Apparatus and method for detecting an electric field
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting an electric field of a stray voltage anomaly in the presence of a plurality of electric fields, comprising:
- at least one sensor probe adaptable for mobility about said electric fields, said sensor probe having at least one pair of electrically conductive electrodes for sensing said electric fields;
an analog to digital converter coupled to said electrically conductive electrodes for digitizing electrical signals received from said sensor probe representative of said electric fields;
at least one measuring device for determining a location and a speed of said sensor probe;
a processor coupled to said analog to digital converter and to said measuring device for processing said digitized electrical signals, wherein said digitized electrical signals are averaged commensurate with said speed at which said sensor probe is moving; and
an interface coupled to said processor having commands for monitoring and controlling said apparatus, said interface providing an audible and visual output for the presence of said stray voltage anomaly detected in said plurality of electric fields.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor for sensing an electric field includes a movable sensor probe including one or more pair, typically three pair, of electrically conductive electrodes, and may include one or more pair of selectively switchable auxiliary electrodes. The probe is movable and may be mounted on a vehicle or trailer. A processor may process electric field signals from the probe for providing a human perceivable indication of the electric field. The processor may perform a Fast Fourier Transform of the electric field signals to produce an indication of the magnitude of the electric field, and may perform unweighted and/or weighted averaging in relation to processing electric field data, setting a comparison threshold, providing a human perceivable indication, or a combination of the foregoing. A speed at which the sensor probe is moving may be utilized in processing the data.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting an electric field of a stray voltage anomaly in the presence of a plurality of electric fields, comprising:
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at least one sensor probe adaptable for mobility about said electric fields, said sensor probe having at least one pair of electrically conductive electrodes for sensing said electric fields; an analog to digital converter coupled to said electrically conductive electrodes for digitizing electrical signals received from said sensor probe representative of said electric fields; at least one measuring device for determining a location and a speed of said sensor probe; a processor coupled to said analog to digital converter and to said measuring device for processing said digitized electrical signals, wherein said digitized electrical signals are averaged commensurate with said speed at which said sensor probe is moving; and an interface coupled to said processor having commands for monitoring and controlling said apparatus, said interface providing an audible and visual output for the presence of said stray voltage anomaly detected in said plurality of electric fields. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for detecting an electric field of a stray voltage anomaly in the presence of a plurality of electric fields, comprising:
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deploying at least one sensor probe adaptable for mobility into said electric fields; sensing said electric fields using said sensor probe; digitizing electrical signals representative of said electric fields sensed by said sensor probe; identifying a location and a speed of said sensor probe; processing said digitized electrical signals representative of said electric fields and data associated with said location and said speed of said sensor probe, wherein said digitized electrical signals are averaged commensurate with said speed at which said sensor probe is moving; and providing an audio and visual output for monitoring and controlling said detection of said stray voltage anomaly in said plurality of electric fields. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification