Methods and apparatus for sensing organic tissue
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- (a) transmitting radio signals from a first antenna to a second antenna, at least one of the first and second antennas being a directional antenna; and
(b) processing data regarding received signal strength of the radio signals to determine the position, velocity or number of one or more bodies that are between or that cross between the first and second antennas;
wherein the processing includes;
(i) determining a temporal duration of reduction in the received signal strength of the radio signals from the first antenna to the second antenna; and
(ii) using the temporal duration in order to calculate the velocity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In exemplary implementations of this invention, a radio signal is transmitted between a transmitter and a receiver. Either the transmitter, or receiver, or both, have a directional antenna. When organic tissue passes between (or is stationary between) the transmitter and receiver, the tissue causes a reduction of the received signal strength (RSS) of the signal, as compared to a baseline RSS. The larger the amount of tissue, the greater is the reduction of the RSS. By analyzing the degradation of the signal, information about organic tissue between the transmitter and receiver may be determined. For example, the number of persons passing through a physical threshold may be determined. Or the fact that one person is walking faster than, and catching up with, a second person as they pass between the transmitter and receiver may be determined.
30 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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(a) transmitting radio signals from a first antenna to a second antenna, at least one of the first and second antennas being a directional antenna; and (b) processing data regarding received signal strength of the radio signals to determine the position, velocity or number of one or more bodies that are between or that cross between the first and second antennas; wherein the processing includes; (i) determining a temporal duration of reduction in the received signal strength of the radio signals from the first antenna to the second antenna; and (ii) using the temporal duration in order to calculate the velocity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus comprising, in combination:
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(a) a transmitter antenna for transmitting radio signals, which transmitter antenna is a directional antenna; (b) a receiver antenna for receiving the radio signals; and (c) at least one processor for processing data regarding the received signal strength of the radio signals received by the receiver antenna from the transmitter antenna and determining, based on that data, the number and velocity of the bodies that move past a threshold. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. Apparatus comprising
(a) a first transmitter for transmitting radio signals; -
(b) a first receiver for receiving the radio signals and outputting electrical signals; (c) a signal conditioning module for accepting the electrical signals and for outputting conditioned signals; and (d) at least one processor for (i) processing the conditioned signals to determine reduction in received signal strength of the radio signals relative to a baseline, and (ii) based on the reduction, determining the velocity of one or more bodies that cross between the first and second antennas; wherein the first transmitter includes a first antenna and the first receiver includes a second antenna, and at least one of the first or second antennas is a directional antenna. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification