US5235192A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sensor and method for measurment of select components of a material based on detection of radiation after interaction with the material
Assignee: Honeywell Measurex Corp
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Filing: 1991-12-09
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Granted: 1993-08-10
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Expires: 2011-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A sensor and method is provided for measuring one or more select components of a material. In one embodiment, a method measures the components by emitting electromagnetic radiation at the material and detecting the intensity of the emerging radiation at separate locations from the source. In another embodiment, a sensor provides a radiation source for emitting radiation at a sheet, a plurality of detecting means, wherein at least one detecting means is offset from the source, for detecting radiation after interaction with the sheet and first and second reflectors for directing the radiation so that the radiation makes multiple interactions with the sheet when moving from the source to the detecting means. The invention can accurately measure the select components (e.g., moisture) of different grades of paper by eliminating the effects of the scattering power and determining absorption power at each band of the spectrum considered necessary for a particular measurement.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee M. Chase
- 👤 Leonard M. Anderson
- 👤 Michael K. Norton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/86; D; D21; D21F; D21F7/00; D21F7/003; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/31; G01N21/35; G01N21/3554; G01N21/3559; G01N33/00; G01N33/34; G01N33/346; G01N2021/8663
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A sensor for measuring one or more select components of a sheet, comprising: a radiation source for emitting radiation toward the sheet; a plurality of detecting means, wherein at least one detecting means is offset from the source, for detecting radiation after interaction with the sheet; means for directing the radiation so that the radiation makes multiple interactions with the sheet in moving from the source to the detecting means, wherein the directing means includes a first reflector and second reflector defining a sheet space for the sheet to occupy; means for computing a ratio of the intensity of the detected radiation when the sheet is absent from the sheet space and the intensity of the detected radiation when the sheet occupies the sheet space; and means for computing the absorption power of the sheet from the intensity of the detected radiation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A sensor for measuring one or more select components of a sheet, comprising: a radiation source for emitting radiation toward the sheet; a plurality of detecting means, wherein at least one detecting means is offset from the source, for detecting radiation after interaction with the sheet; means for directing the radiation so that the radiation makes multiple interactions with the sheet in moving from the source to the detecting means, wherein the directing means includes a first reflector and second reflector defining a sheet space for the sheet to occupy; means for computing a ratio of the intensity of the detected radiation when the sheet is absent from the sheet space and the intensity of the detected radiation when the sheet occupies the sheet space; and means for computing the absorption power of the sheet from the intensity of the detected radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sensor of claim 1, wherein the detecting means includes a source aperture for emitting radiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second reflectors include diffuse surfaces facing and substantially parallel to the sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sensor of claim 1, wherein the first reflector includes a source aperture for emitting radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The sensor of claim 4, wherein the second reflector includes a first detector aperture and a second detector aperture, wherein at least one detector aperture is offset from the source aperture, for directing radiation to at least one detecting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sensor of claim 1, wherein the detecting means includes a first and second detector aperture for receiving radiation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The sensor of claim 1, further comprising means for computing a first ratio based on the radiation received at a first detector aperture and a second ratio based on the radiation received at a second detector aperture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sensor of claim 7, further comprising means for computing an absorption and scattering power of the sheet from the first and second intensity ratios.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The sensor of claim 8, wherein the detecting means includes a first detector for detecting and generating a first signal indicative of the intensity of the radiation in a first band of the spectrum which is sensitive to a first component of the sheet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The sensor of claim 9, wherein the detecting means includes a second detector for detecting and generating a second signal indicative of the intensity of the radiation in a second band of the spectrum which is less sensitive to the first component than the first band.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The sensor of claim 10, wherein the detecting means includes a third detector for detecting and generating a third signal indicative of the intensity of the radiation in a third band of the spectrum which is sensitive to temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The sensor of claim 11, further comprising means for computing a first, second and third absorption power of the sheet based on the first, second and third signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The sensor of claim 12, further comprising means for correcting the first and the second absorption powers for the temperature of the sheet based on the third absorption power.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The sensor of claim 11, wherein the detecting means includes a fourth detector for detecting and generating a fourth signal indicative of the intensity of the radiation at a fourth band of the spectrum which is sensitive to a second component of the sheet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The sensor of claim 14, wherein the detecting means includes a fifth detector for detecting and generating a fifth signal indicative of the intensity of the radiation at a fifth band of the spectrum which is sensitive to a third component in the sheet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sensor of claim 14, further comprising means for computing a fourth absorption power of the sheet from the fourth signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sensor of claim 16, further comprising means for computing a fifth absorption power of the sheet from the fifth signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The sensor of claim 17, further comprising means for correcting the fourth and fifth absorption powers for the sheet temperature based on the third absorption power.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The sensor of claim 15, wherein the sheet is paper, the first component is moisture, the second component is cellulose, the third component is synthetic fiber and the radiation is in the infrared spectrum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
100 words
A sensor for measuring one or more select components of a sheet, comprising: a source for emitting radiation through a source aperture; means for detecting radiation after the radiation interacts with the sheet, including at least two detector apertures, wherein at least one detector aperture is offset from the source aperture, for receiving the radiation; first and second reflector means for directing the radiation so that the radiation has multiple interactions with the sheet when moving from the source to the detecting means; and means for computing the absorption power of the sheet from the intensity of the detected radiation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
100 words
A sensor for measuring one or more select components of a sheet, comprising: a source for emitting radiation through a source aperture; means for detecting radiation after the radiation interacts with the sheet, including at least two detector apertures, wherein at least one detector aperture is offset from the source aperture, for receiving the radiation; first and second reflector means for directing the radiation so that the radiation has multiple interactions with the sheet when moving from the source to the detecting means; and means for computing the absorption power of the sheet from the intensity of the detected radiation.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for measuring the amount of a select component of a sheet comprising the steps of: emitting radiation from a source to the sheet; detecting and generating a plurality of signals indicative of the intensity of the radiation emerging from the sheet at a plurality of detecting means with unequal offset from the radiation source; directing the radiation so that the radiation makes multiple interactions with the sheet in moving from the source to the detecting means; and computing the absorption power of the sheet from the intensity of the detected radiation.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for measuring the amount of a select component of a sheet comprising the steps of: emitting radiation from a source to the sheet; detecting and generating a plurality of signals indicative of the intensity of the radiation emerging from the sheet at a plurality of detecting means with unequal offset from the radiation source; directing the radiation so that the radiation makes multiple interactions with the sheet in moving from the source to the detecting means; and computing the absorption power of the sheet from the intensity of the detected radiation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of: calculating, with a computer, the amount of the select component using the plurality of signals.
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) | 1996-08-09 | 1997-02-08 | 1997-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-09 | 2001-02-08 | 2001-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-09 | 2005-02-08 | 2005-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |