The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 03, 2021
Filed:
Apr. 22, 2020
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Thomas Almholt, Murphy, TX (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A material-discerning sensing device includes an antenna, a capacitive proximity sensor, and a control circuit. The antenna includes multiple conductive loops and is configured to radiate a wireless signal. The antenna defines an interior region devoid of the conductive loops and an exterior region outside the conductive loops. The capacitive proximity sensor includes a conductive pattern provided within the interior region or within a projection of the interior region, as well as a conductive bar. The control circuit is configured to detect a change in a characteristic of an electrical signal from the capacitive sensor. The conductive pattern includes a longitudinal portion, a first plurality of parallel conductors extending away from the longitudinal portion in a first direction and orthogonal to the longitudinal portion, and a second plurality of parallel conductors extending away from the longitudinal portion in a second direction opposite the first direction.