Methods, Systems and Apparatuses for Sensing and Measuring the Electric Field within the Earth
First Claim
1. A system for measuring an electric potential in the earth, comprising:
- a first sensor, comprising;
a sensing plate for placement in an environment in close proximity to the earth, the sensing plate having operative capacitive coupling with the earth and measuring the earth'"'"'s electric potential,a barrier providing electrochemical segregation between the sensing plate and the earth;
an amplifier having at least one stage for receiving and amplifying a first signal carrying the potential measured by the sensing plate;
a first connection carrying the first signal from the sensing plate to the amplifier; and
a reference voltage for application to the first stage of the amplifier, the reference voltage providing a reference against which the potential measured by the sensing plate is compared.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for measuring an electric potential in the earth, which includes a first sensor are disclosed. The first sensor includes a sensing plate for placement in an environment in close proximity to the earth. The sensing plate has an operative capacitive coupling with the earth and measures the earth'"'"'s electric potential. The sensor also includes a barrier providing electrochemical segregation between the sensing plate and the earth and an amplifier having at least one stage for receiving and amplifying a first signal carrying the potential measured by the sensing plate. The sensor also includes a first connection carrying the first signal from the sensing plate to the amplifier; and a reference voltage for application to the first stage of the amplifier, the reference voltage providing a reference against which the potential measured by the sensing plate is compared. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
23 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A system for measuring an electric potential in the earth, comprising:
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a first sensor, comprising; a sensing plate for placement in an environment in close proximity to the earth, the sensing plate having operative capacitive coupling with the earth and measuring the earth'"'"'s electric potential, a barrier providing electrochemical segregation between the sensing plate and the earth; an amplifier having at least one stage for receiving and amplifying a first signal carrying the potential measured by the sensing plate; a first connection carrying the first signal from the sensing plate to the amplifier; and a reference voltage for application to the first stage of the amplifier, the reference voltage providing a reference against which the potential measured by the sensing plate is compared. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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2-5. -5. (canceled)
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11-12. -12. (canceled)
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15-16. -16. (canceled)
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20-21. -21. (canceled)
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24. (canceled)
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28. (canceled)
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30-39. -39. (canceled)
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44-50. -50. (canceled)
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51. A method for making a measurement of the electric potential within the earth comprising:
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placing a sensing plate in an environment in close proximity to the earth to make a capacitive coupling to the earth potential and measure the earth'"'"'s electric potential; providing a barrier to inhibit an electrochemical reaction of the sensing plate with the earth, wherein a coupling of the barrier and the sensing plate has a resistance greater than 100 kΩ and
a capacitance of the sensing plate greater than 100 nF;sending a first signal carrying the potential measured by the sensing plate to an amplifier having at least one stage; and comparing the potential measured by the sensing plate to a reference voltage, wherein the difference between the first and second potentials is used to determine one or more electric fields. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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53. A method for making a measurement of the electric potential of underground formations within the earth comprising:
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placing at least a first sensing plate and a second sensing plate on or within the earth in order to make operative capacitive couplings of the first and second sensing plates with the earth potential; providing a first barrier to inhibit electrochemical reaction of the first sensing plate with the earth; and providing a second barrier to inhibit an electrochemical reaction of the second sensing plate with the earth. measuring the earth'"'"'s electric potential with the first and second sensing plates;
sending a first signal carrying the first potential measured by the first sensing plate to a first amplifier having at least one stage;sending a second signal carrying the second potential measured by the second sensing plate to a second amplifier having at least one stage; comparing the first potential measured by the first sensing plate to a first reference voltage; comparing the second potential measured by the second sensing plate to a second reference voltage; connecting outputs of the first and second amplifiers to a data acquisition system, and using the difference between the first and second potentials to determine one or more electric fields. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification