E-field imaging and proximity detection using a spatially and temporally modulated source

• US 20090322328A1
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• 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:
  US12/383,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322328A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/309
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0536 Impedance imaging, e.g. by tomography

Abstract

A method and apparatus is described to image a body using electric fields. The electric field is apply to the body from a well controlled electron beam that deposits charge on a glass plate at a particular time and spatial location. This is demonstrated by using the ubiquitous CRT computer monitor. The method is useful in medical imaging and for nondestructive testing. An advantage of the electric field imaging is it requires no ionizing radiation. The use of the computer display allows for proximity detection of a body. A smart control is drawn on the video screen by a program. The control produces and E-field source that occurs at known time in the video refresh. A proximate E-field sensor is used to detect the changes in the signal produced by the button. Changes in the signal level are associated with a proximate body to the button. Detection logic is used to instigate the action of the control.

Claims

1. A method of using a spatially and temporally modulate array of pixel voltages or equivalently charges call the active source is placed on a surface at a specified location x,y,z so as to provide a point source of E-fields for image where next

i. A body is placed between surface and a E-field sensor;

ii. The active source at the location x,y,z is turned on repeatedly and a signal is collected coherently in the E-fields sensor system;

iii. The E-field digitized signal data is stored in a computer;

iv. The position of the source is moved and the E-field collection of ii is performed again;

v. The E-field digitized signal data is stored in a computer;

vi. The process from ii though iv is repeated so a volume of rays were swept out from the sources positions through the body being scanned to the E-field sensor;

vii. The E-fields sensor position is moved and the process from ii through vi is repeated;

viii. Process vii is repeated over a volume of rays were swept out form the E-field sensor to the each active source location;

ix. An image is created from the attenuation in the body;

2. A apparatus of a smart-control is made by turning on electrical pixel voltages or equivalently charges on a region on a video screen. An E-field sensor is used to detect when a persons moves their finger close to the smart button;