Capacitive Electric Field Sensor for Dual-Mode Land and Underwater Surveying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromagnetic field measurement systems are cumbersome and require separate setups for land and underwater environments, lacking a dual-mode sensor system that can efficiently operate in both settings due to differences in electrode configurations and coupling mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A capacitive electric field sensor system with a pressure vessel and adjustable arms for underwater use, combined with magnetic field sensors, allows for capacitive coupling to ambient electric fields and measurement of magnetic fields, enabling operation on both land and underwater without the need for burial or modification of local environmental properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate sensor systems are used for land and underwater measurements, then measurement accuracy is maintained for each environment, but device complexity and deployment time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single sensor system that can function in both land and underwater environments. The sensor assembly includes a magnetometer and electric field sensors that can operate in either medium, eliminating the need for separate specialized systems. The housing can be configured with or without a pressure vessel depending on the deployment environment, providing multi-functional capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the sensor system configurable and adaptable to different environments. The housing can be modified to include a pressure vessel for underwater use or used without one for land-based measurements. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same basic sensor assembly to serve multiple purposes while maintaining measurement accuracy in each environment.
2Reliability
If heavy sensor systems are used for underwater measurements, then measurement reliability is improved, but ease of operation and deployment difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the sensor system into modular components: a sensor assembly containing the magnetometer and electric field sensors, a configurable housing, and an optional pressure vessel. This segmentation allows the system to be deployed as a complete unit for underwater measurements or as a lighter configuration for land-based work, improving ease of operation while maintaining reliability when the full system is used.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the anti-weight principle by using buoyancy elements or flotation devices attached to the sensor system for underwater deployments. These counterbalance the weight of the sensor assembly and pressure vessel, making the system easier to deploy and retrieve by crane or other lifting equipment, thereby improving ease of operation without compromising measurement reliability.
3Measurement precision
If multiple separate sensor systems are purchased for different environments, then environment-specific performance is optimized, but cost and loss of time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a single sensor system that can be deployed in both land and underwater environments. The same sensor assembly with magnetometer and electric field sensors can measure electromagnetic fields in either medium, eliminating the need to purchase and maintain separate systems. This reduces both cost and the time required to deploy equipment, as the system is already configured for the intended environment rather than requiring setup or conversion between deployments.
4Measurement precision
If traditional salt electrodes are used on land, then electric field measurement accuracy is achieved, but ease of operation and deployment time worsen due to burial requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing the traditional salt electrode system (which requires mechanical burial and setup) with a capacitive electric field sensor. This sensor measures electric fields through capacitive coupling without requiring physical contact with or burial in the ground, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy while dramatically improving deployment speed and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by using capacitive coupling as a mediator between the sensor and the electric field source. Instead of direct physical contact with salt electrodes buried in the ground, the capacitive sensor measures electric fields through an electromagnetic field intermediary, eliminating the need for burial while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides accurate and sensitive electromagnetic field measurements in both environments, reducing deployment time and weight, and allowing for a single set of equipment to be used for both land and underwater surveys, enhancing operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
Electrical potentials in the local environment are capacitively coupled with the electrodes of the sensors
Implementation Method 2
a single sensor is placed upon the ground or buried at a shallow depth... For a magnetic field, a single sensor is placed upon the ground or buried at a shallow depth
Data Source
AI summary
An electromagnetic sensing system operates either in land environments or in marine environments on the floor of a body of water to measure electromagnetic fields. The sensing system has electrodes that provide capacitive coupling to the local environment where measurements are being made. A new method of deployment in water provides considerable size and weight reductions. The size and weight reductions also facilitate deployment and rapid repositioning on land. The system is particularly beneficial for surveying sites adjacent to bodies of water.