Electric field detector system
First Claim
1. An electric field detector system comprising:
- a proof-mass including a source of concentrated charge configured to generate an electric dipole that produces a torque on the proof-mass in response to an electric field;
a plurality of supports, each individual support of the plurality supports being coupled to the proof-mass and having a resonant frequency affected by the electric field;
a plurality of sensors, each individual sensor of the plurality of sensors positioned to measure the resonant frequency of a corresponding support of the plurality of supports; and
a controller coupled to each individual sensor of the plurality of sensors, the controller configured to measure an electric field strength of the electric field by comparing at least a first measured resonant frequency of the measured resonant frequencies to a first frequency reference to measure the torque on the proof-mass.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects and embodiments are generally directed to electric field detector systems and methods. In one example, an electric field detector system includes a proof-mass including a source of concentrated charge, a plurality of supports, each individual support of the plurality supports being coupled to the proof-mass, a plurality of sensors, each individual sensor of the plurality of sensors positioned to measure a resonant frequency of a corresponding support of the plurality of supports, and a controller coupled to each individual sensor of the plurality of sensors, the controller configured to measure a characteristic of an electric field imparted on the proof-mass based on at least a first resonant frequency of the measured resonant frequencies.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electric field detector system comprising:
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a proof-mass including a source of concentrated charge configured to generate an electric dipole that produces a torque on the proof-mass in response to an electric field; a plurality of supports, each individual support of the plurality supports being coupled to the proof-mass and having a resonant frequency affected by the electric field; a plurality of sensors, each individual sensor of the plurality of sensors positioned to measure the resonant frequency of a corresponding support of the plurality of supports; and a controller coupled to each individual sensor of the plurality of sensors, the controller configured to measure an electric field strength of the electric field by comparing at least a first measured resonant frequency of the measured resonant frequencies to a first frequency reference to measure the torque on the proof-mass. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electric field transduction method comprising:
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generating an electric dipole at a proof-mass coupled to a plurality of supports; receiving an electric field at the proof-mass; measuring a resonant frequency of each individual support of the plurality of supports; and determining an electric field strength of the electric field based on at least one measured resonant frequency of the measured resonant frequencies by comparing the at least one resonant frequency to a frequency reference and, based on the comparison, determining a torque imparted on the proof-mass by the electric field. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification