TDR Probe Spacers for Impedance Matching and Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing TDR measurement systems are costly due to the use of high-precision electronic components and expensive interface parts, making them unsuitable for low-cost applications.
Innovation Solution
A TDR measurement system with a housing and an elongate measurement probe featuring an outer and inner electrode configuration, where spacers with specific dielectric constants minimize impedance changes and eliminate the need for high-cost components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-precision electronic components and expensive interface parts are used in TDR measurement systems, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, high-precision electronic components with inexpensive, standard electronic components. The invention uses off-the-shelf parts that are typically considered low-precision or disposable, yet achieves sufficient measurement accuracy for the application, thereby dramatically reducing device cost while maintaining functional performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies key electrical parameters of the measurement system, specifically adjusting impedance values and signal characteristics to work effectively with lower-precision components. By changing these parameters, the system achieves accurate measurements without requiring expensive high-precision electronics, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and device cost.
2Measurement precision
If high-precision electronic components are used in TDR measurement systems, then measurement accuracy is improved, but assembly and calibration time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs standard, inexpensive electronic components that are designed for ease of assembly and minimal calibration requirements. These components typically require less precise alignment and adjustment compared to high-precision parts, thereby reducing both assembly time and calibration time while still achieving the necessary measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system is designed to be self-calibrating or self-adjusting, eliminating the need for complex manual calibration procedures. The system automatically compensates for variations in component values and environmental conditions, thereby significantly reducing the time required for calibration while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If expensive calibration equipment is used during factory calibration, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables calibration to be performed using inexpensive, standard test equipment rather than expensive, specialized calibration instruments. The measurement system is designed to work with readily available, low-cost calibration tools, thereby reducing the cost of calibration equipment while still achieving accurate calibration and measurement results.
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
The system reduces costs by eliminating expensive interface parts and high-precision electronic components, while maintaining accurate measurements of material properties such as level, height, and dielectric constant.
Implementation Method 1
An electronics assembly includes a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic energy pulse along the elongate measurement probe
Implementation Method 2
a receiver for receiving at least a return echo from the electromagnetic energy pulse upon encountering a change in the impedance
Implementation Method 3
A first spacer is located in the first inner space and has a first spacer bore for receiving the first axially extending section of the inner elongate electrode, the first spacer being constructed of a material with a first dielectric constant that, together with the smaller diameter of the first outer conductive surface and the at least one inner conductive surface, describe a first impedance
Data Source
AI summary
In a Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) measurement system including a measurement probe and an electronics assembly, a method for generating a time delay between transmit and receive pulses for capturing measurements in a given measurement cycle, comprising initiating first relatively slow and second relatively fast time-dependent non-linear ramped waveform functions associated with transmit and receive signals, respectively; and initiated at a time prior to initiation of the first time-dependent non-linear ramped waveform at a second time t0; comparing outputs of the first and second time dependent non-linear ramped waveform functions and activating a receive signal to measure a data point along the waveguide at a third time t1 when the outputs of the first and second time-dependent non-linear functions are equal; wherein the first and second time-dependent non-linear ramped functions are configured such that their waveform characteristics produces a time delay between time t0 and time t1 that is a linear function of time.