Method and apparatus for sensing proximity of an object using near-field effects

Claim 1

An apparatus for sensing positions of a target having a surface, the apparatus comprising: means having an impedance for radiating radio frequency energy at the target in a beam having a predetermined beamwidth to electromagnetically charge the surface of the target so that the resistance component of the impedance of the radiating means changes in response to changes in position of the target; means for detecting the changes in impedance of the radiating means, wherein the detecting means detects changes in the resistance component of the impedance; and means for providing a signal indicating that the position of the target has changed in response to the changes in the resistance component of the impedance being detected.

Claim 2

An apparatus for sensing positions of a target having a surface, the apparatus comprising: means having an impedance for radiating radio frequency energy at the target in a beam having a predetermined beamwidth to electromagnetically charge the surface of the target so that the resistance component of the impedance of the radiating means changes in response to changes in position of the target; means for detecting the changes in impedance of the radiating means, wherein the detecting means detects changes in the resistance component of the impedance; and means for providing a signal indicating that the position of the target has changed in response to the changes in the resistance component of the impedance being detected.

Claim 5

A method for sensing a position of a target, the method comprising the steps of: radiating radio frequency energy with an antenna having an impedance by providing a radio frequency signal to said antenna such that said signal reflects off said antenna having an amplitude proportional to the impedance of said antenna;; moving an object sufficiently adjacent said antenna such that the impedance of said antenna varies with changes in the position of the object as a result of a near-field effect; detecting the change in the impedance of said antenna in response to changes in the position of the object by sensing changes in amplitude in said radio frequency signal; and providing a signal in response to changes in the impedance of said antenna indicating that the position of the object has changed.

Claim 6

A method for sensing a position of a target, the method comprising the steps of: radiating radio frequency energy with an antenna having an impedance by providing a radio frequency signal to said antenna such that said signal reflects off said antenna having an amplitude proportional to the impedance of said antenna;; moving an object sufficiently adjacent said antenna such that the impedance of said antenna varies with changes in the position of the object as a result of a near-field effect; detecting the change in the impedance of said antenna in response to changes in the position of the object by sensing changes in amplitude in said radio frequency signal; and providing a signal in response to changes in the impedance of said antenna indicating that the position of the object has changed.

Claim 8

An apparatus for sensing the proximity of an object using electromagnetic near-field effects, the apparatus comprising: an oscillator adapted to provide a radio frequency signal; a modulator attached to said oscillator to modulate said radio frequency signal of a predetermined frequency; an antenna adapted to direct said modulated radio frequency signal at the object such that the amplitude of said modulated radio frequency signal changes with changes in the proximity of the object with respect to said antenna; a low pass filter adapted to electronically filter said radio frequency signal and pass a filtered signal at a predetermined frequency having an amplitude that varies with the amplitude of said modulated radio frequency signal; and means for detecting the amplitude of said filtered signal, and for providing a proximity signal that indicates said object has changed its position with respect to said antenna when said amplitude of said filtered signal registers a predetermined level.

Claim 9

An apparatus for sensing the proximity of an object using electromagnetic near-field effects, the apparatus comprising: an oscillator adapted to provide a radio frequency signal; a modulator attached to said oscillator to modulate said radio frequency signal of a predetermined frequency; an antenna adapted to direct said modulated radio frequency signal at the object such that the amplitude of said modulated radio frequency signal changes with changes in the proximity of the object with respect to said antenna; a low pass filter adapted to electronically filter said radio frequency signal and pass a filtered signal at a predetermined frequency having an amplitude that varies with the amplitude of said modulated radio frequency signal; and means for detecting the amplitude of said filtered signal, and for providing a proximity signal that indicates said object has changed its position with respect to said antenna when said amplitude of said filtered signal registers a predetermined level.

Claim 13

A system for sensing the position of a target having a surface, and which target is in close proximity to the system, comprising: an antenna for radiating radio frequency energy at the target to electromagnetically charge the surface of the target; and an electronic network for measuring a change in impedance caused by a near-field effect of the electromagnetic charge on the target surface, the change in the impedance indicative of the position of the surface of the target, the electronic network detecting high and low signal levels that are representative of a total excursion of the surface of the target.

Claim 14

A system for sensing the position of a target having a surface, and which target is in close proximity to the system, comprising: an antenna for radiating radio frequency energy at the target to electromagnetically charge the surface of the target; and an electronic network for measuring a change in impedance caused by a near-field effect of the electromagnetic charge on the target surface, the change in the impedance indicative of the position of the surface of the target, the electronic network detecting high and low signal levels that are representative of a total excursion of the surface of the target.

Claim 15

A system for sensing the position of a target having a surface, and which target is in close proximity to the system, comprising: an antenna for radiating radio frequency energy at the target to electromagnetically charge the surface of the target; and an integrated electronic circuit for measuring a change in impedance caused by a near-field effect of the electromagnetic charge on the target surface, the change in the impedance indicative of the position of the surface of the target.

Claim 16

A system for sensing the position of a target having a surface, and which target is in close proximity to the system, comprising: an antenna for radiating radio frequency energy at the target to electromagnetically charge the surface of the target; and an integrated electronic circuit for measuring a change in impedance caused by a near-field effect of the electromagnetic charge on the target surface, the change in the impedance indicative of the position of the surface of the target.

Claim 17

A method for sensing the position of a target having a surface relative to a reference point, and which target is in close proximity to the reference point, comprising the steps of: radiating radio frequency energy from the reference point at the target to electromagnetically charge the surface of the target; measuring an impedance change at the reference point caused by the near-field effect of the electromagnetic charge on the target surface, the impedance change indicative of the position of the surface of the target; and receiving the impedance change and thereby determining the position of the target.

Claim 18

A method for sensing the position of a target having a surface relative to a reference point, and which target is in close proximity to the reference point, comprising the steps of: radiating radio frequency energy from the reference point at the target to electromagnetically charge the surface of the target; measuring an impedance change at the reference point caused by the near-field effect of the electromagnetic charge on the target surface, the impedance change indicative of the position of the surface of the target; and receiving the impedance change and thereby determining the position of the target.