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. 16, 2016
Filed:
Jun. 09, 2014
Applicant:
Atmel Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Inventors:
Assignee:
Atmel Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 3/044 (2006.01); G06F 3/041 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 3/0416 (2013.01); G06F 3/044 (2013.01); G06F 3/0418 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04108 (2013.01);
Abstract
An apparatus of one embodiment includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor has first and second electrodes separated by an insulator. The controller includes measurement circuitry, a processor, and a memory comprising logic. The logic is operable to disconnect the second electrode from the measurement circuitry, induce a current on the second electrode by applying voltage to the first electrode, apply charge to the second electrode, connect the second electrode to the measurement circuitry after applying the charge to the second electrode, and determine a capacitance value associated with the second electrode.