Mat system and method therefor

• US 7,956,303 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2008
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATEK Products LLC
• Original Assignee: ATEK Products LLC
• Inventors: Pehrson, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US12/037,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20090065344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 200 6141- 6144, 200/511, 200/512, 200/85.R, 200/86.R, 200/86.A, 200/85.A
• US Class Current: 200/85.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/141 Cushion or mat switches

Abstract

An apparatus includes a protective covering. An electronics module and a pair of electrodes are disposed within the protective covering. The pair of electrodes is electrically connected to the electronics module. The electrodes are separated by a distance in an open position when unloaded and are configured to contact each other in a closed position when loaded. In one example, a plurality of resilient spacing structures is disposed between the electrodes. The electronics module is configured to obtain electrode position data by determining whether the electrodes are in the open or closed position. In one example, the electronics module is configured to remotely communicate the electrode position data. The electrodes and electronics module are embedded within the protective covering, which is integrally molded therearound.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a seamless protective covering;

an electronics module at least partially disposed within the protective covering;

a pair of electrodes disposed within the protective covering, the pair of electrodes electrically connected to the electronics module, wherein the electrodes and electronics module are embedded within the protective covering, which is integrally molded therearound; and

a plurality of spacing structures disposed between the electrodes, the spacing structures formed entirely from a single resilient material, the spacing structures configured to maintain a spacing distance between the electrodes when unloaded and allow the electrodes to contact each other when loaded, the spacing structures being further configured to reduce dead spots, wherein the electronics module is configured to communicate an electrode loading condition with an end device, wherein, with a loaded electrode condition, the end device is configured to initiate a software application, and, with an unloaded electrode condition, the end device is configured to terminate the software application, wherein the software application is configured to run only with the loaded electrode condition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spacing structures are generally equally spaced from each other in an array.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spacing structures are formed from silicone.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the spacing structures comprise silicone rubber dots.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spacing structures are configured to generally flatten when the electrodes are loaded.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spacing structures are configured to remain generally spheroidal when the electrodes are unloaded.

7. A system, comprising:

a mat including;

a protective covering;

a pair of electrodes disposed within the protective covering;

a plurality of spacing structures disposed between the electrodes, the spacing structures formed entirely from a single resilient material, the spacing structures configured to maintain a spacing distance between the electrodes when unloaded and allow the electrodes to contact each other when loaded, the spacing structures being further configured to reduce dead spots; and

an electronics module at least partially disposed within the protective covering, the electronics module electrically coupled to the pair of electrodes, the electronics module configured to determine whether the electrodes are loaded or unloaded to obtain electrode position data; and

an end device communicatively coupled to the electronics module of the mat, wherein the electronics module is configured to communicate the electrode position data to the end device, wherein, with communication of loaded electrode position data, the end device is configured to initiate a software application, and, with communication of unloaded electrode position data, the end device is configured to terminate the software application, wherein the software application is configured to run only with communication of the loaded electrode position data.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the spacing structures are generally equally spaced from each other in an array.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the spacing structures are formed from silicone.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the spacing structures comprise silicone rubber dots.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronics module is configured to remotely communicate the electrode position data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronics module is configured to remotely communicate wirelessly.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronics module is configured to remotely communicate using a USB cable.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the electrodes and electronics module are embedded within the protective covering, which is integrally molded therearound.

15. A method, comprising:

loading a mat to compress resilient material spacing structures between a pair of electrodes to generally flatten at least one of the resilient material spacing structures to allow the electrodes to contact each other;

communicating a signal to an end device when the electrodes are in contact with each other to control the end device; and

initiating a software application to run on the end device while the electrodes are in contact with each other, wherein the end device is configured to terminate the software application when the electrodes separate with unloading of the mat, wherein the software application is configured to run only while the electrodes are in contact with each other.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising unloading the mat to allow the at least one resilient material spacing structure to expand to an original shape to space the electrodes a distance away from each other.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein loading the mat includes compressing resilient material spacing structures formed from silicone.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a protective covering;

an electronics module disposed within the protective covering; and

a pair of electrodes disposed within the protective covering, the pair of electrodes electrically connected to the electronics module, the electrodes separated by a distance in an open position when unloaded, the electrodes configured to contact each other in a closed position when loaded, wherein the electronics module is configured to obtain electrode position data by determining whether the electrodes are in the open or closed position, the electronics module being configured to remotely communicate the electrode position data to an end device, wherein the electrodes and electronics module are embedded within the protective covering, which is integrally molded therearound, wherein, with the electrodes in the closed position, the end device is configured to initiate a software application, and, with electrodes in the open position, the end device is configured to terminate the software application, wherein the software application is configured to run only with the electrodes in the closed position.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the electronics module is configured to remotely communicate wirelessly.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the electronics module is configured to remotely communicate using a USB cable.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, comprising a plurality of spacing structures disposed between the electrodes, the spacing structures formed entirely from a single resilient material, the spacing structures configured to maintain the distance between the electrodes when unloaded and allow the electrodes to contact each other when loaded, the spacing structures being further configured to reduce dead spots.

22. A system, comprising:

a mat including;

a seamless protective covering;

a pair of electrodes within the protective covering, the electrodes having an open position when unloaded and a closed position when loaded; and

an electronics module within the protective covering and electrically coupled to the electrodes, the electronics module configured to determine whether the electrodes are in the open or closed position to obtain electrode position data, wherein the electrodes and electronics module are embedded within the protective covering which is integrally molded therearound; and

an end device communicatively coupled to the electronics module of the mat, wherein the electronics module is configured to communicate the electrode position data to the end device, wherein, with communication of loaded electrode position data, the end device is configured to initiate a software application, and, with communication of unloaded electrode position data, the end device is configured to terminate the software application, wherein the software application is configured to run only with communication of the loaded electrode position data.

23. The mat system of claim 22, wherein the end device is wirelessly coupled to the electronics module of the mat.

24. The mat system of claim 22, wherein the end device is coupled to the electronics module of the mat with a USB cable.

25. A method, comprising:

electrically coupling a pair of electrodes with an electronics module;

integrally molding a seamless protective covering around the pair of electrodes and the electronics module, wherein the pair of electrodes and the electronics module are embedded within the protective covering, the electrodes including an open position when unloaded and a closed position when loaded, the electronics module configured to determine whether the electrodes are in the open or closed position to obtain electrode position data; and

communicatively coupling the electronics module with an end device, wherein, with communication of loaded electrode position data, the end device is configured to initiate a software application, and, with communication of unloaded electrode position data, the end device is configured to terminate the software application, wherein the software application is configured to run only with communication of the loaded electrode position data.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein integrally molding includes open cast molding.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein integrally molding includes injection molding.

28. The method of claim 25, comprising placing a plurality of spacing structures between the electrodes, the spacing structures formed entirely from a single resilient material.