Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC

Kazuyoshi Ishikawa

Takayasu Otagaki

Tetsuya Tokunaga

Stephen John Sheard

In accordance with at least one embodiment, a touch sensor is disclosed. The touch sensor includes a first electroconductive pattern including at least two electrodes. The touch sensor further includes a second electroconductive pattern configured to mask a portion of the first electroconductive pattern when positioned over or under the first electroconductive pattern. The second electroconductive pattern masks the portion of the first electroconductive pattern such that an unmasked portion of the first electroconductive pattern includes unmasked portions of the at least two electrodes. The unmasked portions are of approximately equal length.

Touch sensor with masked layout pattern

Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise methods and apparatus for increased sensitivity of a capacitive proximity sensor. The method and apparatus may comprise a sense electrode and a drive electrode configured to create at least one inflection point corresponding to an increase or decrease in rate of change of capacitance within one or more sensing regions of the electrical field of the capacitive sensor. In alternative embodiments, the sense electrode may be configured to create multiple zones that may be used to indicate a desired signal such an upcoming replacement period and a replace now period.

Methods and apparatus for increased sensitivity of a capacitive sensor

Various embodiments of the present technology may provide methods and apparatus for a touch sensor. The touch sensor may include a plurality of horizontally-positioned electrode chains and a plurality of vertically-positioned electrode chains overlapping the plurality of horizontally-positioned electrode chains. Each electrode chain from the plurality of horizontally-positioned electrode chains and the plurality of vertically-positioned electrode chains may operate as a drive electrode and a reception electrode.

Methods and apparatus for a capacitive touch sensor

In accordance with at least one embodiment, a method for detecting a liquid level includes providing a container () having a cavity, and disposing a sensor () in the cavity of the container (), such that a ground pattern () on a first surface of the sensor () is positioned to contact a liquid in the cavity. A first electrode () and a second electrode () are located on a second surface of the sensor (). The sensor () is coupled to a sensor input and a sensor driver. A cable coupling the sensor () to a touch sensor () comprises a shield line () that is coupled to ground.

Capacitance liquid level sensor

In accordance with an embodiment, a method for detecting a fluid level, includes providing a fluid container having a cavity and coupling a first sensor to the fluid container, the first sensor protected from a fluid in the cavity and positioned at a first vertical level of the fluid container. The method further includes causing movement of either the first sensor or the fluid container. The first sensor is used to detect the fluid level upon causing the movement of either the first sensor or the fluid container.

Level sensor and method

In accordance with at least one embodiment, a system for detecting a level is disclosed. The system includes a substrate having an input electrode and a drive electrode. The system further includes a container having an electrode. At least a portion of the electrode extends along a height dimension of the container. The container is arranged adjacent the substrate, such that the electrode is capacitively coupled to the input electrode or the drive electrode. The system further includes a circuit that, while the electrode is capacitively coupled to the input electrode or the drive electrode, determines a level of a substance inside the container, based on an effective capacitance between the input electrode and the drive electrode.

Capacitive sensor for liquid sensing

Pattern layout of touch sensor

Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise methods and apparatus for a touch sensor. The touch sensor may comprise an array of sensor cells, wherein each cell comprises two reception electrodes. Each reception electrode may comprise two portions arranged diagonally, wherein a first reception electrode is arranged along one diagonal and a second reception electrode is arranged along a second diagonal, such that the two reception electrodes overlap in a center portion of the cell. The touch sensor may further comprise a drive electrode arranged in a grid pattern throughout the array to surround each sensor cell.

Methods and apparatus for a touch sensor

Level sensing designs and techniques that inherently compensate for physical variations in the flowable material. An illustrative container includes an electrode arrangement having two electrodes along a vertical span creating corresponding capacitances indicative of a level of the material within that vertical span. Differing electrode shapes or positions provide the capacitances with different dependences on the level. A level detection method includes: (i) measuring a first capacitance between a drive electrode and a first sensing electrode; (ii) measuring a second capacitance between the drive electrode and a second sensing electrode; and (iii) determining a ratio of variances in the first and second capacitances, the variances being relative to first and second capacitances for a container empty of the material. The ratio is indicative of said level and insensitive to temperature and permittivity of the material.

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Kumagaya, Japan

Kazuyoshi Ishikawa