Piercing Electrode With Insulative Shaft for Over-Air Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in introducing electrical energy across conductive barriers to disable or alter electronic devices within enclosures, as they often ground and prevent effective discharge due to the conductive nature of the enclosures.
Innovation Solution
A piercing electrode with an electrically insulative shaft and a conductive tip is designed to penetrate barriers, featuring a tapered point for piercing and an insulative material to prevent grounding, allowing for an over-air electrical discharge by isolating the conductive portion from the barrier, and incorporating a spark gap for controlled energy delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a conductive electrode is used to pierce the barrier, then electrical energy can be delivered to electronic devices, but the electrode grounds to the conductive barrier and prevents effective discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is divided into distinct functional segments: a conductive tip for piercing and energy delivery, an insulative shaft for electrical isolation, and a conductive base for connection to the energy source. This segmentation allows the conductive portions to deliver energy while the insulative portion prevents grounding to the barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
An electrically insulative material (such as a ceramic or plastic coating) is introduced as an intermediary between the conductive electrode and the conductive barrier. This intermediary layer prevents electrical contact and grounding while allowing the electrode to physically pierce and deliver energy through the barrier.
2Ease of operation
If the electrode is made fully conductive for energy delivery, then electrical discharge is enabled, but electrical isolation from the barrier cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the electrode have different electrical properties: the tip is conductive for energy delivery, the shaft is insulative for electrical isolation, and the base is conductive for connection. This local differentiation of material properties allows the electrode to simultaneously achieve energy discharge capability and electrical isolation reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple conductive rod is used, then manufacturing is simple, but it grounds to the barrier and cannot provide over-air discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is constructed as a composite structure combining conductive materials (for tip and base) with electrically insulative materials (for the shaft). This composite construction maintains relative manufacturing simplicity while enabling the dual functionality of energy delivery and electrical isolation required for over-air discharge capability.
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
Enables effective electrical discharge across conductive barriers, capable of disabling electronic devices or causing detonation, while maintaining electrical isolation to prevent grounding, thus overcoming the limitations of traditional discharge methods.
Implementation Method 1
a tapered point that is proximate to the distal end of the shaft wherein the tapered point is adapted to pierce a barrier
Implementation Method 2
electrically insulative shaft... to prevent grounding, it may be necessary to electrically isolate a conductive portion of the electrode that is disposed through the barrier from electric contact with the barrier
Implementation Method 3
an electrode for providing an over air discharge of electrical energy... capable of both piercing the barrier and providing an over-air discharge of electrical energy
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode is provided that is adapted to both pierce a barrier and providing an over-air discharge of electrical energy. In this regard, an over air discharge of electrical energy may be provided to an opposing side of a barrier. In one arrangement, the electrode includes a tapered point, which may be a hardened material, to facilitate piercing a barrier. In a further arrangement, the electrode incorporates an insulative shaft. In this arrangement, the insulative shaft electrically isolates a conductor of the electrode from a conductive barrier. Accordingly, the electrode may be utilized to pierce metallic enclosures and provide an electrical discharge for the purpose of altering the operation of electronic device within such enclosures.