Apparatus and method for analysis of motion of a dynamic structure

Claim 1

A system for detecting and measuring the linear motion in at least one dimension of a portion of either a dynamically movable structure or visual image representations of that structure and providing an analog signal representative of the movement, said system comprising: (a) sensing means for detecting amd measuring the light change pursuant to a moving boundary on the structure or a series of sequential image representations of that structure moving between dark and light regions on said dynamically movable structure or on said series of sequential visual image representations of said dynamically movable structure, and which sequential visual image representations are displayed in sequence at a rate to represent the movable structure during movement thereof, said sensing means generating a current signal representative of the boundary movement, (b) conversion means for receiving the current signal from said sensing means for generating an analog voltage signal as a fairly exact analog of the current signal and being representative of and directly related to the amount of movement of said boundary on the dynamically movable structure or on the series of sequential visual image representations, (c) selection means operatively connected to said conversion means for selecting a sample of predetermined instantaneous amplitude and at least temporarily holding such sample, (d) detection means operatively connected to said selection means for aiding in and determining a sample of predetermined instantaneous amplitude to thereby determine a maximum limit of movement of the boundary at least in one region, and (e) means operatively connected to at least said selection means for providing a representation of the amount of movement of said boundary.

Claim 2

A system for detecting and measuring the linear motion in at least one dimension of a portion of either a dynamically movable structure or visual image representations of that structure and providing an analog signal representative of the movement, said system comprising: (a) sensing means for detecting amd measuring the light change pursuant to a moving boundary on the structure or a series of sequential image representations of that structure moving between dark and light regions on said dynamically movable structure or on said series of sequential visual image representations of said dynamically movable structure, and which sequential visual image representations are displayed in sequence at a rate to represent the movable structure during movement thereof, said sensing means generating a current signal representative of the boundary movement, (b) conversion means for receiving the current signal from said sensing means for generating an analog voltage signal as a fairly exact analog of the current signal and being representative of and directly related to the amount of movement of said boundary on the dynamically movable structure or on the series of sequential visual image representations, (c) selection means operatively connected to said conversion means for selecting a sample of predetermined instantaneous amplitude and at least temporarily holding such sample, (d) detection means operatively connected to said selection means for aiding in and determining a sample of predetermined instantaneous amplitude to thereby determine a maximum limit of movement of the boundary at least in one region, and (e) means operatively connected to at least said selection means for providing a representation of the amount of movement of said boundary.

Claim 11

A method for detecting and measuring the linear motion in at least one dimension of a dynamically movable structure or visual image representations of that structure and providing an analog signal representative of the amount of movement, said method comprising: (a) detecting and measuring a light change pursuant to a moving boundary on the movable structure or series of sequential visual image representations of that structure moving between dark and light regions on said dynamically movable structure or on said series of sequential visual image representations of said dynamically movable structure and generating a detecting current signal thereby, and which sequential visual image representations are displayed in sequence at a rate to represent the movable structure during movement thereof, (b) generating an analog voltage signal in response to the detecting current signal and as a fairly exact analog of the current signal and being representative of and directly related to the amount of movement of said boundary on the dynamically movable structure or on each of the series of sequential visual image representation, (c) selecting a sample of predetermined instantaneous amplitude and at least temporarily holding such sample, (d) holding the selected sample until another sample of higher predetermined instantaneous amplitude is detected to thereby determine a miximum limit of movement of the boundary at least in one region, and (e) providing a representation of the amount of movement.

