Electric Field Sensing Device

Abstract

A sensing system is disclosed that uses at least one conductive plate and associated electronic circuitry to provide an output that is indicative of an object's position in relation to the at least one conductive plate. The sensing system is provided with a high impedance drive signal that varies as a result of the location of an object relative to the at least one conductive plate. The electronic circuitry receives a high impedance drive signal value as an input and a processor uses the value to calculate a digital output indicative of the object's position. The high impedance drive signal value is monitored over time enabling the objects position, displacement, pressure, movement, impact and energy to be determined. This data is output to a display and may also be transmitted to a person located remotely from the object being monitored.

1 - 70 . (canceled)  
     
     
         71 . An electric field sensing system used to detect movement, position and pressure of an object comprising: 
 at least one conductive plate,    a reference input signal,    a high impedance drive signal input generated from said reference input signal and connected to said at least one conductive plate producing an electric field around said at least one conductive plate,    a processing circuit that synchronously detects and receives as an input said reference input signal and said high impedance drive signal and applies at least one algorithm to measure any variations in said signals, and generates a digital signal output, and    wherein a position of said object in said electric field determines a value of said high impedance drive signal and said processing circuit provides said digital signal output indicative of said object's position or movement in relation to said at least one conductive plate.    
     
     
         72 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 71  wherein said high impedance drive signal is also a sense signal.  
     
     
         73 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 71  wherein said processing circuit uses said values in said high impedance drive signal input to calculate at least one of displacement, position and pressure caused by said object.  
     
     
         74 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 71  wherein said processing circuit uses said values in said high impedance drive signal input over time to calculate at least one of a movement, impact or energy caused by said object.  
     
     
         75 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 71  wherein said digital signal output is input to a display system incorporating an audible alarm.  
     
     
         76 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 75  wherein said digital signal output is input to a display system.  
     
     
         77 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 75  wherein said digital signal output is input to an audible alarm system.  
     
     
         78 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 71  wherein said digital signal output is transmitted from said electric field sensing system via at least one of a radio, mobile communications network or the internet to a person located remotely from a user of said electric field sensing system enabling said remotely located person to receive on an electronic device said digital data in real-time.  
     
     
         79 . The electric filed sensing system according to  claim 78  wherein said electronic device includes at least one of a radio, mobile telephone, personal digital assistance, internet connected device and computer.  
     
     
         80 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 71  wherein said at least one conductive plate is constructed from a solid material.  
     
     
         81 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 80  wherein said solid material is a copper plate.  
     
     
         82 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 80  wherein said solid material is a carbon impregnated polyethylene pad.  
     
     
         83 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 71  wherein said at least one conductive plate is coated with a conductive ink such as silver.  
     
     
         84 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 71  wherein said at least one conductive plate is coated with a conductive ink such as carbon.  
     
     
         85 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 71  wherein said at least one conductive plate is constructed from at least one of a flexible and stretchable material.  
     
     
         86 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 85  wherein said flexible material is a conductive membrane.  
     
     
         87 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 85  wherein said flexible material is a plurality of conductive fibres.  
     
     
         88 . The electric field sensing system according to  claim 85  wherein said flexible material is adhered to or sewn to a garment or other section of flexible type of material which, in use, does not inhibit the ability of a user to perform a task.  
     
     
         89 . A multilayered electric field sensing system used to detect at least one of movement, position and pressure of an object comprising: 
 a plurality of electrically coupled conductive plates forming a layered construction,    a plurality of compressible insulating members interleaved with said conductive plates,    a reference input signal,    a high impedance drive signal input generated from said reference input signal and connected to at least one of said conductive plates producing an electric field between said layered construction,    a processing circuit that synchronously detects and receives as an input said reference input signal and said high impedance drive signal and applies at least one algorithm to measure any variations in said signals, and generates a digital signal output, and    wherein a position of said object in said electric field determines a value of said high impedance drive signal and said processing circuit provides said digital signal output indicative of a position of said object or movement in relation to said plurality of electrically coupled conductive plates.    
     
     
         90 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 89  wherein said high impedance drive signal is a sense signal.  
     
     
         91 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 89  wherein said conductive plate layered construction is formed by at least an upper conductive plate, a lower conducive plate and a third conductive plate therebetween.  
     
     
         92 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 91  wherein said upper and lower conductive plates are electrically connected to ground and said third conductive plate is connected to said high impedance drive signal.  
     
     
         93 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 89  wherein said conductive plate layered construction is formed by a plurality of conductive plates, said plurality of conductive plates being an odd number and there are n odd numbered conductive plates and m even numbered conductive plates.  
     
     
         94 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 93  wherein each of said n odd numbered conductive plates are electrically connected to ground and each of said m even numbered conductive plates are connected to said high impedance drive signal.  
     
     
         95 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 89  wherein said plurality of compressible insulating members are constructed from a compressible medium such as high density foam.  
     
     
         96 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 95  wherein said plurality of compressible insulating members are constructed from a compressible medium such as an elastomer foam material.  
     
     
         97 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 89  wherein said processing circuit uses said changes in said high impedance drive signal inputs to calculate at least one of a displacement, position, pressure impact and energy caused by said object.  
     
     
         98 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 89  wherein said digital signal output is input to a display system incorporating an audible alarm.  
     
     
         99 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 98  wherein said digital signal output is input to a display system.  
     
     
         100 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 98  wherein said digital signal output is input to an audible alarm system.  
     
     
         101 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 89  wherein said digital signal output is transmitted from said electric field sensing system via at least one of a radio, mobile communications network and the internet to a person located remotely from a user of said electric field sensing system enabling said remotely located person to receive on an electronic device said digital data in real-time.  
     
     
         102 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 101  wherein said electronic device includes at least one of a radio, mobile telephone, personal digital assistance, internet connected device and computer.  
     
     
         103 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 89  wherein said at least one conductive plate is constructed from a solid material.  
     
     
         104 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 103  wherein said solid material is a copper plate.  
     
     
         105 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 103  wherein said solid material is a carbon impregnated polyethylene pad.  
     
     
         106 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 89  wherein said at least one conductive plate is coated with a conductive ink such as silver.  
     
     
         107 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 89  wherein said at least one conductive plate is coated with a conductive ink such as carbon.  
     
     
         108 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 89  wherein said at least one conductive plate is constructed from at least one of a flexible and stretchable material.  
     
     
         109 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 108  wherein said flexible material is a conductive membrane.  
     
     
         110 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 108  wherein said flexible material is a plurality of conductive fibres.  
     
     
         111 . The multilayered electric field sensing system according to  claim 108  wherein said flexible material is adhered to or sewn to a garment or other section of flexible type of material which, in use, does not inhibit the ability of a user to perform a task.  
     
     
         112 . A double layer electric field sensing system used to detect movement, position and pressure of an object comprising: 
 an electronic circuit used to generate a multiplexed high impedance signal and a multiplexed low impedance inverted drive signal,    a first conductive plate energised by said multiplexed high impedance drive signal,    a second conductive plate energised by said multiplexed low impedance inverted drive signal,    a compressible insulating layer located between said first and second conductive plates,    a processing circuit that obtains as an input said multiplexed high impedance drive signal, calculates variations in said multiplexed high impedance drive signal and generates a digital signal output, and    wherein said first conductive plate is electrically orthogonal to said second conductive plate generating a matrix of electrically coupled cells whereby a position of said object determines a number of coupling interactions between said electrically coupled cells and said processing circuit measures said positions and provides said digital signal output indicative of said object position.    
     
     
         113 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 112  wherein said high impedance drive signal is also a sense signal.  
     
     
         114 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 112  wherein said compressible insulation layer is a compressible medium such as high density foam.  
     
     
         115 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 112  wherein said compressible insulation layer is a compressible medium such as an elastomer foam material.  
     
     
         116 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 112  wherein said processing circuit uses said changes in said multiplexed high impedance drive signal inputs to calculate at least one of displacement, position, pressure, movement, impact or energy caused by said conductive body.  
     
     
         117 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 112  wherein said digital signal output is input to a display system incorporating an audible alarm.  
     
     
         118 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 112  wherein said digital signal output is input to a display system.  
     
     
         119 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 112  wherein said digital signal output is input to an audible alarm system.  
     
     
         120 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 112  wherein said digital signal output is transmitted from said electric field sensing system via at least one of a radio, mobile communications network and the internet to a person located remotely from a user of said electric field sensing system enabling said remotely located person to receive on an electronic device said digital data in real-time.  
     
     
         121 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 120  wherein said electronic device includes at least one of a radio, mobile telephone, personal digital assistance, internet connected device and computer.  
     
     
         122 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 112  wherein said at least one conductive plate is constructed from a solid material.  
     
     
         123 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 122  wherein said solid material is a copper plate.  
     
     
         124 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 122  wherein said solid material is a carbon impregnated polyethylene pad.  
     
     
         125 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 112  wherein said at least one conductive plate is coated with a conductive ink such as silver.  
     
     
         126 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 112  wherein said at least one conductive plate is coated with a conductive ink such as carbon.  
     
     
         127 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 112  wherein said at least one conductive plate is constructed from at least one of a flexible or stretchable material.  
     
     
         128 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 127  wherein said flexible material is a conductive membrane.  
     
     
         129 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 127  wherein said flexible material is a plurality of conductive fibres.  
     
     
         130 . The double layer electric field sensing system according to  claim 127  wherein said flexible material is adhered to or sewn to a garment or other section of flexible type of material which, in use, does not inhibit the ability of a user to perform a task.  
     
     
         131 . The method of monitoring the performance of a user incorporating any one of the conductive plate arrangements and associated sensing system circuit according to claims  71 ,  89  or  112  comprising the steps of: 
 placing said conductive plate arrangement and said associated sensing system in close proximity to said user,    measuring changes in electrical characteristics between said conductive plates using said associated sensing system when said user moves in relation to said conductive plates,    applying a plurality of algorithms to said measured changes to calculate at least one of movement parameters of displacement, force, shear force and pressure,    converting said movement parameters into a digital signal output, and outputting said movement parameters to said user.    
     
     
         132 . The method of monitoring performance according to  claim 131  wherein said step of measuring said changes in electrical characteristics includes measuring fluctuations in a high impedance drive signal applied to said conductive plate arrangement as a result of said user's movement in relation to said conductive plate arrangement.  
     
     
         133 . The method of monitoring performance according to  claim 131  wherein said step of outputting said movement parameters includes inputting said digital signal output from said sensing system to a display system incorporating an audible alarm.  
     
     
         134 . The method of monitoring performance according to  claim 133  wherein said step of outputting said movement parameters includes inputting said digital signal output from said sensing system to a display system.  
     
     
         135 . The method of monitoring performance according to  claim 133  wherein said step of outputting said movement parameters includes inputting said digital signal output from said sensing system to an audible alarm.  
     
     
         136 . The method of monitoring performance according to  claim 133  wherein said step of outputting said movement parameters includes transmitting said digital signal output from said sensing system to a remote electronic device.