Method and apparatus for equipotential plane detection

Details Method and apparatus for equipotential plane detection Method and apparatus for equipotential plane detection

1974-11-15

1978-05-23

Corbin, John K.

Electricity: measuring and testing

Testing potential in specific environment

Voltage probe

324 32, G01R 3102

Patent

active

040913260

ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus for utilizing the earth's static electric field as a reference for generating an information-bearing electrical signal. In a particular embodiment, the invention provides a differential static voltmeter having spaced voltage sensing probes and a differential static amplifier which determines the difference in voltage sensed by the probes. Since the probes measure the static voltage which occurs as a vertically oriented gradient in the earth's atmosphere, the voltage difference signal produced by the differential static amplifier is a measure of the disposition of the probes relative to a line usually parallel to the earth's surface, the voltmeter thereby being particularly useful as a pitch and roll stabilization reference and control system for airborne vehicles. In other embodiments, the invention also provides apparatus for defining a horizontal reference plane in the atmosphere and apparatus for sensing the roll or pitch rate of an airborne vehicle.

REFERENCES:
patent: 2454630 (1948-11-01), Buckthal
Clark, John F., "Air Borne Measurement of Atmospheric Potential Gradient", Jour. of Geo. Physical Res., vol. 62, No. 4, Dec. 1957, pp. 617-628.
MacCready, Jr., Paul B., "Improved Thermal Soaring Flight Techniques", Soaring, Dec. 1961, pp. 6-11.

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