Animate entity's line-of-bearing location device and method linking species-specific non-uniform-electric field pattern of heart's ECG to dielectrophoresis

• US 6,686,842 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1998
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DKL International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DKL International, Inc.
• Inventors: Afilani, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US09/071,806
• Time in Patent Office: 2,101 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/561, 340/562, 340/563, 340/564, 340/565, 340/566, 340/567, 340/568.1, 324/71.1, 324/72, 324/452, 324/457
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/60 by investigating electrostatic variables , e.g. electrographic flaw testing G01N27/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2491 Intrusion detection systems, i.e. where the body of an intruder causes the interference with the electromagnetic field

Abstract

The dielectrophoretic force caused by the non-uniform electric field squared spatial gradient three-dimensional pattern uniquely exhibited by a predetermined type of entity can be detected by a locator device. A human operator holds the device in hand to thereby electrically and dielectrically connect the device to the human operator. The human operator'"'"'s naturally occurring very low electrical decay time constant is increased through electronic circuitry externally connected to the device. The device is held in a balanced nearly horizontal state, and the operator scans the device in a constant speed uniform linear motion back and forth. An antenna extends from the front of the device, and both are acted on by the dielectrophoretic force. This force results in a subsequent resulting torque, acceleration, vibration or any other measurable quantifiable manifestation of the force about the handle'"'"'s pivot line hence driving the device and its antenna toward the direction and position of any entities of the predetermined type that are within range.

Claims

1. A locating device comprising a polarization unit that detects a polarization charge pattern by a manifested dielectrophoresis force in accordance with a spatially non-uniform electric field exhibited by a target entity.

2. A locating device according to claim 1, further comprising a pattern decay circuit operatively coupled with said polarization unit, said pattern decay circuit increasing a decay time constant of the polarization charge pattern.

3. A locating device according to claim 2, wherein said pattern decay circuit comprises a resistor and a capacitor coupled in parallel with said polarization unit, said resistor and capacitor modifying and optimizing said decay time constant.

4. A locating device according to claim 3, wherein said resistor has a resistance of up to 5000 MΩ

, and wherein said capacitor has a capacitance of up to 56 mF.

5. A locating device according to claim 2, wherein said pattern decay circuit comprises a resistor and an inductor coupled in parallel with said polarization unit, said resistor and inductor modifying and optimizing said decay time constant.

6. A locating device according to claim 5, wherein said resistor has a resistance of up to 5000 MΩ

, and wherein said inductor has an inductance of up to 200 mH.

7. A locating device according to claim 1, wherein said polarization unit comprises a housing formed of a first dielectric material and defining a cavity therein.

8. A locating device according to claim 7, wherein said first dielectric material is polyvinylchloride (PVC).

9. A locating device according to claim 7, wherein said first dielectric material is polyurethane (PUT).

10. A locating device according to claim 7, further comprising a second dielectric material disposed in said cavity.

11. A locating device according to claim 10, wherein said second dielectric material is air.

12. A method for locating a target entity with a locating device, the method comprising detecting a polarization charge pattern by a manifested dielectrophoresis force in accordance with a spatially non-uniform electric field exhibited by the target entity.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising increasing a decay time constant of the polarization charge pattern.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said increasing step comprises modifying and optimizing the decay time constant.

15. A method according to claim 12, further comprising attaching an antenna to a polarization unit, and tuning the locating device by pointing the antenna toward a reference entity and adjusting an axial ratio of the locating device by changing at least one of a length of the antenna and an exact relative position of the antenna compared to a position of other device components to obtain an optimum result based on a positional range from the locating device to the polarization unit.

16. A method of diagnosing a physiological condition of a human having a heart and conductive nerves, comprising the steps of:

detecting a polarization charge pattern by a manifested dielectrophoresis force to detect a change in local dielectrokinesis effects caused by an abnormal operation of the human'"'"'s heart and conductive nerves.