EP0121739A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for evaluating the performance of dielectric substances
Assignee: Toyota Central R&D Labs Inc
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Filing: 1984-03-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-03-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for evaluating the performance of a dielectric substance includes: at least a pair of electrodes (1) disposed in contact with the dielectric substance to be measured; a power supply (2) for applying a pulse voltage to the electrodes (1); a current detector (3) for detecting a transient response current flowing between the electrodes dependent on the component of the dielectric substance disposed between the electrodes (1); and a signal processor (4) for evaluating the performance of the dielectric substance. The performance evaluation may be performed based on at least one of a peak value of the transient response current at a certain period of time, a difference between the peak value and a value at a fixed period of time after the peak value, and a ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values. With this method and apparatus, the performance of the dielectric substance can quantitatively be evaluated.
Inventors
- 👤 Takayuki Kato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/26; G01N33/28; G01N33/2888; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/04; G01N27/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of evaluating the performance of a dielectric substance, comprising the steps of: applying a pulse voltage to at least a pair of electrodes arranged in contact with the dielectric substance to be measured; detecting a transient response current flowing between the electrodes dependent on the component of the dielectric substance disposed between the electrodes when the pulse voltage is applied; and evaluating the performance of the dielectric substance based on the detected current.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of evaluating the performance of a dielectric substance, comprising the steps of: applying a pulse voltage to at least a pair of electrodes arranged in contact with the dielectric substance to be measured; detecting a transient response current flowing between the electrodes dependent on the component of the dielectric substance disposed between the electrodes when the pulse voltage is applied; and evaluating the performance of the dielectric substance based on the detected current.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said pulse voltage applied to the electrodes has a fixed amplitude and a fixed time duration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of measuring at least one of a peak value of the transient response current at a certain period of time, a difference between the peak value and a value at a fixed period of time after the peak value and a ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of displaying at least one of the peak value, the difference between the two values and the ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values in relation to the performance of the dielectric substance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of comparing at least one of the peak value, the difference between the two values and the ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values with a reference value indicative of the performance of the dielectric substance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said pulse voltage applied to the electrodes has a fixed amplitude and a fixed time duration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of detecting a temperature of the dielectric substance, said pulse voltage being applied to the electrodes when the temperature of the dielectric substance is equal to a prescribed temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of controlling the temperature of the dielectric substance to a prescribed temperature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of detecting a temperature of the dielectric substance, said pulse voltage being applied to the electrodes when the temperature of the dielectric substance is equal to a prescribed temperature, wherein the peak value is displayed as a value indicative of a liquid level of the dielectric substance and the ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values is displayed as a performance value of the dielectric substance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said electrodes is made of a material having a relatively large catalytic activity with respect to the dielectric substance.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for evaluating the performance of a dielectric substance , comprising: at least a pair of electrodes disposed in contact with the dielectric substance to be measured; power supply means for applying a pulse voltage to said electrodes; current detecting means fod detecting a transient response current flowing between said electrodes dependent on the component of the dielectric substance disposed between said electrodes; and signal processing means for evaluating the performance of the dielectric substance based on the detected current.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for evaluating the performance of a dielectric substance , comprising: at least a pair of electrodes disposed in contact with the dielectric substance to be measured; power supply means for applying a pulse voltage to said electrodes; current detecting means fod detecting a transient response current flowing between said electrodes dependent on the component of the dielectric substance disposed between said electrodes; and signal processing means for evaluating the performance of the dielectric substance based on the detected current.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said power supply means comprises a pulse voltage power supply for generating a pulse voltage having a fixed amplitude and a fixed time duration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said signal processing means comprises means for measuring at least one of a peak value of the transient response current at a certain period of time, a difference between the peak value and a value at a fixed period of time after the peak value and a ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values..
