US 12,463,642 B2
Touchless sensor systems and methods
Jamie J. Childress, Mercer Island, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by THE BOEING COMPANY, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Sep. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/468,985.
Prior Publication US 2023/0074347 A1, Mar. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. H03K 17/94 (2006.01); G01B 21/18 (2006.01); G01D 5/40 (2006.01); G06V 10/40 (2022.01); G06V 40/10 (2022.01)
CPC H03K 17/943 (2013.01) [G01B 21/18 (2013.01); G01D 5/40 (2013.01); G06V 10/40 (2022.01); G06V 40/107 (2022.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor system configured to control one or more operational functions of one or more components, the sensor system comprising:
a base having a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface;
a first protuberance extending from the first surface of the base, wherein the first protuberance has a first interior wall parallel to an X-axis, a second interior wall parallel to a Y-axis that is orthogonal to the X-axis, and a first exterior wall;
one or more first sensing devices coupled to the first protuberance;
a second protuberance extending from the first surface of the base, wherein the second protuberance has a third interior wall parallel to the X-axis, a fourth interior wall parallel to the Y-axis that is orthogonal to the X-axis, and a second exterior wall;
one or more second sensing devices coupled to the second protuberance;
a third protuberance extending from the first surface of the base, wherein the third protuberance has a fifth interior wall parallel to the X-axis, a sixth interior wall parallel to the Y-axis that is orthogonal to the X-axis, and a third exterior wall;
one or more third sensing devices coupled to the third protuberance;
a fourth protuberance extending from the first surface of the base, wherein the fourth protuberance has a seventh interior wall parallel to the X-axis, an eighth interior wall parallel to the Y-axis that is orthogonal to the X-axis, and a fourth exterior wall;
one or more fourth sensing devices coupled to the fourth protuberance;
a first channel defined between the first protuberance, the second protuberance, the third protuberance, and the fourth protuberance, wherein the first channel is parallel to the X-axis; and
a second channel defined between the first protuberance, the second protuberance, the third protuberance, and the fourth protuberance, wherein the second channel is parallel to the Y-axis and intersects the first channel,
wherein the one or more first sensing devices, the one or more second sensing devices, the one or more third sensing devices, and the one or more fourth sensing devices are configured to detect one or more actions of an object in relation to one or more of the first protuberance, the second protuberance, the third protuberance, the fourth protuberance, the first channel, or the second channel, wherein the one or more actions of the object are associated with the one or more operational functions of the one or more components.