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:
May. 06, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 21, 1995
Steven P Sturm, Columbus, OH (US);
ABB Industrial Systems, Inc., Columbus, OH (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for sensing basis weight of a rod of material, such as tobacco, by two basis weight sensing operations which are then combined. A first sensing operation having high accuracy but slow response time is combined with a second sensing operation having low accuracy but fast response time to result in a high accuracy and fast response time output signal. The first sensing operation is performed using a low radiation beta gauge which does not require licensing or safety precautions required by currently used beta gauges. The second sensing operation is performed using a dielectric sensor. The output signals from the first and second sensing operations are time averaged and combined such that the fast response output signals from the second sensing operation are calibrated or biased using the output signals from the first sensing operation to result in a high accuracy and fast response time measurement of the basis weight for a rod of material, such as tobacco.