Fluid level sensing utilizing a mutual capacitance touchpad device
First Claim
1. A system for performing fluid level determination of at least one fluid, said system comprising:
- a sensor array formed from a substrate and a plurality of conductive elements disposed thereon that create an array of sensor electrodes, wherein the sensor array includes at least one sensing surface;
touchpad sensor circuitry coupled to the sensor array for receiving signals from the sensor array that are indicative of electrical properties of the at least one fluid;
the at least one fluid disposed adjacent to the sensor array and which is in a proximity sensing range thereof; and
wherein the touchpad sensor circuitry provides data regarding a level of the at least one fluid relative to the at least one sensing surface of the sensor array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A capacitance-sensitive sensor array and associated touchpad sensor circuitry, the sensor array comprised of a flexible substrate having a plurality of printed conductor elements disposed thereon to form the sensor array, the printed conductor elements being coupled to touchpad sensor circuitry that includes data processing capabilities, wherein the sensor array is disposed along an outside surface of a container, wherein the sensor array is capable of conforming to a curved or irregular outside surface of the container, wherein the sensor array detects at least one characteristic of at least one fluid disposed within the container, and wherein the touchpad sensor circuitry processes data received from the sensor array to provide information regarding the at least one fluid.
62 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for performing fluid level determination of at least one fluid, said system comprising:
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a sensor array formed from a substrate and a plurality of conductive elements disposed thereon that create an array of sensor electrodes, wherein the sensor array includes at least one sensing surface; touchpad sensor circuitry coupled to the sensor array for receiving signals from the sensor array that are indicative of electrical properties of the at least one fluid; the at least one fluid disposed adjacent to the sensor array and which is in a proximity sensing range thereof; and wherein the touchpad sensor circuitry provides data regarding a level of the at least one fluid relative to the at least one sensing surface of the sensor array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for performing fluid level determination of at least one fluid, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) providing a sensor array having at least one sensing surface formed from a substrate and a plurality of conductive elements disposed thereon that create an array of sensor electrodes, touchpad sensor circuitry coupled to the sensor array for receiving signals from the sensor array, and wherein the touchpad sensor circuitry provides data regarding at least one fluid relative to the at least one sensing surface; and (2) determining a fluid level of the at least one fluid using the sensor array and the touchpad sensor circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification