Method and apparatus for determining and retrieving positional information

• US 20070035528A1
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce Hodge
• Original Assignee: Bruce Hodge
• Inventors: Hodge, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 7,862,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 43/00 Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for fire-fighting in ships A62C3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 13/00 Other offensive or defensive arrangements on vessels; Vessels characterised thereby
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/0088 Fabrics having an electronic function
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/00 Adaptations for training adaptations of barrels for recoil reinforcement F41A21/26; Gun simulators teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26 ; shooting games A63F9/02; military simulation G09B9/003
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/02 Photo-electric hit-detector systems comprising a light-emitting device for simulating the firing of a gun F41G3/2622; detecting by optical means G01V8/10
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/04 Electric hit-indicating systems; Detecting hits by actuation of electric contacts or switches
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/041 Targets comprising two sets of electric contacts forming a coordinate system grid
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/003 for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination coordinate measuring G01B7/004

Abstract

An apparatus for determining and retrieving positional information including a surface having a plurality of first elements and a plurality of second elements, a first detection element connected to at least one of the plurality of first elements, and a second detection element connected to at least one of the plurality of second elements. The detection elements may include pulse detection elements or current sensing circuits. The plurality of first elements and the plurality of second elements may include conductive and non-conductive threads, and the conductive threads may include piezoelectric crystals embedded within conductive plastic.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining and retrieving positional information, comprising:

a surface, the surface including a plurality of first elements and a plurality of second elements;

a first detection element connected to at least one of the plurality of first elements; and

a second detection element connected to at least one of the plurality of second elements.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the first detection element includes a pulse detection element;

and

the second detection element includes a pulse detection element.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the first detection element includes a current sensing circuit;

and

the second detection element includes a current sensing circuit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of first elements and the plurality of second elements include conductive threads;

and

the conductive threads include piezoelectric crystals embedded within conductive plastic.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of first elements and the plurality of second elements include conductive threads;

and

the conductive threads include at least one of polarized fluoropolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride, or lead zirconate titanate combined with conductive plastic.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein

at least one of the plurality of first elements or the plurality of second elements further includes non-conductive threads.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein

at least one of the plurality of first elements or the plurality of second elements further includes non-conductive threads.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the surface is one of formed into a garment suitable for wearing by an individual or attached to a garment worn by an individual.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of first elements is positioned at a substantially right angle with respect to the plurality of second elements.

10. An apparatus for determining and retrieving positional information, comprising:

a surface having a matrix formed on at least one surface face thereof, the matrix including a plurality of parallel horizontal and vertical conductive elements, the horizontal and vertical conductive elements overlapping at intersections; and

a plurality of conductive pads, wherein

at least one of the plurality of conductive pads is located at each intersection of the matrix; and

each conductive pad located at each intersection is in contact with one or both of the parallel horizontal and vertical conductive elements overlapping at each respective intersection.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein

each of the plurality of conductive pads includes a purely conductive colloidal suspension coating.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein

each of the plurality of conductive pads is formed in one of a substantially square or a substantially rectangular shape.

13. An apparatus for determining and retrieving positional information, comprising:

a surface formed of conductive material;

a plurality of sensing elements, each of the plurality of sense nodes being attached to the surface and located at a periphery of the surface;

a positive supply voltage element attached to the surface; and

a negative supply voltage element attached to the surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein

the conductive material includes at least one of conductive carbon paper or conductive carbon impregnated material.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein

each of the plurality of sensing elements is a current sensing element.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein

each of the plurality of sensing elements is a voltage sensing element.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a processor, wherein

one of a quantity of voltage or a quantity of current detected at each sensing element is transmitted to the processor;

the processor converts each of the voltage or current detected to a respective digital value; and

the processor processes each of the digital values to determine a change of current within the surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a matrix formed on at least one side of the surface, the matrix including a plurality of parallel horizontal and vertical conductive elements, the horizontal and vertical conductive elements overlapping at intersections.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a plurality of conductive pads, wherein

at least one of the plurality of conductive pads is located at each intersection of the matrix; and

each conductive pad located at each intersection is in contact with one or both of the parallel horizontal and vertical conductive elements overlapping at each respective intersection.