Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080238884 | EDGE SENSORS FORMING A TOUCHSCREEN - The methods, systems, and apparatuses of edge sensors forming a touchscreen are disclosed. In one embodiment, a touchscreen (e.g., may be in rectangular shape) includes a display area of the touchscreen, a set of edge sensors (e.g., may be piezo-resistive, microelectromechanical sensors, and/or capacitive sensors) at boundary locations of the display area of the touchscreen, and a set of electronics (e.g., may filter and to compensates measurements of the set of edge sensors to create more accurate readings using an error correction module) to determine a location of a force and a magnitude of the force applied on the display area of the touchscreen using an algorithm that considers measurements the set of edge sensors. | 10-02-2008 |
20090083459 | UNIVERSAL INTERFACE COMPATIBILITY OF A SENSOR - A method and apparatus of a universal interface compatibility of a sensor are disclosed. In one embodiment, a universal interface method includes acquiring an electrical power of an external source and conditioning the electrical power to provide to a sensor. The universal interface method further includes transferring the processed electrical power to the sensor, receiving a sensor output, converting the sensor output to a compatible form, and communicating the compatible form to an interface. The external source may include at least one of a USB power source, a battery, and a wall charger. The electrical power may be conditioned by at least one of detecting an input voltage, adjusting a variance of the electrical power, and altering a voltage of the electrical power. The compatible form may include at least one of a digital signal and an analog signal. | 03-26-2009 |
20090120198 | GAP-CHANGE SENSING THROUGH CAPACITIVE TECHNIQUES - A gap-change sensing through capacitive techniques is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first conductive surface and a second conductive surface substantially parallel to the first conductive surface, and a sensor to generate a measurement based on a change in a distance between the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface. The change in the distance may be caused by a deflection of the first conductive surface with respect to the second conductive surface, and the deflection may be a compressive force and/or an expansive force. The sensor may apply an algorithm that converts a change in capacitance to at least one of a change in voltage and/or a change in frequency to generate the measurement. The change in the distance may be caused by a load applied to the surface above the first conductive surface with respect to the second conductive surface. | 05-14-2009 |
20090158856 | CAPACITIVE STRAIN GAUGE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and methods of a capacitive strain gauge are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a conductive element of a capacitive structure attached to a surface. The conductive element is comprised of an elongated member. An additional conductive element of the capacitive structure is attached to the surface, and the additional conductive element is comprised of an additional elongated member. The system includes an electrode coupled to the conductive element that applies a voltage to the conductive element when a capacitance is being determined. The system further includes an additional electrode coupled to the additional conductive element that receives an amplitude to determine a change in capacitance caused by a shape alteration of at least one of the conductive element, the additional conductive element, and a space between the conductive element and the additional conductive element. | 06-25-2009 |
20090160460 | ANALYSIS OF A MATERIAL WITH CAPACITIVE TECHNOLOGY - Several apparatuses and a method for enabling of analysis of a material based on capacitive technology are disclosed. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a first conductive surface. A second conductive surface is located substantially parallel to the first conductive surface. A measurement module measures a change in capacitance produced when a material is passed between the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface. The apparatus may include a database comprising a capacitance value of the material. A change in capacitance may be compared to the database to generate an identity of the material. A reference capacitor may enable the measurement module to adjust the measurement based on an environmental condition. | 06-25-2009 |
20090160462 | MICROELECTROMECHANICAL CAPACITOR BASED DEVICE - A system and methods of a microelectromechanical capacitor based device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system of a microelectromechanical capacitive device includes a housing formed when a nonconductive material is deposited on a substrate, and a conductive plate mechanically coupled to the housing. The system further includes an additional housing coupled to the housing and an additional conductive plate that is substantially parallel to the conductive plate. The additional conductive plate is coupled to the additional conductive plate. The additional housing may be formed when an additional nonconductive material is deposited on an additional substrate. The substrate and the additional substrate may be dissolved using a chemical etching process when the housing and the additional housing are coupled. | 06-25-2009 |
20090205437 | FLEXIBLE APPARATUS AND METHOD TO ENHANCE CAPACITIVE FORCE SENSING - A flexible apparatus and method to enhance capacitive force sensing is disclosed. In one embodiment, a force measuring device includes a sensor capacitor having a fixed surface and a moveable surface substantially parallel to the fixed surface, at least one spring assembly (e.g., may deflect longitudinally and/or perpendicularly to a direction of the force) positioned between the fixed surface and the movable surface (e.g., the spring assembly may alter in height in response to a force applied perpendicular to the movable surface and to cause a change in the gap between the fixed surface and the movable surface), and a circuit to generate a measurement of the force based on an algorithm that considers a change in a capacitance of the sensor capacitor. A reference capacitor may adjust the measurement of the applied force based on one or more environmental conditions. | 08-20-2009 |
20090259413 | RESISTIVE FORCE SENSING DEVICE AND METHOD WITH AN ADVANCED COMMUNICATION INTERFACE - Several methods and a system of a resistive force sensing device and method with an advanced communication interface are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment provides a force measuring device. The force measuring device includes a resistive sensor having a fixed surface and a movable surface. A spring assembly is positioned between the fixed surface and the movable surface. The spring assembly alters in height in response to a force applied perpendicular to the movable surface and causes a change in a resistance of the resistive sensor. A circuit generates a measurement of the force based on an algorithm that considers a change in the resistance of the resistive sensor. A universal serial bus (USB) interface of the circuit provides digital output of the measurement to a computing device. | 10-15-2009 |
20100076701 | RESISTIVE FORCE SENSING DEVICE AND METHOD WITH AN ADVANCED COMMUNICATION INTERFACE - Several methods and a system of a resistive force sensing device and method with an advanced communication interface are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment provides a force measuring device. The force measuring device includes a resistive sensor having a fixed surface and a movable surface. A spring assembly is positioned between the fixed surface and the movable surface. The spring assembly alters in height in response to a force applied perpendicular to the movable surface and causes a change in a resistance of the resistive sensor. A circuit generates a measurement of the force based on an algorithm that considers a change in the resistance of the resistive sensor. A universal serial bus (USB) interface of the circuit provides digital output of the measurement to a computing device. | 03-25-2010 |
20110153466 | SENSOR BASED INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A sensor based inventory management system and method is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of real time inventory management includes providing a communication backbone between an inventory system and an inventory management server. The method also includes communicating a signal generated by a sensor unit of a sensor based inventory bin of the inventory system to the inventory management server through an interface. In addition, the method also includes determining a quantity of an inventory item in the sensor based inventory bin by processing the signal using an algorithm through a processor of the inventory management server. The method also includes communicating a request to a supplier for updating the quantity of the inventory item in the sensor based inventory bin of the inventory system. The method further includes updating the quantity of the inventory item in the sensor based inventory bin of the inventory system. | 06-23-2011 |
20130282936 | UNIVERSAL INTERFACE FOR ONE OR MORE SENSORS - A method, system, and apparatus of a universal interface compatible with one or more sensors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises acquiring an electrical power signal of an external source at a universal interface device; communicating with the one or more sensors coupled to the universal interface device; conditioning, at the universal interface device, the electrical power signal; receiving an output of the one or more sensors operating on the conditioned electrical power signal; converting the output of to an appropriate form; communicating the appropriate form to the interface; and communicating the output of the one or more sensors to one or more data processing devices communicatively coupled to the universal interface device. | 10-24-2013 |