Abstract:
A blood pressure sensor (12) includes a source of photo-radiation, such as an array (30) of laser diodes (30A-I). The sensor also includes a two-dimensional, flexible reflective surface (14). The reflective surface is nominally positioned relative to the radiation source such that the radiation travels in a direction normal to the reflective surface. The reflective surface is placed adjacent to the location on the patient where the blood pressure data is to be acquired. Radiation from the source is reflected off of the reflective surface onto a two-dimensional array (17) of photo-detectors (18). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure fluctuations in the patient are translated into deflections of the patient's skin. These deflections cause corresponding deflections in the two dimensional reflective surface. The associated movement of said flexible reflective surface (14) due to blood pulsation causes scattering patterns from said reflective surface to be detected by the two dimensional array (17) of photo-detectors (18). The output from the array of photo-detectors is calibrated to blood pressure in mmHg during a calibration procedure to obtain a set of calibration relationships for one or more of the individual detectors. The calibration relationships are then used during acquisition of blood pressure data to arrive at blood pressure data.
Abstract:
A radio frequency identification tag (14) utilizes an antenna (22) formed in association with, and thus integral to, an article, package, package container, label and/or identification badge (10). In a preferred embodiment, a radio frequency identification tag circuit chip assembly (12) is secured to the article (10) and is electrically coupled to the antenna (22) formed on the article (10). Printing a conductive pattern on the article using conductive ink forms a preferred antenna.
Abstract:
A measurement device (103) and method determines various metrics between a vehicle (101) and a ground surface (105) using a transmitter-antenna (109) for emitting energy including a portion directed down toward the ground surface. A receiving antenna (115) has a portion oriented facing toward the transmitter-antenna for receiving a portion of the emitting energy along a direct path (117), and a portion oriented facing downwardly toward the ground surface for receiving a portion of the emitting energy reflected from the ground surface along a reflected path (113). A decoder provides separate indications of forward (121) and sideward (123) velocity relative to motion of the vehicle along the ground surface. Furthermore, the decoder comprises means for determining vehicle height (125) dependent on a measured difference in path length, vehicle level (127), or front to rear tilt angle, dependent on polarization elliptical ratio changes, and road surface conditions (129) dependent on amplitude and phase changes that occur versus time.
Abstract:
A blood pressure sensor (12) includes a source of photo-radiation, such as an array (30) of laser diodes (30A-I). The sensor also includes a two-dimensional, flexible reflective surface (14). The reflective surface is nominally positioned relative to the radiation source such that the radiation travels in a direction normal to the reflective surface. The reflective surface is placed adjacent to the location on the patient where the blood pressure data is to be acquired. Radiation from the source is reflected off of the reflective surface onto a two-dimensional array (17) of photo-detectors (18). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure fluctuations in the patient are translated into deflections of the patient's skin. These deflections cause corresponding deflections in the two dimensional reflective surface. The associated movement of said flexible reflective surface (14) due to blood pulsation causes scattering patterns from said reflective surface to be detected by the two dimensional array (17) of photo-detectors (18). The output from the array of photo-detectors is calibrated to blood pressure in mmHg during a calibration procedure to obtain a set of calibration relationships for one or more of the individual detectors. The calibration relationships are then used during acquisition of blood pressure data to arrive at blood pressure data.
Abstract:
A wireless, programmable system (10) for bio-potential signal acquisition (e.g., electrocardiogram (ECG) data) includes a base unit (18) and a plurality of individual wireless, remotely programmable transceivers (20) that connect to patch electrodes (22). The base unit (18) manages the transceivers (20) by issuing registration, configuration, data acquisition, and transmission commands using wireless techniques. Bio-potential signals from the wireless transceivers (20) are demultiplexed and supplied via a standard interface to a conventional monitor (14) for display.
Abstract:
An optical sensor (12) generates blood pressure data by obtaining two dimensional images of the surface of the patient's body, such as in the vicinity of the radial artery in the wrist area. Blood flow in the patient causes light to be reflected off a flexible reflective surface (14) applied against the patient with a hold down pressure, and the scattering of light is sensed with a two-dimensional array (17) of photo-detectors (18). The output of the photo-detectors during systolic and diastolic events is calibrated against known blood pressure measurements taken with a conventional air-cuff sphygmomanometer. Linear calibration relationships between output signal and blood pressure (FIG. 25) are obtained during calibration for some set of the photo-detectors. When blood pressure data is obtained from the patient, the linear calibration relationship between output signals and blood pressure is applied to the output signals from the set of photo-detectors, resulting in blood pressure data. The method provides for compensation for changes in hold down pressure and translation or rotation of the optical sensor relative to the patient. A preferred optical sensor arrangement for use in performing the method is also described.
Abstract:
An RF tag (10) includes an RF receiver (16) and an RF transmitter (18). A power source (12) provides power to the receiver and transmitter. The power source includes a plurality of energy converters (22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32). Each energy converter is responsive to a predetermined form of incident energy for converting its respective predetermined form of incident energy to electrical current. At least two of the energy converters are responsive to respective different predetermined forms of incident energy for providing electrical current. A storage capacitor (54) stores the electrical current provided by the energy converters and is coupled to the RF receiver and RF transmitter. A plurality of RF tags (10, 110, 140, 160) utilizing the power source 12 are also described.
Abstract:
A tagging system (20) compensates for both resonant frequency spatial dependent shifts and resonant frequency dependent shifts for detecting data resonant circuits (DC1-DC6) on an RF tag (10) which is carried by a tagged object (34). The system includes at least one transmitter (26) and at least one receiver (28) for determining the actual resonant frequencies of reference resonant circuits (SC1-SC5, FC1-FC4) on the tag (10). A microprocessor controller (22), in response to the frequency difference between the undisturbed resonant frequencies of the reference resonant circuits and the actual resonant frequencies of the reference resonant circuits, provides compensating factors to compensate for the spatial and frequency effects of the resonant frequencies of the resonant circuits on the tag (10). The transmitter and receiver determine the actual resonant frequency of each data resonant circuit (DC1-DC6) on the tag (10). The microprocessor controller (22) then determines the undisturbed resonant frequencies of the data resonant circuits on tag (10) from the actual resonant frequencies of the data resonant circuits and the compensation factors.
Abstract:
Système de guidage (101) déterminant la direction et indiquant au moyen d'un indicateur (104, 106, 108) de transition discret lorsque l'axe du système de guidage est aligné dans cette direction. Pour ce faire, on incorpore un récepteur de radionavigation, dans ce cas un récepteur GPS (système de positionnement global) (203) et une boussole d'induction (205) dans une unité portable dotée d'une interface utilisateur comprenant un clavier (110), un affichage (119) de la direction et un affichage (115) configurable.