Moisture Sensor Placement in Wood Shipments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the moisture content of wood shipments are time-consuming and less reliable, particularly when measuring large quantities, as they often require drying samples or using probes that may not provide accurate results due to voids and irregularities in the wood structure.
Innovation Solution
A remotely readable moisture content sensing device is arranged between wood-based articles in a shipment, allowing for more accurate and efficient measurement by using a sensor device configured with a chip that provides information indicative of moisture content, which can be read using a reader device, and a method for forming this arrangement using a carrier with a holder for inserting the sensor between articles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If drying samples is used to determine moisture content, then measurement accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical drying process with a sensor-based measurement system. Remote sensors (capacitive, resistive, or dielectric) directly measure moisture content without requiring physical drying of samples, thereby eliminating the time-consuming drying step while maintaining measurement accuracy through electronic detection methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensors as intermediary devices between the wood material and the measurement system. These sensors act as mediators that convert moisture content information into readable signals, allowing indirect but accurate measurement without direct interference with the wood samples.
2Productivity
If probes are inserted to measure moisture content, then measurement speed is improved, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to voids and irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement function into multiple distributed sensors placed at different locations within the wood shipment. This segmentation allows for multiple measurements to be taken simultaneously, and the results can be averaged to compensate for local irregularities, voids, or defects in the wood structure, thereby improving overall measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple sensors (excessive measurement points) rather than a single probe. By taking more measurements than strictly necessary and averaging the results, the system overcomes the unreliability of individual measurements caused by local wood irregularities, ensuring more consistent and reliable moisture content determination.
3Measurement precision
If multiple measurements are taken to improve accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal sensor designs that can be deployed in multiple locations using the same basic sensor type and readout mechanism. This multi-functionality allows the system to take multiple measurements without requiring different complex devices for each measurement point, thereby maintaining simplicity while achieving improved precision through multiple data points.
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
This solution enables instant and accurate measurement of moisture content, reducing labor costs and material loss, allowing for multiple measurements without opening the shipment, and improving accuracy by averaging data from multiple sensors, thus addressing the inefficiencies of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
EP 1 345 027 discloses a probe that is insertable in a gap between layers of lumber. Moisture content is measurable from an electric resistance.
Implementation Method 2
RU 2 039 973 discloses two electrodes can be inserted in a gap between layers of lumber. Moisture content is measurable us radio-technical measurement principle.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c2
Figure 1d~3
Figure 4~6b
AI summary
An arrangement (100) comprising a first article (101) and a second article, the articles (101, 102) being made of wood based material, having a ratio (L1/T1; L2/T2) of a length to a thickness at least ten, and a ratio (W1/T1; W2/T2) of a width to a thickness at least five. The arrangement (100) comprises a first remotely readable sensor device (211) comprising a chip (IC1) and configured to measure a value indicative of a moisture content. At least a part of the chip (IC1) is arranged in between the first article (101) and the second article (102) in the direction of a thickness of the articles (101, 102). A method for forming the arrangement (100).