Automated soil measurement device
First Claim
1. A soil analysis device comprising:
- a mixing chamber configured to receive a soil sample and to receive an extractant, the mixing chamber configured to produce a liquid mixture by mixing the soil sample and the extractant;
a filtration system coupled to the mixing chamber and configured to receive the liquid mixture from the mixing chamber and configured to filter a portion of the received liquid mixture; and
a measurement cell coupled to the filtration system and configured to receive the filtered liquid mixture;
at least one optical detector optically coupled to the measurement cell, the optical detector configured to receive light propagating from a light source that has been at least one of;
attenuated by the filtered liquid mixture andreflected by the filtered liquid mixture,the at least one optical detector configured to receive light of different wavelengths, and to generate at least one of an attenuation spectrum and a reflection spectrum.
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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 to a measurement cell. The measurement cell is coupled to a light source so that light propagating from the light source is attenuated and/or reflected by the liquid mixture and is measured by one or more optical detectors that are also coupled to the measurement cell. The optical detector generates an attenuation spectrum and/or a reflection spectrum indicating light received by the one or more detectors at different wavelengths. The attenuation and/or reflection spectrum is used to determine the characteristics of the soil sample.
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Citations
18 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 an extractant, the mixing chamber configured to produce a liquid mixture by mixing the soil sample and the extractant; a filtration system coupled to the mixing chamber and configured to receive the liquid mixture from the mixing chamber and configured to filter a portion of the received liquid mixture; and a measurement cell coupled to the filtration system and configured to receive the filtered liquid mixture; at least one optical detector optically coupled to the measurement cell, the optical detector configured to receive light propagating from a light source that has been at least one of; attenuated by the filtered liquid mixture and reflected by the filtered liquid mixture, the at least one optical detector configured to receive light of different wavelengths, and to generate at least one of an attenuation spectrum and a reflection spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for measuring characteristics of a soil sample comprising:
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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 to produce a filtered liquid mixture; directing at least a portion of the filtered liquid mixture into a measurement cell; transmitting at least one of ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared light from a light source into the measurement cell; detecting light propagating from the light source that has been at least one of; attenuated by the filtered liquid mixture and reflected by the filtered liquid mixture, generating at least one of an attenuation spectrum and a reflection spectrum based on the propagated light; and determining characteristics of the soil sample from at least one of the attenuation spectrum and the reflection spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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producing a liquid mixture by combining the soil sample and an extractant in a mixing chamber; transmitting the liquid mixture into a filtration system in a first direction; filtering the liquid mixture using the filtration system to produce a filtered liquid mixture; directing at least a portion of the filtered liquid mixture into a measurement cell; transmitting light from a light source into the measurement cell; detecting light propagated from the light source through the measurement cell; and directing a cleaning fluid through the filtration system to clean the filtration system, the cleaning fluid passing through the filtration system in a second direction opposite the first direction.
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Specification