Claim 12

A method for detecting and measuring the linear motion in at least one dimension of a dynamically movable structure or visual image representations of that structure and providing an analog signal representative of the amount of movement, said method comprising: (a) detecting and measuring a light change pursuant to a moving boundary on the movable structure or series of sequential visual image representations of that structure moving between dark and light regions on said dynamically movable structure or on said series of sequential visual image representations of said dynamically movable structure and generating a detecting current signal thereby, and which sequential visual image representations are displayed in sequence at a rate to represent the movable structure during movement thereof, (b) generating an analog voltage signal in response to the detecting current signal and as a fairly exact analog of the current signal and being representative of and directly related to the amount of movement of said boundary on the dynamically movable structure or on each of the series of sequential visual image representation, (c) selecting a sample of predetermined instantaneous amplitude and at least temporarily holding such sample, (d) holding the selected sample until another sample of higher predetermined instantaneous amplitude is detected to thereby determine a miximum limit of movement of the boundary at least in one region, and (e) providing a representation of the amount of movement.

Claim 20

A system for detecting and measuring the motion of a dynamically moving structure having a boundary moving between light and dark areas, said system comprising: (a) means for detecting and measuring the light changes in response to a boundary on either said structure or a series of sequential image representations of that structure moving between adjacent dark and light areas on said dynamically moving structure or said series of sequential visual image representations of said structure, said last named means generating a current representing signal therefrom which is an analog of the motion of the boundary, (b) sampling means for sampling an instantaneous amplitude of the signal representing a greatest instantaneous brightness, (c) conversion means for converting the current representing signal to a voltage equivalent signal, (d) peak detection means operatively connected to said sampling means and enabling said sampling means to hold the signal of highest amplitude thus sampled until an instantaneous amplitude of greater brightness is detected, and using the instantaneous amplitude of greatest brightness to determine maximum limit of movement of the boundary, (e) filter means operatively connected to said sampling means for extracting flicker artifact from the signal to thereby provide an analog signal representative of the motion of the boundary, and (f) means to receive the analog signal and provide a representation of the amount of movement based on the analog signal.

Claim 21

A system for detecting and measuring the motion of a dynamically moving structure having a boundary moving between light and dark areas, said system comprising: (a) means for detecting and measuring the light changes in response to a boundary on either said structure or a series of sequential image representations of that structure moving between adjacent dark and light areas on said dynamically moving structure or said series of sequential visual image representations of said structure, said last named means generating a current representing signal therefrom which is an analog of the motion of the boundary, (b) sampling means for sampling an instantaneous amplitude of the signal representing a greatest instantaneous brightness, (c) conversion means for converting the current representing signal to a voltage equivalent signal, (d) peak detection means operatively connected to said sampling means and enabling said sampling means to hold the signal of highest amplitude thus sampled until an instantaneous amplitude of greater brightness is detected, and using the instantaneous amplitude of greatest brightness to determine maximum limit of movement of the boundary, (e) filter means operatively connected to said sampling means for extracting flicker artifact from the signal to thereby provide an analog signal representative of the motion of the boundary, and (f) means to receive the analog signal and provide a representation of the amount of movement based on the analog signal.

Claim 28

A method for detecting and measuring the motion of a dynamically moving structure, said method comprising: (a) detecting and measuring light changes in response to a boundary on said structure or a series of sequenential image representations of that structure moving between two adjacent dark and light areas, (b) generating an electrical signal from the detected changes in levels of light which is an analog of the motion of the boundary, (c) sampling an instantaneous amplitude of the signal which represents a greatest instantaneous brightness, (d) holding the amplitude thus sampled until an instantaneous amplitude of greater brightness is sampled and detected, (e) extracting flicker artifact from the signal to thereby provide an analog signal relatively free of flicker artifact representative of the motion of the boundary, and (f) providing a representation of the motion of the boundary based on said analog signal.

Claim 29

A method for detecting and measuring the motion of a dynamically moving structure, said method comprising: (a) detecting and measuring light changes in response to a boundary on said structure or a series of sequenential image representations of that structure moving between two adjacent dark and light areas, (b) generating an electrical signal from the detected changes in levels of light which is an analog of the motion of the boundary, (c) sampling an instantaneous amplitude of the signal which represents a greatest instantaneous brightness, (d) holding the amplitude thus sampled until an instantaneous amplitude of greater brightness is sampled and detected, (e) extracting flicker artifact from the signal to thereby provide an analog signal relatively free of flicker artifact representative of the motion of the boundary, and (f) providing a representation of the motion of the boundary based on said analog signal.

