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US 2011/0095651 A1Published application
Device for detecting interaction with an object
AssigneeSonoplot, Inc.
InventorsBradley James Larson, Joerg Werner Baier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and method for the detection of the interaction between two or more objects is disclosed. The device utilizes electrical impedance spectra measured from a piezoelectric element attached to one such object. Comparison of such spectra along a range of traverse allows precise estimates of distance to be made. One useful application is the topographical mapping of a surface.
Claims8
A device for detecting the physical interaction of two or more objects comprising
- a contact object
- a piezoelectric element attached to said contact object, such piezoelectric element having a measurable change in electrical properties at more than one applied alternating current frequency when the contact object interacts with another object or objects
- an operable electrical connection to means for measuring the electrical properties of said piezoelectric element;
- and
- positioning means to move said contact object into contact proximity to a target object or objects.
2 more elements
A device for detecting the fluid level in a hollow vessel comprising
- a hollow substantially round tubular structure adapted to contain a liquid having an inner and an outer wall
- a piezoelectric element attached to the said outer wall of said tubular structure, such piezoelectric element having a measurable change in electrical properties at more than one applied alternating current frequency with a change in fluid level within the vessel, and
- an operable electrical connection to means for measuring the electrical properties of said element.
A method of detecting fluid in a hollow vessel comprising
- providing a hollow substantially round tubular structure adapted to contain a liquid having an inner and an outer wall, said structure having a piezoelectric element attached to said outer wall, and an operable electrical connection to means for measuring the electrical properties of said element
- filling or draining incremental fluid volumes from said tubular structure
- measuring the electrical properties of said piezoelectric element at more than one applied alternating current frequency at each increment, and
- correlating the electrical properties with the fluid volumes so filled or drained.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.