AU770854B2

AU770854B2 - Apparatus and method for detection of foreign bodies in products

Info

Publication number: AU770854B2
Application number: AU75680/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Harald Merkel; Mikael Reimers; Christina Skjoldebrand
Original assignee: SIK INST FOR LIVSMEDEL OCH BIO
Current assignee: Food Radar System in Sweden AB
Priority date: 1999-09-17
Filing date: 2000-09-14
Publication date: 2004-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-14
Also published as: AU7568000A; WO2001020311A1; CA2384831A1; CA2384831C; EP1214581A1

Description

WO 01/20311 PCT/SEOO/0178 3 Apparatus and Method for Detection of Foreign Bodies in Products Technical field The present invention relates to an apparatus for detection of foreign bodies in products, especially in food products, according to claim 1. The invention also relates to a method using said apparatus.

Further more the present invention relates to an apparatus for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product, especially detection of voids, defects and inhomogeneities within a material, according to claim 16. The invention also relates to a method using said apparatus.

Background of the invention Intensive efforts to improve product quality are presently undertaken within the food industry, such as reducing the probability of products containing foreign bodies to reach the consumer market.

The term foreign bodies comprises all solid materials that are undesired in food products, originating from the producz or not, such as bone fragments, bits of glass, rubber, grovel/stone, hair, insects, etc. Present techniques to detect some classes of foreign bodies in food products are very expensive and/or can only detect some foreign bodies, such as magnetic bodies, bodies with deviating colour and size or bodies with deviating weight. Examples of such techniques are ocular examination and X-ray detection.

In the Japanese Patent JP 63285487, by Shigeru, a detection method of mecal in foodstuff is disclosed. The purpose of the SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 01/20311 PCT/SE00/01783 2 invention is to detect metal powder, irrespective of the shape and size of the foodstuff by irradiating metal contaminated foodstuff with microwaves in order to generate an electric discharge, which discharge is detected.

In WO 96/21153, by Hoskens et al., an apparatus for determining the qualities of an irradiatable body by means of penetrating radiation is disclosed, where said radiation could be of any wavelength. The apparatus comprises a device for parallel radiation from one side of a irradiable body, a device for receiving the radiation leaving the body and deriving a transmission signal therefrom, and means for deriving from the transmission signal information concerning the qualities of the irradiated body, such as bone tissue in pieces of meat.

From information derived from the transmission signal the mass of the inspected body is determined, the mass of the body is a function of height and density and a correlation exists between mass and radiation attenuation, thus a presence of possible inhomogeneities may be detected.

A problem encountered with the prior art is that it is impossible, or very difficult, to detect a multitude of different types of foreign bodies in products. Metal or particles with high density are easy to detect in a product containing material with low density, but foreign bodies embedded in a material with a similar density are difficult to detect.

A further problem with present techniques is that it is difficult to achieve on-line detection of foreign bodies on a completed product in production, which means that the -3detecting method has to be fast, non-invasive and non-destructive.

Thus, a need exists to provide an apparatus and a method for detection of foreign bodies in products, especially food products, which substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the above mentioned problems.

A need also exists to provide an apparatus and a method for detection of changes in material property and content in materials.

