Vibrating capacitive electrostatic potential sensor based on a double cantilever tuning fork

In this work, a vibrating capacitive sensor utilizing dual cantilever tuning fork resonance for electrostatic potential modulation was designed and fabricated. Initially, an electrostatic induction model was established, and the principle of non-contact electrostatic potential measurement was analyzed to identify the key factors influencing the sensor's performance. Subsequently, the vibration mode of the tuning fork was simulated to determine the mechanical dimensions of the tuning fork and the driving frequency of the piezoelectric crystal. Additionally, the concept of enhancing the uniformity of the electric field near the sensor by employing a shield plate was proposed. Simultaneously, the optimal mechanical parameters of the shielding plate were determined through multi-physical field simulation to improve the sensor's linearity. Finally, a compact calibration device was designed to measure the key performance parameters of the non-contact electrostatic potential sensor. The results demonstrate that the sensor has a measurement range of -10 to 10 kV, a measurement accuracy better than ±3%, and a linearity of 0.46%. This work offers an alternative solution for non-contact potential measurement.