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising display means connected to said signal processing means, for displaying at least one of the peak value, the difference between the two values and the ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values as a performance value of the dielectric substance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising discriminating means connected to said display means, for comparing at least one of the peak value, the difference between the two values and the ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values with a reference value indicative of the performance of the dielectric substance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said power supply means comprises a pulse voltage power supply for generating a pulse voltage having a fixed amplitude and a fixed time duration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising temperature detecting means connected to said power supply means, for detecting a temperature of the dielectric substance, said pulse voltage being applied by said power supply means when the dielectric substance is at a prescribed temperature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising temperature controlling means connected to said temperature detecting means, for controlling the temperature of the dielectric substance to.a prescribed temperature.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said signal processing means comprises means for measuring at least one of a peak value of the transient response current at a certain period of time, a difference between the peak value and a value at a fixed period of time after the peak value and a ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising display means connected to said signal processing means, for displaying at least one of the peak value, the difference between the two values and the ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values as a performance value of the dielectric substance.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising discriminating means connected to said display means, for comparing at least one of the peak value, the difference between the two values and the ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values with a reference value indicative of the performance of the dielectric substance.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said power supply means comprises a pulse voltage power supply for generating a pulse voltage having a fixed amplitude and and a fixed time duration.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising timing circuit means connected to said power supply means, responsive to an output from said temperature detecting means for energizing said power supply means to generate the pulse voltage when the dielectric substance is at the prescribed temperature.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said display means comprises means for displaying the peak value of the current as a value indicative of a liquid level of the dielectric substance and the ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values as a performance value of the dielectric substance.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said signal processing means comprises peak detecting means for detecting a peak value of the transient response current at a certain period of time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
73 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said signal processing means comprises peak detecting means connected to said current detecting means, for detecting a peak value of the transient response current at a certain period of time, and defferential operation means connected to said current detecting means and said peak detecting means, for detecting a difference between the peak value and a value at a fixed period of time after the peak value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
99 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said signal processing means comprises peak detecting means connected to said current detecting means, for detecting a peak value of the current at a certain period of time, differential operation means connected to said current detecting means and said peak detecting means, for detecting a difference between the peak value and a value at a fixed period of time after the peak value, and division means connected to said peak detecting means and said differential operation means, for measuring the ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said signal processing means comprises gate means connected to said power supply means and said current detecting means, for measuring the transient response current upon elapse of a fixed period of time from an initial value of the transient response current.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said electrodes is made of a material having a catalytic activity with respect to the dielectric substance.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said current detecting means comprises a load resistor and a low-pass filter for removing noise signals from the transient response current.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein a positive electrode of said electrodes has the catalytic activity.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, copper, iron, nickel and brass.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising sensor means connected to said power supply means and said current detecting means, having a support of an insulating material in which said electrodes are disposed and lead wires extending from said electrodes, said sensor means being removably inserted into the dielectric substance.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a measuring container connected to said power supply means and said current detecting means, for receiving the dielectric substance, said container being made of an insulating material in which said electrodes are disposed and lead wires extending from said electrodes.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said measuring container comprises a receptacle having an accommodating portion for accommodating a prescribed amount of dielectric substance to be measured,and a member openable and closable with respect to said receptacle, said receptacle and said openable and closable member having confronting portions on which said electrodes are supported, respectively, in spaced relation, for sandwiching a layer of the dielectric substance in a gap therebetween, and lead wires extending from said electrodes, respectivlcy, for connection to said power supply means and said current detecting means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said measuring container further comprises a reservoir defined between said confronting portions for storing the dielectric substance and providing the same to said gap.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said openable and closable member has a through hole for permitting an excessive amount of dielectric substance to flow upwardly.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said measuring container further comprises an ultrasonic vibrator for mixing the dielectric substance and removing deposits of dielectric substance from said electrodes.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said -temperature detecting means and said electrodes are of an unitary construction in electrically insulated relation.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said displaying means comprises means for displaying the peak value of the transient response current as a value indicative of a liquid level of the dielectric substance and for displaying the ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values as a performance value of the dielectric substance.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said displaying means comprises means for converting the peak value into an area of contact between said electrodes and the dielectric substance and for displaying said area as a liquid level of the dielectric substance.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said displaying means comprises means for measuring a reduction of a peak value of the transient response current at the time of measurement from a reference peak value of the transient response current at a certain period of time, for converting said reduction into a liquid level of the dielectric substance, and displaying said liquid level.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said displaying means comprises means for correcting the reduction of the peak value with the ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said discriminating means comprises a memory for setting the reference value indicative of the initial performance of the dielectric substance dependent on the performance, type and quality of the dielectric substance.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said discriminating means comprises a discriminating circuit for alotting the reference value to measured values issued from said signal processing means and selectively discriminating the measured values according to the preset priority.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said electrodes comprise a cylindrical electrode assembly including a body of insulating material, a first electrode mounted centrally on said body, and a second cylindrical electrode surrounding said first electrode with a gap therebetween in an electrically insulated relation to said first electrode, said second electrode having through holes for passage of the dielectric substance to be measured.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
233 words
An apparatus for evaluating the performance of a dielectric substance, comprising: at least a pair of electrodes disposed in contact with the dielectric substance to be measured; power supply means for applying a pulse voltage having a fixed value and a fixed amplitude to said electrodes; timing circuit means for energizing said power supply means when measuring conditions of the dielectric substance are met; current detecting means including a load resistor and a low-pass filter for detecting a transient response current flowing between said electrodes depenent on the dielectric substance disposed between said electrodes; signal processing means including a gate circuit for detecting the transient response current upon elapse of a fixed period of time from an initial value of said transient response current and a computing circuit for computing a peak value of the transient response current from said gate circuit, a difference between the peak value and a value at a fixed period of time after the peak value, and a ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values; display means for displaying an output from said signal processing means as a performance value of the dielectric substance; and discriminating circuit means for setting a reference value dependent on the performance of the dielectric substance and for comparing an output from said signal processing means with said reference value to determine the performance of the dielectric substance.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
233 words
An apparatus for evaluating the performance of a dielectric substance, comprising: at least a pair of electrodes disposed in contact with the dielectric substance to be measured; power supply means for applying a pulse voltage having a fixed value and a fixed amplitude to said electrodes; timing circuit means for energizing said power supply means when measuring conditions of the dielectric substance are met; current detecting means including a load resistor and a low-pass filter for detecting a transient response current flowing between said electrodes depenent on the dielectric substance disposed between said electrodes; signal processing means including a gate circuit for detecting the transient response current upon elapse of a fixed period of time from an initial value of said transient response current and a computing circuit for computing a peak value of the transient response current from said gate circuit, a difference between the peak value and a value at a fixed period of time after the peak value, and a ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values; display means for displaying an output from said signal processing means as a performance value of the dielectric substance; and discriminating circuit means for setting a reference value dependent on the performance of the dielectric substance and for comparing an output from said signal processing means with said reference value to determine the performance of the dielectric substance.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 47, further including temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the dielectric substance, said pulse voltage being applied by said power supply means when the dielectric substance is at a prescribed temperature.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said display means comprises .means for setting the peak value of the current from said signal processing means as a liquid level of the dielectric substance, setting one of the peak value, the difference between the two values and the ratio from said signal processing means as a performance valee of the dielctric susbtance, correcting said peak value with said ratio, and measuring and displaying the liquid level of the dielectric substance based on the corrected peak value.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein at least one of said electrodes is made of a material highly active with respect to the dielectric substance and selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, copper, iron, nickel, and brass.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said temperature detecting means comprises a temperature detecting element, including sensor means of a unitary construction composed of said temperature detecting element and said electrodes in electrically insulated relation, said sensor means being removably locatable in the dielectric substance.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
134 words
An apparatus according to claim 47, further comprising a measuring container for the dielectric substance made of an insulating material in which said electrodes are disposed and lead wires extending from said electrodes, said measuring container comprising a receptacle having an accommodating portion for accommodating a prescribed amount of dielectric substance, a member openable and closable with respect to said receptacle, said receptacle and said openable and closable member having confronting portions on which said electrodes are supported, respectively, in spaced relation, for sandwiching a layer of the dielectric substance in a gap therebetween and a reservoir defined between said confronting portions for storing the dielectric substance and providing the same to said gap, said openable and closable member having a through hole for permitting an excessive amount of dielectric substance to flow upwardly.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising a measuring container for the dielectric substance made of an insulating material in which said electrodes are disposed and lead wires extending from said electrodes, temperature detecting means disposed in said measuring container for detecting the temperature of the dielectric substance, and temperature controlling means for heating or cooling the dielectric substance in said measuring container to a prescribed temperature.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising an oil level gauge for an automobile, said electrodes being mounted on a tip of said oil level gauge in an electrically insulated relation thereto, and lead wires extending from said electrodes on said oil level gauge.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
287 words
An apparatus for evaluating the performance of a dielectric substance, comprising: ; sensor means having at least a pair of electrodes held in contact with engine oil to be measured and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the engine oil; temperature detecting means responsive to an output from said temperature sensor for determining that the engine oil is in a prescribed temperature range; timing circuit means energizable by an output signal from said temperature detecting means and a signal indicative of actuation of an engine starting switch power supply means energizable by an output from said timing circuit means for generating and applying a pulse voltage having a fixed amplitude and a fixed time duration to said electrodes in said sensor means; current detecting means for detecting a transient response current flowing through the engine oil between said electrodes when the pulse voltage is applied by said power supply means to said electrodes in said sensor means; signal processing means for detecting at least one of a peak value of the transient response current at a certain period of time, a difference between the peak value and a value at a fixed period of time after the peak value, and for computing a ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values; discriminating circuit means for comparing at least one of the peak value, the difference between the two values and the ratio from said processing circuit means with respective preset discrimination reference values, and for issuing a discriminated result indicative of a condition of deterioration of the engine oil; and display means for displaying the condition of deterioration of the engine oil dependent on the output from said discriminating circuit means.
Claim 59
Independent Claim
287 words
An apparatus for evaluating the performance of a dielectric substance, comprising: ; sensor means having at least a pair of electrodes held in contact with engine oil to be measured and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the engine oil; temperature detecting means responsive to an output from said temperature sensor for determining that the engine oil is in a prescribed temperature range; timing circuit means energizable by an output signal from said temperature detecting means and a signal indicative of actuation of an engine starting switch power supply means energizable by an output from said timing circuit means for generating and applying a pulse voltage having a fixed amplitude and a fixed time duration to said electrodes in said sensor means; current detecting means for detecting a transient response current flowing through the engine oil between said electrodes when the pulse voltage is applied by said power supply means to said electrodes in said sensor means; signal processing means for detecting at least one of a peak value of the transient response current at a certain period of time, a difference between the peak value and a value at a fixed period of time after the peak value, and for computing a ratio of the peak value to the difference between the two values; discriminating circuit means for comparing at least one of the peak value, the difference between the two values and the ratio from said processing circuit means with respective preset discrimination reference values, and for issuing a discriminated result indicative of a condition of deterioration of the engine oil; and display means for displaying the condition of deterioration of the engine oil dependent on the output from said discriminating circuit means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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