Summary of the invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for detection of foreign bodies in a product, comprising: a first antenna device for transmitting electromagnetic signals in the microwave range, said signals comprising at least two signals at different frequencies, wherein each signal comprises amplitude and phase information; a second antenna device for receiving signals originating from said first antenna, said received signals, at least partially, have passed through said product; a gap between said first and second antenna in an open structure, whereby a production line may be placed in said gap so that said product is transported through the gap in a direction; means for measuring at least said amplitude and phase information of said received signals for each separate frequency, so as to obtain parameter values for each movement of the product in said direction; means for comparing each parameter value with the corresponding amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signals, so as to obtain a comparison value for each movement of the product in said direction and for each of said separate frequencies; means for analysing each comparison value based on a reference value, which S. 25 reference value is accessible to said apparatus; and means for emitting a signal when said comparison value differs a predetermined amount from said reference value.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for detection of foreign bodies in a product comprising: 30 transmitting electromagnetic signals from a first antenna device, said transmitted electromagnetic signals being in the microwave range, said signals comprising at least two signals at different frequencies; receiving signals in a second antenna device originating from said signals transmitted from said first antenna device, where said received signals, at least partially, have passed through said product; [R:\LIBQ] 1977.doc:eaa 3atransporting said product through a gap between said first and second antenna in a direction, storing reference values, comprising amplitude and phase information, for each transmitted different frequency in a memory; measuring at least amplitude and phase information of said received signals for each separate frequency, so as to obtain parameter values for each movement of the product in said direction; comparing the parameter values with the corresponding amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signals, so as to obtain a comparison value for each movement of the product in said direction for each of said frequencies; analysing each comparison value using one of said reference values from said memory; and emitting a signal when said comparison value differs a predetermined amount from said reference value.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product, comprising: a first antenna device for transmitting electromagnetic signals in a microwave range, said signals comprising at least two signals at different frequencies each signal comprising amplitude and phase information; a second antenna device for receiving signals originating from said first antenna, said received signals, at least partially, have passed through said product; a gap between said first and second antenna in an open structure, whereby a production line may be placed in said gap so that said product is transported through the gap in a direction; 25 means for measuring at least said amplitude and phase information of said .**received signals for each separate frequency, so as to obtain parameter values for each movement in said direction; means for comparing each parameter value with the corresponding amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signals, so as to obtain a comparison value for 30 each movement in said direction and for each of said separate frequencies; means for analysing each comparison value based on a reference value, which reference value is accessible to said apparatus; and means for emitting a signal when said comparison value differs a predetermined amount from said reference value.

[R:\LIBQI I 977.doc:eaa 3b According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product comprising the steps of: transmitting electromagnetic signals from a first antenna device, said transmitted electromagnetic signals being in the microwave range, said signals comprising at least two signals at different frequencies; receiving signals in a second antenna device originating from said signals transmitted from said first antenna device, where said received signals, at least partially, have passed through said product; transporting said product through a gap between said first and second antenna in a direction; storing reference values, comprising amplitude and phase information, for each transmitted different frequency in a memory; measuring at least amplitude and phase information of said received signals for each separate frequency, so as to obtain parameter values for each movement of the product in said direction; comparing the parameter values with the corresponding amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signals, so as to obtain a comparison value for each movement of the product and for each of said frequencies; analysing each comparison value using one of said reference values from said memory; and emitting a signal when said comparison value differs a predetermined amount from said reference value.

An advantage with the present invention is that a large variety of foreign bodies is detectable in a product.

Another advantage is that the present invention allows fast measurement, detection and evaluation.

Still another advantage is that the present invention is cheap and easy to implement and can be integrated in existing production facilities.

.Q I9 Q 9 *R\IBI *7.o~a WO 01/20311 PCT/SE00/01783 4 Still another advantage is that the present invention allows to detect foreign bodies in products after final processing, in a non-destructive manner.

Yet another advantage is that the invention provides an apparatus and a method for detecting deviation of the material properties and contents of a product, or material, provided that the product comprises two components having different dielectric constants.

Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows an apparatus according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows an antenna device, which may be used in the apparatus in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of an antenna arrangement according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 shows a side view of an antenna arrangement, as in figure 2, illustrating diffraction/scattering in an examined product.

Fig. 5a-5c shows a method to extract information regarding diffraction measurements, according to the present invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments Figure 1 shows an apparatus 10 for detection of foreign bodies in a product 1 according to the present invention. The inventive apparatus comprises a first antenna device 11, a second antenna device 12, where said first antenna device 11 transmits electromagnetic signals 13' in the microwave range.

The transmitted signals 13' are arranged to, at least partially, pass through the product i, which is under WO 01/20311 PCT/SE00/01783 examination. After the signals have passed through the material 1 the signals 13" are received at said second antenna device 12.

The first and second antenna device 11, 12 transmits and receives signals having at least two separate frequencies, preferably more, e.g. 400, different separate frequencies in several contiguous frequency blocks furthermore referred to as frequency channels. The antenna devices, which are described in more detail in figure 2, are connected to a microwave circuit 14, such as a network analyser. The microwave circuit 14 comprises a microwave oscillator 15, which feeds signals 13' to be transmitted to the first antenna device 11, and a microwave measuring system 16, e.g. a vector voltmeter, which collects and measure certain parameters, such as amplitude IAl and/or phase p, of the received signals 13" from the second antenna device 12.

The product 1 which is under examination is preferably placed on a transportation system 17 comprising, for instance, a carrier 18 on a conveying equipment 19, a conveyor belt, a vertical pipe with flowing products or the like.

