SIGNAL STABILIZATION IN A NON-RESISTIVE CONTACT SENSOR ASSEMBLY

• US 20140062504A1
• Filed: 03/18/2013
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rescon Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Rescon Ltd.
• Inventors: DAWSON, Thomas Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/846,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20140062504A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/658
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0214 Capacitive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/274 using snap or button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6894 Wheel chairs
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2605 Measuring capacitance capacitive sensors G01D5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/12 Measuring electrostatic fields or voltage-potential

Abstract

A non-resistive contact sensor assembly includes an electric field sensor device, including a dry electrode component for receiving an electrical signal from an object of interest and a signal processing component for processing the electrical signal, and a casing in which the signal processing component is surrounded or embedded. The processing component may include communications capabilities.

Claims

1. A non-resistive contact sensor assembly, comprising:

(a) an electric field sensor device, including a dry electrode component for receiving an electrical signal from an object of interest by capacitively coupling with the entity;

(b) a housing in which the signal processing component is surrounded or embedded; and

(c) an anode and a cathode, distinct from the dry electrode component, that together provide a stable surface field, thereby allowing more focused acquisition of the electrical signal from the object of interest.

2. The non-resistive contact sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the distinct anode and cathode are disposed in the housing with the dry electrode component.

3. The non-resistive contact sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the distinct anode is exterior to the housing.

4. The non-resistive contact sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the distinct cathode is exterior to the housing.

5. The non-resistive contact sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the stable surface field is subtracted computationally during post-acquisition processing of the electrical signal from the object of interest.

6. The non-resistive contact sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly is in the form of a sensor head.

7. The non-resistive contact sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the stable surface field is provided based upon a preliminary expectation of one or more conditions when the sensor assembly is being used.

8. The non-resistive contact sensor assembly of claim 7, wherein the stable surface field is provided by altering signal waveform.

9. The non-resistive contact sensor assembly of claim 7, wherein the stable surface field is provided by altering signal frequency.

10. The non-resistive contact sensor assembly of claim 7, wherein the stable surface field is provided by altering signal amplitude.

11. The non-resistive contact sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the stable surface field is provided based upon detection of one or more conditions during use of the sensor assembly.

12. The non-resistive contact sensor assembly of claim 11, wherein the stable surface field is provided based on detection of a differing signal during use of the sensor assembly.

13. The non-resistive contact sensor assembly of claim 11, wherein the stable surface field is provided based on detection of noise during use of the sensor assembly.

14. The non-resistive contact sensor assembly of claim 11, wherein the stable surface field is provided based on detection of movement data during use of the sensor assembly.