Device, method and system for measuring the distribution of selected properties in a material

• US 7,057,743 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2000
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FMC FoodTech AB
• Original Assignee: Frigoscandia Equipment AB (FMC Corporation)
• Inventors: Merkel, Harald, Reimers, Mikael
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr., Gregory J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stock, Jr., Gordon J.
• Application Number:
  US09/885,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20030024315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,010 Days
• Field of Search: 356/601, 356/73, 3562381-2383, 3562391-2398, 356/237.2, 356429-431, 324/600, 324/71.1, 324629-630, 324633-635, 324637-640, 324642-644, 324691-695, 73/300.1, 73/530.1, 736/02, 736/34, 73/232, 73/232.8, 73/290.1, 600/309, 600/310, 600/402, 600/425, 600/430, 600437-461, 600473-480
• US Class Current: 356/601
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 22/04 Investigating moisture content

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for measuring the distribution of selected properties of materials, said device comprises an emitter of electromagnetic radiation and furthermore at least one sensor of a first type. The emitter emits electromagnetic radiation in a selected frequency range towards said materials and a sensor of the first type detects electromagnetic radiation in a selected frequency range coming from said materials. The detected electromagnetic radiation having been emitted by said emitter. The device also comprises means to generate a three dimensional image contour information regarding the said material'"'"'s position in space, and an analyser which (a) receives information from said sensors and (b) processes this information and (c) generates signals containing information about the distribution of said properties as output. The invention also relates to a system and a method for measuring the distribution of selected properties of materials.

Claims

1. A device for measuring the distribution of selected properties of a material arranged on a conveyor, said device comprising:

an emitter of electromagnetic radiation arranged at one side of said conveyor, said emitter emitting electromagnetic radiation in a multiple of frequencies in a selected frequency range towards said material;

at least a sensor arranged on an opposite side of said conveyor, compared to said emitter, said sensor detecting electromagnetic radiation in said selected frequency range being emitted from said material, said electromagnetic radiation originating from said emitter;

an analyser arranged to receive information regarding said emitted electromagnetic radiation and said detected electromagnetic radiation, said information comprising amplitude and/or phase for each selected frequency, said analyser being arranged to calculate the selected property distribution in said material based on the received information;

an image device arranged to send information to said analyser to create a three dimensional contour of the material, said image device includes at least one imaging sensor connected to an image processing device, said at least one imaging sensor detecting an image of said material, which is processed into a three-dimensional contour of said material in said image processing device,

wherein said at least one imaging sensor detects a picture of the reflectivity in optical wavelengths.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one imaging sensor is a video camera.

5. The device according to claims 1 or 3, wherein said analyser includes means for interpolating previously measured results, stored in a memory, to obtain the selected property distribution in said material.

6. The device according to claim 1 or 3, wherein said analyser includes means for calculating the dielectric distribution in said material and converting said dielectric distribution into the selected property distribution in said material.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said means for calculating the dielectric distribution comprises a three dimensional model determining regions within said material where the dielectric function is assumed non-changing, and means for applying said model to said three dimensional contour of the material, whereby a dielectric distribution is obtained.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein further comprising means for converting said dielectric distribution into the selected property distribution.

3. A device for measuring the distribution of selected properties of a material arranged on a conveyor, said device comprising:

an emitter of electromagnetic radiation arranged at one side of said conveyor, said emitter emitting electromagnetic radiation in a multiple of frequencies in a selected frequency range towards said material;

at least a sensor arranged on an opposite side of said conveyor, compared to said emitter, said sensor detecting electromagnetic radiation in said selected frequency range being emitted from said material, said electromagnetic radiation originating from said emitter;

an analyser arranged to receive information regarding said emitted electromagnetic radiation and said detected electromagnetic radiation, said information comprising amplitude and/or phase for each selected frequency, said analyser being arranged to calculate the selected property distribution in said material based on the received information;

an image device arranged to send information to said analyser to create a three dimensional contour of the material, said image device includes at least one imaging sensor connected to an image processing device, said at least one imaging sensor detecting an image of said material, which is processed into a three-dimensional contour of said material in said image processing device,

wherein said at least one imaging sensor detects a picture of the reflectivity and transmissivity and propagation speed of sound waves.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said at least one imaging sensor is an ultrasound imaging device.