Measuring and testing – Miscellaneous
Patent
1997-01-31
1998-04-28
Williams, Hezron E.
Measuring and testing
Miscellaneous
73570, 73DIG1, 250372, 324300, 324 711, 34087028, 47 13, 47DIG9, G01V 100, G01V 900
Patent
active
057447152
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to the art of detecting and measuring phenomena or conditions present at a source of information, in order to allow acquisition and selection of such information and presentation thereof to the consciousness of an observer. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and a method for detecting and/or measuring a parameter of a phenomenon or condition, using a cutaneous sensory receptor, such as the Pacinian corpuscle, by means of a tactile detector of a new kind.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 2,482,773, to Thomas G. Hieronymus, describes an apparatus for the detection of emanations from materials, for example for analyzing radiations from a substance by means of a radiation pick-up unit coupled through a manually operated analyzer tuneable to a specific desired radiation and through intermediate circuits to a tactile detector. This detector of the prior art comprises an electrical conductor coated with material, for example a plastic material, capable of giving evidence of the presence of energy flowing through the conductor by producing a greater drag or resistance to the movements of the hand or fingers of an operator thereover. The possibilities of application of such a detector, its sensitivity, reproduceability and precision of detection appear, however, to be rather limited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims in particular at providing an information detecting and measuring apparatus comprising a substantially improved detector in the form of a tactile-acoustic transducer having high sensitivity and a high degree of precision, as well as being applicable to a wide field and range of measurements in connection with the method according to the invention.
The apparatus for detecting and measuring phenomena or conditions represented by information appearing on an electrical conductor coupled to a source of such phenomena or conditions, is characterized according to the invention in that it comprises a vibrator plate of solid material mounted on a frame so as to form a membrane capable of generating acoustic signals when being rubbed on its surface by an operating persons fingertip, microphone means arranged opposite said vibrator plate for receiving said acoustic signals and at least first and second substantially flat electrode members arranged between said vibrator plate and said microphone means in substantially parallel relationship with each other and with said vibrator plate, said electrode members being electrically connected to the output of a tuneable network comprising control elements for the tuning thereof, the input of said tuneable network being coupled to said source of information and the output of said microphone means being connected over an analog-to-digital converter circuit to an input of a computer adapted for processing the information contained in said acoustic signals and for producing a detection or measuring signal derived therefrom.
The vibrator plate of this apparatus is preferably made of wood, in particular of hard wood such as rose wood, purple wood or nazareno wood. Advantageously, electric heating means are provided for warming said vibrator plate.
According to a preferred embodiment of the apparatus, said first electrode member is mounted between said vibrator plate and said second electrode member on an electrically insulating, substantially ring-shaped supporting member and has a central opening in it, said second electrode member being suspended with respect to said first electrode member at an adjustable distance therefrom.
Preferably, the first electrode member is made of galvanized iron, while the second electrode member is made of aluminum.
The present apparatus can comprise indicator means connected to the output of the computer for visually displaying and/or acoustically reproducing the detection or measuring signal. The plurality of control elements of the tuneable network are preferably also being adjusted through the computer under the control of the operating person.
In a particul
REFERENCES:
patent: 2482773 (1949-09-01), Hieronymus
patent: 4813419 (1989-03-01), McConnell
patent: 5285059 (1994-02-01), Nakata et al.
patent: 5451924 (1995-09-01), Massimino et al.
Apollon's Algebra (Gibraltar) Limited
Browning Clifford W.
Miller Rose M.
Williams Hezron E.
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