Two-dimensional capacitive sensor for locating the presence of an object and/or of an individual

A capacitive sensor for detecting, locating a presence, evaluating a floor surface and/or tracking an activity of an individual and/or an object,

• said sensor comprising:
• a first layer comprising at least one first electrode extending in a first direction;
• and
• a second layer having at least one second electrode extending in a second direction;
• wherein the first direction is different from the second direction, and
• wherein the first layer is electrically insulated from the second layer,
• the capacitive sensor further comprising:
• an electronic driving module configured:
• to independently apply respective voltages on each of the first and second electrodes including at least one zero voltage on at least one of the first and second electrodes, and
• to measure electrical charges accumulated on each of the first and second electrodes,
• an information processing module configured for analyzing a spatial distribution of variations of the measured electrical charges for each one of the first and second electrodes by determining:
• information dependent on a coupling to ground of said one of the first and second electrodes if the voltage applied to said one of the first and second electrodes is not zero;
• or
• information independent of the coupling to ground if the voltage applied to said one of the first and second electrodes is zero and the voltage applied to at least one other electrode of the first and second electrodes is not zero;
• in order to detect, locate the presence, evaluate the floor surface and/or track the activity of an individual and/or an object.

A floor structure for locating an object and/or an individual comprising a capacitive sensor, wherein the capacitive sensor comprises:

• a first layer comprising at least one first electrode extending in a first direction;
• and
• a second layer having at least one second electrode extending in a second direction;
• wherein the first direction is different from the second direction, and
• wherein the first layer is electrically insulated from the second layer,
• the capacitive sensor further comprising:
• an electronic driving module configured:
• to independently apply respective voltages on each of the first and second electrodes including at least one zero voltage on at least one of the first and second electrodes, and
• to measure electrical charges accumulated on each of the first and second electrodes,
• an information processing module configured for analyzing a spatial distribution of variations of the measured electrical charges for each one of the first and second electrodes by determining:
• information dependent on a coupling to ground of said one of the first and second electrodes if the voltage applied to said one of the first and second electrodes is not zero;
• or
• information independent of the coupling to ground if the voltage applied to said one of the first and second electrodes is zero and the voltage applied to at least one other electrode of the first and second electrodes is not zero;
• in order to detect, locate the presence, evaluate the floor surface and/or track the activity of an individual and/or an object.

A method of manufacturing a floor structure, wherein the floor structure comprises a capacitive sensor for locating an object and/or an individual,

• the method of manufacturing comprising:
• positioning a first layer comprising at least one first electrode of the capacitive sensor such that said first electrode extends in a first fixed direction;
• and
• positioning a second layer (C2) comprising at least one second electrode of the capacitive sensor such that said second layer is electrically insulated from the first layer and said at least one second electrode extends in a second direction different from the first direction;
• providing the capacitive sensor with an electronic driving module configured:
• to independently apply respective voltages on each of the first and second electrodes including at least one zero voltage on at least one of the first and second electrodes;
• and
• to measure electrical charges accumulated on each of the first and second electrodes,
• providing the capacitive sensor with an information processing module configured for analyzing a spatial distribution of variations of the measured electrical charges for each one of the first and second electrodes by determining:
• information dependent on a coupling to ground of said one of the first and second electrodes if the voltage applied to said one of the first and second electrodes is not zero;
• or
• information independent of the coupling to ground if the voltage applied to said one of the first and second electrodes is zero and the voltage applied to at least one other electrode of the first and second electrodes is not zero,
• in order to detect, locate the presence, evaluate the floor surface and/or track the activity of an individual and/or an object.