| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 324664000 | To determine water content | 43 |
| 20090009193 | Moisture-Sensitive Element with an Interdigital Capacitor and Fabrication thereof - A moisture-sensitive element with an interdigital capacitor (IDC) and fabrication thereof are disclosed, wherein the moisture-sensitive element with the interdigital capacitor investigates a moisture sensor for the determination of human skin moisture based on the interdigital capacitor. The moisture-sensitive element with an interdigital capacitor comprises a printed circuit board (PCB), an interdigital capacitor formed on the printed circuit board, and a moisture sensing layer formed on the interdigital capacitor. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090039901 | GLAZING COMPRISING A CAPACITIVE RAIN SENSOR - The present invention relates to windows having a capacitive rain detector. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090108852 | Structure for capacitive balancing of integrated relative humidity sensor - An improved relative humidity sensor apparatus that provides a more accurate measurement of humidity in the presence of water condensation. A series capacitive sensor includes a thin porous platinum top plate, a humidity sensitive polyimide dielectric, and two metal bottom plates on a semiconductor substrate. The two capacitors can be wired in series such that the metal bottom plates form independent, electrically driven connections. The thin top layer can form a top plate. Changes in humidity affect the humidity sensitive dielectric thereby causing changes in the capacitive value. A P-well layer and a P-plus layer can be added at the perimeter of the substrate to create a path for a parasitic capacitance caused by water condensation to connect to one or more connection nodes, thereby preventing erroneous measurements of humidity in the presence of water condensation. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090219037 | Sensor For Measuring Moisture And Salinity - A sensor for measuring the moisture and salinity of a material is disclosed herein. The sensor preferably includes a soil moisture circuit, a soil salinity circuit and a probe structure. The soil moisture circuit includes a high frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference capacitor. The soil salinity circuit includes a low frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference resistor. A third voltage meter allows for voltage outputs to be measured to calculate soil moisture and soil salinity values. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20100182019 | Method and apparatus for determining soil water content - This invention is concerned with a method and apparatus to measure soil water content. A sensor electrode assembly comprised of a sensor electrode fixed to a spherical shape is implanted in undisturbed soil at the bottom of a low narrow hole in the soil under evaluation. A second electrode is implanted in adjacent soil. Water is adsorbed on the surface of the sensor electrode in proportion to the water in the soil. Electrical charge layers are present at the sensor electrode/water interface due to dissolved oxygen in the adsorbed water. These charge layers result in an interfacial capacitance whose magnitude varies with the amount of water in the soil. Under the assumption that the capacitance of the second electrode/adjacent soil interface is constant, the change in capacitance across the two wires connected to the two electrodes give a measure of the change in soil water content. Energy flow during this measurement is unidirectional, that is, from the interfacial capacitance to the measuring device. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100194408 | Capacitance Detection in a Droplet Actuator - A method, circuit and apparatus for detecting capacitance on a droplet actuator, inter alia, for determining the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at an electrode on a droplet actuator by: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) a substrate comprising electrodes arranged on the substrate for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; (ii) a capacitance detection circuit for detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; (b) detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; and (c) determining from the capacitance the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at the droplet operations surface at the electrode. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100213953 | METHODS AND APPARATUS RELATING TO FLUIDISED BEDS - A method and apparatus for producing particle density map images of fluidised particles by electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) in a fluidised bed apparatus allows for measuring online the liquid content of fluidised particles during the fluidisation process and for recalibration of the fluidised particle permittivity during fluidisation, allowing for online recalibration of an ECT system when the liquid content of particles changes, such as for fluidised bed drying or granulation processes. Recalibration measurements are made using reference electrodes positioned to measure the capacitance of the densely fluidised particles near the side walls of the fluidised bed. The electrodes of an ECT sensor array may be used to make the recalibration measurements which can be used to provide online liquid content measurement, such as moisture content, for the fluidised particles without stopping out stopping fluidisation. The liquid content information may be used for process control. The method may also be used to provide separate images for solids distribution and for total liquid distribution across a plane being imaged. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100225335 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF WOOD - A method for determining the moisture content of wood ( | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100253369 | SOIL HUMIDITY EVALUATION WITH CONTACT FREE COUPLING - Systems and methods that evaluate moisture content of the soil through change of capacitance and alternative current. A contact free inductive coupling can be provided between a sensor arrangement associated with the soil, and a reader arrangement (e.g., combination of inductor(s) and capacitor(s)) to determine frequency changes of resulting sinusoidal oscillator. Such frequency change can be correlated with moisture content of the soil. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100277185 | SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR - A soil moisture probe includes a capacitance-type probe and a detection circuit. The probe includes two spaced electrodes on the same side of a printed circuit board (PCB). The electrodes are placed on an inner layer of a multi-layer PCB and the detection circuit may be placed on an outer layer. The PCB also includes a ground plane. The detection circuit generates a sawtooth or triangular wave which is converted to a DC voltage representative of the moisture content of a soil sample into which the probe is inserted. The unique circuit uses the capacitance of the probe as part of a low-pass filter that distorts an oscillator-generated square wave into a saw-tooth or triangular wave. A resistance component of the low-pass filter is adjustable, allowing tuning of the probe and the circuit as needed. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100301877 | FLEXIBLE SHEET SENSOR INSERTED IN TUBE - A sensing unit ( | 12-02-2010 |
| 20110006790 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING WATER CONTENT AND SALT CONCENTRATION IN A MULTIPHASE FLUID FLOW - An apparatus and a method are described for measuring water content and salt concentration in a multiphase fluid flow. A capacitive sensor ( | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110068809 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING MOISTURE CONTENT IN A BALE OF HAY - A system for measuring the moisture content in a bale of hay is provided. An embodiment of the system includes a first pair of electrodes configured to mount in a first position in a bale chamber and at least one additional electrode configured to mount in a second position in the bale chamber. The system also includes a controller having circuitry to obtain a first measurement between the first pair of electrodes while the electrodes are in contact with a bale of hay, and a second measurement between at least one of the first pair of electrodes and the at least one additional electrode while the electrodes are in contact with the bale of hay. The controller includes circuitry to output a signal indicative of the moisture content of the bale of hay as a function of the first and second measurements. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110101997 | Flush-Mounted Capacitive Sensor Mount - In some embodiments, a method of monitoring particulates may include one or more of the following steps: (a) receiving the particulates in a particulate flow channel mounted within a chute or conduit, (b) collecting a particulate sample in a body section of the flow channel, (c) sensing moisture content of the particulate with a flush mounted capacitive sensor, (d) allowing the particulate to empty out of the flow channel through an opening in a discharge section of the flow channel, (e) concentrating the particulate sample at a sensor surface, and (f) shielding the sensor from stray electromagnetic fields. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110109328 | Flush-Mounted Capacitive Sensor Mount - In some embodiments, a method of monitoring particulates may include one or more of the following steps: (a) receiving the particulates in a particulate flow restrictor, (b) collecting a particulate sample in a body section of the flow restrictor, (c) sensing moisture content of the particulate with a flush mounted capacitive sensor, (d) allowing the particulate to empty out of the flow restrictor through a narrowed opening in a discharge section of the flow restrictor, (e) concentrating the particulate sample at a sensor surface, (f) shielding the sensor from stray electric fields, and (g) inputting the particulate at the funnel opening of the flow restrictor. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20120013354 | CONCENTRIC COPLANAR CAPACITIVE SENSOR FOR NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION - A concentric coplanar capacitive sensor includes a charged central disc forming a first electrode, an outer annular ring coplanar with and outer to the charged central disc, the outer annular ring forming a second electrode, and a gap between the charged central disc and the outer annular ring. The first electrode and the second electrode may be attached to an insulative film. A method provides for determining transcapacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode and using the transcapacitance in a model that accounts for a dielectric test piece to determine inversely the properties of the dielectric test piece. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20130134994 | SPECIFICATION DEVICE FOR WATER STATUS OF SOIL, AND METHOD FOR SAME - Contacting a pair of electrodes with soil, applying an alternate current input electric signal to one of the pair of electrodes, comparing a phase of an output electric signal from the other of the pair electrodes with a phase of the input electric signal; and determining the concentration of the ionic solute included in the solvent according to a difference of the phases. The difference of the phases is not dependent on the water content. An electrical conductivity is proportional to a water content and ion concentration, thereby, the water content of soil is available according to the measured electrical conductivity, while determining the ion concentration. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130207673 | HUMIDITY DETECTION SENSOR AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A humidity detection sensor includes a lower electrode provided on a board, an upper electrode provided so as to face the lower electrode, a humidity sensing film which is formed at least between the lower electrode and the upper electrode and whose dielectric constant changes in response to humidity, and a protective film provided so as to cover the upper electrode. Each of the upper electrode and the protective film has an opening through which the humidity sensing film is partially exposed to the outside. In the opening, the humidity sensing film is provided so as to reach at least a position higher than the position of the lower surface of the protective film. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20140043048 | GRAIN BIN CAPACITIVE MOISTURE SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHOD - A data collector associated with a grain bin is in communication with a plurality of capacitive moisture cables hanging within the grain bin. Each capacitive moisture cable includes a plurality of sensor nodes positioned along the moisture cable. Each sensor node includes a sensor node microprocessor and a sensor node memory coupled to a temperature sensor, a reference capacitive sensor and a capacitive moisture sensor. A main controller is in communication with the data collector. The main controller memory is configured in a data structure comprising grain type data, temperature data, raw reference capacitance data, raw moisture capacitance data, node identification data, physical node positional data, and a calculated moisture content for each sensor node. A method of determining moisture contents of grain in a grain bin related to such a system is also included. | 02-13-2014 |
| 20140077824 | HUMIDITY SENSOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A humidity sensor includes a humidity detention section, a pad section, and a dam section. The humidity detention section includes a pair of detection electrodes facing each other on a predetermined surface of a substrate and a humidity-sensitive film covering the detection electrodes. The pad section is spaced from the humidity detection section on the surface and covered with a protection gel section. The dam section is located between the humidity detection section and the pad section on the surface. The dam section includes a dam wire that is made from the same material as the detection electrodes and a dam humidity-sensitive film that is made from the same material as the humidity-sensitive film and covers at least part of the dam wire. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140125359 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR HUMIDITY AND PRESSURE SENSOR OVERLAY INTEGRATION WITH ELECTRONICS - Capacitive sensors and MEMS elements that can be implemented directly above silicon CMOS electronics are disclosed. A capacitive based sensor is disposed over a first predetermined portion of a wafer that includes at least a first ceramic element providing protection for the final capacitive based sensor and self-aligned processing during its manufacturing. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140125360 | MATRIC POTENTIAL SENSOR AND RELATED METHODS - A matric potential sensor ( | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140176161 | PORTABLE SELF POWERED LINE MOUNTABLE DEVICE FOR MEASURING AND TRANSMITTING RELATIVE HUMIDITY - A device for attaching to an electric power line conductor includes an electrically conductive housing with an opening for accepting the power line conductor that is configured to be grounded to the power line conductor. At least one magnetic core configured to surround the power line conductor and power a power supply electronics module. An ambient air relative humidity measuring device is located within the housing. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140253150 | Electronic Device With Liquid Contact Sensors - Electronic devices may be accidentally exposed to liquid during operation. To detect liquid intrusion events, an electronic device may be provided with one or more electronic liquid contact sensors. The liquid contact sensors may have electrodes. Control circuitry may make measurements across the electrodes such as resistance and capacitance measurements to detect the presence of liquid. Liquid contact sensor data may be maintained in a log within storage in the electronic device. The liquid contact sensor data can be used to display information for a user of the electronic device or can be loaded onto external equipment for analysis. Liquid contact sensor electrodes may be formed from metal traces on substrates such as printed circuits, from contacts in a connector, from contacts on an integrated circuit, or from other conductive electrode structures. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140266253 | REMOTE MOISTURE SENSOR AND METHODS FOR THE SAME - A system for measuring crop moisture content in a harvester elevator includes a receiver and processing node and one or more moisture sensing instruments coupled to one or more paddles of the harvested elevator, respectively. The moisture sensing instruments each include a moisture sensor and a transmitter in communication with a receiver and processing node. The moisture sensor is configured to dynamically measure the moisture content of a static harvested crop, relative to the sensor and corresponding paddle, at ascends in the harvester elevator. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140361794 | SILICON DIOXIDE MOISTURE SENSORS - A moisture sensor includes a first electrode, a layer of porous insulating material including a plurality of pores, a film of dielectric sensing material covering the inner surfaces of the plurality of pores and a second electrode. | 12-11-2014 |
| 20150330932 | SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR - A soil moisture sensor includes a capacitive probe configured to be inserted into soil, a series RLC circuit electrically coupled to the capacitive probe, a microcontroller configured to determine the capacitance value of the soil and determine the moisture content of the soil from the capacitance value of the soil. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20160003758 | CAPACITOR TYPE HUMIDITY SENSOR - A capacitor type humidity sensor consisting of a humidity sensing region or a peripheral circuit region is provided. A capacitor type humidity sensor may include a semiconductor substrate comprising a humidity sensing region and a peripheral circuit region, a sensing capacitor disposed on the humidity sensing region and the sensing capacitor comprising a humidity sensitive layer, a dielectric layer made of a material different than from the humidity sensitive layer, and a reference capacitor configured to provide a reference capacitance value, wherein the sensing capacitor and the reference capacitor are disposed on different planes from each other. A reference capacitor is disposed at an arbitrary region under a sensing capacitor among a humidity sensing region or at a peripheral circuit region. The reference capacitor is a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor or a polysilicon-insulator-polysilicon (PIP) capacitor. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160020599 | METHODS, APPARATUSES AND SYSTEMS FOR SENSING EXPOSURE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES TO MOISTURE - Systems, devices and methods for sensing moisture within an electronic device are disclosed. A device may include a housing and a display defining and exterior of an electronic device and an interior of the electronic device. Further, the device may include an integrated circuit (IC) within the electronic device and comprising a control element. The device may also include a moisture sensor such as an inductive sensor, a capacitance sensor, or both. The moisture sensor, which may be part of the IC, together with the control element may sense moisture within the electronic device | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160025665 | HUMIDITY SENSOR WITH VOID WITHIN INTERCONNECT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A humidity sensor and a method of manufacturing the same are provided where voids are formed within interconnects configured to facilitate the operation of the device and a humidity sensing material is deposited within the voids to detect the humidity. The accuracy with respect to the measurement of the humidity sensor is improved and manufacturing costs are lowered. The humidity sensor includes a substrate, a first interlayer insulating layer disposed on the substrate, first and second metal electrodes disposed adjacent to each other on the first interlayer insulating layer, an etch stop layer covering the first interlayer insulating layer and the first and second metal electrodes, a second interlayer insulating layer disposed on the first etch stop layer, voids formed within the second interlayer insulating layer, and a humidity sensing material deposited in the voids. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160033437 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DYNAMICALLY COLLECTING, ANALYZING, AND REGULATING GARDEN PARAMETERS - A remote sensor platform may utilize a low-cost touch sensor coupled to capacitive plates to measure the capacitance of a soil. The sensor platform may also use other sensors to measure other garden parameters, such as soil resistance, soil pH, ambient light, soil or air temperature, and humidity. Based on measurements of a soil's resistance and capacitance, the soil moisture content may be determined. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160047769 | STEAM WETNESS MEASUREMENT DEVICE - Provided is a measurement system for measuring wetness of the gas phase of a two phase flowing fluid. The measurement system includes a container for containing the fluid flow having an inner surface with an average cross sectional area, a liquid film measurement device adapted to measure a flowrate of a liquid film of the two phase fluid through the container, an Electrical Capacitance Tomography device that has a plurality of electrodes located in the container, and a computer adapted to calculate the flowrate of the liquid film in the container. The measurement system calculates wetness of the gas phase based on a measurement of the Electrical Capacitance Tomography device and the calculated liquid film flowrate. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160169826 | WIRELESS IN-KILN MOISTURE SENSOR AND SYSTEM FOR USE THEREOF | 06-16-2016 |
| 20190145924 | METHOD FOR CAPTURING A CONDITION OF A ROAD SURFACE | 05-16-2019 |
| 324665000 | By comparison or difference circuit | 4 |
| 20110163765 | CAPACITIVE OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM HAVING WET SEAT COMPENSATION AND METHOD - An occupant detection system and method are provided. The system includes a capacitive sensor having an electrode arranged in a seat proximate to an expected location of an occupant for sensing an occupant presence approximate thereto. The capacitive sensor is configured to provide an output indicative of the sensed occupant presence. Occupant detection circuitry is included for processing the capacitive sensor output and determining a wet seat condition and generating a wet seat fault based on a determined wet seat condition. The occupant detection circuitry further detects a state of occupancy of the seat based on the capacitive sensor output and the wet seat fault. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20140009174 | Wireless In-Kiln Moisture Sensor and System for Use Thereof - A wood monitoring system and method is disclosed for monitoring lumber characteristics (e.g., lumber moisture) in environments of extremely high and prolonged temperature and moisture, e.g., a kiln. The monitoring system and method includes:
| 01-09-2014 |
| 20140139241 | CAPACITIVE HUMIDITY SENSOR - A humidity sensor includes a detection device with a capacitance changing with humidity at a first ratio and a reference device with a capacitance changing with humidity at a second ratio smaller than the first ratio. The detection device has detection electrodes facing each other with a first gap and a detection humidity-sensitive film covering the detection electrodes. The reference device has reference electrodes facing each other with a second gap and a reference humidity-sensitive film covering the reference electrodes. The detection humidity-sensitive film and the reference humidity-sensitive film are made from the same material and have the same thickness. The detection electrodes and the reference electrodes are made from the same material and have the same width and thickness. The second ratio peaks when the second gap is equal to a predetermined value. The second gap is smaller than the first gap and the predetermined value. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140218055 | CAPACITIVE HUMIDITY SENSOR WITH HYSTERESIS COMPENSATION - A gas sensing device that includes differential temperature compensation. | 08-07-2014 |
| 324667000 | By frequency signal response, change or processing circuit | 3 |
| 20130200905 | Capacitance-Based Moisture Sensor - A capacitance-based moisture sensor may include a sleeve having an internal cavity, a container filled with soil or other material inserted into the internal cavity, and a pair of ring-shaped conductive bands around the exterior of the sleeve forming a capacitor and providing a frequency output. The rings positioned around a perimeter of the sleeve may be connected to a fixed inductor to form an oscillator with a variable frequency output. The sensor may be calibrated from the frequency output for each of a plurality of substances, measuring the volumetric water content for saturation of the material, and determining at least one fitting constant in an equation wherein volumetric water content is a function of the frequency output and a plurality of fitting constants. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20150293047 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING WATER CONTENT OF OIL AND WATER MIXTURES BY MEASUREMENT OF SPECIFIC ADMITTANCE - A method for measuring water content of a mixture of oil and water includes a) generating a medium frequency signal (V | 10-15-2015 |
| 324668000 | Including a tuned or resonant circuit | 1 |
| 20100090713 | EMBEDDABLE MOISTURE SENSOR, MEASUREMENT DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF - Disclosed herein is a method of interrogating a resonant circuit that includes embedding a resonant circuit into a material, wherein a dielectric of a capacitor of the resonant circuit is the material. The method includes remotely determining the resonant frequency of the electrical circuit with a measurement device, wherein the determining is accomplished automatically. Finally, the method includes remotely automatically determining at least one of an estimated or precise resistance of the resonant circuit, an estimated or precise quality factor of the resonant circuit, and an estimated or precise voltage ratio of the resonant circuit, wherein the voltage ratio is a ratio of a voltage of the energy absorbed by the receiver at resonance and a voltage of the energy absorbed by the receiver at a fixed frequency shift from resonance. | 04-15-2010 |
| 324669000 | With compensation means | 2 |
| 20080265913 | Sealed Capacitive Rain Sensor - A capacitive rain sensor for activating automotive window wipers includes: capacitive plates, electronic circuitry for sensing the capacitance between said plates, processing the sensed capacitance signal, and generating wipe commands. The capacitive plates are protected from water adsorption and condensation by means of a hermetic enclosure. The interconnection between the inside and outside of the enclosure is optionally implemented by means of conductors printed on the window. Wiper-induced and other parasitic signals are rejected by means of an adaptive filter Optional radiation sensor is utilized to suppress solar induced fast temperature variations. An optional far-field cancellation plate is utilized to minimize false wipes due to nearby objects. | 10-30-2008 |
| 324670000 | For temperature variations | 1 |
| 20090302870 | Soil moisture sensor with data transmitter - A sensor and method for sensing moisture content of a medium such as soil is disclosed. In an embodiment, the sensor includes a sensing circuit, a processing module, a register, and a communications interface for communicatively coupling the sensor to an external communications device. In use, the sensing circuit generates a sensed signal having a signal parameter value attributable to the moisture content of the medium. The processing module processes the signal parameter value to provide, at an output, a scaled data value. The register stores a sensor identifier for the sensor and the communications interface is capable of communicating the scaled data value and the sensor identifier to the external device. An irrigation control system is also disclosed. | 12-10-2009 |
