Identification of materials using their complex dielectric response

Apparatus for identifying material having frequency responsive conductive and/or dielectric properties, comprising:

• (a) capacitive means for producing an output signal and for producing a change in output signal when said material to be identified is brought within the influence of said capacitive means, said capacitive means including three spaced-apart capacitive plates defining two capacitive elements, one of said capacitive elements being a material sensing capacitive element and another of said capacitive elements being a referencing capacitive element, one of said capacitive plates being common to said material sensing capacitive element and said referencing capacitive element, said material sensing capacitive element and said referencing capacitive element having balanced capacitive and conductive values, said common capacitive plate being provided with a circumferential guard ring, said common capacitive plate being connected to a voltage means for converting current generated by said capacitive means into an output voltage;
• (b) frequency generating means for producing a balanced electrical output signal comprising plural preselected frequencies, said balance output signal being applied across said capacitive means;
• (c) capacitive response means connected to said capacitive means for evaluating the change in output signal from said capacitive means from an initial value determined in the absence of said material from the influence of said material sensing capacitive element to a different value obtained when said material is placed within the influence of said material sensing capacitive element;
• (d) output signal component resolving means for resolving change in output signal from said capacitive means into separate components which are a capacitive component and a conductive component, for each of said plural preselected frequencies, thereby to identify said material brought within the influence of said material sensing capacitive element.

Method for identifying material having frequency responsive conductive and/or dielectric properties, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a capacitive means for producing an output signal and for producing a change in output signal when a material to be identified is brought within the influence of said capacitive means, said capacitive means including at least two capacitive elements, one of said capacitive elements being a material sensing capacitive element and another of said capacitive elements being a referencing capacitive element;
• (b) calibrating said capacitive means by balancing said material sensing capacitive element with said referencing capacitive element, and creating a known capacitance change in said sensing capacitive element to obtain a calibration output signal, said calibration output signal together with said known capacitive change being converted into calibration data;
• (c) introducing said material to be identified into the influence of said material sensing capacitive element;
• (d) measuring an output signal from said capacitive means caused by introducing said material to be identified into the influence of said material sensing capacitive element;
• (e) resolving said output signal into separate components which are a capacitive component and a conductive component for each of said plural preselected frequencies;
• and
• (f) comparing said resolved capacitive and conductive components with said calibration data to identify the material brought within the influence of said material sensing capacitive element.