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.

Date of Patent:
Feb. 14, 2017

Filed:

Jan. 30, 2014
Applicant:

Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);

Inventors:

Pietro Buttolo, Dearborn Heights, MI (US);

Stuart C. Salter, White Lake, MI (US);

Dipanjan Ghosh, Dearborn Heights, MI (US);

Khaled Omar, Dearborn, MI (US);

James Stewart Rankin, II, Novi, MI (US);

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01R 27/26 (2006.01); H03K 17/955 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01R 27/2605 (2013.01); H03K 17/955 (2013.01); H03K 2217/94052 (2013.01); H03K 2217/960705 (2013.01);
Abstract

A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field of each proximity switch to sense activation. The control circuitry controls the activation field of each proximity switch to sense activation, monitors signals indicative of the activation field, and determines a first stable signal amplitude and a subsequent second signal amplitude, and generates an activation output when the second stable signal amplitude exceeds the first stable amplitude by a known amount.


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