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:
Apr. 29, 2014
Filed:
Aug. 08, 2008
Tobin C. Island, Oakland, CA (US);
Mark V. Weckwerth, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Harvey I. Liu, Fremont, CA (US);
Jeffrey A. Hoenshell, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Charles A. Schuetz, Oakland, CA (US);
Tobin C. Island, Oakland, CA (US);
Mark V. Weckwerth, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Harvey I. Liu, Fremont, CA (US);
Jeffrey A. Hoenshell, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Charles A. Schuetz, Oakland, CA (US);
Tria Beauty, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (US);
Abstract
A skin proximity sensor and method are disclosed in a dermatologic treatment device that includes a bezel or similar surface, and a treatment source capable of being activated to supply a dermatologic treatment through the bezel or surface, such as a window or similar port. A plurality of contacts leading to remotely located capacitors, in some embodiments, or a plurality of capacitive sensors in other embodiments, is positioned in or under the bezel and around the window, and control circuitry coupled to the plurality of capacitors senses the change in capacitance due to skin and inhibits activation of the dermatologic treatment device unless the proximity of skin is sensed. The presence of skin is detected, for example, by measuring changes in charge and discharge times, indicating a variation in capacitance.