Automated soil measurement device
First Claim
1. A soil analysis device comprising:
- a mixing chamber configured to receive a soil sample and to receive extractant, the mixing chamber configured to produce and store a liquid extractant-soil mixture by combining the soil sample and the extractant;
a sample measurement chamber physically coupled to the mixing chamber, the sample measurement chamber configured to receive a portion of the liquid extractant-soil mixture from the mixing chamber; and
an optical detector optically coupled to the sample measurement chamber, the optical detector configured to receive light propagating from a light source, the light attenuated by the portion of the liquid extractant-soil mixture received from the mixing chamber, the optical detector configured to generate an attenuation spectrum indicating the attenuated light received by the optical detector at different wavelengths.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and a method are disclosed for combining a soil sample and extractant in a mixing chamber to produce a liquid extractant-soil mixture. A portion of the liquid extractant-soil mixture is directed from the mixing chamber through a sample measurement chamber coupled to the mixing chamber. The sample measurement chamber is coupled to a light source so that light propagates from the light source through the portion of the liquid extractant-soil mixture to an optical detector which generates an attenuation spectrum indicating light received by the detector at different wavelengths. The sample measurement chamber may include an attenuation cell having a specified optical path between a first measurement window and a second measurement window and angular surface directing particulates in the liquid extractant-soil mixture away from the attenuation cell.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A soil analysis device comprising:
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a mixing chamber configured to receive a soil sample and to receive extractant, the mixing chamber configured to produce and store a liquid extractant-soil mixture by combining the soil sample and the extractant; a sample measurement chamber physically coupled to the mixing chamber, the sample measurement chamber configured to receive a portion of the liquid extractant-soil mixture from the mixing chamber; and an optical detector optically coupled to the sample measurement chamber, the optical detector configured to receive light propagating from a light source, the light attenuated by the portion of the liquid extractant-soil mixture received from the mixing chamber, the optical detector configured to generate an attenuation spectrum indicating the attenuated light received by the optical detector at different wavelengths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20)
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15. A method for measuring characteristics of a soil sample comprising the steps of:
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producing a liquid extractant-soil mixture by combining the soil sample and extractant in a mixing chamber; directing a portion of the liquid extractant-soil mixture from the mixing chamber into a sample measurement chamber physically coupled to the mixing chamber; transmitting light from a light source through the portion of the liquid extractant-soil mixture in the sample measurement chamber; and detecting, with an optical detector optically coupled to the sample measurement chamber, light propagating from the light source, the light attenuated by the portion of the liquid extractant-soil mixture received from the mixing chamber; generating an absorption spectrum indicating the attenuated light received by the optical detector at different wavelengths; and determining components of the soil sample from the attenuation spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification