Non-Invasive Wine Testing via Microwave Bottle Wall Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wine testing methods are invasive and not suitable for non-invasive testing of wine in closed bottles, especially due to the high cost and size of NMR instruments and interference from metallic bottle labels in existing radio-frequency coil methods.

Innovation Solution

A non-invasive microwave testing system using a coaxial probe setup with an emission probe and a detection probe that emit and receive microwave signals through the bottle wall, allowing for characterization of wine properties without opening the bottle, and are designed to be compact and compatible with bottles having metallic labels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If NMR spectroscopy is used for non-invasive wine testing, then wine characterization is achieved without opening the bottle, but the instrument becomes very expensive and large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenon-invasive testing capabilityVSAvoidinstrument size and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex NMR spectroscopy system with a microwave-based measurement system. Instead of using nuclear magnetic resonance, the invention uses microwave signals transmitted through the bottle wall to characterize wine properties, significantly simplifying the equipment while maintaining non-invasive testing capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the essential measurement function from the complex NMR system, using a simplified microwave transmission approach that captures the necessary wine characterization data without requiring the full NMR instrument suite

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If a radio-frequency coil is used to measure dielectric properties, then wine testing is possible, but the coil must be large to encircle the bottle and metallic labels interfere with measurements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedielectric property measurementVSAvoidcoil size and compatibility with metallic labels

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the bottle wall as an intermediary medium. Instead of placing the measurement coil directly against the wine or requiring it to encircle the entire bottle, the system transmits microwaves through the bottle wall, which acts as a mediator that enables measurement without direct coil-bottle interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the measurement approach by using localized microwave transmission through specific points on the bottle wall rather than requiring a continuous encircling coil. This allows measurement at discrete locations that avoid metallic label interference while still providing representative wine characterization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If conventional wine testing methods are used, then wine analysis is achieved, but direct access to the wine is required making the process invasive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewine analysis accuracyVSAvoidinvasive vs non-invasive testing

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical intrusion methods with electromagnetic wave transmission. Instead of physically accessing the wine through opening or piercing the bottle, the system uses microwave signals that penetrate the bottle wall and interact with the wine's dielectric properties, enabling accurate analysis without mechanical invasion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables reliable, non-invasive wine testing by receiving attenuated but effectively propagated microwave signals, providing spectral features for determining wine aging, contamination, or authenticity without the need for large equipment or direct access to the wine.

Implementation Method 1

emitting, from an emission probe coupled to a wall of the bottle, a microwave signal through the wall and into the wine and receiving, from the wine via the wall, at least a portion of the microwave signal into a detection probe coupled to the wall

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrowave propagation: Microwave Radiation

Implementation Method 2

measure dielectric properties of wine in bottles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric property measurement: Dielectric Permittivity

Data Source

PatentUS11953485B2Systems and methods for non-invasive microwave testing of bottles of wine

Publication Date: 2024.04.09 TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE THE

AI summary

A system for non-invasive microwave testing a bottle of wine may include an emission probe for emitting a microwave signal through a wall of the bottle into the wine and a detection probe for receiving at least a portion of the microwave signal from the wine via the wall.