Microwave Measuring Device Ring Resonator Mass Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microwave measuring devices face limitations in mass loading capacity due to frequency distortions and impaired coupling of the microwave field, especially when dealing with high mass loads, which restricts their size and measurement accuracy.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a resonator coaxial cable that stores part of the resonant microwave field, forming a ring resonator with the cavity, allowing for a higher mass loading capacity and improved measurement accuracy by maintaining a continuous phase reference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the field energy is concentrated in a central area of the resonator, then the mass loading capacity is limited, but the structural size remains small

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemass loading capacityVSAvoidfrequency distortion
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The resonator is segmented into a cavity resonator and a coaxial cable resonator, each contributing to the overall resonant system. This segmentation allows the field energy to be distributed across both components, increasing mass loading capacity while maintaining frequency stability through the unified resonant operation of both segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cavity resonator and coaxial cable resonator are merged into a single resonant system with a unified resonant frequency. This merging allows the combined structure to support higher mass loading while maintaining measurement precision through the coordinated resonant behavior of both components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Quantity of substance

If multiple half-waves of electric field propagate in the resonator, then the mass loading capacity increases, but the structural size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemass loading capacityVSAvoidstructural size
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The resonator system extends into an additional dimensional space by incorporating the coaxial cable as a resonant element. This allows the electric field to propagate through multiple half-waves across both the cavity and cable, increasing mass loading capacity without proportionally increasing the overall structural footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Quantity of substance

If the resonator is separated to form a gap for material supply, then the coupling of microwave field across the gap is impaired, but the mass loading capacity should increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemass loading capacityVSAvoidmicrowave field coupling
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity resonator and coaxial cable resonator are merged into a single resonant system that maintains continuous phase reference across the gap. This merging ensures that the microwave field coupling remains effective even with the separation required for material supply, while the extended resonant system increases mass loading capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 configuration enhances the mass loading capacity and measurement accuracy while maintaining a compact size, ensuring stable and precise determination of dielectric properties and foreign substances in products.

Implementation Method 1

the resonator coaxial cable and resonator cavity form a ring resonator, whereby a continuous phase reference over the entire resonant microwave field is ensured

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 2

Part of the field energy of the resonant microwave field is therefore stored in the resonator coaxial cable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic field storage:

Implementation Method 3

The microwave-conducting connection between the resonator cavity and the resonator coaxial cable enables the formation of a uniform coupled microwave field with a fixed phase reference

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic coupling:

Implementation Method 4

determining at least one measured value on a product by means of a resonant electrical microwave field generated in a resonator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDielectric interaction: Dielectric

Data Source

PatentEP1895290B1Microwave measuring device for determining at least one measured value on a product
Publication Date: 2009.06.24 AMS ADVANCED MICROWAVE SYST
  • EP1895290B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1895290B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1895290B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The device has a microwave applicator (10) with an opening (13) for bringing a product to be measured in reciprocal effect with a microwave field. A set of resonator coaxial cables (21, 37, 38) is connected with a resonator cavity (12) of the microwave applicator in a microwave conducting manner, where the resonant microwave field is partially formed in the resonator coaxial cables. The resonator coaxial cables and the resonator cavity form a ring resonator (27).