Claim 32

A system for measuring a biplane cross-sectional area of a portion of a dynamically movable structure, said system comprising: (a) first photocell means for detecting and measuring the change in amount of light in response to a movable boundary at a first location on said structure moving between adjacent light and dark areas on said movable structure, said first photocell means having an active surface area which is sufficiently large enough to effectively cover that portion of the structure which is being examined for area change, (b) means for generating an analog signal representative of and related to the light changes to determine a biplane cross-sectional area in that portion of the structure including said first location, and (c) means for receiving the analog signal and representing the measurement of the biplane cross-sectional area based on the analog signal.

Claim 33

A system for measuring a biplane cross-sectional area of a portion of a dynamically movable structure, said system comprising: (a) first photocell means for detecting and measuring the change in amount of light in response to a movable boundary at a first location on said structure moving between adjacent light and dark areas on said movable structure, said first photocell means having an active surface area which is sufficiently large enough to effectively cover that portion of the structure which is being examined for area change, (b) means for generating an analog signal representative of and related to the light changes to determine a biplane cross-sectional area in that portion of the structure including said first location, and (c) means for receiving the analog signal and representing the measurement of the biplane cross-sectional area based on the analog signal.

Claim 40

A method for measuring a biplane cross-sectional area of a portion of a dynamically movable structure, said method comprising: (a) locating a first photocell over that portion of the dynamically movable structure in which area measurement is to be made, said first photocell having an active surface area which is sufficiently large enough to cover that portion of the structure which is examined for area change, (b) detecting and measuring the change in amount of light with said first photocell in response to a movable boundary at a first location on said movable structure moving between adjacent light and dark areas on said structure, (c) generating an analog signal representative of and related to the light changes at said location, (d) processing said signal to determine a biplane cross-sectional area in that portion of the structure including said first location, and (e) representing the measurement of the biplane cross-sectional area based on the processed signal.

Claim 41

A method for measuring a biplane cross-sectional area of a portion of a dynamically movable structure, said method comprising: (a) locating a first photocell over that portion of the dynamically movable structure in which area measurement is to be made, said first photocell having an active surface area which is sufficiently large enough to cover that portion of the structure which is examined for area change, (b) detecting and measuring the change in amount of light with said first photocell in response to a movable boundary at a first location on said movable structure moving between adjacent light and dark areas on said structure, (c) generating an analog signal representative of and related to the light changes at said location, (d) processing said signal to determine a biplane cross-sectional area in that portion of the structure including said first location, and (e) representing the measurement of the biplane cross-sectional area based on the processed signal.

Claim 46

A system for detecting and measuring the motion representing area change of dynamically moving body tissue, said system comprising: (a) means for detecting and measuring the light changes in response to a boundary on either said body tissue or series of sequential image representations of that same body tissue moving between adjacent dark and light areas on said dynamically moving body tissue or said series of sequential visual image representations of said body tissue, said last-named means generating an electrical signal therefrom which is an analog of the motion of the boundary, (b) sampling means for sampling an instantaneous amplitude of the signal representing a greatest instantaneous brightness, (c) peak detection means operatively connected to said sampling means and enabling said sampling means to hold the amplitude thus sampled until an instantaneous amplitude of greater brightness is detected, (d) filter means operatively connected to said sampling means for extracting flicker artifact from the signal to thereby provide an analog signal representative of the motion of the boundary and thereby representative of area change, and (e) means to receive the analog signal and provide a representation of the amount of area change based on said analog signal.

