Automated soil measurement device
First Claim
1. A soil analysis device comprising:
- a mixing chamber receiving a soil sample and an extractant, the mixing chamber producing a liquid mixture by mixing the soil sample and extractant;
a filtration system coupled to the mixing chamber and receiving the liquid mixture from the mixing chamber, the filtration system filtering the received liquid mixture; and
a measurement cell coupled to the filtration system and receiving the filtered liquid mixture, the measurement cell coupled to a light source so that light propagating from the light source is attenuated by the filtered liquid mixture and is measured by an optical detector coupled to the measurement cell, the optical detector generating an attenuation spectrum indicating light received by the detector at different wavelengths.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A soil analysis device and a method are disclosed for measuring characteristics of a soil sample. A mixing chamber combines a soil sample and an extractant into a liquid mixture. A filtration system receives and filters the liquid mixture. The filtered liquid mixture is transmitted through a pipe with a slope to a measurement cell. The measurement cell is coupled to a light source so that light propagating from the light source is attenuated by the liquid mixture and is measured by an optical detector that is also coupled to the measurement cell. The optical detector generates an attenuation spectrum indicating light received by the detector at different wavelengths. The attenuation spectrum is used to determine the characteristics of the soil sample.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A soil analysis device comprising:
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a mixing chamber receiving a soil sample and an extractant, the mixing chamber producing a liquid mixture by mixing the soil sample and extractant; a filtration system coupled to the mixing chamber and receiving the liquid mixture from the mixing chamber, the filtration system filtering the received liquid mixture; and a measurement cell coupled to the filtration system and receiving the filtered liquid mixture, the measurement cell coupled to a light source so that light propagating from the light source is attenuated by the filtered liquid mixture and is measured by an optical detector coupled to the measurement cell, the optical detector generating an attenuation spectrum indicating light received by the detector at different wavelengths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for measuring characteristics of a soil sample comprising the steps of:
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producing a liquid mixture by combining the soil sample and an extractant in a mixing chamber; filtering the liquid mixture using a filtration system; directing the filtered liquid mixture into a measurement cell; transmitting ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared light from an optical source through the filtered liquid mixture in the measurement cell; generating an attenuation spectrum associated with the filtered liquid mixture from ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light passing through the filtered liquid mixture in the measurement cell; and determining characteristics of the soil sample from the attenuation spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification