Methods and systems for capacitive motion sensing and position control
US6661240B1 · kind B1 · utility
17Cited by
26References
14Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 4, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 4, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2562/0257
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for detecting motion and proximity by determining capacitance between a sensor and an object. The sensor includes sensing surfaces made of a thin film of electrically conductive material mounted on a non-conductive surface. In another embodiment, the sensor is a human body. The sensor senses the capacitance between a sensor's surface and an object in its vicinity and provides the capacitance to a control system that directs machine movement. Because the sensor does not require direct contact or line-of-sight with the object, a machine can be controlled before harm occurs to the object.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.