Devices for sensing the presence of an object in a storage compartment, particularly a minibar, and remote data collection system therefor
AssigneeBEC Etudes Commercialisations
InventorGeorges Rene Gatti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device (1, 100) for sensing the presence of an object in a storage compartment (40), particularly a minibar. The device (1, 100) includes a set of capacitive sensing modules (3) each comprising two electrodes (5, 6) adjacent to a holder for an object (46), and an oscillating circuit including the capacitance between the electrodes (5, 6). The device (1, 100) further includes electronic processing which interacts with each capacitive sensing module in order to output sensing signals indicating the presence or absence of objects on each holder, and to provide a capacitive signature of the objects. The device is useful in storage equipment, particularly in hotels.
Claims24
Device (1, 100) for sensing the presence of an object in a storage compartment (40, 400) comprising a set of capacitive sensor modules (3) each comprising two electrodes (5, 6;
- 75, 76) located close to a support (9, 39, 42) intended to house an object (10, 44) and an oscillating circuit (54) including a capacitance (53, 70) between the two electrodes (5, 6;
- 75, 76), and electronic processing means (51) cooperating with each said capacitive sensor module to emit sensor signals indicating the presence or absence of objects on each of the said supports (9, 39, 42), wherein the electronic processing means (51) also cooperates with each capacitive sensor module in order to supply a capacitive signature of the objects present in the storage compartment, this capacitive signature comprising information indicating a modification of the geometric and/or volumetric characteristics of said object.
A device for sensing objects in a storage compartment comprising:
- a plurality of capacitive sensor modules, each said sensor module comprising:
- a recess adapted to receive an object;
- two electrodes disposed within the recess so that the object when placed in the recess will contact the two electrodes;
- and
- an oscillation circuit electrically connected to the two electrodes so that a capacitance across the two electrodes influences operation of the oscillation circuit;
- and
- an electronic processing means electrically connected to the oscillation circuit of each said capacitive sensor module to provide a signal based on a capacitive behavior of the object in contact with the electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.