Patent ID: 9664721
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: G01B,G01P,G01R

Claim:
1. A solid-state electric-field sensor comprising: a voltage-controlled capacitor influenceable by an electric field created by a target located a distance from the solid-state electric-field sensor; and generator circuitry configured to generate a modulated voltage for driving the voltage-controlled capacitor to produce a modulated capacitance as the voltage-controlled capacitor is influenced by the electric field to enable measurement of the electric field; wherein the voltage-controlled capacitor and generator circuitry are configured such that, in operation, an electric field of the target causes a change in the modulated capacitance and a current flow through the voltage-controlled capacitor, an electric potential of the target being measurable as a function of the change in magnitude of the current flow through the voltage-controlled capacitor.