Time varying electrical conductivity tester using frequency discrimination and power detector and methods thereof

A method for accurately determining the time-varying conductivity of a test material, the method comprising the steps of:

• creating an oscillator means by coupling an amplifier with a probe means;
• generating an oscillator signal that is conductivity-dependent by magnetically coupling said probe means with said test material;
• generating a power signal from said oscillator signal, said power signal having an amplitude related to an instantaneous conductivity of the test material;
• generating a frequency .signal related to the instantaneous conductivity of said test material;
• and
• determining said instantaneous conductivity of said test material based upon both said power signal and said frequency signal.

An electrical conductivity tester for accurately measuring a conductivity of a test material, comprising:

• a probe circuit having an input and an output, said probe circuit for being magnetically coupled to said test material;
• an amplifier having an input connected to an output of said probe circuit and an output connected to said input of said probe circuit, said probe circuit and said amplifier comprising an oscillator circuit for generating an oscillator signal that is supplied to said test material;
• a frequency discriminator for receiving said oscillator signal and for determining a frequency of said oscillator signal;
• and
• a power detector for receiving said oscillator signal and for detecting an amount of power absorbed by said test material;
• wherein said frequency of said oscillator signal and said amount of said power absorbed by said test material determine said conductivity of said test material.