FEASIBILITY OF USING ELECTROSTATIC METHODS TO DETECT MOTION OF HUMAN BEINGS OR OTHER NEARBY OBJECTS.
Abstract
It is known that the approach of a metallic object in the vicinity of a resonating LRC (inductance-resistance-capacitance) circuit will change the resonant frequency and 'Q' value of the circuit somewhat as new 'boundary' conditions are set up near the capacitance and induction of the circuit. For very close approaches, these changes are detectable as fluctuations in current, voltage, and dissipated power in the circuit. Thus, in a sense, the LRC circuit serves as a detector of the metallic object. Based on the above, an investigation has been carried out to study the feasibility of using electrostatic methods to detect the motion of objects, particulary human beings. Three main approaches to the problem have been studied. The first approach - a literature search - produced four devices whose basic principles of operation could possibly be applied to the measurement of capacitances in the ranges calculated. The second approach - an investigation of the feasibility of detecting changes in the earth's natural potential gradients produced by moving objects. The third approach - an investigation of the possibility of detecting the induced transient currents which flow in an RC circuit in reaction to the motion of nearby objects - produced interesting results. It is concluded that a short range detection system using electrostatic methods is feasible. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0629104
Entities
People
- Jay Kirschenbaum