US3597616A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Infrared measurement technique
Assignee: BRUN SENSOR SYSTEMS Inc
•
Filing: 1969-05-07
•
Granted: 1971-08-03
•
Expires: 1989-05-07
Abstract
Abstract Measurement of moisture content or other property of a product or substance is accomplished through determination of the relative degree of transmission of two beams of radiation directed through a test quantity of the substance. The two beams of radiation are of wavelengths in the infrared spectrum with the specific wavelengths not selected on the basis of exhibiting characteristic absorption by the particular substance property to be determined but which wavelengths are selected on the basis that they exhibit a wavelength and property dependent scattering characteristic for this substance. Determination of the relative scattering of transmission of the two beams of radiation, one of which is of wavelength to exhibit less scattering at relatively lower percent inclusion of the particular property in a given mass of the substance, results in a ratio which is indicative of the included percentage of the property under test.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald C Brunton
- 👤 Carl R Soltesz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/31; G01N21/314; G01N21/3151; G01N21/35; G01N21/3554
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
Apparatus for determining the present or the amount of a property in a substance comprising: A. radiation source means emitting waveform radiation of discrete wavelengths lambda 1 and lambda 2 within the infrared spectrum with said wavelengths lambda 1 and lambda 2 selected to exhibit characteristic scattering by the substance as a function of the property with radiation of wavelength lambda 2 exhibiting a relatively greater degree of scattering than radiation of wavelength lambda 1, B. means optically coupled with said radiation source means for forming two beams of radiation of respective wavelengths lambda 1 and lambda 2 and directing said formed beams through the substance, and C. radiation detection means disposed in optically coupled relationship with said beams of radiation transmitted through the substance and independently responsive to each respective beam in forming output signals related to the magnitude of the transmitted beams of radiation with the ratio of said output signals providing an indication of the percent of the property in the substance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
Apparatus for determining the present or the amount of a property in a substance comprising: A. radiation source means emitting waveform radiation of discrete wavelengths lambda 1 and lambda 2 within the infrared spectrum with said wavelengths lambda 1 and lambda 2 selected to exhibit characteristic scattering by the substance as a function of the property with radiation of wavelength lambda 2 exhibiting a relatively greater degree of scattering than radiation of wavelength lambda 1, B. means optically coupled with said radiation source means for forming two beams of radiation of respective wavelengths lambda 1 and lambda 2 and directing said formed beams through the substance, and C. radiation detection means disposed in optically coupled relationship with said beams of radiation transmitted through the substance and independently responsive to each respective beam in forming output signals related to the magnitude of the transmitted beams of radiation with the ratio of said output signals providing an indication of the percent of the property in the substance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said radiation source means emits radiation of wavelengths in the one-three micron spectral band.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said radiation detection means includes radiation-sensing means responsive to said transmitted radiation and forming respective voltage output signals for each of said radiation wavelengths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said radiation detection means includes circuit means forming an output which is a ratio of said voltage output signals.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
142 words
The method of determining the relative content of a property in a substance comprising the steps of A. generating radiation of two discrete wavelengths within the infrared spectrum each of which wavelengths is selected to exhibit characteristic scattering by the substance as a function of the property with the radiation of one of said wavelengths exhibiting a relatively greater degree of scattering, neither of said radiation wavelengths selected to exhibit resonance absorption as to the property with the relative degree of scattering of said wavelengths decreasing with an increase in the relative property content, B. directing said radiation through the substance, C. detecting the radiation transmitted through the test substance with means generating respective signals related to the magnitude of the respective radiation wavelengths transmitted and, D. determining the ratio of said signals as indicative of the property content of the substance.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
142 words
The method of determining the relative content of a property in a substance comprising the steps of A. generating radiation of two discrete wavelengths within the infrared spectrum each of which wavelengths is selected to exhibit characteristic scattering by the substance as a function of the property with the radiation of one of said wavelengths exhibiting a relatively greater degree of scattering, neither of said radiation wavelengths selected to exhibit resonance absorption as to the property with the relative degree of scattering of said wavelengths decreasing with an increase in the relative property content, B. directing said radiation through the substance, C. detecting the radiation transmitted through the test substance with means generating respective signals related to the magnitude of the respective radiation wavelengths transmitted and, D. determining the ratio of said signals as indicative of the property content of the substance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said radiation wavelengths are within the one-three micron spectral band.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the ratio of said signals is determined as a direct relationship of the wavelength exhibiting the greater scattering to the other wavelength.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said radiation is formed in two relatively monochromatic beams of the respective wavelengths and directed through the substance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |