Apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling detection of stray voltage anomalies
DC CAFCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A mobile apparatus mounted to a motor vehicle for detecting an electric field, comprising:
- at least one sensor probe, mounted to the motor vehicle, that generates a signal corresponding to an electric field detected by the at least one sensor probe, and wherein the at least one sensor probe comprises at least one electrode;
a processor, coupled to the at least one sensor probe, that digitizes the signal to form electric field data represented as a plurality of time domain samples, produces field strengths of each of the at least one sensor probes using the plurality of time domain samples, and analyzes the field strengths to identify a voltage anomaly in the electric field, wherein the electric field data is analyzed based on an expected frequency pertaining to the voltage anomaly to locate an energized object proximate a street; and
an indicator, coupled to the processor, that alerts a user to a presence of the voltage anomaly in the electric field proximate the street.
6 Assignments
Litigations
2 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for detecting stray voltage anomalies in electric fields are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for detecting an electrical field may comprise: at least one sensor probe for generating data corresponding to an electrical field detected by the at least one sensor probe, wherein the at least one sensor probe comprises at least one electrode; a processor, coupled to the at least one sensor probe, for analyzing the data to identify a voltage anomaly in the electric field; and an indicator, coupled to the processor, for alerting a user to a presence of the voltage anomaly in the electric field.
60 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A mobile apparatus mounted to a motor vehicle for detecting an electric field, comprising:
-
at least one sensor probe, mounted to the motor vehicle, that generates a signal corresponding to an electric field detected by the at least one sensor probe, and wherein the at least one sensor probe comprises at least one electrode; a processor, coupled to the at least one sensor probe, that digitizes the signal to form electric field data represented as a plurality of time domain samples, produces field strengths of each of the at least one sensor probes using the plurality of time domain samples, and analyzes the field strengths to identify a voltage anomaly in the electric field, wherein the electric field data is analyzed based on an expected frequency pertaining to the voltage anomaly to locate an energized object proximate a street; and an indicator, coupled to the processor, that alerts a user to a presence of the voltage anomaly in the electric field proximate the street. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A mobile apparatus mounted to a motor vehicle for detecting an electric field in a patrolled area, comprising:
-
at least one sensor probe, mounted to the motor vehicle, that generates a signal corresponding to an electric field detected by the at least one sensor probe, wherein the at least one sensor probe comprises at least one electrode; at least one amplifier having an input coupled to each of the at least one electrode for adjusting a sensitivity of the sensor probe; a processor, coupled to the at least one sensor probe, that digitizes the signal to form electric field data represented as a plurality of time domain samples, produces field strengths of each of the at least one sensor probes using the plurality of time domain samples, and analyzes the field strengths to identify a voltage anomaly in the electric field, wherein the electric field data is analyzed based on an expected frequency pertaining to the voltage anomaly to locate an energized object proximate a street; at least one image recording device, coupled to the processor, for collecting video images of a patrolled area; at least one measuring device for determining the location of the apparatus; an indicator, coupled to the processor, for alerting a user to a presence of the voltage anomaly; and a wireless transceiver component for transmitting and receiving data associated with the voltage anomaly to and from at least one remote device.
-
-
14. A method for detecting an electric field, comprising:
-
a) sensing an electric field using at least one sensor probe mounted to a motor vehicle, wherein the at least one sensor probe is mounted to the motor vehicle via a non-electrically interfering support frame and comprises at least one electrode; b) identifying a location of the sensor probe; c) digitizing electrical signals representative of the electric fields sensed by the sensor probe to create data representing the electric fields; and d) collecting data representing the electric field sensed by the at least one sensor probe; e) processing the collected data, wherein the digitized electrical signals within the collected data are averaged commensurate with a speed at which the sensor probe is moving, wherein the electric field data is analyzed based on an expected frequency pertaining to the voltage anomaly to locate an energized object proximate the street; f) analyzing the collected data to identify a voltage anomaly in the electric field; and g) providing an indicator to alert a user to a presence of the voltage anomaly in the electric field. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification