Patent US3641427A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3641427A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electric field sensor
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1969-09-24
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Granted: 1972-02-08
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Expires: 1989-09-24
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a method and means for sensing and measuring an electric field within sea water or any other environmental medium. It contains three pairs of diametrically opposed electric current sensing electrodes that are combined and configured in such manner as to form opposite faces of a cube. Each electrode is segmented to effect a predetermined mosaic pattern; and between each pair thereof, a differential amplifier, having an input impedance that is substantially equal to the operational environmental medium, is connected. A signal-processing system, including a telemetering link, a computer, and/or a readout, is connected to the outputs of the differential amplifiers.
Inventors
- 👤 Ed P Pittman
- 👤 Roy A Stanford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B13/00; H04B13/02; G; G01; G01R; G01R5/00; G01R5/28; G01V; G01V3/00; G01V3/08; G01V3/088; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A90/00; Y02A90/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for sensing and measuring an electric field within a predetermined environmental medium, comprising in combination: a first electrode disposed in said predetermined environmental medium in such manner that only one side thereof is in contact therewith; a second electrode spatially disposed from said first electrode and, likewise, disposed in predetermined environmental medium in such manner that only one side thereof is in contact therewith; means, having an input impedance substantially equal to the impedance of said environmental medium, connected between the sides of said first and second electrodes not in contact with said environmental medium for sensing the current flowing therebetween; and means connected to the output of said current-sensing means for reading out the current flowing therein.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for sensing and measuring an electric field within a predetermined environmental medium, comprising in combination: a first electrode disposed in said predetermined environmental medium in such manner that only one side thereof is in contact therewith; a second electrode spatially disposed from said first electrode and, likewise, disposed in predetermined environmental medium in such manner that only one side thereof is in contact therewith; means, having an input impedance substantially equal to the impedance of said environmental medium, connected between the sides of said first and second electrodes not in contact with said environmental medium for sensing the current flowing therebetween; and means connected to the output of said current-sensing means for reading out the current flowing therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means, having an input impedance substantially equal to the impedance of said environmental medium, connected between the sides of said first and second electrodes not in contact with said environmental medium for sensing the current comprises a differential amplifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means, having an input impedance substantially equal to the impedance of said environmental medium, connected between the sides of said first and second electrodes not in contact with said environmental medium for sensing the current comprises: a chopper; a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, with the primary winding thereof connected to the output of said chopper; a variable gain amplifier connected to the secondary winding of said transformer; and a demodulator connected to the output of said variable gain amplifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second electrodes each comprises: an electrically nonconductive backing plate; an electrically conductive foil cemented to one side of said backing plate; a plurality of electrically conductive segments attached to said electrically conductive foil in such manner that an electric current would readily flow therebetween but in such spatial disposition that they are nOt in physical contact with each other; and insulated electrical conductor means extending through said electrically non conductive backing plate and electrically connected at one end thereof to the aforesaid electrically conductive foil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 4 further characterized by means located in the spaces between said spatially disposed electrically conductive segments for the holding thereof in a predetermined geometrical configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention of claim 1 further characterized by means effectively connected to said first and second electrodes for the holding of each thereof in a predetermined position relative to and at a predetermined distance from the other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said means effectively connected to said first and second electrodes for the holding of each thereof in a predetermined position relative to and at a predetermined distance from the other comprises a frame having a cubic shape wherein the length, width, and depth dimensions thereof are equal and are substantially equal to the length and width dimensions of each of said first and second electrodes, with said first and second electrodes mounted in the opposite sides thereof in such manner that the sides of said first and second electrodes in contact with the aforesaid environmental medium face outwardly and in opposite directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
A sensor for sensing an electric field within a predetermined environmental medium, comprising in combination: a watertight box frame having a cubic shape; a sextet of electrodes respectively mounted on the six sides of said box frame in such manner that only one side of each thereof is in contact with said environmental medium; and a trio of differential amplifiers, each of which has an input impedance substantially equal to that of the aforesaid environmental medium, respectively connected between oppositely disposed electrodes of a trio of pairs of electrodes constituting the aforesaid sextet of electrodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A sensor for sensing an electric field within a predetermined environmental medium, comprising in combination: a watertight box frame having a cubic shape; a sextet of electrodes respectively mounted on the six sides of said box frame in such manner that only one side of each thereof is in contact with said environmental medium; and a trio of differential amplifiers, each of which has an input impedance substantially equal to that of the aforesaid environmental medium, respectively connected between oppositely disposed electrodes of a trio of pairs of electrodes constituting the aforesaid sextet of electrodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
The system of claim 8 wherein each of said sextet of electrodes comprises: an electrically nonconductive backing plate; an electrically conductive foil cemented to one side of said backing plate; a plurality of electrically conductive segments attached to said electrically conductive foil in such manner that an electric current would readily flow therebetween but in such spatial disposition that they are not in physical contact with each other; and insulated electrical conductor means extending through said electrically nonconductive backing plate and electrically connected at one end thereof to the aforesaid electrically conductive foil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 8 further characterized by a readout connected to the outputs of the aforesaid trio of differential amplifiers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 10 further characterized by a telemetering link connected between the outputs of said trio of differential amplifiers and the input of the aforesaid readout.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 11 further characterized by a computer connected between the output of said telemetering link and the input of the aforesaid readout.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
The invention of claim 11 further characterized by: a selector switch having a pair of inputs and an output, with one of the inputs thereof connected to the output of said telemetering link; a multiplier connected between the output of said telemetering link and the other input of said selector switch; and a readout connected to the output of said selector switch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
97 words
The invention of claim 8 further characterized by: a plurality of sensors for sensing an electric field within a predetermined environmental medium, each of which is substantially identical to the aforesaid sensor for sensing an electric field within a predetermined environmental medium, and each of which is spatially disposed relative to the others and the aforesaid sensor within said environmental medium in such manner as to form an array thereof havIng a predetermined geometrical configuration; a readout; and a telemetering link connected between the outputs of each of said sensors and the input of the aforesaid readout.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 14 further characterized by a computer connected between the output of said telemetering link and the input of said readout.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |