Method and apparatus for constructing images from measurements of impedance
OwnerJack Scott Emeryinventor
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for obtaining an image of the impedance properties of an object by inferring a measure of straight-line path impedance along a plurality of paths from a plurality of current amplitude and phase measurements made between combinations of electrodes placed at selected points, and/or from measurements of the intensity of the electromagnetic signal emitted when an alternating current is made to resonate along the straight line path.
Claims9
An apparatus for estimating the impedance properties along a shortest-distance path between two points separated by conductive medium offering at least two conductive paths between such points, comprising:
- a pair of electrodes for introducing alternating electrical signals between said two points;
- a signal generator for applying alternating electrical signals between said pair of electrodes at at least two frequencies;
- a detector for measuring the amplitudes and phases of said signals upon their passage through said conductive medium between said two points;
- and
- a computer programmed to compute, from the length of said shortest-distance path and said amplitudes and phases of said signals, a measure of the impedance properties of said shortest-distance path.
An apparatus for determining a spatial distribution of impedance properties within a conductive medium, comprising:
- electrodes for introducing alternating electrical signals between a plurality of pairs of points, there being at least a shortest distance conductive path and a second conductive path through said conductive medium between each said pair of points;
- a signal generator for applying alternating electrical signals between each said pair of points at least two frequencies;
- a detector for measuring the amplitudes and phases of said alternating electrical signals upon their passage through said conductive medium between each said pair of points;
- and
- a computer programmed to compute, from the lengths of said shortest-distance paths between said pairs of points and the changes in amplitude and phase of said alternating electrical signals upon their passage through said conductive medium, a measure of the impedance properties of the shortest-distance path between each said pair of points, and from said measures of impedance properties of said shortest distance paths, an estimate of a spatial distribution of a measure of impedance properties within said conductive medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.