Capacitive Sensing Control and Calibration for a Child Device

• US 20080146361A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Godiska, James E.
• Application Number:
  US11/933,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20080146361A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 472/119
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 1/10 capable of being suspended from, or attached to, tables or other articles
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/105 pivotally mounted in a frame
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 9/016 capable of being suspended from, or attached to, other articles or structures, e.g. adult's bed
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 9/02 with rocking mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 9/057 driven by electric motors

Abstract

A child device includes a user interface having a capacitive sensor element configured to reflect a capacitance change in connection with an operator interaction with the user interface, and a control circuit coupled to the capacitive sensor element to detect the capacitance change resulting from the operator interaction. The control circuit is further configured to evaluate the capacitance change to determine whether the operator interaction is initiated by a user authorized to control operation of the child device. In some cases, the child device may be configured to implement a learning routine involving capturing data indicative of a capacitance change, and evaluating the data to determine a threshold to be used in detection of future operator interaction.

Claims

1. A child device comprising:

a user interface comprising a capacitive sensor element configured to reflect a capacitance change in connection with an operator interaction with the user interface; and

a control circuit coupled to the capacitive sensor element to detect the capacitance change resulting from the operator interaction;

wherein the control circuit is further configured to evaluate the capacitance change to determine whether the operator interaction is initiated by a user authorized to control operation of the child device.

2. A child device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to compare the detected capacitance change with a threshold to determine whether the operator interaction is initiated by a user authorized to control operation of the child device.

3. A child device according to claim 2, wherein the threshold is directed to differentiating between human touches of the capacitive sensor element by a child-sized finger and an adult-sized finger.

4. A child device according to claim 3, wherein the control circuit is configured to allow the operator interaction to control the operation of the child device when the capacitance change exceeds the threshold to be indicative of the adult-sized finger.

5. A child device according to claim 3, wherein the control circuit is configured to allow the operator interaction to control the operation of the child device when the capacitance change does not exceed the threshold to be indicative of the child-sized finger.

6. A child device according to claim 2, wherein the threshold is adjustable via a calibration routine.

7. A child device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to recognize the user initiating the operator interaction by comparing the capacitance change with a stored user profile.

8. A method of controlling a child device comprising:

capturing data indicative of a capacitance change resulting from operator interaction with a capacitive sensor element of a user interface of the child device;

evaluating the data to determine a threshold to be used in detection of future operator interaction in connection with controlling operation of the child device; and

storing the threshold to calibrate the child device.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising detecting a change in sensitivity of the capacitive sensor element to trigger a learning routine including implementation of the capturing and evaluating steps.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising detecting a user-initiated request to trigger a learning routine including implementation of the capturing and evaluating steps.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising initiating a setup procedure of the child device to trigger a learning routine including implementation of the capturing and evaluating steps.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein the threshold is directed to differentiating between users.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein the threshold is directed to determining whether the operator interaction is initiated by a user authorized to control operation of the child device

14. A method according to claim 8, further comprising determining a user profile in accordance with the sensed capacitance change to support future recognition of an authorized user