Systems and methods for detecting physical changes without physical contact
Inventors
LANGLEY, II, John B. • McIlroy, Guy
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11684283-B2
Publication Date
2023-06-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for detecting and analyzing changes in a body. A system includes an electric field generator, an external sensor device, a quadrature demodulator, and a controller. The electric field generator is configured to generate an electric field that associates with a body. The external sensor device sends information to the electric field generator and is configured to detect a physical change in the body in the electric field, where the physical change causes a frequency change of the electric field. The quadrature demodulator receives the electric field from the electric field generator and is configured to detect the frequency change of the electric field and to produce a detected response. The controller, coupled to the electric field generator, is configured to output a frequency control signal to the electric field generator and to modify the frequency of the electric field by adjusting the frequency control signal.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a non-contact monitoring system that detects and analyzes changes in a body using an electric field generator and an external sensor device. The electric field generator generates an electric field that associates with the body, and the external sensor detects a physical change in the body in the electric field. The physical change affects a frequency of the electric field, so the system detects frequency changes of the electric field and produces a detected response.
A frequency change detector produces the detected response based on the detected changes in the frequency of the electric field generated by the electric field generator. The controller receives the detected response and outputs a frequency control signal to modify the frequency of the electric field. The frequency control signal modifies the electric-field frequency through a tuner associated with the electric field generator, such that the frequency modification is used to expand a linear frequency range and maintain sensitivity of the frequency change detector.
The document describes architectures and signal-processing elements in which the detected response is processed, including extracting low/high frequency components and filtering such as low pass filtering to feed useful signals. The system is configured so that changes in the frequency of an electric field are caused by physiological events within the body, including heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, and/or fluid level. The controller can determine when a signal component from a material of the body is outside a linear frequency range of the frequency change detector and then output a frequency control signal to expand that linear frequency range.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three principal aspects: a system architecture for frequency-based non-contact sensing with controller-driven frequency modification, a corresponding method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium implementing a feedback-loop control process for physiological event detection. Across the independent claims, the inventive concepts revolve around detecting frequency changes of an electric field caused by physical change or physiological events and outputting a frequency control signal to modify the electric-field frequency, with refinements focused on feedback-loop configuration and linear frequency range expansion.
Frequency-based non-contact detection with controller frequency modification
An electric field generator generates an electric field; an external sensor detects a physical change in the body in the electric field, wherein the physical change affects frequency of the electric field; a frequency change detector detects changes in the frequency of the electric field and produces a detected response; and a controller receives the detected response and outputs a frequency control signal to the electric field generator to modify the frequency of the electric field.
Feedback-loop detection and controller modification of electric-field frequency
An electric field generator generates an electric field that associates with the body; a sensor device detects a physical change in the body in the electric field, wherein the physical change affects frequency of the electric field; a frequency change detector detects changes in the frequency of the electric field and produces a detected response; a controller receives the detected response; and the controller outputs a signal to modify the frequency of the electric field associated with the body.
Feedback-loop computer readable medium for tuning based on detected response
A non-transitory computer readable medium stores executable instructions operable to cause a processor to receive, as a first part of a feedback loop, a detected response from a frequency change detector coupled to an electric field generator that generates an electric field; detect physiological events within the body using the detected response; and output, as a second part of the feedback loop, a frequency control signal to a tuner of the electric field generator to modify the frequency of the electric field.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on detecting changes that affect the frequency of an electric field associated with a body using a frequency change detector and using a controller to output a frequency control signal that modifies the electric-field frequency via a tuner. The independent claim set also grounds the process in detecting physiological events and supporting feedback-loop operation implemented in a computer readable medium.
Stated Advantages
Expands the linear frequency range of a frequency change detector and maintains sensitivity.
Documented Applications
Physiological monitoring, including physiological events such as pulse, respiration, and heart rate.
Other bulk-material sensing based on electromagnetic properties.
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