Mat system and method therefor
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An apparatus, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A system, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification