Capacitive Wetness Sensor and Method for Manufacturing the Same:

Peter Curran, Oatley, Australia; David Albert Barda, Rose Bay, Australia; Don Black, Albert Park, Australia; Bradley John Phillips, Glen Iris, Australia; Peter Kotlarski, