Patent ID: 6844714
Filing Date: 2005-01-18
Classification: B64G

Abstract:
1. A charge monitor for satellites, comprising: a) an electrically conducting housing including at least two compartments with said at least two compartments each including a dielectric slab contained therein, each dielectric slab having a selected thickness; b) an electrically conducting electrode embedded in each dielectric slab a pre-selected distance below a top surface of the dielectric slab, said housing being mountable on a satellite with said top surface of said dielectric slab facing outwardly into space away from said satellite whereby charged particles emitted from sources external to the satellite penetrate said dielectric slab resulting in charge accumulation in each electrically conducting electrode producing a floating DC voltage on said electrically conducting electrode, each electrically conducting electrode being electrically isolated from all other electrically conducting electrodes in said electrically conducting housing; and c) detection means for sensing of the floating DC voltage developed on the electrically conducting electrode embedded in each dielectric slab, due to the charge accumulation, and converting the floating DC voltage into an AC voltage representative of a charge buildup on each electrically conducting electrode.