IP Library Granted Patent US 11,604,534
Granted Patent B2
US 11,604,534 · App. 17/249,925 · Granted Mar 14, 2023

Recognizing an object using capacitive sensing

Inventors: Johan Vaarlid (Trondelag, NO); Petter Diderik Breedveld (Trøndelag, NO)
Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
G06F3/0416G06F3/0446G06F3/04817G06F3/04186G06F2203/04108
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,604,534
App. No.
17/249,925
Granted
Mar 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some embodiments of the present disclosure may include a controller for an object-recognition system. The controller may include a capacitive-sensor-button controller configured to provide a button-status report at least partially responsive to proximity of the object to specified areas of a capacitive sensor. The controller may also include a recognizer configured to generate an object identifier at least partially responsive to the button-status report when an object having a plurality of detectable elements in a predetermined spatial pattern is in proximity thereof. Some embodiments of the present disclosure may include a controller for an object-recognition system. The controller may include a reader configured to capture channel-capacitance measurements of a capacitive sensor. The controller may also include a recognizer configured to generate an object identifier at least partially responsive to a set of channel-capacitance measurements captured by the reader when the object is in proximity to the capacitive sensor.

Claims (37)

1. A method, comprising:

capturing a channel-capacitance measurement via a capacitive sensor when at least a portion of a module is in proximity to the capacitive sensor when the module is attached to a modular system, the modular system comprising a tool or appliance, the module comprising an attachment for the tool or appliance, a replacement part for the tool or appliance, or a container of a consumable product to be consumed by the tool or appliance, the portion of the module including a plurality of detectable elements in a predetermined spatial pattern;

generating an object identifier at least partially responsive to the captured channel-capacitance measurement; and

identifying the module by identifying the attachment responsive to the object identifier, identifying the replacement part responsive to the object identifier, or identifying the container responsive to the object identifier.

2. A method, comprising:

capturing a channel-capacitance measurement via a capacitive sensor when at least a portion of a module is in proximity to the capacitive sensor when the module is attached to a modular system, the modular system comprising a tool or appliance, the module comprising an attachment for the tool or appliance, a replacement part for the tool or appliance, or a container for a consumable product to be consumed by the tool or appliance, the portion of the module including a plurality of detectable elements in a predetermined spatial pattern;

generating an object identifier at least partially responsive to the captured channel-capacitance measurement; and

validating the module by validating the attachment as valid for attachment for the tool or appliance responsive to the object identifier, validating the replacement part as a valid replacement part for the tool or appliance responsive to the object identifier, or validating the container as a valid container responsive to the object identifier.

3. A controller for a modular system, the modular system comprising a tool or appliance, the controller comprising:

a reader to capture a channel-capacitance measurement via a capacitive sensor;

a capacitive-sensor-button controller to provide a button-status report at least partially responsive to the captured channel-capacitance measurement when a portion of a module having a plurality of detectable elements in a predetermined spatial pattern is in proximity to the capacitive sensor when the module is attached to the modular system the module comprising an attachment for the tool or appliance or a replacement part for the tool or appliance; and

a recognizer to generate an object identifier at least partially responsive to the button-status report, the object identifier based at least partially on the predetermined spatial pattern of the plurality of detectable elements of the portion;

wherein the controller to identify or validate the attachment or the replacement part responsive to the object identifier.

4. A controller for a modular system, the modular system comprising a tool or appliance, the controller comprising:

a reader to capture a channel-capacitance measurement via a capacitive sensor;

a capacitive-sensor-button controller to provide a button-status report at least partially responsive to the captured channel-capacitance measurement when a portion of a module having a plurality of detectable elements in a predetermined spatial pattern is in proximity to the capacitive sensor when the module is attached to the modular system, the module comprising a container of a consumable product to be consumed by the tool or appliance; and

a recognizer to generate an object identifier at least partially responsive to the button-status report, the object identifier based at least partially on the predetermined spatial pattern of the plurality of detectable elements of the portion, the controller to identify or validate the container responsive to the object identifier.

5. A controller for a modular system, the modular system comprising a tool or appliance, the controller comprising:

a reader to capture a channel-capacitance measurement via a capacitive sensor when a portion of a module having a plurality of detectable elements in a predetermined spatial pattern is in proximity to the capacitive sensor when the module is attached to the modular system, the module comprising an attachment for the tool or appliance or a replacement part for the tool or appliance; and

a recognizer to generate an object identifier at least partially responsive to the captured channel-capacitance measurement, the controller to identify or validate the attachment or replacement part responsive to the object identifier.

6. A controller for a modular system, the modular system comprising a tool or appliance, the controller comprising:

a reader to capture a channel-capacitance measurement via a capacitive sensor when a portion of a module having a plurality of detectable elements in a predetermined spatial pattern is in proximity to the capacitive sensor when the module is attached to the modular system, the module comprising a container of a consumable product to be consumed by the tool or appliance; and

a recognizer to generate an object identifier at least partially responsive to the captured channel-capacitance measurement, the controller to identify or validate the container responsive to the object identifier.

7. A modular system comprising a tool or appliance, the modular system comprising:

a module comprising an attachment for the tool or appliance or a replacement part for the tool or appliance, the module to be attached to the modular system, the module comprising a portion having a plurality of detectable elements in a predetermined spatial pattern arranged therein;

an object-recognition system comprising:

a capacitive sensor, the portion of the module to be in proximity to the capacitive sensor when the module is attached to the modular system;

a reader to capture a channel-capacitance measurement when the portion of the module is in proximity to the capacitive sensor; and

a recognizer to determine an object identifier at least partially responsive to the captured channel-capacitance measurement, the object-recognition system to identify or validate the attachment or the replacement part responsive to the object identifier.

8. The modular system of claim 7 , the detectable elements arranged at varying depths within the portion of the module.

9. A modular system comprising a tool or appliance, the modular system comprising:

a module comprising a container of a consumable product, the modular system to consume the consumable product, the module to be attached to the modular system, the module comprising a portion having a plurality of detectable elements in a predetermined spatial pattern arranged therein;

an object-recognition system comprising:

a capacitive sensor, the portion of the module to be in proximity to the capacitive sensor when the module is attached to the modular system;

a reader to capture a channel-capacitance measurement when the portion of the module is in proximity to the capacitive sensor; and

a recognizer to determine an object identifier at least partially responsive to the captured channel-capacitance measurement, the object-recognition system to identify or validate the container responsive to the object identifier.

10. The modular system of claim 9 , the detectable elements arranged at varying depths within the portion of the module.

Assignments (12)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2023
From: BACON, DANIEL; BEUKER, ROB A.; SOLOMON, CHAD; VAARLID, JOHAN; BREEDVELD, PETTER DIDERIK
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORORATED
Reel/Frame 063840/0136 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059363/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059358/0398 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0335 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059357/0823 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059264/0384 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058214/0238 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 058214/0380 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058214/0625 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058213/0959 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057935/0474 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2021
From: VAARLID, JOHAN; BREEDVELD, PETTER DIDERIK
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 055652/0169 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63001097 · Mar 27, 2020
Related Publication 20210302208A1 · Sep 30, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,239,922