Capacitive sensing system for the detection of food products disposed within a food warming tray or food storage container

Abstract

A capacitive sensing system for the detection and quantification of food products disposed within a food warming drawer or food storage container is disclosed and comprises an electrically grounded metal plate, and a printed circuit board (PCB) having a plurality of capacitive sensing pads disposed thereon and which effectively serve as capacitive sensors capable of detecting and measuring the capacitance of an object in proximity to it. The system, in conjunction with known detection circuitry, outputs or generates digital number signals which are indicative of the capacitance of the items or food products disposed within the food warming drawer or storage container. The system can therefore be utilized to detect the presence and number of food items disposed within the food warming drawer or container, as well as whether or not the food items are disposed within a vertically stacked array or disposed in a side-by-side array. The system is adapted to be utilized within the food industry as a means for knowing how many food items are present and ready to be used to fulfill patron food orders.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.