Claim 47

A system for detecting and measuring the motion representing area change of dynamically moving body tissue, said system comprising: (a) means for detecting and measuring the light changes in response to a boundary on either said body tissue or series of sequential image representations of that same body tissue moving between adjacent dark and light areas on said dynamically moving body tissue or said series of sequential visual image representations of said body tissue, said last-named means generating an electrical signal therefrom which is an analog of the motion of the boundary, (b) sampling means for sampling an instantaneous amplitude of the signal representing a greatest instantaneous brightness, (c) peak detection means operatively connected to said sampling means and enabling said sampling means to hold the amplitude thus sampled until an instantaneous amplitude of greater brightness is detected, (d) filter means operatively connected to said sampling means for extracting flicker artifact from the signal to thereby provide an analog signal representative of the motion of the boundary and thereby representative of area change, and (e) means to receive the analog signal and provide a representation of the amount of area change based on said analog signal.

Claim 54

A system for detecting and making a planimetric measurement of area change motion in at least one portion of either a dynamically movable structure or visual image representations of that structure and providing an analog signal representative of the movement, said system comprising: (a) a photocell for detecting and measuring the light change pursuant to a moving boundary on the structure of a series of sequential image representations of that structure moving between dark and light regions on said dynamically movable structure or on said series of sequential visual image representations of said dynamically movable structure, and which sequential visual image representations are displayed in sequence at a rate to represent the movable structure during movement thereof, said photocell having an active surface area which is sufficiently large enough to effectively cover that portion of the structure or visual image representations which is examined for area change and generating a signal representative of the boundary movement, (b) means for receiving the signal from said sensing means for generating an analog signal representative of and directly related to the amount of movement of said boundary on the dynamically movable structure or on the series of sequential visual image representations, and (c) means operatively connected to at least said selection means for providing a representation of the measurement of area change.

Claim 55

A system for detecting and making a planimetric measurement of area change motion in at least one portion of either a dynamically movable structure or visual image representations of that structure and providing an analog signal representative of the movement, said system comprising: (a) a photocell for detecting and measuring the light change pursuant to a moving boundary on the structure of a series of sequential image representations of that structure moving between dark and light regions on said dynamically movable structure or on said series of sequential visual image representations of said dynamically movable structure, and which sequential visual image representations are displayed in sequence at a rate to represent the movable structure during movement thereof, said photocell having an active surface area which is sufficiently large enough to effectively cover that portion of the structure or visual image representations which is examined for area change and generating a signal representative of the boundary movement, (b) means for receiving the signal from said sensing means for generating an analog signal representative of and directly related to the amount of movement of said boundary on the dynamically movable structure or on the series of sequential visual image representations, and (c) means operatively connected to at least said selection means for providing a representation of the measurement of area change.

Claim 62

A method for detecting and measuring the motion of a dynamically moving structure, said method comprising: (a) locating a first photocell over a first portion of the structure or series of image representations in which an area measurement is to be made, said first photocell having an active surface area which is sufficiently large enough to effectively cover that portion of the structure or the portion of the series of visual image representations which is being examined for area change, (b) detecting and measuring light changes in response to a boundary on said structure or a series of sequential image representations of that structure between two adjacent dark and light areas, (c) generating an electrical signal from the detected changes in levels of light which is an analog of the motion of the boundary, (d) sampling an instantaneous amplitude of the signal which represents a greatest instantaneous brightness, (e) holding the amplitude thus sampled until an instantaneous amplitude of greater brightness is sampled and detected, (f) extracting flicker artifact from the signal to thereby provide an analog signal relatively free of flicker artifact representative of the motion of the boundary, and (g) providing a representation of the motion of the boundary based on said analog signal.