In the described preferred embodiment, the products pass through a gap between the first 11 and the second 12 antenna device, to allow the transmitted signals to, at least partially, pass through the whole of said product. The product 1, which is placed on the carrier 18, is moved through the open space by means of, for instance, a motor driven cart.

Signals having pre-selected number of frequencies in the microwave range, in one or more frequency channels, are transmitted from said first antenna device, and are received at said second antenna device to be measured in the network WO 01/20311 PCT/SE00/0!783 6 analyser 14. A new measurement is performed after a predetermined time interval, during which the product has moved a distance in a first direction x.

The antenna devices comprise at least one frequency channel within which channel at least two separate frequencies may be transmitted. This may be implemented using a separate antenna ,or antenna section, for each frequency channel, where the frequency of each transmitted signal within each frequency channel may be controlled by the microwave oscillator A preferred embodiment of a first antenna device 11 is shown in figure 2, which transmits signals in a plurality of frequency channels, fl-f 6 This type of antenna is a patch antenna with capacitively coupled patches. The mid frequency for each frequency channel could be as presented in table 1.

This type of patch antenna is cheap to manufacture and simple to control to achieve the desired number of channels, each channel being controllable to contain at least two signals with separate frequencies. The second antenna device 12 comprises the same features as the first antenna device 11 for reception of the transmitted signals.

WO 01/20311 PCTISEO/01783 7 Channel Frequency [GHz] fl 1.45 f2 3.2 f3 4.1 f 4 fS 5.2 f 5.8 Table i: A schematic layout of the wave pattern of the centre frequencies is illustrated in figure 2 as dashed lines with reference to the different channels fl-f 6 in table i.

By using this type of antenna device 11, in the above described apparatus 10, information containing the dielectric function can be obtained in an examined product as a function of said first direction x, and said selected frequencies.

It is essential to have at least two signals with separate frequencies within at least one frequency channel to reach the above mentioned information regarding the dielectric constant, according to the invention. This will come more apparent in the following.

The basic theory behind the invention is to detect differences, such as foreign bodies, contamination, damages (cracks etc.), causing a change in the dielectric constant of the examined product. This is done by transmitting signals, at least partially, through said product, which in it self must, at least partially, consist of a dielectric substance.

Parameter values from said parameters, such as amplitude IAl and/or phase which are used for determining the dielectric constant of the examined product, are measured in said microwave measuring system 16. The measured parameter values WO 01/20311 PCT/SEOQ/01783 8 are compared with the corresponding values of the transmitted signals, so as to obtain a comparison value for each frequency in each frequency channel.

Each comparison value is then compared with a reference value, which is available to the microwave circuit 14, e.g. stored in a memory 20 in said microwave circuit 14. Reference values are preferably obtained by measuring parameters from received signals that have passed through a reference sample of the examined type of product, which reference sample is free from any foreign bodies or other defects that will cause a change of the properties of the microwave transmission through the product as described by the profile of the dielectric function as a function of frequency.

Sometimes it is difficult to obtain a "clean" reference sample and, therefore, the reference values are preferably obtained by measuring parameter values of a plurality of products, and calculate statistics, such as an average, for each parameter value and use that as a reference value for each frequency. A typical number of products, measured to obtain said calculated reference value, is approximately 100 products.

Alternatively reference values may be obtained evaluating a model for the microwave transmission through the product and the transmit and receive properties of the antennas 11 and 12.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the measurement gap where the examined product 1 passes through. On the left side of the product is the first antenna device 11 arranged and on the right side is the second antenna device 12 arranged. A signal is transmitted from said first antenna device 11, and received by said second antenna device 12. The received signal as a function of x, may be expressed by: WO 01/20311 PCT/SE00/01783 9 s(x) IAI e", where IAl is the amplitude and p is the phase of the received signal. The phase is proportional to: p kzz+27in, where z is the distance between the first and the second antenna device 11, 12, kz is the propagation constant in the z direction, and n is an integer number and stands for the number of completed trains in the gap. The propagation constant is in turn equal to.: k: where co is the angular frequency of the microwave signal related to the frequency of the microwave signal f by: C=2nf.

e(w)is the equivalent dielectric function and A is the equivalent permeability of the material in the specific measurement gap. By transmitting a single signal there is a possibility to determine the absolute value of the amplitude and the phase shift of the received signal, but it is impossible to uniquely determine the equivalent dielectric function, since phase measurements allow only the determination of the modulus of the wave trains by 360 degrees. Therefore the integer number of completed wave trains within the measurement gap is not known from a single measurement.

In figure 3 there is shown a first transmitted signal drawn with a continuous line, having two complete oscillation periods 31, 32, preceding the last not complete period 33. By adding a second signal 34, drawn with a dashed line, in a different frequency compared to the first signal 30, having WO 01/20311 PCT/SE00/01783 two complete oscillation periods 35, 36, preceding the last not complete period 37, the propagation time may be determined by plotting the equivalent dielectric function assuming different number of oscillation periods, as is shown in figure 4.

In an examined product, the equivalent dielectric function is unknown, but may be expressed as a known part, Sproduct(O, belonging to the clean product and an unknown part, SEoreign body(O,4), belonging to the microwave transmission properties of the foreign body. The equivalent dielectric function of the foreign body contains scattering, diffraction, absorption, reflection and transmission effects of the foreign bodies.

Therefore it depends strongly on frequency o (since diffraction lobes shift with frequency) and with the angle of observation 4 (if sharp edges are present). The measured transmitted signal may therefore be broken down in the following form involving 1, describing the abundancy of foreign bodies in the product where 1=0 indicates no foreign body to be present: SCot -product l1'foreign body, (I) where 1 varies between 0 and 1, depending on the amount of foreign bodies present in the examined product.

The amplitude IAI and phase p of the transmitted microwave signal S21 is measured for all frequencies and for each displacement x resulting in a two dimensional graph of a complex variable (S 21 =lAlexp[ip]), where changes in the products composition easily can be detected.

WO 01/20311 PCT/SE00/01783 11 Figure 4 illustrates what happens when a signal 13' is transmitted from said first antenna device 11, through a product 1. Inside said product, there is a small piece of a foreign body 60, such as metal, stone, etc., disturbing the signal on its way to the receiving antenna device 12. The received signal 13" will in this case be subject to diffraction or scattering causing an interference pattern to arise. This will mainly be detectable as a characteristic pattern in the amplitude IAI as a function of displacement and frequency.

The main task of the signal processing part is the appropriate filtering of the data and the definition of a threshold value enabling to discern contaminated from non-contaminated products minimising the estimator errors in both directions, i.e. assigning a foreign body to a pure product and (2) letting a contaminated product pass. Obviously some tolerances at is given whereas must be reduced as far as possible. For simple classes of products and foreign bodies homogenous, wet products and dry foreign bodies) it is sufficient to apply equation directly and replace the equivalent dielectric function of the pure product by measured data from a pure product and calculating the difference between the measured reference and measured product. If the mean square of the residual does not exceed a certain threshold, the product is considered ok, otherwise it is rejected.

Figure 5a-5c illustrates how a useful value may be obtained using especially the information contained in the diffraction patterns. Figure 5a shows the damping value IS 21 1 for a specific displacement x=xl for a multiple of frequencies f, resulting in a curve 70. By applying a "Fast Fourier Transform" (FFT) on WO 01/20311 PCT/SE00/01783 12 the damping IS 21 1 a result is obtained, as shown in figure This result is subject to suitable filtering techniques to select a window 71 where the desired information is contained.

These types of filtering techniques are well known to a skilled person within the technical field and are, thus, not described in more detail in this application.

Figure 5c shows the resulting curve 73 after a retransformation of the filtered FFT-spectrum in figure back to the damping IS 2 1I(xl) as a function of frequency f. A threshold value 74 is also indicated, where values lower than the threshold value for each frequency is allowed, and, accordingly, values higher than the threshold is unacceptable and renders an alarm signal from the microwave circuit 14, where the FFT treatment is performed.

The above described apparatus and method for detecting foreign bodies in material, may also be used within the area of monitoring and detecting changes in material property and content, provided said material comprises at least two different components having different dielectric constants. An example of such a material is a material having a void within the material, such as a plastic part having an air bubble inside. These types of defects are easily detected by using the inventive apparatus and method.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detection of foreign bodies in a product, comprising: a first antenna device for transmitting electromagnetic signals in the microwave range, said signals comprising at least two signals at different frequencies, each of said electromagnetic signals comprising amplitude and phase information; a second antenna device for receiving signals originating from said first antenna, said received signals, at least partially, have passed through said product, each of said received signals comprising amplitude and phase information; a gap between said first and second antenna in an open structure, whereby a production line may be placed in said gap so that said product is transported through the gap in a direction; means for measuring at least said amplitude and phase information of said received signals for each separate frequency, so as to obtain parameter values for each is movement of the product in said direction; means for comparing each parameter value with the corresponding amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signals, so as to obtain a comparison value for each movement of the product in said direction and for each of said separate frequencies; means for analysing each comparison value based on a reference value, which reference value is accessible to said apparatus; and means for emitting a signal when said comparison value differs a predetermined amount from said reference value. *too to

2. The apparatus for detection of foreign bodies according to claim 1, wherein each r too 25 reference value is obtained from measuring at least said amplitude and phase infon-nation :toI of said transmitted signals, for each of said frequencies. 2. The apparatus for detection of foreign bodies according to claim 1, wherein each 25 reference value is derobtained from comeasuring at least said amplitude and phase information of said of said transmitted signals, for each of said frequencies.

3. The apparatus for detection of foreign bodies according to claim 1, wherein each !ereference value is derived from comparing said apiueand paeinformation of said *too 30 transmitted signal with amplitude and phase information of a received reference signal for each of said frequencies, where said received reference signal, at least partially, has .4.4 passed through a reference product, said reference product being without any foreign S: bodies. .5,44. 4 4oo• [R:\LIBQ] 1972. doc:eaa -14-

4. The apparatus for detection of foreign bodies according to claim 1, wherein each reference value is derived from comparing said amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signal with amplitude and phase information of a received reference signal for each of said frequencies, where said received reference signal has been obtained by evaluation of a model of the measurement setup and of the transmission properties of a reference product.

The apparatus for detection of foreign bodies according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said analysing means compare said amplitude and phase information of each reference value with each received signal at the separate frequencies.

6. The apparatus for detection of foreign bodies according to any one of claims 1 to wherein said amplitude and phase information comprises any of the group: damping, signal runtime, signal delay time, signal velocity or complex S parameter.

7. The apparatus for detection of foreign bodies according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said apparatus is adaptable for on-line detection.

8. The apparatus for detection of foreign bodies according to claim 7, wherein said apparatus is provided with conveyor means for transporting said product past said first and second antenna.

9. The apparatus for detection of foreign bodies according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said reference value is stored in a memory within said apparatus.

A method for detection of foreign bodies in a product, comprising the steps of: transmitting electromagnetic signals from a first antenna device, said transmitted electromagnetic signals being in the microwave range, said signals comprising at least two signals at different frequencies; receiving signals in a second antenna device originating from said signals •transmitted from said first antenna device, where said received signals, at least partially, have passed through said product; transporting said product through a gap between said first and second antenna in a direction; [R:\LLBQ] 1972.doc:eaa storing reference values, comprising amplitude and phase information, for each transmitted different frequency in a memory; measuring at least amplitude and phase information of said received signals for each separate frequency, so as to obtain parameter values for each movement of the product in said direction; comparing the parameter values with the corresponding amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signals, so as to obtain a comparison value for each movement of the product in said direction for each of said frequencies; analysing each comparison value using one of said reference values from said memory; and emitting a signal when said comparison value differs a predetermined amount from said reference value.

11. The method for detection of foreign bodies in a product according to claim wherein the method further comprises the step of obtaining each reference value from measurement of at least amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signals, for each frequency.

12. The method for detection of foreign bodies in a product according to claim wherein the method further comprises the step of obtaining each reference value from comparison of said amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signal with amplitude and phase information of a received reference signal for each of said frequencies, where said received reference signal, at least partially, has passed through a *reference product, said reference product being without any foreign bodies.

13. The method for detection of foreign bodies in a product according to claim wherein the method further comprises the step of obtaining each reference value from comparison of said amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signal with S• amplitude and phase information of a received reference signal for each of said frequencies, where said received reference signal has been obtained by evaluation of a model of the measurement setup and of the transmission properties of a reference product.

14. The method for detection of foreign bodies in a product according to any one of S°claims 10 to 13, wherein the step of analysing each comparison value is performed by [R:\LIBQ] I 972.doc:eaa -16- comparing amplitude and phase information of each received signal with a corresponding reference value.

