Apparatus for chemical concentration determination using microwave spectroscopy
Inventors
Portune, Andrew Richard • Keller, Walter John • Chornenky, Todd Eric
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10852251-B2
Publication Date
2020-12-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
Compound detection or testing apparatus includes a microwave power supply, an antenna electrically coupled to the microwave power supply, the antenna adapted to emit energy during use of the apparatus, the antenna further adapted to receive an unabsorbed energy from the material and generate a signal defining the unabsorbed energy, a processing components configured to process the signal and determine a concentration of the compound on/in the fabric material and a reporting member coupled to each of the power supply and the processing member the reporting component configured to communicate the concentration of the compound on/in the fabric material. The apparatus may be configured as a hand-held sensor.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a compound detection apparatus for determining a concentration and/or a presence of a compound on/in fabric material using a microwave antenna/probe and microwave-spectroscopy measurement. A handheld housing defines a hollow interior with an antenna positioned adjacent to or embedded in a face plate end configured for positioning adjacent to or on the fabric material. The antenna emits electromagnetic energy and receives a spectra of electromagnetic energy reflected from the fabric material to generate a signal defining the reflected electromagnetic energy.
A signal processing member measures scattering parameters at each frequency within the spectra represented by the signal and determines, based on the scattering parameters, a concentration and/or a presence of the compound on/in the fabric material. The sensing is performed by measuring reflected electromagnetic energy and using the scattering parameters to infer concentration and/or presence.
The invention further provides a compound detection system architecture that includes an illumination element sweeping electromagnetic energy over a range of frequencies, a first receiver element for transmitted spectra and a second receiver element for reflected spectra, and a measurement element that measures scattering parameters at each frequency within each spectra to determine values or amounts of reflected and absorbed electromagnetic energy. An analysis element then analyzes information collected by the measurement element and defines, based on the scattering parameters, chemical specie(s) within the compound.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims: one apparatus claim for compound detection on/in fabric, one system claim with transmitted and reflected receiver elements and chemical species analysis, and one method claim specifically for determining Permethrin concentration/presence on/in fabric. Each independent claim centers on measuring scattering parameters over frequency sweeps of emitted electromagnetic energy and determining concentration, presence, and/or chemical specie(s).
Handheld microwave compound detection on fabric with scattering-parameter concentration determination
A handheld housing with a hollow interior positioned adjacent to or on fabric containing the compound, a microwave power supply within the hollow interior, and an antenna adjacent to the housing end configured to emit electromagnetic energy and receive a spectra of electromagnetic energy reflected from the material, generating a signal defining the reflected electromagnetic energy; a signal processing member measuring scattering parameters at each frequency within the spectra and determining, based on the scattering parameters, a concentration and/or a presence of the compound on/in the fabric; and a reporting member communicating the concentration and/or presence.
Swept illumination with transmitted and reflected receiver elements and scattering-parameter chemical species analysis
A compound detection system with an illumination element configured to sweep electromagnetic energy through a frequency range to illuminate the compound, a first receiver element receiving a first spectra transmitted through a medium containing the compound, a second receiver element receiving a second spectra reflected from the medium containing the compound, a measurement element measuring scattering parameters at each frequency within each spectra and determining values of reflected and absorbed electromagnetic energy, and an analysis element analyzing information to define chemical specie(s) within the compound based on the scattering parameters.
Method for determining Permethrin concentration/presence on fabric using frequency sweep and scattering-parameter determination
A method that provides a hand-held device with a housing with a hollow interior and face plate end, an antenna disposed within the hollow interior adjacent to or embedded in the face plate, a frequency generator coupled to the antenna, and a signal processing member coupled to the antenna; sweeps the fabric material with electromagnetic energy in a range of frequencies corresponding to absorption frequencies of Permethrin; measures scattering parameters at each frequency within the range; and determines, based on the scattering parameters, Permethrin concentration and/or presence.
Across the independent claims, the core claimed inventive approach is frequency-swept microwave/RF/millimeter-wave electromagnetic illumination combined with scattering-parameter measurement at each frequency, followed by determination of concentration/presence for a compound on/in fabric and, in the system claim, chemical specie(s) defined from transmitted/reflected scattering-parameter information.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
Interested in licensing this patent?