G01D5/252

Matrix sensors

An array of antennas form a sensor device. Some of the array of antennas function as receivers and some of the array of antennas function as transmitters. Each of the transmitters may transmit a unique frequency orthogonal signal that may be received at the receivers. Measurements of the received signal are then used to determine activity within field lines.

Matrix sensors

An array of antennas form a sensor device. Some of the array of antennas function as receivers and some of the array of antennas function as transmitters. Each of the transmitters may transmit a unique frequency orthogonal signal that may be received at the receivers. Measurements of the received signal are then used to determine activity within field lines.

Flexible deformation sensor

A controller for sensing deformation including a sensor structure having a deformable conductor and another conductor (which may also be deformable). The deformable conductor may be made out of a flexible non-fluid material (e.g., rubber) or a conductive fluid. The deformable conductor may be deformed by the deformation of the sensor structure or by other forces. The sensor comprises circuitry to drive and sense signals on interacting pairs of conductors (the deformable conductor or the other conductor can act as the drive side, or as the sense side). Sense signals are processed to analyze deformation of the deformable conductor, and deformation of the sensor structure. Where the sensor is deployed proximate to human skin, deformation and changes in deformation may be used to correlate or infer a body position, movement or pose.

Rotary switch or other encoder having non-sequential unique bit pattern and method for design
10921162 · 2021-02-16 · ·

An apparatus for rotary encoding includes a knob configured to be rotated. The apparatus also includes multiple switches each configured to selectively form or not form a connection based on a current rotational position of the knob. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to generate or use a digital value associated with the current rotational position of the knob. The digital value is defined by which switches have or have not formed connections. Locations where the switches form the connections are selected such that the digital values uniquely identify different rotational positions of the knob and are non-sequential as the knob is rotated.

Rotary switch or other encoder having non-sequential unique bit pattern and method for design
10921162 · 2021-02-16 · ·

An apparatus for rotary encoding includes a knob configured to be rotated. The apparatus also includes multiple switches each configured to selectively form or not form a connection based on a current rotational position of the knob. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to generate or use a digital value associated with the current rotational position of the knob. The digital value is defined by which switches have or have not formed connections. Locations where the switches form the connections are selected such that the digital values uniquely identify different rotational positions of the knob and are non-sequential as the knob is rotated.

Rotary encoder

A rotary encoder includes a shaft and an encoder mechanism that holds the shaft in a rotatably inserted state and detects a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the shaft. The encoder mechanism includes a substrate that rotatably holds the shaft, an insulator portion and a resistor portion provided on one surface of the substrate and alternately provided in the rotation direction of the shaft, a rotor attached to the shaft so as to be integrally rotatable with the shaft, and a slider that is attached to the rotor and alternately slidably contacts the insulator portion and the resistor portion by rotation of the shaft. The insulator portion includes a base material made of a resin, spherical silica, and a fluororesin filler.

Rotation control apparatus
10738906 · 2020-08-11 · ·

A rotation control apparatus includes a relative position sensor that contactlessly detects the mechanical displacement amount of a shaft to be actuated in a direction of rotation, absolute position sensors that are provided at mutually different positions within a rotatable range of the shaft to be actuated and each output a detection signal when the shaft to be actuated has reached its corresponding position, and a position calculating unit that calculates an absolute position of the shaft to be actuated in the direction of rotation on the basis of an integrated value of the mechanical displacement amount since the detection signal is output and a reference value indicating a position corresponding to the absolute position sensor that has output the detection signal. At least one of the absolute position sensors is provided to correspond to a third position excluding a first position and a second position within the rotatable range.

Rotation control apparatus
10738906 · 2020-08-11 · ·

A rotation control apparatus includes a relative position sensor that contactlessly detects the mechanical displacement amount of a shaft to be actuated in a direction of rotation, absolute position sensors that are provided at mutually different positions within a rotatable range of the shaft to be actuated and each output a detection signal when the shaft to be actuated has reached its corresponding position, and a position calculating unit that calculates an absolute position of the shaft to be actuated in the direction of rotation on the basis of an integrated value of the mechanical displacement amount since the detection signal is output and a reference value indicating a position corresponding to the absolute position sensor that has output the detection signal. At least one of the absolute position sensors is provided to correspond to a third position excluding a first position and a second position within the rotatable range.

ROTARY SWITCH OR OTHER ENCODER HAVING NON-SEQUENTIAL UNIQUE BIT PATTERN AND METHOD FOR DESIGN
20200158542 · 2020-05-21 ·

An apparatus for rotary encoding includes a knob configured to be rotated. The apparatus also includes multiple switches each configured to selectively form or not form a connection based on a current rotational position of the knob. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to generate or use a digital value associated with the current rotational position of the knob. The digital value is defined by which switches have or have not formed connections. Locations where the switches form the connections are selected such that the digital values uniquely identify different rotational positions of the knob and are non-sequential as the knob is rotated.

ROTARY SWITCH OR OTHER ENCODER HAVING NON-SEQUENTIAL UNIQUE BIT PATTERN AND METHOD FOR DESIGN
20200158542 · 2020-05-21 ·

An apparatus for rotary encoding includes a knob configured to be rotated. The apparatus also includes multiple switches each configured to selectively form or not form a connection based on a current rotational position of the knob. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to generate or use a digital value associated with the current rotational position of the knob. The digital value is defined by which switches have or have not formed connections. Locations where the switches form the connections are selected such that the digital values uniquely identify different rotational positions of the knob and are non-sequential as the knob is rotated.