US 12,276,631 B2
Parallel clock salinity sensor
Nicholas R. Kantack, Cambridge, MA (US); Jennifer S. Benzing, Baltimore, MD (US); Tessa B. VanVolkenburg, Ellicott City, MD (US); Zhiyong Xia, Rockville, MD (US); Spencer A. Langevin, Columbia, MD (US); and Daniel S. Ayoub, Columbia, MD (US)
Assigned to The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (US)
Filed by The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (US)
Filed on Feb. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/671,809.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/211,149, filed on Jun. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0404305 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 27/22 (2006.01); G01N 33/18 (2006.01); G06F 1/10 (2006.01); H03K 5/24 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 27/226 (2013.01) [G01N 33/18 (2013.01); G06F 1/10 (2013.01); H03K 5/24 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor for measuring ocean water salinity, the sensor comprising:
a measurement clock circuit having a first circuit architecture comprising a capacitive gap assembly that permits a fluid to flow into a gap between two electrodes of the capacitive gap assembly, the measurement clock circuit having a measured clock output that varies with a salinity of the fluid;
a control clock circuit having a second circuit architecture comprising a capacitor, the control clock circuit having a controlled clock output that does not vary with the salinity of the fluid; and
a comparator circuit configured to compare the controlled clock output to the measured clock output over a duration of time to determine a salinity measurement of the fluid;
wherein the first circuit architecture differs from the second circuit architecture in that an electrically connected position of the capacitive gap assembly within the first circuit architecture is the electrically connected position of the capacitor within the second circuit architecture.