Freescale Semiconductor,inc.

Honeywell International Inc.

Michael A Steffen

Bradley C Stewart

Rodrigo L Borras

Philip J Sieh

Embodiments of systems and methods include a sensor subsystem (e.g., within a container-mounted device) that produces a sensor output, and a processing system that implements a state machine. Upon entry into a first state, the processing system starts a timer, and while in a second state, the processing system waits for a specific sensor output value to be received. The processing system transitions from the first state to the second state upon expiration of the timer, and the processing system transitions from the second state to the first state when the sensor output corresponds to the specific sensor output value. When the state machine is in the second state, the output device produces a human-perceptible indicia configured to prompt a human user to perform an action that is likely to cause the sensor to produce the sensor output that corresponds to the specific sensor output value.

Methods and apparatus for sensing motion of a portable container and providing human perceptible indicia based on the sensed motion

The present disclosure provides several systems. In general, it provides E-field sensor systems that utilize at least one electrodeadapted for creating an E-field in an areawithin a detection volume where fluid presenceor presence of a solid bodyis to be detected. The electrical field sensor is configured to generate a detected signal responsive to a change in capacitance of the electric field, and is communicatively coupled to the electrode. In addition, a processoris configured to determine a quantitative measure of a fluid or solid body within the detection volume in accordance with a capacitive relationship with the detection volume. Described are examples of the system for fluid presence detection, fluid level measurement and measurement of proximity to a solid object.

Electrical field sensors for detecting fluid presence or level

A method and apparatus for improving microprocessor data acquisition. Noise in analog signals is removed by a low pass filter with a variable cutoff frequency controlled to cut off all frequencies above a frequency range of interest. The filtered signal is sampled by an analog-to-digital converter at a sampling rate which is variable and controlled to sample at a rate that is at least two times the low pass filter cutoff frequency thereby reducing the rate at which data is passed to a microprocessor and reducing the need for speed in the microprocessor's processing.

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Rockford, IL, United States of America

Michael A Steffen