Patents
US 8709003 B2: Capacitive sensing method and device for detecting skin
- Granted
- 2014-04-29
- Filed
- 2008-08-08 application 12189079
- Type
- Utility · 12 claims
- Elsewhere
- Google Patents ↗ · USPTO patent document ↗ · USPTO Patent Center record ↗
Abstract
A skin proximity sensor and method are disclosed in a dermatologic treatment device that includes a bezel or similar surface, and a treatment source capable of being activated to supply a dermatologic treatment through the bezel or surface, such as a window or similar port. A plurality of contacts leading to remotely located capacitors, in some embodiments, or a plurality of capacitive sensors in other embodiments, is positioned in or under the bezel and around the window, and control circuitry coupled to the plurality of capacitors senses the change in capacitance due to skin and inhibits activation of the dermatologic treatment device unless the proximity of skin is sensed. The presence of skin is detected, for example, by measuring changes in charge and discharge times, indicating a variation in capacitance.
Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg140429.xml).
Assignees
| Assignee | Type | Place | Also on furp.org | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRIA BEAUTY, INC. 24 patents | US company or organization | Pleasanton, CA | TRIA BEAUTY, INC. State business registration EXACT high confidence: identical full name and state TRIA Beauty, Inc. Form D issuer EXACT high confidence: identical full name and state | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Inventors
| Inventor | Place | Patents | Person page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tobin C. Island | Oakland, CA | 18 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Mark V. Weckwerth | Pleasanton, CA | 33 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Harvey I-Heng Liu | Fremont, CA | 39 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Jeffrey A. Hoenshell | Pleasanton, CA | 1 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Charles A. Schuetz | Oakland, CA | 3 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
CPC categories
| Subclass | Category | First group | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| A61B | Diagnosis; surgery; identification | A61B18/203 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| A61N | Electrotherapy; magnetotherapy; radiation therapy; ultrasound therapy | A61N5/0616 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Cooperative Patent Classification, as currently assigned (one row per subclass).
Assignments and security interests
| Recorded | What | From | To | Reel/frame | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-20 | Correction Corrective assignment to correct the patent number for one patent identified in the deed of assignment. one patent on the top of page 3 was identified incorrectly (the correct patent number is 9687671, not 9687651). the amended deed of assignment corrects this error. also attached to this corrective assignment is the previously recorded cover sheet containing the error, previously recorded on reel 72121 frame 256. assignor(s) hereby confirms the assignment of assignor's interest. | CHANNEL INVESTMENTS, LLC signed 2025-05-09 | AESTHETE HOLDING CORPORATION WILMINGTON, DE | 73686/429 | PASDL, file of 2026-10-15 |
| 2025-08-26 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | CHANNEL INVESTMENTS, LLC signed 2025-05-09 | AESTHETE HOLDING CORPORATION WILMINGTON, DE | 72121/256 | PASDL, file of 2026-10-15 |
| 2017-05-03 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | TRIA BEAUTY, INC. signed 2017-04-11 | CHANNEL INVESTMENTS, LLC TAMPA, FL | 42229/195 | PASDL, file of 2026-10-15 |
| 2013-07-03 | Security interest Security interest Notice of grant of security interest | TRIA BEAUTY, INC. signed 2013-07-02 | ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES FUND (A) LP NEW YORK, NY | 30740/215 | PASDL, file of 2026-10-15 |
| 2010-12-06 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | HOENSHELL, JEFFREY A. signed 2008-10-02 ISLAND, TOBIN C. signed 2008-10-02 LIU, HARVEY I. signed 2008-10-02 SCHUETZ, CHARLES A. signed 2008-10-02 WECKWERTH, MARK V. signed 2008-10-02 | TRIA BEAUTY, INC. PLEASANTON, CA | 25456/637 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
| 2008-10-13 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | HOENSHELL, JEFFREY A. signed 2008-10-02 ISLAND, TOBIN C. signed 2008-10-02 LIU, HARVEY I. signed 2008-10-02 SCHUETZ, CHARLES A. signed 2008-10-02 WECKWERTH, MARK V. signed 2008-10-02 | LAW OFFICES OF JAMES E. EAKIN, APC MENLO PARK, CA | 21673/360 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
Documents recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch that list this patent. A security interest is a lender’s claim on the patent as collateral; a release ends it.
USPTO bulk data: PatentsView granted patents, disambiguated (PVGPATDIS) for patents, assignees, inventors, places and CPC categories; the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (ECORSEXC) for assignments and security interests. Patents filed in the last 20 years. No claims or full text. Links to other records are by name (and state): EXACT means the identical full name and state; FUZZY means a looser name match, with the confidence shown.