Portable device for measuring dielectric and/or magnetic characteristics of samples

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018156748-A1
Application number	US-201615576414-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 25, 2016
Priority date	May 25, 2015
Publication date	Jun 7, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A portable device includes first and second connectors capable of guiding an electromagnetic wave, a sample carrier installed between the first premier and second connectors and including a cavity housing a sample, an electronic module including an electromagnetic wave generator, and a processing system capable of analysing the electromagnetic wave exiting the second connector in order to deliver a first dielectric permittivity measurement and/or a second magnetic permeability measurement, a computer device including a control system capable of controlling the operation of the electronic module and of recovering each first or second measurement, and a portable container housing the first and second connectors, the sample carrier, the electronic module and the computer device.

First claim

1 . A portable device for measuring dielectric and/or magnetic characteristics of samples, the portable device comprising i) first and second connectors capable of guiding an electromagnetic wave along a reference axis (x), ii) a sample carrier installed in a detachable manner between said first and second connectors and comprising a cavity capable of housing a sample in a position enabling said electromagnetic wave to pass through it, iii) an electronic module comprising a generator capable of generating said electromagnetic wave, and a processing system capable of analysing said electromagnetic wave exiting said second connector in order to deliver a first measurement representative of a dielectric permittivity of said sample and/or a second measurement representative of a magnetic permeability of said sample, iv) a computer device comprising a screen ( 34 ), a human/machine interface and a control system capable of controlling operation of said electronic module and of recovering each first or second measurement at least to display it on said screen, and v) a portable container housing said first and second connectors, said sample carrier, said electronic module and said computer device.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said container also houses an extractible data storage system coupled to said computer device and in which said device stores the analysis results.

3 . The device according to claim 2 , wherein said container also houses a battery capable of supplying with current said electronic module and said computer device, as well as said optional extractible data storage system.

4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said container comprises a space capable of receiving at least one accessory.

5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said computer device is rotationally mounted in a part of said container.

6 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said screen is a touch screen and comprises a part of said human/machine interface.

7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said sample carrier comprises around said cavity a measurement system capable of measuring at least one intrinsic characteristic of said sample and/or an action system capable of making said intrinsic characteristic vary.

8 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said sample carrier comprises a body in which is defined said cavity and comprising an inlet and outlet communicating with said cavity and enabling circulation of a fluid constituting at least partially said sample.

9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said sample carrier comprises two side walls laterally closing said cavity substantially transversally to said reference axis.

10 . The device according to claim 9 , wherein said side walls are made of at least one dielectric material transparent to the propagation of said electromagnetic wave.

11 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein a frequency of the electromagnetic wave generated by the generator is comprised within an interval of frequencies ranging from several kilohertz to several gigahertz or several tens of gigahertz.

12 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein the frequency of the electromagnetic wave generated by the generator is comprised within an interval of frequencies equal to [1 GHz-18 GHz].

13 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein the generator is controlled in such a way that the frequency of the electromagnetic wave generated scans the interval of frequencies in a continuous or quasi-continuous manner.

Assignees

• Centre Nat Rech Scient
• Univ Aix Marseille
• Ecole Centrale Marseille

Inventors

• Sabouroux Pierre

Classifications

• G01N27/72

  by investigating magnetic variables · CPC title

• G01N27/221 Primary

  by investigating the dielectric properties (using microwaves G01N22/00; measuring loss factors or dielectric constants per se G01R27/26) · CPC title

• G01R27/2617

  Measuring dielectric properties, e.g. constants (testing dielectric strength G01R31/12; detecting insulation faults G01R31/52; G01R27/2688 takes precedence) · CPC title