Wagner Electronic Products, Inc.

Construction Technology Laboratories, Inc.

Timothy Duncan

Edward D Wagner

Eric Wagner

Anis Messaoud

Michael R Milota

Sensor accuracy issues may arise when a humidity sensor is kept in a high humidity environment for an extended period of time. In these circumstances, a humidity sensor reading may tend to may become less accurate over time. To improve the accuracy of sensor readings, methods and systems described herein estimate and correct for sensor drift in high humidity conditions. Methods and systems described herein may use memory to store past humidity or other sensor readings so that an estimated amount of sensor drift may be determined to improve the accuracy of sensor readings. A memory may be embedded in a sensor module so that past readings for a given sensor module are stored in the memory of the sensor module. Algorithms for sensor drift compensation, and systems and methods that use such algorithms to improve the accuracy of sensor readings, are disclosed herein.

Measuring humidity or moisture with sensor drift compensation

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for calibration determinations for handheld moisture meters in the field. A calibration reference stand emulates a sample with an equivalent moisture content, allowing rapid determination whether a moisture meter is out of calibration, or determination of a new calibration value. The calibration reference stand includes an electromagnetic load, which can be formed of a metal sheet or high dielectric constant material, supported on a platform, and mechanical fixturing for reproducible positioning of a moisture meter on the stand. Associated methods and variations are disclosed.

Hand held moisture meter in-field calibration

Disclosed RH generators include a lower component having a first chamber and an upper component including a second chamber, the upper component being coupled to the lower component to couple the first chamber to the second chamber. The first chamber is configured to contain liquid water and generate 100% RH, while the second chamber is configured to contain salt and generate a second RH less than 100% RH. A first membrane is positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber to allow water vapor to pass between the first and second chambers while blocking liquid water, the salt, and other larger molecules. The upper component is couplable to an RH probe with a second membrane separating the second chamber from the RH probe, which allows water vapor to pass between the second chamber and the RH probe to expose the RH probe to the second RH.

Relative humidity saturated salt generator

An apparatus for measuring humidity or moisture, such as in concrete, is described comprising a sensor module comprising a humidity or moisture sensor in electrical communication with a first set of terminals and a hand-held reader module comprising a controller in electrical communication with a second set of terminals that are mateable with the first set of terminals such that the hand-held reader module is electrically connectable to and electrically disconnectable from the sensor module. The hand-held reader module is configured to read data from the sensor in response to making electrical connection with the sensor module. One set of terminals can comprise plural connector pins and the other set of terminals can comprise plural landing pads, such that the plural connector pins and the plural landing pads make a same electrical connection regardless of the rotational orientation of the hand-held reader module relative to the sensor module.

Measuring humidity or moisture

A system and method is disclosed that uses moisture content readings in order to determine how to maximize the price value of lumber. Feedback can then be provided to a kiln controller on how to adjust kiln settings in order to increase the value of the lumber produced. In one embodiment, moisture content is determined on a plurality of boards. Using the moisture content readings, an actual value of the plurality of boards is determined. Then a calculation is made to determine how to modify moisture content in order to maximize the value of the lumber. In yet another embodiment, geographic positions of individual packages are tracked in the kiln. The efficiency of the kiln is determined based on drying uniformity of the packages. Then the moisture content can be modified to determine how it impacts value of a charge of lumber.

Growing community of inventors

Grants Pass, OR, United States of America

Timothy Duncan