Claim 63

A method for detecting and measuring the motion of a dynamically moving structure, said method comprising: (a) locating a first photocell over a first portion of the structure or series of image representations in which an area measurement is to be made, said first photocell having an active surface area which is sufficiently large enough to effectively cover that portion of the structure or the portion of the series of visual image representations which is being examined for area change, (b) detecting and measuring light changes in response to a boundary on said structure or a series of sequential image representations of that structure between two adjacent dark and light areas, (c) generating an electrical signal from the detected changes in levels of light which is an analog of the motion of the boundary, (d) sampling an instantaneous amplitude of the signal which represents a greatest instantaneous brightness, (e) holding the amplitude thus sampled until an instantaneous amplitude of greater brightness is sampled and detected, (f) extracting flicker artifact from the signal to thereby provide an analog signal relatively free of flicker artifact representative of the motion of the boundary, and (g) providing a representation of the motion of the boundary based on said analog signal.

Claim 66

A system for detecting and measuring the area of motion of a dynamically moving structure having a boundary moving between light and dark areas, said system comprising: (a) a main photocell for detecting and measuring the light changes in response to a boundary on either said structure or a series of sequential image representations of that structure moving between adjacent dark and light areas on said dynamically moving structure or said series of sequential visual image representations of said structure, said main photocell generating a current representing signal therefrom which is an analog of the motion of the boundary, (b) sampling means for sampling an instantaneous amplitude of the signal representing a greatest instantaneous brightness, (c) conversion means for converting the current representing signal to a voltage equivalent signal, (d) peak detection means operatively connected to said sampling means and enabling said sampling means to hold the signal of highest amplitude thus sampled until an instantaneous amplitude of greater brightness is detected, and using the instantaneous amplitude of greatest brightness to determine maximum movement of the boundary, (e) filter means operatively connected to said sampling means for extracting flicker artifact from the signal to thereby provide an analog signal representative of the motion of the boundary, (f) a first reference photocell located in proximity to said main photocell for measuring the intensity of the same reflected light measured by the main photocell over the same area thereof, (g) a second reference photocell located distal to said main photocell and located over the other of the light or dark areas for measuring the intensity of the light reflected from such other area, (h) first amplifier means receiving a signal from the first reference photocell, (i) second amplifier means receiving a signal from the second reference photocell, (j) third amplifier means receiving a signal from the main photocell, the signals from the second and third amplifier means being coupled, means for dividing the signal from the first amplifier means by a signal resulting from the coupling of the signals from the second and third amplier means, and (k) means to receive the signals from the amplifier means and provide a representation of the amount of movement based thereon.

Claim 67

A system for detecting and measuring the area of motion of a dynamically moving structure having a boundary moving between light and dark areas, said system comprising: (a) a main photocell for detecting and measuring the light changes in response to a boundary on either said structure or a series of sequential image representations of that structure moving between adjacent dark and light areas on said dynamically moving structure or said series of sequential visual image representations of said structure, said main photocell generating a current representing signal therefrom which is an analog of the motion of the boundary, (b) sampling means for sampling an instantaneous amplitude of the signal representing a greatest instantaneous brightness, (c) conversion means for converting the current representing signal to a voltage equivalent signal, (d) peak detection means operatively connected to said sampling means and enabling said sampling means to hold the signal of highest amplitude thus sampled until an instantaneous amplitude of greater brightness is detected, and using the instantaneous amplitude of greatest brightness to determine maximum movement of the boundary, (e) filter means operatively connected to said sampling means for extracting flicker artifact from the signal to thereby provide an analog signal representative of the motion of the boundary, (f) a first reference photocell located in proximity to said main photocell for measuring the intensity of the same reflected light measured by the main photocell over the same area thereof, (g) a second reference photocell located distal to said main photocell and located over the other of the light or dark areas for measuring the intensity of the light reflected from such other area, (h) first amplifier means receiving a signal from the first reference photocell, (i) second amplifier means receiving a signal from the second reference photocell, (j) third amplifier means receiving a signal from the main photocell, the signals from the second and third amplifier means being coupled, means for dividing the signal from the first amplifier means by a signal resulting from the coupling of the signals from the second and third amplier means, and (k) means to receive the signals from the amplifier means and provide a representation of the amount of movement based thereon.