The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 17, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
Philip H Steele, Starkville, MS (US);
Lalit Kumar, Starkville, MS (US);
Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS (US);
Abstract
A system for the detection of knots and voids in wood or lumber employs opposed arrays of capacitor plates. The presence of knots and/or voids is detected based on changes in the dielectrical response produced in the electrical fields defined by the opposed capacitor plate arrays. A software system delineates specific knot and void defects determined. Wood or lumber strength can further be estimated by comparing a sensed dielectric value in a clear portion of the lumber or wood with an established dielectric response value for wood of known density. Employing an appropriate correlation factor the relative wood density, coupled with knot/void location and size, permits an estimate of over all wood strength.