Pressure distribution and localization detection methods and apparatuses incorporating the same
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsCaleb Rogers, Tyler Flood
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method includes detecting a force applied to a sensing area of a sensor system, the sensing area including a first sensing region and a second sensing region. The first sensing region is determined to be a correct sensing region. The second sensing region is determined to be an incorrect sensing region. An activation area of the incorrect sensing region is determined. A force distribution of the incorrect sensing region is determined. A corrected corresponding force measurement of the incorrect sensing region is calculated based on the activation area and force distribution of the incorrect sensing region.
Claims15
A method comprising:
- detecting a force applied to a sensing area of a sensor system based on a first force applied to a first sensing region of the sensing area determined by a first sensor and a second force applied to a second sensing region of the sensing area determined by a second sensor, the first force and the second force calculated using stored calibration curves including a relationship between peak generated electrical signals and a corresponding force measurement;
- determining that the first sensing region is a correct sensing region when a first relative magnitude of the first sensing region is within a relative threshold of a total applied force, the total applied force being a sum of at least the first force applied to the first sensing region and the second force applied to the second sensing region;
- determining that the second sensing region is an incorrect sensing region when a second relative magnitude of the second sensing region is not within the relative threshold of the total applied force;
- determining an activation area of the incorrect sensing region;
- determining a force distribution of the incorrect sensing region;
- and
- calculating a corrected corresponding force measurement of the incorrect sensing region based on the activation area and force distribution of the incorrect sensing region.
A sensor system comprising:
- a sensing area disposed along a surface of the sensor system;
- a first sensing region disposed within the sensing area comprising a first sensor configured to detect a first applied force applied to the surface of the sensing area;
- a second sensing region disposed within the sensing area comprising a second sensor configured to detect a second applied force applied to the surface of the sensing area;
- and
- a processor that, when executing computer readable and executable instructions of the sensor system, causes the sensor system to:
- detect a force applied to the sensing area of the sensor system;
- calculate the first force and the second force using stored calibration curves including a relationship between peak generated electrical signals and a corresponding force measurement;
- determine that the first sensing region is a correct sensing region when a first relative magnitude of the first sensing region is within a relative threshold of a total applied force, the total applied force being a sum of at least the first force applied to the first sensing region and the second force applied to the second sensing region;
- determine that the second sensing region is an incorrect sensing region when a second relative magnitude is not within the relative threshold of the total applied force;
- determine an activation area of the incorrect sensing region;
- determine a force distribution of the incorrect sensing region;
- and
- calculate a corrected corresponding force measurement of the incorrect sensing region based on the activation area and force distribution of the incorrect sensing region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.