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US3684952A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for measuring dielectric constant

Assignee: MOISTURE REGISTER CO
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Filing: 1970-04-07
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Granted: 1972-08-15
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Expires: 1990-04-07
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Abstract

Abstract A very high frequency oscillator has an antenna as the frequency determining element. The antenna is immersed in a material having a high ionic conductivity, and the shift in the frequency of the oscillator is measured. The frequency shift is indicative of the dielectric constant and moisture content of the material. A dielectric may be interposed between the antenna and the material to reduce the range of frequency shift of the oscillator.

Inventors

  • 👤 John W Lundstrom

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 12:17
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N22/00; G01N22/04; H; H03; H03B; H03B7/00; H03B7/02; H03B7/06; H03B7/08

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 144 words
Apparatus for providing an indication of moisture content of material having a high ionic conductivity comprising: a conducting plane having a slot therein forming a very high frequency antenna, one side of said conducting plane being enclosed in a conducting cavity to prevent radiation from said slot on that side of said conducting plane; oscillating means having a low negative resistance coupled to said slot in said conducting plane, with said slot forming the frequency determining element for said oscillating means, said oscillating means oscillating in the range between 100 and 300 megahertz; frequency measuring means coupled to said oscillating means for indicating shifts in frequency thereof; said conducting plane being adapted for immersion of the slot therein in material having a high ionic conductivity for causing a shift in the frequency of said oscillating means indicative of the moisture content of the material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 144 words
Apparatus for providing an indication of moisture content of material having a high ionic conductivity comprising: a conducting plane having a slot therein forming a very high frequency antenna, one side of said conducting plane being enclosed in a conducting cavity to prevent radiation from said slot on that side of said conducting plane; oscillating means having a low negative resistance coupled to said slot in said conducting plane, with said slot forming the frequency determining element for said oscillating means, said oscillating means oscillating in the range between 100 and 300 megahertz; frequency measuring means coupled to said oscillating means for indicating shifts in frequency thereof; said conducting plane being adapted for immersion of the slot therein in material having a high ionic conductivity for causing a shift in the frequency of said oscillating means indicative of the moisture content of the material.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 90 words
The method of measuring the moisture content of material having a high ionic conductivity with an oscillator having an antenna as the frequency determining element thereof, the method comprising the following steps: adjusting the oscillator to oscillate in the range of between 100 and 300 megahertz; measuring the frequency of the oscillator with the antenna in air; immersing the antenna in material having a high ionic conductivity; measuring the frequency of the oscillator with the antenna immersed in the material; and determining the frequency shift between the two frequency measurements.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 90 words
The method of measuring the moisture content of material having a high ionic conductivity with an oscillator having an antenna as the frequency determining element thereof, the method comprising the following steps: adjusting the oscillator to oscillate in the range of between 100 and 300 megahertz; measuring the frequency of the oscillator with the antenna in air; immersing the antenna in material having a high ionic conductivity; measuring the frequency of the oscillator with the antenna immersed in the material; and determining the frequency shift between the two frequency measurements.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

CH349102A Cited
GB991795A Cited
US3550106A Cited
GB1082872A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-08-15 1976-02-14 1976-08-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-08-15 1980-02-14 1980-08-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-08-15 1984-02-14 1984-08-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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