Capacitive alternator

A method of using a capacitive alternator to measure a rotational parameter of a shaft comprising:

• supplying a capacitive alternator comprising:
• a frame,
• a shaft rotatably coupled to and extending through the frame,
• a stator housed within the frame, the stator comprising a plurality of stator electrodes arranged in a first stator assembly and a second stator assembly, such that
• the stator electrodes in the first stator assembly are in electrical communication with one another, and
• the stator electrodes in the second stator assembly are in electrical communication with one another,
• a rotor supported on and fixedly attached to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes a corresponding rotation of the rotor, the rotor comprising a dipole assembly, the dipole assembly comprising:
• a first dipole electrode, and a second dipole electrode, wherein the first and second dipole electrodes are electrically isolated from one another, from the shaft, and from the stator electrodes, and wherein the dipole assembly is rotatable relative to one of the plurality of stator electrodes,
• a first output electrode in electrical communication with the first stator assembly, and
• a second output electrode in electrical communication with the second stator assembly
• rotating the shaft;
• measuring an electrical parameter of an output waveform between the first output electrode and the second output electrode;
• and
• correlating the electrical parameter to the rotational parameter.