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-11896357-B2
Publication Date
2024-02-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for detecting and analyzing changes in a body. For example, a system includes an electric field generator configured to produce an electric field. The system includes an external sensor device configured to detect physical changes in the electric field, where the physical changes affect amplitude and frequency of the electric field. The system includes a quadrature demodulator configured to detect changes of the frequency of the output of the electric field generator. The system includes an amplitude reference source and an amplitude comparison switch configured to detect changes of the amplitude of the output of the electric field generator. The system includes a signal processor configured to analyze the changes of the amplitude and frequency of the output of the electric field generator.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system that establishes an electric field around a desired area of detection that includes a body being monitored. An electric field generator includes an oscillator oscillating at a frequency, and characteristics of the body being monitored cause a change in the frequency of the generated electric field around the desired area of detection.
A demodulator is coupled to an output of the electric field generator and outputs a signal indicative of a change in a frequency of the generated electric field. The demodulator multiplies the output of the electric field generator by a phase-shifted version of the output, and the phase-shifted version is generated by a resonant circuit.
The detected response is further characterized by processing demodulator output, including producing a filtered response using a low pass filter and analyzing the filtered response in a signal processor. The signal processor may separate a plurality of signal components, including signal components corresponding to a different constituent of the body, such as a heart rate signal and a respiration rate signal, and may generate bodily-function features, including vascular and respiration processes, for display.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three aspects: a system and two corresponding methods, plus a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Across these, the document identifies six core inventive features centered on electric field generation, demodulation using a resonant-circuit-generated phase-shifted version, and processing body-induced frequency change signals.
Electric field generation around a monitored body area
An electric field generator establishes an electric field around a desired area of detection that includes a body being monitored, the electric field generator comprising an oscillator oscillating at a frequency.
Frequency-change demodulation using resonant-circuit phase-shift multiplication
A demodulator is coupled to an output of the electric field generator and detects or outputs a signal indicative of a change in a frequency of the generated electric field by multiplying the output of the electric field generator by a phase-shifted version of the output, wherein the phase-shifted version is generated by a resonant circuit.
Body characteristics causing a detectable electric-field frequency change
Characteristics of the body being monitored cause the change in the frequency of the generated electric field around the desired area of detection.
Sampling an ADC output with a sample-and-hold for demodulation analysis
Detecting a change in a frequency of the generated electric field comprises analyzing an output of an analog-to-digital converter coupled to a sample-and-hold circuit configured to sample an output of the electric field generator.
Separation of multiple signal components tied to body constituents
Separating a plurality of signal components from an output of the demodulator, with each signal component corresponding to a different constituent of the body.
Generating bodily-function features from frequency-change measurements
Generating a plurality of bodily function features, including vascular and respiration processes, based on changes in the frequency of the generated electric field.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on electrically generating an oscillating electric field around a monitored detection area and detecting a body-induced change in the generated-field frequency via demodulation formed by multiplying the generator output by a resonant-circuit-generated phase-shifted version. Dependent coverage further includes low pass filtering, ADC sampling via sample-and-hold, separation into multiple constituent-resolved signal components, and generating vascular and respiration process features for display.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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