Identifying an object using capacitive sensing of predetermined spatial patterns of detectable elements
Some examples may relate to an object-recognition system. The object-recognition system may generate an object identifier when an object having detectable elements in a predetermined spatial pattern is in proximity to a capacitive sensor. The object-recognition system may include a capacitive sensor and a reader to capture channel-capacitance measurements at least partially responsive to the capacitive sensor in proximity of the detectable elements. The object-recognition system may include a recognizer to generate an object identifier at least partially responsive the captured channel-capacitance measurements.
1 . A system, comprising:
an object;
detectable elements retained in, or affixed to, the object, an arrangement of the detectable elements exhibiting a predetermined spatial pattern; and
an object-recognition system, comprising:
a capacitive sensor;
a reader to capture channel-capacitance measurements representative of the predetermined spatial pattern at least partially responsive to the capacitive sensor in proximity of the detectable elements;
a recognizer to generate an object identifier corresponding to the predetermined spatial pattern represented by the captured channel-capacitance; and
a processor to generate a bit representation of the object identifier;
wherein the object-recognition system to cryptographically sign the bit representation of the object identifier using a private cryptographic key of a public/private key pair, wherein a public cryptographic key paired with the private cryptographic key is printed on an outer surface of a material in which the detectable elements are disposed.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the detectable elements are removably affixed to the object.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the detectable elements are adhesively affixed to the object.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the detectable elements are magnetically affixed to the object.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the detectable elements are retained in a material of the object.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the detectable elements are retained in, or affixed to, a material affixed to the object and the detectable elements are affixed to the object via the material.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the material is affixed to the object via a fastener.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the material in which the detectable elements are retained in, or affixed to, is a non-conductive material.
9 . The system of claim 1 , a material of a respective detectable element comprises: metal, conductive ceramic, or conductive polymer.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the object is a container or a replaceable part.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the object-recognition system is part of a modular system and the detectable elements are in proximity to the capacitive sensor of the object-recognition system when the object is coupled with the modular system.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the modular system, an object, or both, includes a guide to align the object in a predetermined position relative to the object-recognition system.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the object-recognition system to communicate the bit representation of the object to an inventory management system, a validation system, or a counterfeit detection system.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the detectable elements comprise a first group of the detectable elements electrically separated from a second group of the detectable elements.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the detectable elements comprise a first group of the detectable elements electrically coupled to a second group of the detectable elements.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first group of the detectable elements and the second group of the detectable elements are electrically coupled to a ground connection.
17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the recognizer to:
determine coordinates of respective detectable elements at least partially responsive to captured channel-capacitance measurements; and
generate the object identifier at least partially responsive to the determined coordinates.
18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the captured channel-capacitance measurements comprise analog-to-digital converter values.
19 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the captured channel-capacitance measurements comprise delta values.
20 . A method, comprising: capturing channel-capacitance measurements via a capacitive sensor responsive to detectable elements retained in, or affixed to, an object being in proximity of the capacitive sensor, the detectable elements arranged in a predetermined spatial pattern, the captured channel-capacitance measurements representative of the predetermined spatial pattern and generating an object identifier corresponding to the predetermined spatial pattern represented by the captured channel-capacitance measurements;
and generating a bit representation of the object identifier; and signing the bit representation of the object via a private cryptographic key of a public/private key pair, wherein a public cryptographic key paired with the private cryptographic key is printed on an outer surface of a material in which the detectable elements are disposed.
21 . The method of claim 20 , comprising:
communicating the bit representation of the object to an inventory management system, a validation system, or a counterfeit detection system.
22 . The method of claim 20 , comprising:
determining coordinates of respective detectable elements at least partially responsive to captured channel-capacitance measurements; and
generating the object identifier at least partially responsive to the determined coordinates.