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:
Oct. 30, 2007
Filed:
Aug. 11, 2005
Robert E. Martinez, Austin, TX (US);
Stephen A. Cerwin, Mico, TX (US);
Todd H. Goyen, San Antonio, TX (US);
Robert E. Martinez, Austin, TX (US);
Stephen A. Cerwin, Mico, TX (US);
Todd H. Goyen, San Antonio, TX (US);
Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (US);
Abstract
Methods and systems are described for efficiently detecting an object. The system includes at least one electrode for measuring a displacement current. The at least one electrode is coupled to a floating ground configuration provided by an op-amp, where the inverting node of the op-amp is coupled to electrode and the non-inverting node is coupled to a signal generator. The system may include a single capacitance sensor for detecting an object. Systems may include a plurality of capacitance sensors in an array configuration for detecting an object.