Apparatus to measure the speed at which, wheels in rotation present an appearing rotation speed inversion, the so called wagon wheel effect, with either one or two independent disks in rotation with various spokelikepatterns, and considering further characteristics specific to our design

摘要

The so-called “wagon wheel effect”, which our apparatus produces and measures under specific conditions which we have designed, appears when the visual superposition of (elements of) disks in motion, observed with one or two eyes, reaches a speed, at which normal brain processes perceive as a rotation speed inversion. We present an apparatus and a method allowing for various parameters measuring various conditions to be considered (such as rotation speed, lightning intensity, disk patterns variable in colors, in sizes, in symmetry and in their ability to reflect light—matt or glossy) to support the establishment of a normative theory and measure specific populations (aging population, individuals suffering from mental illness such as Alzheimer, possibly in their early stage of development) against this norm.

主权项

1. An apparatus for producing and measuring accurately, in specific conditions, the speed at which the so-called “wagon wheel effect” is produced—at specific speed(s), a wagon wheel appears to rotate in a direction opposite to the real one—with two independent rotating disks, presenting various spokelike patterns, under specific conditions of light and colors, comprising:
a. A housing comprising:
i. Two disks capable to rotate independently across a wide range of speeds which can be accurately controlled, adjustable in sizes, in colors, in material reflecting light intensity, presenting various spokelike patterns.ii. An embedded tachometer allowing the measurement of the disks' speed with accuracy at any time, and allowing the reading of such speeds at any time.iii. An embedded system producing uniform light, variable in intensity, across the disks at any time and a light meter accurately measuring the light intensity at any time.iv. An embedded mechanism to consistently position our apparatus against an observer.