US 12,359,903 B2
Spring-based status sensors
Steven Cardinali, Tewksbury, MA (US); Kepei Sun, Andover, MA (US); and Benjamin Lacroix, Littleton, MA (US)
Assigned to INSULET CORPORATION, Acton, MA (US)
Filed by Insulet Corporation, Acton, MA (US)
Filed on May 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/826,370.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/194,440, filed on May 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0390258 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. G01B 7/00 (2006.01); F04B 51/00 (2006.01); G01D 5/20 (2006.01)
CPC G01B 7/003 (2013.01) [F04B 51/00 (2013.01); G01D 5/20 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spring-based sensor system, comprising:
at least one spring associated with a mechanical element, the at least one spring operative to change from a first state to a second state based on a configuration of the mechanical element;
sensing circuitry configured to determine an electrical property of the at least one spring, the electrical property to have a first value when the at least one spring is in the first state and a second value when the at least one spring is in the second state;
at least one amplifier associated with the at least one spring and configured to amplify the electrical property and boost an intrinsic inductance value of the at least one spring to increase an inductance range of detection; and
a logic device to determine a status of the mechanical element based on the electrical property.