Electric/magnetic field sensor

• US 7,482,814 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education (State of Nevada)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education (State of Nevada)
• Inventors: Popek, Marc, Schill, Robert A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dole; Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US11/213,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20060066304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 324/457, 324/632, 324/260
• US Class Current: 324/457
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0878 Sensors; antennas; probes; detectors wave guide measuring sections G01R1/24

Abstract

A UNLV novel electric/magnetic dot sensor includes 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. An electric/magnetic-dot sensor comprising:

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

the entire loop having a dielectric coating thereon;

the first end of the sensor conductor comprising a continuous length of conductor extending as a first central conductor within a first conductive sheath;

the second end of the sensor conductor comprising a continuous length of conductor extending as a second conductor within a second conductive sheath; and

the first conductive sheath and the second conductive sheath positioned adjacent each other and a first end of the first conductive sheath and a first end of the second conductive sheath being grounded and physically secured together adjacent to the loop.

2. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 1 wherein the second end of the sensor conductor comprising a continuous length of conductor extending as a second central conductor within the second conductive sheath, the grounding together effected by sintering, fusing or soldering.

3. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 2 wherein the loop, the first end of the sensor conductor and the second end of the sensor conductor comprises of a single conductor that is free of sintering, fusing and soldering.

4. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 1 wherein the entire loop is continuous with both the first end and the second end of the sensor conductor, the sensor conductor within the first conductive sheath is a first coaxial cable and the sensor conductor within the second conductive sheath is a second coaxial cable which first coaxial cable and second coaxial cable consists of a single continuous elongated conductor comprising the sensor conductor.

5. The electric/magnetic dot sensor of claim 4 wherein the first conductive sheath comprises outer layers of a coaxial cable with the first central conductor being the center layer in the coaxial cable.

6. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 5 wherein the second conductive sheath comprises outer layers of a coaxial cable with the second conductor being the center layer in the coaxial cable.

7. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 6 wherein an end of each coaxial cable distal from the loop has an electrical connector thereon.

8. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 7 wherein the loop is circular.

9. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 6 wherein the loop is circular.

10. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 5 wherein an end of the coaxial cable distal from the loop has an electrical connector thereon.

11. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 6 wherein the loop is circular.

12. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 5 wherein at least two loops from two sets of sheaths intersect at an intermediate point and the two loops are secured.

13. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 12 wherein the at least two loops are mechanically secured to each other.

14. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 13 wherein the two loops are not electrically secured together.

15. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 5 wherein the loop is helical.

16. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 4 wherein the second conductive sheath comprises outer layers of a coaxial cable with the second conductor being the center layer in the coaxial cable.

17. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 1 wherein the loop is circular.

18. The electric/magnetic-dot sensor of claim 1 wherein the loop is helical.

19. A method of forming the electric/magnetic dot sensor of claim 1 comprising at least one single half loop, a single whole loop, multiple whole loops or multiple half loops of conductor seamlessly continuing as central conductor materials in two coaxial cables, the method comprising:

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

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

forming a loop of the central conductor material formed by removing the conductor layer while the central conductor remains attached to the central conductor layer in the coaxial cable on both sides of the loop formed from the center of the cable.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the coaxial cable also has a dielectric layer, and the dielectric layer is not removed from the loop, leaving a dielectric covering over the loop.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein after removal of the conductor layer, the central conductor layer is extended from the coaxial cable to assist in forming a symmetrical loop of central conductor and wherein the conductive sheaths over the dielectric layer in the coaxial cable on both sides of the loop are grounded to each other adjacent to the loop.