Noncontact resonameter, process for making and use of same
Inventors
Orloff, Nathan Daniel • LONG, CHRISTIAN JOHN • Obrzut, Jan
Assignees
National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST • United States Department of Commerce
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Publication Number
US-10261032-B2
Publication Date
2019-04-16
Expiration Date
2035-12-03
Abstract
A noncontact resonameter includes: a resonator to: produce an excitation signal including a field; subject a sample to the excitation signal; produce a first resonator signal in a presence of the sample and the excitation signal, the first resonator signal including: a first quality factor of the resonator; a first resonance frequency of the resonator; or a combination thereof, the first resonator signal occurring in an absence of contact between the sample and the resonator; and produce a second resonator signal in a presence of the excitation signal and an absence of the sample, the second resonator signal including: a second quality factor of the resonator; a second resonance frequency of the resonator; or a combination thereof; a circuit in electrical communication with the resonator to receive the first resonator signal and the second resonator signal; and a continuous feeder to: provide the sample proximate to the resonator; dispose the sample intermediately in the field of the excitation signal during production of the first resonator signal; remove the sample from the resonator; and manipulate a position of the sample relative to the resonator in a continuous motion and in an absence of contact between the sample and the resonator.
Core Innovation
The invention is a noncontact resonameter that includes a resonator configured to produce an excitation signal comprising a field and to subject a sample to this excitation signal. The resonator produces a first resonator signal in the presence of the sample and excitation signal, which includes a quality factor, resonance frequency, or a combination thereof, and this occurs without any contact between the sample and the resonator. A second resonator signal is produced in the presence of the excitation signal but in the absence of the sample, similarly including quality factor and resonance frequency information. A circuit electrically communicates with the resonator to receive these signals, while a continuous feeder provides the sample proximate to the resonator, disposes the sample intermediately in the field of excitation signal during the first resonator signal's production, and manipulates the sample position relative to the resonator in continuous motion absent contact.
The problem solved is measuring electrical, mechanical, or geometric properties of a continuously fed sample without physical contact during the measurement. Traditional methods may require contact or discrete measurements, limiting real-time and continuous testing especially in manufacturing or processing environments. The invention addresses measuring properties of samples that can be solids, liquids, gases, or combinations thereof, which may be disposed on or part of a continuous feeder such as a web, roll, reel, wire, or capillary.
The noncontact resonameter allows for real-time, simultaneous measurement of the resonator's resonance frequency and quality factor in the presence and absence of the sample. These measurements relate to the sample's properties, enabling determination of electrical properties like permittivity, dielectric constant, or conductivity, mechanical properties, or geometric properties in a non-invasive, nondestructive manner during continuous sample conveyance. The arrangement of the resonator and continuous feeder is customizable to accommodate various sample dimensions and properties, enabling inline testing and quality control at production speeds.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes one independent claim describing a comprehensive noncontact resonameter, accompanied by numerous dependent claims elaborating on specific components and functionalities. The main inventive features concern the resonator setup, the circuit configuration including specific detectors and control feedback, the continuous feeder mechanism, and the feedback control of the source signal for real-time measurement.
Noncontact resonator producing distinct resonator signals
A resonator configured to produce an excitation signal with a field and to generate a first resonator signal in the presence of the sample and a second resonator signal in the absence of the sample, both including quality factor and resonance frequency, without contact between the sample and resonator.
Circuit with phased detection and feedback control
A circuit comprising a diode receiving resonator signals, a tunable resistor controlling signal-to-noise ratio and measurement speed, first and second phase sensitive detectors sampling at first and second harmonics respectively, process controllers producing output signals, and a bias tee that forms a control signal. This circuit provides feedback to a source oscillator to tune frequency and modulation amplitude based on resonator signals.
Continuous feeder enabling noncontact sample manipulation
A continuous feeder that provides the sample proximate to the resonator, disposes the sample intermediately in the excitation field, removes the sample, and moves the sample in a continuous, possibly interruptible motion without contact with the resonator.
Source oscillator with feedback-based tuning
A source comprising a voltage-controlled oscillator that receives control signals from the circuit to selectively tune the center frequency and produce a source signal imparting phase and amplitude based on the control feedback, enabling real-time detection of changes in resonance frequency or quality factor.
The claims collectively cover a noncontact resonameter system that integrates a resonator, feedback-controlled source oscillator, a sophisticated circuit with phased detection, and a continuous noncontact feeder for the sample, enabling real-time, simultaneous measurement of resonance frequency and quality factor changes caused by the sample without contact. This system supports continuous and interruptible sample movement and feedback for frequency and amplitude control of the excitation signal.
Stated Advantages
Provides nondestructive, noncontact measurement of electrical, mechanical, and geometric properties during continuous sample conveyance.
Enables simultaneous real-time measurement of resonance frequency and quality factor, improving measurement speed and accuracy.
Allows customization of resonator and feeder arrangement to accommodate various sample sizes and properties.
Supports continuous or interruptible motion of samples, suitable for inline quality control in manufacturing environments.
Offers a system capable of measuring samples with a range of states including solids, liquids, gases, or combinations thereof.
Documented Applications
Measurement and determination of electrical properties such as complex permittivity, dielectric constant, electrical conductivity, and permeability of samples conveyed in a noncontact manner.
Determination of mechanical or geometric properties, including sample thickness and volume, of materials in motion without contact.
Quality control and inline testing in manufacturing or processing facilities involving continuous feeds such as webs, rolls, or liquid handling, particularly in pharmaceutical, chemical, or materials manufacturing.
Measurement of magnetic properties of samples through changes in resonator frequency and quality factor.
Use in nondestructive testing of continuous or discrete samples at feed rates ranging from micrometers per second to kilometers per second.
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