the body and then along a linear path from the electrical conductor through an electrically insulative material disposed entirely within the body such that a signal due to S1 emerges from the path and from the body as a second oscillatory electrical signal S2;

    a probe having an electrically conductive sensing surface adapted to be in physical contact with the body and to receive S2, wherein the electrically insulative material is disposed between the sensing surface and the electrical conductor so as to form a parallel plate capacitor across which S1 and S2 differ in phase by Δ

    φ

    such that Δ

    φ

    is indicative of moisture along the entire path traversed by S1 within the electrically insulative material; and

    a moisture detecting device adapted to determine Δ

    φ

    from S1 and S2 and a measure M of the moisture based on M being proportional to Δ

    φ

    .

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