Furniture Capacitance Monitoring with Active Frequency Mirroring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitive sensors on furniture items often generate interrupted monitoring data due to user interaction, environmental impacts, and cross-talk from other sensors, leading to false readings and noise interference.
Innovation Solution
An active mirroring system that applies a mirrored frequency to additional sensors, using a computing device with a processor and memory to monitor capacitance changes across multiple sensors on furniture items, ensuring uninterrupted data collection by alternating between sampling and mirroring frequencies to prevent cross-contamination and noise interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple capacitive sensors are used on furniture items, then sensing coverage and detection capability are improved, but cross-talk between sensors and noise interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by cycling through different sampling frequencies for different sensors in a time-multiplexed manner. Each sensor is assigned a specific time slot with its own sampling frequency, creating a periodic pattern of sensor activation that prevents simultaneous operation and thus eliminates cross-talk between sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the sensor array into multiple groups, where each group is assigned a unique sampling frequency. This segmentation in the frequency domain allows the system to distinguish between signals from different sensors and prevents interference, as each sensor operates in its own frequency band during its assigned time slots.
2Speed
If sensors sample at high frequencies to capture rapid changes, then response speed is improved, but interference from other sensors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by implementing time-multiplexed sampling where sensors are activated in periodic cycles at different frequencies. This allows each sensor to operate at high sampling rates during its designated time slots while remaining inactive during other slots, thus achieving high response speed without continuous interference from other sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assigning specific sampling frequencies and time slots to each sensor before operation begins. This preliminary configuration establishes a conflict-free sampling schedule that prevents interference from the outset, allowing each sensor to operate at optimal high frequencies without encountering noise from simultaneously active sensors.
3Measurement precision
If sensors continuously monitor capacitance changes, then monitoring accuracy is improved, but false readings from user interaction and environmental factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by cycling through sensors at different sampling frequencies rather than continuously monitoring all sensors simultaneously. This periodic, time-multiplexed approach allows the system to capture capacitance changes accurately during each sensor's active phase while minimizing the impact of environmental factors and user interactions that occur between sampling intervals.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach maintains continuous and accurate capacitance monitoring by isolating sensor signals, preventing interference and ensuring reliable data collection across multiple sensors on furniture items.
Implementation Method 1
monitoring a capacitance change associated with a capacitive sensor of a plurality of capacitive sensors coupled to at least one furniture item
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and apparatus for active-mirroring, capacitive monitoring of furniture are provided. More particularly, the invention relates to an active mirroring system for a furniture item that monitors a first sensor type over a first frequency, while applying an inverse first frequency to at least one other sensor type coupled to the same furniture item. As such, the additional sensor types receiving the inverse sampling frequency may be dampened and/or cancelled, thereby preventing interference during monitoring of the first sensor type. In further aspects, a monitoring and mirroring cycle is provided, for sequentially monitoring and mirroring capacitive sensing mechanisms on different portions of a common furniture item.