Patents by Inventor Bart Geraets

Bart Geraets has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11397103
    Abstract: The sensor circuit (105) is configured for sensing of an electrolyte solution, such as an aqueous solution (1000) in a chamber (150). The sensor circuit comprises a signal generator configured for generating signals in a predefined frequency range above 1 MHz. It further comprises a capacitive sensor comprising a first and a second electrode (101, 102), wherein the electrolyte solution (1000) constitutes a medium of the capacitive sensor, and an output circuit for conditioning a response into a sensor signal. Herein, the capacitive sensor is part of a secondary, floating circuit which is coupled in a contactless manner to a primary circuit comprising the signal generator and the output circuit, and wherein said response is transmitted from the secondary circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Inventors: Victor Augusta P. Claes, Bart Geraets, Jan Schoeters
  • Patent number: 11352774
    Abstract: The sanitary appliance (400) comprises a receptacle (410) and a tube (420) provided with a tube wall (401, 402) and configured to contain—in use—an aqueous solution (1000) and a sensor circuit (105) for sensing inflow of matter into the sanitary appliance (400), wherein the sensor circuit (105) comprises a primary circuit and a secondary circuit that are mutually inductively coupled, wherein the inductively coupled secondary circuit includes a capacitive sensor comprising a first and a second electrode (101, 102), each of which are configured to be in use at least partially (101, 192) in contact with the aqueous solution (1000), which constitutes a medium of the capacitive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: IPEE NV
    Inventors: Victor Augusta P Claes, Bart Geraets, Jan Schoeters
  • Publication number: 20210033446
    Abstract: The sensor circuit (105) is configured for sensing of an electrolyte solution, such as an aqueous solution (1000) in a chamber (150). The sensor circuit comprises a signal generator configured for generating signals in a predefined frequency range above 1 MHz. It further comprises a capacitive sensor comprising a first and a second electrode (101, 102), wherein the electrolyte solution (1000) constitutes a medium of the capacitive sensor, and an output circuit for conditioning a response into a sensor signal. Herein, the capacitive sensor is part of a secondary, floating circuit which is coupled in a contactless manner to a primary circuit comprising the signal generator and the output circuit, and wherein said response is transmitted from the secondary circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Victor Augusta P. Claes, Bart Geraets, Jan Schoeters
  • Publication number: 20200370288
    Abstract: The sanitary appliance (400) comprises a receptacle (410) and a tube (420) provided with a tube wall (401, 402) and configured to contain—in use—an aqueous solution (1000) and a sensor circuit (105) for sensing inflow of matter into the sanitary appliance (400), wherein the sensor circuit (105) comprises a primary circuit and a secondary circuit that are mutually inductively coupled, wherein the inductively coupled secondary circuit includes a capacitive sensor comprising a first and a second electrode (101, 102), each of which are configured to be in use at least partially (101, 192) in contact with the aqueous solution (1000), which constitutes a medium of the capacitive sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Victor Augusta P Claes, Bart Geraets, Jan Schoeters
  • Patent number: 10732010
    Abstract: The sanitary appliance comprising a receptacle provided with a flow surface and further comprising at least one sensor for sensing flow of urine (a physiological solution) located at a distance from the flow surface of the receptacle, characterised in that the sensor comprises a resonance circuit. Urine flow may be identified at the flow surface in that: (1) a first voltage is provided to a resonance circuit to be modified into a second voltage; (2) the second voltage is sensed and (3) the second voltage is compared with a reference value for identification of urine flow. Furthermore a dirt layer with a thickness at the flow surface may be identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: IPEE NV
    Inventors: Victor Claes, Bart Geraets, Werner Dupont
  • Publication number: 20150292912
    Abstract: The sanitary appliance comprising a receptacle provided with a flow surface and further comprising at least one sensor for sensing flow of urine (a physiological solution) located at a distance from the flow surface of the receptacle, characterised in that the sensor comprises a resonance circuit. Urine flow may be identified at the flow surface in that: (1) a first voltage is provided to a resonance circuit to be modified into a second voltage; (2) the second voltage is sensed and (3) the second voltage is compared with a reference value for identification of urine flow. Furthermore a dirt layer with a thickness at the flow surface may be identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Victor Claes, Bart Geraets, Werner Dupont