Electrical sensor assembly

A sensor assembly comprising:

• an electrode extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a tubular section extending along the longitudinal axis and at least partially surrounding the electrode such that the tubular section is radially spaced from the electrode, the tubular section including
• a first layer made of an electrically insulating material,
• a second layer made of an electrically conductive material disposed on an inner surface of the first layer made of insulating material, wherein the second layer made of electrically conductive material is configured as an electric field sensor to detect an electric field produced by the electrode, and
• a third layer made of an of electrically conductive material disposed on an outer surface of the first layer made of an insulating material, wherein the third layer made of electrically conductive material is configured as an electric screen;
• and
• a mass of dielectric material at least partially enclosing the electrode and the tubular section, wherein the mass of dielectric insulating material fills through openings in the tubular section,
• wherein the first layer made of electrically insulating material includes a first plurality of through openings, each configured as an elongated slit that has a length extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the first plurality of through openings includes a first row of circumferentially spaced through openings and a second row of circumferentially spaced through openings with each through opening of the first row of through openings aligned with a through opening of the second row of through openings in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the second layer made of electrically conductive material includes a second plurality of through openings, each configured as an elongated slit that has a length extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the second plurality of through openings includes a first row of circumferentially spaced through openings and a second row of circumferentially spaced through openings and each through opening of the first row of through openings is aligned with a through opening of the second row of through openings in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the third layer of electrically conductive material includes a third plurality of through openings, each configured as an elongated slit that has a length extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the third plurality of through openings includes a first row of circumferentially spaced through openings and a second row of circumferentially spaced through openings and each through opening of the first row of through openings is aligned with a through opening of the second row of through openings in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis,
• wherein each through opening of the second plurality of through openings is aligned with a through opening of the first plurality of through openings, and
• wherein each through opening of the third plurality of through openings is aligned with a through opening in the first plurality of through openings.

A sensor assembly comprising:

• an electrode extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a tubular body extending along the longitudinal axis and at least partially surrounding the electrode such that the tubular body is radially spaced from the electrode;
• and
• a dielectric material at least partially enclosing the tubular body,
• wherein the tubular body comprises
• a first section including
• an insulating member having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and
• a first electric field sensor comprising a layer of electrically conductive material disposed on the inner surface of the insulating member, the first electric field sensor configured to detect an electric field produced by the electrode,
• a first electric screen comprising electrically conductive material surrounding the first section, the first electric screen configured to shield the first electric field sensor from outside electrical interference, and
• a second section extending along the longitudinal axis and spaced apart and electrically isolated from the first section and from the first electric screen along the longitudinal axis, the second section comprising electrically conductive material and configured to function as either (i) a second electric screen to shield outside electrical interference independently of the first electric screen, or (ii) a second electric field sensor to detect the electric field produced by the electrode independently of the first electric field sensor.