Miniature electric field detector

US11327102B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. · US

Inventors

• James A. Bickford · Tacoma, US
• Stephanie Lynne Golmon · Arlington, US
• Paul A. Ward · Waterloo, CA
• William D. Sawyer · Littleton, US
• Marc S. Weinberg · Needham, US
• John J. Le Blanc · North Andover, US
• Louis Kratchman · Quincy, US
• James S. Pringle · Newton, US
• Daniel K. Freeman · Reading, US
• Amy Duwel · Cambridge, US
• Max Lindsay Turnquist · Somerville, US
• Ronald Steven McNabb, Jr. · Boston, US
• William A. Lenk · Cambridge, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 25, 2020
• Grant date: May 10, 2022
• Expiry date: Aug 25, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2562/0214
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Aspects are generally directed to a compact and low-noise electric field detector, methods of operation, and methods of production thereof. In one example, an electric field detector includes a proof mass, a source of concentrated charge coupled to the proof mass, and a substrate having a substrate offset space defined therein, the proof mass being suspended above the substrate offset space. The electric field detector further includes a sense electrode disposed on the substrate within the substrate offset space and proximate the proof mass, the sense electrode being configured to measure a change in capacitance relative to the proof mass from movement of the proof mass in response to a received electric field at the source of concentrated charge. The electric field detector includes a control circuit coupled to the sense electrode and configured to determine a characteristic of the electric field based on the measured change in capacitance.