Claims
- 1. A system for measuring distances, the system comprising:
a first conductive element conveying a first electromagnetic signal; a second conductive element conveying a second electromagnetic signal based on the first electromagnetic signal; a coupler positioned at a point of interest for coupling the second electromagnetic signal to the second conductive element in response to a change in capacitance associated with the first conductive element caused by the first electromagnetic signal traversing a part of the first conductive element substantially adjacent to the coupler; and a processor determining a distance associated with the point of interest based at least in part on a time delay between the first and second electromagnetic signals.
- 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first electromagnetic signal exhibits an ultra-wideband frequency.
- 3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a transmitter for forming the first electromagnetic signal.
- 4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a receiver for detecting the time delay between the first and second electromagnetic signals.
- 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the receiver includes an equivalent time sampling circuit.
- 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second conductive elements form a parallel conductor transmission line structure.
- 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second conductive elements are flexible.
- 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second conductive elements exhibit quadrilateral cross-sections.
- 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second conductive elements exhibit substantially identical cross-sections.
- 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the coupler exhibits a length corresponding to at least one-quarter of a propagation velocity pulse length of the first electromagnetic signal.
- 11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a supporting material for slidably receiving the coupler in a channel defined therein, the supporting material maintaining a consistent displacement between the coupler and the first and second conductive elements.
- 12. The system of claim 1 wherein the distance determined by the processor corresponds to a dimension associated with an object.
- 13. The system of claim 1 wherein the distance determined by the processor corresponds to a displacement between a plurality of objects.
- 14. The system of claim 1 wherein the distance determined by the processor corresponds to an angular orientation.
- 15. The system of claim 1 wherein the distance determined by the processor corresponds to a degree of pressure.
- 16. A method of measuring distances, the method comprising:
transmitting a first electromagnetic signal on a first conductive element; receiving a second electromagnetic signal based on the first electromagnetic signal at a second conductive element, the second electromagnetic signal being coupled to the second conductive element in response to a change in capacitance of the first conductive element caused by the first electromagnetic sisal traversing a part of the first conductive element substantially adjacent to a coupler, wherein the coupler is positioned at a point of interest; and determining a distance associated with the point of interest based at least in part on a time delay between the first and second electromagnetic signals.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the distance associated with the point of interest corresponds to a dimension associated with an object.
- 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the distance associated with the point of interest corresponds to a displacement between a plurality of objects.
- 19. The method of claim 16 wherein the distance associated with the point of interest corresponds to an angular orientation.
- 20. The method of claim 16 wherein the distance associated with the point of interest corresponds to a degree of pressure.
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/409,360, filed Sep. 9, 2002, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] This is also related to the following co-pending and concurrently-filed U.S. Utility Patent Application Nos., the entirety of which are incorporated herein by reference:
[0003] Ser. No. 10/______, “Characterizing Substances With Multistatic Probes,” identified by Attorney Docket No. FOM-139.01; and
[0004] Ser. No. 10/______, “Determining Levels of Substances Using Multistatic Probes,” identified by Attorney Docket No. FOM-139.02.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60409360 |
Sep 2002 |
US |