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US 2019/0293403 A1Published application
Device and Method for Detecting Surface Coatings on Transparent and/or Translucent Medium
AssigneeEDTM, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey A. Simpson, Mark A. Imbrock, Nathan Strimpel, Jed Martens
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described are methods and devices for detecting the presence and surface location of an electrically conductive coating on a transparent and/or translucent medium.
Claims20
A device 10 for detecting the presence and surface location of an electrically conductive coating on a transparent and/or translucent medium in a single- or multi-pane assembly, comprising:
- a) a capacitive sensor 12 configured for positioning against a surface of the single- or multi-pane assembly;
- the capacitive sensor 12 being configured to provide one or more of:
- i) a first capacitance in the absence of a conductive coating on any of the medium,
- ii) a second capacitance if a conductive coating is present on a far medium surface,
- iii) a third capacitance if a conductive coating is present on a near medium surface, and
- iv) a fourth capacitance if the device is contacting the coating or on the nearest surface of the medium;
- b) electronics 14 configured to be responsive to the first, second, third and/or fourth capacitances at the capacitive sensor 12;
- c) an excitation source 16 configured to generate a train of pulses, voltage or current which is used to determine capacitances at the capacitive sensor 12;
- d) a selective indicator 18 configured to be responsive to changes in capacitance indicating the presence and location or the absence of an electrically conductive medium surface coating;
- and,
- e) a capacitive sensing plate 20 configured to affect the capacitive sensing process, either negatively or positively, by a sufficient amount to differentiate locations of the coating.
8 more elements
The method of detecting the presence/absence of a coating on a medium, comprising:
- a) generating a train of pulses, voltage or current from an electrical force to supply a charge to an isolated capacitive sensing plate and any ground system;
- b) determining capacitances by providing one or more of:
- i) a first capacitances in the absence of a conductive coating on any of the medium,
- ii) a second capacitance if a conductive coating is present on a far medium surface,
- iii) a third capacitance if a conductive coating is present on a near medium surface, and
- iv) a fourth capacitance if the device is contacting the coating or on the nearest surface of the medium;
- wherein indicator electronics are responsive to the first, second, third and/or fourth capacitances;
- and,
- wherein a selective indicator is responsive to changes in capacitance indicating the presence and location or the absence of an electrically conductive medium surface coating;
- and,
- c) shielding the capacitances being determined in order to remove or reduce any effect of an external object that capacitively couples back and affects the capacitances being determined.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.