System and method for rapid data collection from pressure sensors in a pressure sensing system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of measuring capacitances of n capacitors in a pressure sensing system including the pressure sensing system comprising:
- a plurality of linear conductor columns and a plurality of linear conductor rows, wherein the columns are not parallel to the rows, and an array of n capacitors each formed at an overlying region of a column and a row, and wherein the columns and rows are respectively disposed on opposite sides of a sheet of a compressible dielectric, the method comprising;
applying an alternating known voltage to n circuits, each of the n circuits comprising a different bank of n−
1 capacitors interconnected in parallel and the one remaining capacitor connected in series with the bank;
measuring the alternating current of each of the n circuits;
applying an alternating known voltage to an n+1 circuit comprising the n capacitors interconnected in parallel;
measuring the alternating current of the n+1 circuit; and
deriving from the measured current of each of the n circuits and the n+1 circuit and the known voltages of each of the n circuits and the n+1 circuits the capacitance of each of the n capacitors.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for the management of data collection from a pressure sensing apparatus. The system allows rapid measurement of pressure exerted upon a surface and may be useful in preventing bed sore development in a bed bound subject.
133 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of measuring capacitances of n capacitors in a pressure sensing system including the pressure sensing system comprising:
- a plurality of linear conductor columns and a plurality of linear conductor rows, wherein the columns are not parallel to the rows, and an array of n capacitors each formed at an overlying region of a column and a row, and wherein the columns and rows are respectively disposed on opposite sides of a sheet of a compressible dielectric, the method comprising;
applying an alternating known voltage to n circuits, each of the n circuits comprising a different bank of n−
1 capacitors interconnected in parallel and the one remaining capacitor connected in series with the bank;measuring the alternating current of each of the n circuits; applying an alternating known voltage to an n+1 circuit comprising the n capacitors interconnected in parallel; measuring the alternating current of the n+1 circuit; and deriving from the measured current of each of the n circuits and the n+1 circuit and the known voltages of each of the n circuits and the n+1 circuits the capacitance of each of the n capacitors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- a plurality of linear conductor columns and a plurality of linear conductor rows, wherein the columns are not parallel to the rows, and an array of n capacitors each formed at an overlying region of a column and a row, and wherein the columns and rows are respectively disposed on opposite sides of a sheet of a compressible dielectric, the method comprising;
-
7. A pressure sensing system comprising:
-
a sensing apparatus comprising an array of n capacitors each formed at an overlying region of a plurality of linear conductor columns and a plurality of linear conductor rows, and wherein the columns and rows are respectively disposed on opposite sides of a sheet of a compressible dielectric; and a controller configured to; apply an alternating known voltage to n circuits, each of the n circuits comprising a different bank of n−
1 capacitors connected in parallel and the one remaining capacitor connected in series with the bank;measure the alternating current of each of the n circuits; apply an alternating known voltage to an n+1 circuit comprising n capacitors interconnected in parallel; measure the alternating current of the n+1 circuit; derive a capacitance of each of the n capacitors based on the measured current of each of the n circuits and the n+1 circuit and the known voltages of each of the n circuits and the n+1 circuits; and determine a pressure exerted upon the sensing apparatus based on the capacitance of each of the n capacitors. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for measuring capacitances of a sensing apparatus and for determining the pressure exerted upon the sensing apparatus, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that are configured to execute the following functions:
-
apply an alternating known voltage to n circuits, each of the n circuits comprising a different bank of n−
1 capacitors interconnected in parallel and one remaining capacitor connected in series with the bank;measure the alternating current of each of the n circuits; apply an alternating known voltage to an n+1 circuit comprising the n capacitors interconnected in parallel; measure the alternating current of the n+1 circuit; derive from the measured current of each of the n circuits and the n+1 circuit and the known voltages of each of the n circuits and the n+1 circuits the capacitance of each of the n capacitors; and determine a pressure exerted upon the sensing apparatus based on the capacitance of each of the n capacitors. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification