E-field sensor arrays for interactive gaming, computer interfaces, machine vision, medical imaging, and geological exploration

• US 20090295366A1
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas G. Cehelnik
• Original Assignee: Thomas G. Cehelnik
• Inventors: Cehelnik, Thomas G.
• Application Number:
  US12/383,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20090295366A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/76.11
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/12 Measuring electrostatic fields or voltage-potential
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

A 3D Motional Command System (MCS) is disclosed for interactive gaming, computer interfaces, communications, imaging, and geological exploration. The system can perform standoff gesture recognition and also function as touch-screens. E-field sensors and array topologies are disclosed comprised of FET discrete transistors. The designs facilitate the fabrication of high density sensor arrays similar to LCD displays. The system can be used in portable and wearable electronic devices. Uses are for PC computers, portable devices, and gaming systems such as the Wii. Other applications include wireless connection of sensor and audio data from a simple headphone jack output.

Claims

1. A FET E-fields sensor array using combining element voltages and differences to produce an metric that approximately varies linearly in range obtained by computing the ratio of the power at the elements of an E-field array from an E-field source at a radial distance of R from an estimate of the radial derivative of the E-field power by difference between the elements.

2. An array as in claim 1 where the angular location is obtained by sweeping the measurements over the elements in way of finding the minimum range metric relative to steady state, and then associating the angles with the elements that were used to find the minimum metric.