Aircraft electrostatic discharge test system
First Claim
1. An aircraft electrostatic charge diagnostic testing device, comprising:
- a power source;
at least one electrostatic field sensor coupled to said power source and located proximate an aircraft landing area, wherein said sensor detects an electrostatic charge measurement of said incoming aircraft; and
a data link for transmitting said electrostatic charge measurement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low cost diagnostic system for testing the airborne static discharge systems and the grounding systems for aircraft. The present invention is a passive electrostatic detection scheme comprising an array of inexpensive, miniaturized sensors for measuring the detected E-field disturbances from aircraft. The measurements are taken on the runway upon arrival and indicate whether the aircraft had an appreciable accumulated charge indicating a failure of the electrostatic discharge system. The system further verifies that the ground discharge devices are properly working and any charge is dissipated upon landing. In one embodiment the measurement information is transmitted to a central location where the aircraft and the measurement data are matched and maintenance is scheduled for aircraft having high levels of electrostatic charge.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An aircraft electrostatic charge diagnostic testing device, comprising:
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a power source;
at least one electrostatic field sensor coupled to said power source and located proximate an aircraft landing area, wherein said sensor detects an electrostatic charge measurement of said incoming aircraft; and
a data link for transmitting said electrostatic charge measurement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electrostatic sensor for testing aircraft electrostatic charge, comprising:
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a power source;
a sensing element for detecting an E-field signal;
a first amplifier stage connecting to said sensing element on a first side;
a filter stage connecting to a second side of said first amplifier stage;
an analog to digital converter coupled to said filter stage for converting said E-field signal to digital E-field data; and
a memory section for storing said digital E-field data. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for testing electrostatic discharge systems on aircraft comprising the steps of:
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placing at least one E-field sensor proximate an aircraft runway;
detecting an aircraft E-field signature, wherein said signature represents electric field changes as measured by said E-field sensor; and
communicating said signature to a processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification