초록 ▼

The invention is an electro-optic voltage sensor head designed for integration with existing types of high voltage transmission and distribution apparatus. The sensor head contains a transducer, which comprises a transducing material in which the Pockels electro-optic effect is observed. In the prac

The invention is an electro-optic voltage sensor head designed for integration with existing types of high voltage transmission and distribution apparatus. The sensor head contains a transducer, which comprises a transducing material in which the Pockels electro-optic effect is observed. In the practice of the invention at least one beam of electromagnetic radiation is routed into the transducing material of the transducer in the sensor head. The beam undergoes an electro-optic effect in the sensor head when the transducing material is subjected to an E-field. The electro-optic effect is observed as a differential phase a shift, also called differential phase modulation, of the beam components in orthogonal planes of the electromagnetic radiation. In the preferred embodiment the beam is routed through the transducer along an initial axis and then reflected by a retro-reflector back substantially parallel to the initial axis, making a double pass through the transducer for increased measurement sensitivity. The preferred embodiment of the sensor head also includes a polarization state rotator and at least one beam splitter for orienting the beam along major and minor axes and for splitting the beam components into two signals which are independent converse amplitude-modulated signals carrying E-field magnitude and hence voltage information from the sensor head by way of optic fibers.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A sensor head for use in combination with at least one beam of electromagnetic radiation for detecting presence and magnitude of E-field and voltage, said sensor head comprising:polarizing means for polarizing said at least one beam such that said at least one beam comprises at lea

[ We claim:] [1.] A sensor head for use in combination with at least one beam of electromagnetic radiation for detecting presence and magnitude of E-field and voltage, said sensor head comprising:polarizing means for polarizing said at least one beam such that said at least one beam comprises at least two beam components in two orthogonal planes, wherein said polarizing means resides in the path of said beam;transducing means for receiving said at least one beam from said polarizing means and inducing a differential phase shift of the beam components which varies in magnitude in response to the magnitude of an E-field;first reflecting means for receiving said at least one beam from said transducing means and reflecting said beam back into said transducing means; andquarter wave retarding means for biasing the beam's polarization such that zero E-field magnitude on the transducer corresponds to a circular polarization state.