التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
| العنوان: |
Microwave Sensor for Measuring the Moisture of Masonry Surfaces Comprising a Microstrip Resonator Coupled with an Open Coaxial Probe |
| Document Number: |
20070247169 |
| تاريخ النشر: |
October 25, 2007 |
| Appl. No: |
11/574691 |
| Application Filed: |
September 02, 2005 |
| مستخلص: |
The measurement device includes a microwave sensor, a microwave analyzer which is essentially composed of a microwave signal generator and a microwave power meter, and a processing unit to which the analyzer is interfaced. The sensor 3 includes a resonator 9 and an open coaxial probe 11. The resonator 9 is produced by means of a length of microstrip line 13, terminating with the probe 11 and short-circuited at one end 13A. The microstrip is produced on a laminate of low-loss dielectric material 15. The collector plate forming the ground is indicated with 17. Operating on the microstrip 13 are two weakly coupled ports with coaxial output, indicated with 19 and 21 respectively. |
| Inventors: |
Bini, Marco (Pistoia, IT); Ignesti, Amleto (Firenze, IT); Olmi, Roberto (Firenze, IT); Pieri, Lapo (Firenze, IT); Priori, Saverio (Firenze, IT); Riminesi, Cristiano (Firenze, IT) |
| Claim: |
1. A sensor for diagnostics on masonry surfaces, plasters and the like, including a resonator coupled with an open coaxial probe, wherein said resonator includes a length of microstrip line forming with said open coaxial probe a resonant electromagnetic structure with evanescent coupling, and said microstrip and said coaxial probe are interchangeably connected. |
| Claim: |
2. Sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microstrip is provided with a first port for signal input and a second port for signal output, said first and second ports being weakly coupled to said microstrip; said microstrip is short-circuited at one end and connected to said probe at the opposite end. |
| Claim: |
3. Sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and second port have a coaxial output. |
| Claim: |
4. Sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coaxial probe includes an elastic central electrode, to allow correct positioning on the surface of the material to be analyzed. |
| Claim: |
5. Sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microstrip is short-circuited at one end and associated with two weakly coupled ports with coaxial output. |
| Claim: |
6. Sensor as claimed in claim 1, including a resonant setting device, to vary the resonance frequency in air of the resonator. |
| Claim: |
7. Sensor as claimed in claim 6, wherein said microstrip is short-circuited at one end and associated with two weakly coupled ports with coaxial output and said length of microstrip line is interchangeable to vary the resonance frequency in air of the resonator. |
| Claim: |
8. Sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein it has a resonance frequency in air ranging from 100 MHz to 10 GHz. |
| Claim: |
9. A device for diagnostics on masonry surfaces, plasters and the like, including a sensor as claimed in claim 1 and a control and measurement circuit associated with an input and an output to said sensor. |
| Claim: |
10. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said circuit includes a microwave sender to send a variable frequency microwave signal to said sensor and to detect at least the resonance frequencies of the sensor applied to a material to be analyzed. |
| Claim: |
11. Device as claimed in claim 10, including a detector to determine the bandwidth of the resonant system formed by the sensor and by the material to be analyzed. |
| Claim: |
12. Device as claimed in claim 11, including a device to determine the quality factor of said resonant system. |
| Claim: |
13. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control and measurement circuit includes in combination: a microcontroller; a frequency synthesized signal generator, the signal of which controls the sensor; a true RMS converter, connected to the output of the sensor; an analog/digital converter, the input of which receives the signal output by the true RMS converter; a circuit interfacing with an external processing unit. |
| Claim: |
14. Device as claimed in claim 13, including a detector to control the level of signal of said signal generator, connected at the output from the signal generator by means of a directional coupler. |
| Claim: |
15. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control and measuring circuit is designed to excite the sensor with a signal having a frequency variable within a range equal to or less than 30% and preferably approximately 15% of the resonance frequency in air of the sensor, below said resonance frequency in air. |
| Claim: |
16. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control and measuring circuit is designed to determine, by means of measurement of the resonance frequency and/or of the quality factor of the resonator interfaced to the material being analyzed, one or more of the following conditions: presence and degree of moisture; presence of salts; surface roughness. |
| Claim: |
17. Sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said coaxial probe includes an elastic central electrode, to allow correct positioning on the surface of the material to be analyzed. |
| Claim: |
18. Sensor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said coaxial probe includes an elastic central electrode, to allow correct positioning on the surface of the material to be analyzed. |
| Current U.S. Class: |
324634/000 |
| Current International Class: |
01; 01 |
| رقم الانضمام: |
edspap.20070247169 |
| قاعدة البيانات: |
USPTO Patent Applications |
