公开(公告)号：WO1997041458A1

公开(公告)日：1997-11-06

申请号：PCT/US1997007017

申请日：1997-04-25

Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Inventor： MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ,  GERSHENFELD, Neil ,  SMITH, Joshua, R.

IPC: G01V03/08

CPC classification number: H03K17/955 ,  B60N2/002 ,  B60N2/28 ,  B60N2/286 ,  B60N2/2863 ,  B60R21/01532 ,  B60R21/01556 ,  G01B7/003 ,  G01B7/004 ,  G01D5/24 ,  G01D5/2405 ,  G01V3/088 ,  G06F3/044 ,  H03K2217/960775

Abstract: A quasi-electrostatic sensing system surrounds an electrically conductive mass with an electric field, the magnitude of which is sensed at one or more locations to resolve a property of interest concerning the mass. The object intercepts a part of the electric field extending bewteen the AC-coupled "sending" electrode and the other "receiving" electrodes, the amount of the field intercepted depending on the size and orientation of the sensed mass, whether or not the mass provides a grounding path, and the geometry of the distributed electrodes. Because the response of the field to an object is a complex nonlinear function, adding electrodes can always distinguish among more cases. In other words, each electrode represents an independent weighting of the mass within the field; adding an electrode provides information regarding that mass that is not redundant to the information provided by the other electrodes. A "forward model" that relates the behavior of the system to variations in the property to be measured is established, and "inversion" of this model facilitates recovery of the property based on system behavior. The invention is amenable to a wide variety of usages including the detection of user positions and gestures as a means of conveying two- and/or three-dimensional information to, for example, computers, appliances, televisions, furniture, etc.; provision of data input or instructional commands to a device; or sensing of proximity to a reference object for security purposes, to warn of danger, or to conserve energy by witholding power until a potential user approaches the object.

Abstract translation: 准静电感测系统围绕具有电场的导电块，其大小在一个或多个位置处被感测以解决关于质量的感兴趣的属性。 物体截取电弧的一部分，该电场在交流耦合的“发送”电极和另一个“接收”电极之间延伸，取决于感测质量块的大小和取向所截取的磁场的量，质量是否提供 接地路径和分布电极的几何形状。 因为场对物体的响应是一个复杂的非线性函数，所以添加电极总是可以区分更多的情况。 换句话说，每个电极代表场内质量的独立权重; 添加电极提供关于该质量的信息，该信息对于由其它电极提供的信息不是冗余的。 建立了将系统的行为与要测量的属性变化相关联的“前向模型”，该模型的“反转”有助于基于系统行为的属性恢复。 本发明适用于各种用途，包括检测用户位置和手势，作为将二维和/或三维信息传送到例如计算机，电器，电视机，家具等的手段; 向设备提供数据输入或指令命令; 或为了安全目的感测到参考物体的接近度，警告危险，或通过维持电力来节省能量，直到潜在用户接近物体。

公开(公告)号：WO1997031238A1

公开(公告)日：1997-08-28

申请号：PCT/US1997002383

申请日：1997-02-18

Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Inventor： MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ,  GERSHENFELD, Neil ,  SMITH, Joshua, R.

IPC: G01B07/00

CPC classification number: B60R21/01532 ,  B60N2/002 ,  B60N2/28 ,  B60N2/286 ,  B60N2/2863 ,  B60R21/01556 ,  G01B7/003 ,  G01B7/004 ,  G06F3/011 ,  G06F3/017 ,  G08B13/26 ,  H03K17/955 ,  H03K2217/94052 ,  H03K2217/960775

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for resolving presence, orientation and activity of a person within a defined space utilizes at least one electrode proximate to the space to be observed. An AC signal is applied to the electrode, and the current measured from that electrode and also to any other electrodes included in the system, and which are effectively connected to the ground return of the AC-coupled electrode. A person (or object) to be sensed intercepts a part of the electric field extending between the AC-coupled "sending" electrode and the other "receiving" electrodes, the amount of the field intercepted depending on the size and orientation of the sensed person, whether or not the person provides a grounding path, and the geometry of the distributed electrodes. Given the nonlinear spatial dependence of the field, multiple electrodes can reliably distinguish among a set of expected cases. The invention can be configured to detect not only static positions and orientations, but also motion through a defined space. This is accomplished by taking sequential measurements at different times and utilizing the time variation in signal magnitudes as well as the absolute magnitudes themselves.

Abstract translation: 用于解决在限定空间内的人的存在，取向和活动的装置和方法利用靠近待观察空间的至少一个电极。 对电极施加AC信号，从该电极测量的电流以及系统中包含的任何其它电极，并且有效地连接到AC耦合电极的接地回路。 要被感测的人（或物体）拦截在AC耦合的“发送”电极和另一个“接收”电极之间延伸的一部分电场，根据所感测的人的大小和方向截取的场的量 无论人是否提供接地路径，以及分布电极的几何形状。 给定场的非线性空间依赖性，多个电极可以可靠地区分一组预期情况。 本发明可以被配置为不仅检测静态位置和取向，而且检测通过限定空间的运动。 这是通过在不同时间进行连续测量并利用信号幅度的时间变化以及绝对幅度本身来实现的。