Patent ID: 6940291
Filing Date: 2005-09-06
Classification: G01D,H03K

Abstract:
1. A capacitive sensing system comprising: a microcontroller, operable to receive electrical power from an electrical power source, and having at least one digital logic input/output (I/O) pin capable of functioning in both an INPUT mode and an OUTPUT mode; a conductive sense element in electrical communication with the I/O pin, and a resistance element in electrical communication with the conductive sense element to form an electrical pathway from the conductive sense element to an electrical discharge point; wherein the microcontroller is further operable to; the signal processing includes pattern recognition wherein the microcontroller is operative to implement one or more of a plurality of software applications to perform digital signal processing on signals derived from the conductive sense element to detect one or more selected patterns of contact or proximity between the first object and the conductive sense element; and the signal processing comprises the synthesis of at least one virtual sensor capable of detecting one or more of the selected patterns of contact or proximity between the first object and the conductive sense element.