Apparatus for simultaneously determining weights of composite sheets

A method, comprising:

• determining a first sensor response signal using a beta gauge from a composite sheet comprising a sheet material including a coating thereon comprising a high-z material or the sheet material has particles comprising the high-z material embedded in the sheet material:
• determining a second sensor response signal from the composite sheet using a second sensor comprising an x-ray sensor or an infrared (IR) sensor, and
• simultaneously computing from the first sensor response signal and the second sensor response signal two or more weight measures selected from (i) a weight per unit area of the high-z material, (ii) a weight per unit area of the sheet material, and (iii) a total weight per unit area of the composite sheet.

A measurement apparatus, comprising:

• a beta gauge for generating a first sensor response signal from a composite sheet comprising a sheet material including a coating thereon containing a high-z material or the sheet material has particles comprising the high-z material embedded in the sheet material;
• a second sensor comprising an infrared (IR) sensor including at least one infrared (IR) source, at least one IR detector for providing at least one IR response signal from the composite sheet, and
• a computing device coupled to receive the first sensor response signal and the IR response signal including a processor having an associated memory for implementing an algorithm that uses the first sensor response signal and the IR response signal to simultaneously compute two or more weight measures comprising (i) a weight per unit area of the high-z material, (ii) a weight per unit area of the sheet material, and (iii) a total weight per unit area of the composite sheet.