Characterizing Substances with Multistatic Probes

Abstract

The disclosed technology can be used in the development and operation of multistatic probes that can characterize substances and relationships between substances. A multistatic probe can include transmitting and receiving conductive elements that are electrically distinct and which are capable of conveying electromagnetic energy to/from a substance of interest. The transmitting and receiving conductive elements can be arranged to be in contact with at least one dielectric mismatch boundary between substances of interest, whereby an electromagnetic signal transmitted on the transmitting conductive element causes a corresponding electromagnetic signal to be coupled to the receiving conductive element in response to the transmitted signal being in proximity to the dielectric mismatch boundary. Attributes of the received electromagnetic signal can be evaluated relative to the transmitted electromagnetic signal to determine one or more characteristics associated with at least one of the substances forming the dielectric mismatch boundary.

1 . A method comprising: 
 driving a first electromagnetic signal on an at least one first conductive element by conductively coupling a transmitter thereto without the transmitter being conductively coupled to an at least one second conductive element, the first conductive element and second conductive element axially separated and so disposed with respect to each other that, when a first electromagnetic signal propagates along the first conductive element and the first and second conductive elements extend through at least one dielectric mismatch boundary, the first electromagnetic signal will induce a second electromagnetic signal to propagate along the second conductive element;    receiving, by conductive coupling from the at least one second conductive element, the second electromagnetic signal induced by the first electromagnetic signal driven along the at least one first conductive element, the second electromagnetic signal being coupled to the at least one second conductive element in response to the at least one dielectric mismatch boundary;    determining the value of a quantity on which the dielectric mismatch boundary's location depends at least in part by evaluating a time delay of the second electromagnetic signal relative to the first electromagnetic signal; and    generating an output indicative of the quantity's value thus determined.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one dielectric mismatch boundary corresponds to an interface between at least one first substance having a first dielectric constant and at least one second substance having a second dielectric constant.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one dielectric mismatch boundary corresponds to a transitional region between a gaseous substance and a liquid substance.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one dielectric mismatch boundary corresponds to a transitional region between at least two of a vacuum, a gaseous substance, a liquid substance, a semi-solid substance, and a solid substance.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dielectric mismatch boundary's position is determined by a fluid's level in a storage tank.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one first and second conductive elements are flexible.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein least one said first conductive element is positioned substantially parallel to at least one said second conductive element and perpendicular to the dielectric mismatch boundary.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the quantity whose value the output represents is the level of a fluid.  
   
   
       9 . A system comprising: 
 a first conductive element and a second conductive element so disposed with respect to each other that, when a first electromagnetic signal is propagating along the first conductive element and the first and second conductive elements extend through a dielectric mismatch boundary, the first electromagnetic signal will induce a second electromagnetic signal to propagate along the second conductive element;    a transmitter operable to drive by conductive coupling the first electromagnetic signal along the first conductive element without being conductively coupled to the second conductive element;    a receiver for receiving the second electromagnetic signal from the second conductive element; and    a processor for evaluating a time delay of the second electromagnetic signal relative to the first electromagnetic signal to determine the value of a quantity on which the mismatch boundary's location depends and generating an output representative of that quantity's value.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the first and second conductive elements are flexible.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the first and second conductive elements exhibit quadrilateral cross-sections.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the first and second conductive elements exhibit substantially identical cross-sections.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the quantity whose value the output represents corresponds to a dimension associated with an object.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the quantity whose value the output represents corresponds to a displacement between a plurality of objects.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the quantity whose value the output represents corresponds to an angular orientation.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the quantity whose value the output represents corresponds to a degree of pressure.  
   
   
       17 . The system according to  claim 9  wherein the first electromagnetic signal propagates from a first end of the first conductive element toward a second end of the first conductive element, and the propagation of the first electromagnetic signal through the boundary will induce the second electromagnetic signal to propagate along the second conductive element toward a first end of the second conductive element.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 9  wherein least one said first conductive element is positioned substantially parallel to at least one said second conductive element.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the quantity whose value the output represents is the level of a fluid.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the first electromagnetic signal exhibits an ultra-wideband frequency.