US 12,413,228 B1
Self-capacitive sensor apparatus
Rachid M. Alameh, Crystal Lake, IL (US); Frederick Hershel Savage, Austin, TX (US); and Jiri Slaby, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Mar. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/186,749.
Int. Cl. G01R 27/26 (2006.01); G01R 35/00 (2006.01); G06Q 10/087 (2023.01); H03K 17/955 (2006.01)
CPC H03K 17/955 (2013.01) [G01R 27/2605 (2013.01); G01R 35/005 (2013.01); G06Q 10/087 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a cover layer;
a first sensor element comprising:
a first conductive element located beneath the cover layer;
a second conductive element located beneath the first conductive element;
a first electrical insulator between the first conductive element and the second conductive element;
a third conductive element;
a second electrical insulator between the second conductive element and the third conductive element;
a third electrical insulator beneath the third conductive element;
a fourth conductive element, wherein the third electrical insulator is between the third conductive element and the fourth conductive element; and
a fourth electrical insulator beneath the fourth conductive element;
first electronics to operate the first sensor element to determine first capacitance data; and
a first set of conductors that couple the first conductive element, the second conductive element, the third conductive element, and the fourth conductive element to the first electronics.