Electro-optic voltage sensor for sensing voltage in an E-field

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999

OSTI ID:872246

Woods, Gregory K ^[1]; Renak, Todd W ^[1]

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1. Idaho Falls, ID

A miniature electro-optic voltage sensor system capable of accurate operation at high voltages. The system employs a transmitter, a sensor disposed adjacent to but out of direct electrical contact with a conductor on which the voltage is to be measured, a detector, and a signal processor. The transmitter produces a beam of electromagnetic radiation which is routed into the sensor where the beam undergoes the Pockels electro-optic effect. The electro-optic effect causes phase shifting in the beam, which is in turn converted to a pair of independent beams, from which the voltage of a system based on its E-field is determined when the two beams are normalized by the signal processor. The sensor converts the beam by splitting the beam in accordance with the axes of the beam's polarization state (an ellipse whose ellipticity varies between -1 and +1 in proportion to voltage) into at least two AM signals. These AM signals are fed into a signal processor and processed to determine the voltage between a ground conductor and the conductor on which voltage is being measured.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-94ID13223
• Assignee: Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company (Idaho Falls, ID)
• Patent Number(s): US 5892357
• OSTI ID: 872246
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

electro-optic
voltage
sensor
sensing
e-field
miniature
capable
accurate
operation
voltages
employs
transmitter
disposed
adjacent
direct
electrical
contact
conductor
measured
detector
signal
processor
produces
beam
electromagnetic
radiation
routed
undergoes
pockels
effect
causes
phase
shifting
converted
pair
independent
beams
based
determined
normalized
converts
splitting
accordance
axes
polarization
ellipse
ellipticity
varies
-1
proportion
signals
fed
processed
determine
ground
electro-optic voltage
direct electrical
voltage sensor
phase shifting
signal processor
phase shift
disposed adjacent
electrical contact
electromagnetic radiation
electro-optic effect
sensor converts
rate operation
transmitter produces
accurate operation
miniature electro-optic
beam undergoes
pockels electro-optic
sensor disposed
signal process
ground conductor
optic voltage
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