Abstract: A sensing system determines movement and position of passengers and objects within a vehicle. In particular, the determination of the position and movement of body parts can be enhanced by providing features that provide a source of ground for the system. The sensing system is able to transmit a plurality of signals during a transmission period and use the sensed signals during a frame in order to create different heat maps that represent movement and position of person during an integration period. By taking advantage of grounding sources, the system is able to better determine the position and movement of a person or object.

Abstract: A sensing system determines movement and position of passengers and objects within a vehicle. The sensing system comprises a group a group of transmitting antennas operably connected to a car seat, each transmitting antenna adapted to transmit a signal that is orthogonal to each other signal transmitted during an integration period; a plurality of receiving antennas, each one of the plurality of receiving antennas adapted to receive transmitted signals; and a processor adapted to determine a measurement of the transmitted signals received and create a heatmap, wherein a heatmap summation is taken during no-touch events, compared to a baseline heatmap, and a new baseline heatmap recalibrated if a threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: A plurality of frequency orthogonal signals are transmitted into a person. At least one of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals is received at a receiving antenna or conductor. The received signal is measured. Characteristics of the received signal are used to establish a result related to that person.

Abstract: A sensor system is sensitive to the determination of activity, movement and position of a passenger in a vehicle. In particular, the determination of the position and movement of passengers in a vehicle can be enhanced by providing groupings of transmitting antennas and/or multiple infusion antennas The sensing system is able to determine the movement and activity of the passengers at various ranges and locations within the vehicle.

Abstract: A seat system has a seat cover and at least one transmitting antenna and at least one receiving antenna. Additionally, located within the system is a transmitting antenna transmitting a signal that is 180 degrees out of phase with respect to the signal transmitted from the other at least one transmitting antenna. The signal that is 180 degrees out of phase can alter measurements of signals received by the receiving antenna. There can also be a source of ground located within the seat system that is able to alter measurements of signals received by the receiving antenna.

Abstract: A plurality of frequency orthogonal signals are transmitted into a person. At least one of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals is received at a receiving antenna or conductor. The received signal is measured. Characteristics of the received signal are used to establish a result related to that person.

Abstract: Light emitting elements and light sensing elements are located on the surface of an object. Surface changes of the object are able to be determined by measuring light received at the light sensing elements. Changes with respect to the emission of the light normal to the surface of the object are used to determine changes in the surface.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is disclosed which includes a transmit electrode adapted to be operatively connected to a signal generator, a receive electrode adapted to be operatively connected to a signal receiver and signal processor, and a variably resistive conductive deformable element. The transmit electrode, the receive electrode and the variably resistive conductive deformable element being positioned in proximity to each other such that a pressure event proximate to the variably resistive conductive deformable element causes a change in coupling between the transmit electrode and the receive electrode, and a signal transmit on the transmit electrode as received on the receive electrode is changed in at least one of magnitude or phase in relation to and as a result of a pressure event.

Abstract: A sensor system is able adjust control location and the type of controls based on the positioning of a user's hands. The sensor system is adapted to detect the positioning of a hand or body part and compensate for the changing positions of the hand or body part. When the positioning of the hand or body part changes, the controls that are able to be activated by the hand or body part also change and adapt to the location where the controls are activated, providing accessible and/or contextualized controls.

Abstract: Methods and devices for providing fast multi-touch sensors are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method is provided for design and manufacture of touch sensors for touch-sensitive devices. At least one behavioral quality is identified for the touch-sensitive devices. At least one parameter is selected, the parameter being associated with the composition or geometry of a stack of row conductors and column conductors on each of the touch sensors associated with the devices, the selection being based on the identified at least one behavioral quality. Multi-touch sensors are then manufactured by arranging a plurality of row conductors and a plurality of column conductors in a stack such that the stack or a component thereof has a geometry or composition that meets the at least one parameter. An orthogonal signal transmitter is provided for simultaneously transmitting each of a plurality of orthogonal row signals on a respective one of at least some of the plurality of row conductors.

Abstract: A multi-modal sensor is disclosed that is able to detect and discriminate objects in the near-range range, mid-range and far-range. The sensor uses different sensing modalities that are adapted to cooperate and operate together depending upon the range of the object that is being detected. In an embodiment, infrared transmitters and infrared sensors are used, wherein the infrared transmitters transmit signals in the infrared range that frequency orthogonal with respect to each other.

Abstract: A touch sensor is provided with different operational modes. One mode may be the operation of the touch sensor with a reduced set of transmitting rows than another mode. Transmitting on a reduced set of rows from the normal set of transmitting rows provides an operational mode that is able to detect touch events at greater distances from the touch surface than when a full set of transmitting rows is being driven.

Abstract: A dynamic keyboard able to change and adapt the functionality of the keyboard depending on the scenario in which it is being implemented. Each key can have one or more modes assigned to it that is able to change depending on the use. Groups of keys can have more than one mode assigned to it. Different groups of keys can have different modes assigned to them.

Abstract: Methods of mitigating noise in a FMT sensing system. Noise and touch events are identified in the system. Noise and touch events can be identified and determined to be aperiodic or periodic. After establishing the type of noise in the system. The frame rate or processing of frames can be adjusted in order to remove the noise during the processing of touch events.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase measurement system and method. Multiple frequency orthogonal signals are transmitted simultaneously along the same row conductor. One of the signals may be low frequency signal. The other signal may be a high frequency signal. The field of the low frequency signal may extend further above a touch surface than the high frequency signal. The phase data from the low frequency signal may be used to provide information about a touch event.

Abstract: Disclosed is a touch detector having a touch surface, a plurality of antennae positioned beneath the touch surface organized into logical rows and columns, the logical rows and columns being conductively connected via row and column traces to each other, and to signal emitters and signal receivers respectively. The antennae are spaced apart such that they do not touch one another. Signal emitters simultaneously output frequency-orthogonal signals that can be detected by signal processing the signal frames received from the receive antennae. A signal processor produces a heat map of touch proximate to the touch surface based at least in part on a measurement for each of the frequency-orthogonal signals from the frames.

Abstract: A sensor for use with vehicular components. The sensors may comprise transmitting and receiving antennas that can be interleaved or placed within the various materials throughout the vehicle so that interaction with the materials will provide information related to the use. Sensors may also infuse signal into an occupant within the vehicle via the material which can provide enhanced interactions with various vehicle features and components.

Abstract: A plurality of sensors for application to a steering wheel or other generally toroidal objects is disclosed. In an embodiment, the sensor comprises interleaving transmit and receive conductors. In an embodiment, the sensor comprises crossing transmit and receive conductors. In an embodiment, sensor conductors are first provided on a flat substrate, which sensors placed on the flat substrate in a configuration that will permit expansion application of the substrate to the steering wheel.

Abstract: A touch sensor is provided having a sensing area comprising at least one drive conductor and one sense conductor. The drive conductor and the sense conductor are each disposed on the substrate such that, for any two given points on the drive conductor within the sensing area, the nearest point to each on the sense conductor within the sensing area is a different distance away. Drive and sense circuitry are used to measure a touch delta resulting from a given touch on the sensor. For a given touch, the measured touch delta will vary with the location of that touch along the length of the conductors. A third conductor may be added that has the same relationship with a middle (drive or sense) conductor. Repeating use of the two or three conductor patterns can be used to cover wider areas.

Abstract: A touch sensitive keyboard is disclosed. In one embodiment, a touch sensitive keyboard is provided that has a touchpad area separate from the keyboard keys. The keyboard is configured to disabled touchpad sensitivity when certain touch signals are received. In another embodiment, a touch sensitive keyboard is used as a controller. In a controller mode, keys on a touch sensitive keyboard are adapted to output a signal strength corresponding to a distance between the key and a finger operating as a control. In an embodiment, a touch sensitive keyboard includes a processor adapted to output a keystroke in response to one of the plurality of touch sensitive keys being pressed, and to output one or more touch points determined by interpolating signal strength for each of the plurality of touch sensitive keys on the keyboard.