Capture of time varying electric field through synchronized spatial array of field effect transistors
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsJustin L. Shumaker, Geoffrey A. Slipher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Sensing a time varying electric field includes a device or system including a spatial sensor array having one or more transistors, a circuit including a resistor connected to each of the transistors, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to each circuit which convert an analog voltage outputs to digital form, and an antenna to each of the transistors. The antennas sense the time varying electric field and modulate current through their respective transistors. The spatial sensor array may be stationary or in motion during the sensing.
Claims20
A method for sensing a time varying electric field, the method comprising:
- providing a spatial sensor array including a plurality of circuits, each circuit comprising:
- an antenna configured to receive an RF signal and output an electrical current;
- a transistor connected to the antenna;
- and
- a resistor connected to the transistor;
- sensing a time varying electric field with the antennas of the circuits;
- modulating current through the transistors of the circuits;
- converting an analog voltage output of each of the circuits to digital form;
- and
- synchronously capturing the digital output of the circuits in the spatial sensor array as a frame without additional amplification means,
- wherein the spatial sensor array is stationary or in motion during the sensing.
A device for sensing a time varying electric field, the device comprising:
- a spatial sensor array comprising a plurality of circuits, each circuit comprising:
- an antenna configured to receive an RF signal and output an electrical current;
- a transistor connected to the antenna;
- a resistor connected to the transistor;
- an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) connected to the resistor;
- and
- a processor configured to synchronously capture the digital output of the circuits in the spatial sensor array as a frame and process the captured digital output,
- wherein each antenna senses the time varying electric field and modulate current through the transistor it is connected to, and
- wherein the spatial sensor array is to be stationary or in motion during the sensing.
A system for sensing a time varying electric field, the system comprising:
- a spatial sensor array comprising a plurality of circuits, each circuit comprising:
- a field effect transistor (FET) connected to the antenna;
- a resistor connected to the FET;
- an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) connected to the resistor;
- and
- an antenna connected to the FET, wherein the antenna is to sense the time varying electric field and modulate current through the FET, wherein the spatial sensor array is to be stationary or in motion during the sensing;
- and
- a computer processor configured to synchronously capture the digital output of the circuits in the spatial sensor array as a frame without additional amplification means and process the captured digital output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.