Sensor inductors, sensors for monitoring movements and positioning, apparatus, systems and methods therefore

• US 20090309579A1
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medility, LLC
• Original Assignee: Medility, LLC
• Inventors: Cochran, William T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,956,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/003 for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination coordinate measuring G01B7/004
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 5/003 Printed circuit coils

Abstract

A generally planar shaped inductor is disclosed that is particularly adaptable for use in motion or position sensors. One inductor can function as a signal input unit and another as a pick up unit in an arrangement wherein both inductors are placed in a generally parallel juxtaposition for flux flow there between. A movable armature is located between the inductors to control the amount of flux transmission between inductors. The position of the armature relative to the inductors controls the output signal generated by the pickup inductor that are adapted to be converted into indications of displacements.

Claims

1. A detector comprising:

an inductive arrangement including a pair of generally planar shaped conductors positioned in substantially parallel juxtaposition with a spacing in between and an armature extending between the conductors movable relative to the conductors, and

a monitor circuit for providing excitation signals to one of the conductors and receiving output signals from the other conductor that are a function of the position of the armature relative to the conductors.

2. A detector as defined in claim 1 wherein a readily detachable connection is provided between the inductive arrangement and monitor circuit.

3. A detector as defined in claim 1 wherein the monitor circuit applies a pulse type signal to a conductor as an excitation signal and monitors the response of the other conductor to magnetic flux received from the excitation conductor.

4. A detector as defined in claim 3 wherein the armature functions as a magnetic shield to control the amount of magnetic flux transmitted between the conductors so that the signal from the pick up conductor is a function of the position of the armature relative to the conductors.

5. A detector as defined in claim 4 wherein the signal from the pick up conductor in response to a pulse type signal is in the form of a decaying amplitude that is a function of the position of the armature relative to the conductors.

6. A detector as defined in claim 1 wherein the excitation signals applied to one conductor is continuous and the position of the armature relative to the conductors is determined by sampling the instantaneous amplitude of the signals from the other conductor.

7. A sensor for monitoring movements of a unit comprising:

a generally planar dual coil arrangement, and including a spacing between the coils;

an armature functioning as a flux shield positioned in the spacing between the coils for movement relative to the coil arrangement, and

a monitor circuit for providing excitation signals to one of the coils, and receiving output signals from the other coil that functions as a pick up coil having magnitudes that are a function of the positioning between the coils and armature.

8. A sensor as defined in claim 7 wherein the coil arrangement and the armature are adapted to be secured to the unit for monitoring the movement of the unit between the coil arrangement and armature.

9. A sensor as defined in claim 7 wherein the magnetic flux lines extend between the coils and generally normal to the planes of the coils.

10. A sensor as defined in claim 7 wherein the coils being wound along substantially parallel separated planes about a common axis generally perpendicular to the planes of the coils.

11. A sensor as defined in claim 9 wherein the armature includes a magnetic shield portion for controlling the amount of flux transmission between the coils as a function of the positioning of the coils and armature and an extended portion, wherein the coils and the extended portion are adapted to be attached to the unit.

12. A sensor as defined in claim 11 wherein a greater amount of flux transmitted between the coils when the armature is withdrawn from the spacing between the coils, and lesser amount of flux is transmitted between the coils as the armature is inserted further into the spacing.

13. A sensor as defined in claim 12 wherein the monitor circuit analyzes the response and magnitude characteristics of the output signals to provide an indication of the movements of the unit.

14. A sensor as defined in claim 13 wherein the monitor circuit analyzes the magnitude of the output signal after a selected time period after the application of an excitation signal.

15. A sensor as define in claim 14 wherein the monitor circuit analyzes the time period after the application of an excitation signal at which the magnitude of the output signal reaches a selected level.

16. A sensor as defined in claim 7 wherein the monitor circuit is physically attached to the coil arrangement and makes electrical connections thereto.

17. A sensor as defined in claim 16 wherein the physical attachment and electrical connections between the coil arrangement and monitor circuit are readily detachable.

18. A sensor for providing indications of movement of comprising:

a magnetic shield formed with a generally planar slot therein adapted to be attached to the unit whose movements are to monitored;

at least two generally planar coils wound about an axis in the form of bifilar windings adapted to be positioned in the slot for movement within the slot, the coils being adapted to be attached to the unit for monitoring the movements of the unit between the attachments of the shield and coils, and

a monitor circuit for providing signal pulses to one of the coils and receiving signals from another coil to determine the movement between the magnetic shield and the coils.

19. A monitor circuit for use with a movement detection sensor including two substantially planar coils and a substantially planar magnetic shield movably positioned between the coils comprising:

a pulse circuit for applying excitation pulses to one of the planar coils, and an analyzer circuit for receiving output pulses from the other planar coil that provides indication of the relative positioning between the coils and the shield.

20. A monitor circuit as defined in claim 19 wherein the monitor circuit is readily electrically and mechanically connectable to and detachable from the sensor.

21. A monitor circuit as defined in claim 20 wherein the analyzer circuit uses the amplitude of the output pulses at a predetermined time after the application of the excitation pulse to provide an indication of relative positioning between the coils and the shield.

22. A monitor circuit as defined in claim 20 wherein the analyzer circuit measures the time interval from the application of an excitation pulse to when the amplitude of the output pulse reaches a predetermined level to provide an indication of relative positioning between the coils and the shield.

23. A sensor system for monitoring bodily functions comprising at least one sensor having attachment unit to be attached to external body skin at two separate locations for providing indications of skin deformation between the two locations, wherein the sensor comprises two generally planar coils juxtapositioned with a spacing in between wherein one of the coils functions as an excitation coil and the other as the output coil, and one of the coils is adapted to be connected to the skin, a metallic shield positioned within the coil spacing being adapted to be attached to the skin, wherein the shield and the coils are movable with respect to each other to follow deformations of the skin between the attachments of the coil and shield to provide indications of movement in the form of changes of the amount of magnetic flux transmitted between the coils.

24. A sensor system as defined in claim 23 wherein the coil and shield are adapted to be attached to the skin locations external of the chest and wherein the indications provided by the sensor are a function of expansions and contractions of the chest.

25. A sensor system as defined in claim 23 wherein the sensor is adapted to be attached to the skin locations external of the abdomen and wherein the indications provided by the sensor are a function of expansions and contractions of the abdomen.

26. A sensor for receiving electrical excitation pulses from a monitor circuit for monitoring movements of objects, the sensor comprising two coils mounted with a spacing in between and a magnetic shield positioned in the spacing between the coils, the coils and shield being adapted to be attached to the object to be monitored, one of the coils is adapted to receive excitation pulses from the monitor circuit and the other to provide output signals to the monitor circuit that are a function of the relative positioning between the coils and shield.

27. A sensor arrangement for detecting movements of a surface comprising:

first and second generally planar coils positioned in a substantially fixed parallel relation with a spacing in between;

a monitor circuit wherein for applying excitation signals to one of the coils wherein magnetic flux is transmitted between the coils that is substantially normal to the planes of the coils, the coils being adapted to be secured to the surface, and

a generally planar magnetic shield adapted to be positioned in the spacing for movement relative to the coils for controlling the amount of magnetic flux transmitted between the coils by blocking magnetic flux flow from the portions of the coils into which the shield extends, the shield being adapted to be secured to the surface,

wherein the relative displacements between the coils and shield provide signal indications from one of the coils of movements of the surface in the form of variable amplitude signals to the monitor circuit.

28. A sensor for detecting movement of a surface comprising:

an inductive apparatus responsive to excitation signals for generating magnetic flux extending generally normal to the surface to be monitored;

a shield adapted for connection to the surface for positioning within the magnetic flux for blocking portions of the magnetic flux, and

a monitor circuit for providing excitation signals and receiving output signals connected to the inductive apparatus, and for receiving the unblocked magnetic flux to provide signals to the monitor circuit the amplitude of which are a function of the amount of magnetic flux received.

29. A sensor for detecting movement of a surface comprising at least two inductors adapted to be attached to the surface so that the inductors are movable generally parallel with respect to each other as the surface moves between attachments, a monitor circuit for providing excitation signals to one of the inductors to transmit magnetic flux extending generally normal to the surface, the other inductor receiving the magnetic flux the amount of which is a function of the positioning between the inductors as an output signal and applies the output signal to the monitor circuit for providing an indication of movement.

30. A method of providing indications of movements of a unit comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor inductor arrangement including at least two generally planar coils separated from each other with a close spacing in between;

attaching the sensor arrangement to the unit;

positioning an armature within the spacing for movement therein;

attaching the armature to another location of the unit, wherein the armature moves within the spacing in response to the movement of the unit between the attachments of the sensor inductive arrangement and the armature;

applying excitation signals to one of the coils, and

receiving output signals from the other coil for analysis to provide indications of movement.

31. A method as defined in claim 30 wherein the sensor inductive arrangement providing step includes generally planar shaped coils formed with inductors having a plurality of turns about an axis.

32. A method as defined in claim 31 including the step of providing a monitor circuit for connection to the sensor inductive arrangement for providing excitation signals to a coil and receiving output signals from the other coil.

33. A method as defined in claim 32 wherein the monitor circuit step analyzes the output signal to provide indications of movements of the unit between the attachments of the sensor inductive arrangement and the armature.

34. A method as defined in claim 33 wherein the attaching the armature step functions as a shield for controlling the amount of magnetic flux transmitted from the excitation coil and the output coil as a function of the position of the armature relative to the coils.

35. A method as defined in claim 34 wherein the amount of flux transmitted by the excitation step to the output coil is an inverse function of the extent to which the armature is inserted between the coils.

36. A method for detecting movements of a surface comprising the steps of:

creating a pulsed magnetic field extending generally normal to the surface;

blocking portions of the magnetic field as a function of the movement of the surface, and

detecting the magnitude of the magnet flux.

37. A method for detecting movements of a surface comprising the steps of providing at least two generally planar shaped coils adapted for connection to separate parts of the surface, one of the coils being adapted to receive excitation pulses to provide magnetic flux pulses extending generally normal to the surface, the other coil is adapted to receive portions of the magnetic flux as a function of the relative positioning between the coils.