Method for remotely detecting an electric field using a liquid crystal device
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting an electric field generated by an electrical component, comprising the steps of:
- (I) providing a device having at least one liquid crystal display element, said display element comprising;
(a) a first conductor, at least part of which is transparent;
(b) a second conductor aligned relative to said first conductor such that a portion of one of said conductors extends significantly beyond the other; and
(c) a liquid crystal material optically responsive to an electric field and positioned between said first and second conductors;
(II) bringing said device into the proximity of said electrical component, but without making electrical contact with either said component or with ground, such that said first and second conductors are positioned at different areas of intensity of said electric field; and
(III) observing the optical state of said liquid crystal display element.
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Abstract
A method for detecting an electric field surrounding an electrical component with a device having a liquid crystal display element, the device being positioned at a distance from the component and being unconnected ohmically to either the component or ground.
221 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of detecting an electric field generated by an electrical component, comprising the steps of:
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(I) providing a device having at least one liquid crystal display element, said display element comprising; (a) a first conductor, at least part of which is transparent; (b) a second conductor aligned relative to said first conductor such that a portion of one of said conductors extends significantly beyond the other; and (c) a liquid crystal material optically responsive to an electric field and positioned between said first and second conductors; (II) bringing said device into the proximity of said electrical component, but without making electrical contact with either said component or with ground, such that said first and second conductors are positioned at different areas of intensity of said electric field; and (III) observing the optical state of said liquid crystal display element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for detecting an electric field surrounding an electrical component, said device comprising:
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(I) an array comprising a plurality of liquid crystal display elements each of which comprises (a) a first conductor, at least part of which is transparent; (b) a second conductor aligned relative to said first conductor such that a portion of one of said conductors extends significantly beyond the other; and (c) a liquid crystal material optically responsive to an electric field and positioned between said first and second conductors; and (II) a protective packaging surrounding and electrically insulating said array from the exterior environment, said protective packaging being at least partially transparent to permit viewing of the optical state of at least one of said liquid crystal display elements. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A liquid crystal device for detecting an electric field surrounding an electrical component, said device having a laminar structure comprising
a first and a second transparent supporting sheet; -
a first and a second transparent conductor, respectively deposited on the inside surfaces of said first and second sheets; and encapsulated liquid crystal material optically responsive to an electric field, sandwiched between said first and second sheets and in contact with said first and second transparent conductors; said first and second transparent conductors being aligned such that said first conductor partially overlaps said second conductor, and vice-versa; and said first and second sheets being sealed to each other along the edges thereof, to form a protective package sealing off and electrically insulating said conductors and liquid crystal material from the exterior environment.
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35. A method of estimating the magnitude of the potential of an electrical component from the intensity of the electric field generated by said component, comprising the steps of:
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(I) providing a device having an array of liquid crystal display elements, each of said display elements comprising; (a) a first conductor, at least part of which is transparent; (b) a second conductor aligned relative to said first conductor such that a portion of one of said first and second conductors extends significantly beyond the other conductor; and (c) a liquid crystal material optically responsive to an electric field and positioned between said first and second conductors; said device having been calibrated as to which liquid crystal display elements change their optical state at a specified distance from a potential source with a known potential; (II) bringing said device to the specified distance in the proximity of said electrical component, but without making electrical contact with either said component or with ground; (III) observing which liquid crystal display elements have changed their state; and (IV) estimating the voltage of said component by reference to said calibration.
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Specification