A method for mapping underground sensors onto a network map may include obtaining a plurality of magnetic measurements from a plurality of sensors. The method may include using the plurality of magnetic measurements for determining a plurality of sensor locations in an initial network map. The method may include generating updated network maps from the perspective of each localized sensor. The method may include merging the updated network maps into a final network map, the final network map comprising a most accurate location for each sensor. The method may include determining inner localized sensors out of the plurality of sensors in the final network map. The method may include identifying the inner localized sensors as new base station anchors. The method may include mapping the inner localized sensors onto the final network map as new base station anchors.

A contact determination device includes a sensor measuring a contact degree of a body to be detected with an object, a contact determination unit determining whether the body to be detected is in contact with the object, based on a reference value, and a correction unit correcting the reference value, in which a cumulative value is obtained by accumulating a fluctuation amount of the detection value from a contact start time of the body to be detected with the object during a period in which the body to be detected is in contact with the object, and when the detection value increases as the contact degree increases, the correction unit corrects the reference value, based on a maximum value of the cumulative value, or when the detection value decreases as the contact degree increases, the correction unit corrects the reference value, based on a minimum value of the cumulative value.

Disclosed is a capacitive sensor (100) for locating the presence of an individual and/or of an object, the sensor (100) including:—a first layer (C1) including at least one first electrode (E1i, i∈[1,N]) extending in a first direction (d1);—a second layer (C2) having at least one second electrode (E2j, j∈[1,M]) extending in a second direction (d2); in which the first direction (d1) is different from the second direction (d2), and in which the first layer (C1) is electrically insulated from the second layer (C2).

A multi-purpose detection circuit for object detection and vehicle position determination is described. For example, the circuit is configurable for detecting foreign metallic objects, living objects, and a vehicle or type of vehicle above an inductive wireless power transmitter. The circuit is also configurable for determining the vehicle's position relative to the inductive wireless power transmitter. An example apparatus includes a measurement circuit including a multiplexer, electrically connected to a plurality of inductive and capacitive sense circuits, for measuring one or more electrical characteristics in each of the inductive and capacitive sense circuits according to a predetermined time multiplexing scheme. The apparatus further includes a control and evaluation circuit for evaluating the measured electrical characteristics and determining at least one of a presence of a metallic object, a living object, a vehicle, or a type of vehicle, and a vehicle position based on changes in the measured electrical characteristics.

A detection method of a user of an apparatus is provided in which the apparatus is coupled to a charge variation sensor having a control unit and an electrode to detect an electric/electrostatic charge variation of the user. The detection method includes acquiring, through the electrode, a charge variation signal indicative of the presence of the user. A filtered signal is generated by filtering the charge variation signal. A feature signal is generated as a function of the filtered signal. A movement signal indicative of a movement of the user is generated as a function of the feature signal. A presence signal indicative of the presence of the user is generated as a function of the movement signal.

A grasp detection device 6 includes: a capacitance measurer 68 configured to measure a capacitance of an electrode 60 provided in a steering handle 2 of a vehicle; a grasp detector 70 configured to detect grasp of the steering handle by a driver based on comparison between a capacitance measurement Ch_d by the capacitance measurer 68 and a grasp threshold Ch_thr; and a threshold setter 69 configured to set the grasp threshold Ch_thr based on a torque detection value Tr_d by a torque sensor 31 and the capacitance measurement Ch_d, the torque sensor 31 being configured to detect steering torque. The threshold setter 69 sets the grasp threshold Ch_thr based on the torque detection value Tr_d and the capacitance measurement Ch_d at the time when the vehicle is in a specific driving state, and the torque detection value Tr_d exceeds a torque threshold.

Systems and methods are described for the monitoring of patient motion via the detection of changes in capacitance, as measured using a capacitance position sensing electrode array. The changes in capacitance may be processed to determine a corresponding positional offset, for example, using a calibration data set relating capacitance to offset for each electrode of the array. The detected positional offset may be employed to provide feedback to a surgeon or operator of a medical device, or directly to the medical device for the control thereof. A medical procedure may be interrupted when the positional offset is detected to exceed a threshold. Alternatively, the detected positional offset may be employed to manually or automatically reconfigure a medical device to compensate for the detected change in position. Various configurations of capacitive position sensing devices are disclosed, including embodiment in incorporating capacitive sensing electrodes with a mask or other support structure.

The present invention is related to a method for proximity sensing and an applied electronic device thereof. The present invention provides that a movement signal is generated according to a detection data, a move baseline data and a move threshold and cooperated with a proximity signal for generating a judgement signal to judge if the human body or the object body is close to the electronic device.

A solution for evaluating a medium using electrical signals is described. A plurality of electrical signals having different frequencies are transmitted through the medium and signal data corresponding to the electrical signals after having traveled through the medium is acquired. A complex impedance and a complex permittivity and/or complex conductivity can be calculated for the medium. A set of characteristics of the medium can be computed using mixing models and/or known information of the medium. A level of one or more attributes of the medium can be determined from the characteristics using nonparametric Bayesian inference. One particular application is directed to determining a nitrate level of soil.

Method and apparatus are provided for detecting objects behind an opaque surface. An exemplary device for detecting objects behind an opaque surface, comprising a housing configured to hold a plurality of components of the device; one or more sensors, coupled to the housing, configured to collect sensor data of an object behind the opaque surface, where the one or more sensors include one or more capacitive sensors attached to an exterior surface of the housing; a controller, residing inside the housing, configured to process the sensor data collected by the one or more sensors; an at least one printed circuit board, residing inside the housing, configured to hold the controller and the plurality of components of the device; and a display configured to convey information about a detected object to a user.