Electric/magnetic field sensor

• US 20060066304A1
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education (State of Nevada)
• Original Assignee: University and College System of Nevada, Board of Regents of The University System of Georgia (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Popek, Marc, Schill, Robert A. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,482,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/258
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0878 Sensors; antennas; probes; detectors wave guide measuring sections G01R1/24

Abstract

A UNLV novel electric/magnetic dot sensor comprises: a loop of conductor having two ends to the loop, a first end and a second end; the first end of the conductor seamlessly secured to a first conductor within a first sheath; the second end of the conductor seamlessly secured to a second conductor within a second sheath; and the first sheath and the second sheath positioned adjacent each other. The UNLV novel sensor can be made by removing outer layers in a segment of coaxial cable, leaving a continuous link of essentially uncovered conductor between two coaxial cable legs.

Claims

1. A B-dot sensor comprising:

a loop of sensor conductor having two ends to the loop, a first end and a second end;

the first end of the sensor conductor secured to a first central conductor within a first sheath;

the second end of the sensor conductor secured to a second conductor within a second sheath; and

the first sheath and the second sheath positioned adjacent each other.

2. The B-dot sensor of claim 1 wherein the first end of the sensor conductor is secured by being a continuation of the first conductor.

3. The B-dot sensor of claim 2 wherein the second end of the sensor conductor is secured by being a continuation of the second conductor.

4. The novel dot sensor of claim 1 wherein the loop at the end of the coaxial cable, the first coaxial cable and the second coaxial cable consists of a single continuous elongated conductor comprising the sensor conductor.

5. The novel dot of claim 4 wherein the sensor conductor between the first conductor and sensor conductor has a dielectric shield.

6. The novel dot of claim 4 wherein the sensor conductor between the first conductor and sensor conductor has no dielectric shield.

7. The dot sensor of claim 4 wherein the first sheath comprises outer layers of a coaxial cable with the first conductor being the center layer in the coaxial cable.

8. The novel dot sensor of claim 4 wherein the second sheath comprises outer layers of a coaxial cable with the second conductor being the center layer in the coaxial cable.

9. The B-dot sensor of claim 7 wherein the second sheath comprises outer layers of a coaxial cable with the second conductor being the center layer in the coaxial cable.

10. The B-dot sensor of claim 7 wherein an end of the coaxial cable distal from the loop has an electrical connector thereon.

11. The B-dot sensor of claim 9 wherein an end of each coaxial cable distal from the loop has an electrical connector thereon.

12. The B-dot sensor of claim 1 wherein the loop is circular.

13. The B-dot sensor of claim 7 wherein the loop is circular.

14. The B-dot sensor of claim 9 wherein the loop is circular.

15. The B-dot sensor of claim 11 wherein the loop is circular.

16. The B-dot sensor of claim 1 wherein the loop is helical.

17. The B-dot sensor of claim 7 wherein at least two loops from two sets of sheaths intersect at an intermediate point and the two loops are secured.

18. The B-dot sensor of claim 17 wherein the at least two loops are mechanically secured.

19. The B-dot sensor of claim 18 wherein the two loops are electrically secured together.

20. The B-dot sensor of claim 18 wherein the two loops are not electrically secured together.

21. The B-dot sensor of claim 7 wherein the loop is helical.

22. A method of forming the B-dot sensor of claim 1 comprising:

providing a coaxial cable comprising in order a central conductor layer, an adjacent dielectric layer, and a conductor layer;

removing the conductor and the dielectric layer from a central portion of the coaxial cable;

forming a loop of the central conductor material while it remains attached to the central conductor layer in the coaxial cable on both sides of the central portion.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the coaxial cable also has an outer insulating layer, and the insulating layer is removed from the central portion.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein after removal of the conductor layer and the dielectric layer, the central conductor layer is extended from the coaxial cable to assist in forming a symmetrical loop of central conductor.

25. A dot sensor comprising:

at least one single half loop, a single whole loop, multiple whole loops or multiple half loops of conductor seamlessly connected to central conductor materials in two coaxial cables.

26. The dot sensor of claim 25 wherein the loops are covered with a dielectric material.

27. The dot sensor of claim 25 wherein at least some loops are free of dielectric material.

28. The dot sensor of claim 25 wherein at least one loop is a continuation of the two coaxial cables.