An apparatus for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product, comprising: a first antenna device for transmitting electromagnetic signals in a microwave range, said signals comprising at least two signals at different frequencies, each of said electromagnetic signals comprising amplitude and phase information; a second antenna device for receiving signals originating from said first antenna, 1o said received signals, at least partially, have passed through said product, each of said received signals comprising amplitude and phase information; a gap between said first and second antenna in an open structure, whereby a production line may be placed in said gap so that said product is transported through the gap in a direction; means for measuring at least said amplitude and phase information of said received signals for each separate frequency, so as to obtain parameter values for each movement in said direction; means for comparing each parameter value with the corresponding amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signals, so as to obtain a comparison value for each movement in said direction and for each of said separate frequencies; means for analysing each comparison value based on a reference value, which reference value is accessible to said apparatus; and means for emitting a signal when said comparison value differs a predetermined amount from said reference value.

16. The apparatus for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product according to claim 15, wherein each reference value is obtained from measuring at least said amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signals, for each of said S: frequencies. i

17. The apparatus for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product according to claim 15, wherein each reference value is derived from comparing said amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signal with amplitude and phase 0 information of a received reference signal for each of said frequencies, where said [R:\LIBQ] 1972.doc:eaa -17- received reference signal, at least partially, has passed through a reference product, said reference product having a desired material property and content.

18. The apparatus for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product according to claim 15, wherein each reference value is derived from comparing said amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signal with amplitude and phase information of a received reference signal for each of said frequencies, where said received reference signal has been obtained by evaluation of a model of the measurement setup and of the transmission properties of a reference product.

19. The apparatus for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein said analysing means compare said amplitude and phase information of each reference value with each received signal at the separate frequencies.

The apparatus for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein said amplitude and phase information comprises any of the group: damping, signal runtime, signal delay time, signal velocity or complex S parameter.

21. The apparatus for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a @e:product according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein said apparatus is adaptable for on-line detection.

22. The apparatus for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product according to claim 21, wherein said apparatus is provided with conveyor means for transporting said product past said first and second antenna.

23. The apparatus for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product according to any one of claims 15 to 22, wherein said reference value is stored in a memory within said apparatus. ooo•

24. A method for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product comprising the steps of: [R:\LIBQ] 1 972.doc:eaa -18- transmitting electromagnetic signals from a first antenna device, said transmitted electromagnetic signals being in the microwave range, said signals comprising at least two signals at different frequencies; receiving signals in a second antenna device originating from said signals transmitted from said first antenna device, where said received signals, at least partially, have passed through said product; transporting said product through a gap between said first and second antenna in a direction; storing reference values, comprising amplitude and phase information, for each transmitted different frequency in a memory; measuring at least amplitude and phase information of said received signals for each separate frequency, so as to obtain parameter values for each movement of the product in said direction; comparing the parameter values with the corresponding amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signals, so as to obtain a comparison value for each movement of the product and for each of said frequencies; analysing each comparison value using one of said reference values from said memory; and emitting a signal when said comparison value differs a predetermined amount from said reference value.

The method for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product according to claim 24, wherein the method further comprises the step of ::obtaining each reference value from measurement of at least said amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signals, for each frequency.

26. The method for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product according to claim 24, wherein the method further comprises the step of obtaining each reference value from comparison of said amplitude and phase information 30 of said transmitted signal with amplitude and phase information of a received reference S-signal for each of said frequencies, where said received reference signal, at least partially, •go• has passed through a reference product, said reference product having a desired material S. property and content. [R:\LIBQI 1972.doc:eaa -19-

27. The method for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product according to claim 24, wherein the method further comprises the step of obtaining each reference value from comparison of said amplitude and phase information of said transmitted signal with amplitude and phase information of a received reference signal for each of said frequencies, where said received reference signal has been obtained by evaluation of a model of the measurement setup and of the transmission properties of a reference product.

28. The method for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a lo product according to any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein the step of analysing each comparison value is performed by comparing amplitude and phase information of each received signal with a corresponding reference value.

29. An apparatus for detection of foreign bodies in a product, said apparatus being substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A method for detection of foreign bodies in a product, said method being substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

31. An apparatus for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product, said apparatus being substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. i 1 5

32. A method for detection of changes in material properties and contents in a product, said method being substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. S.. DATED this Ninth Day of January, 2004 SIK Institute for Livsmedel Och Bioteknik AB Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON *SSS S ooo5 S So~o [R:\LIBQ] 1 972.doc:eaa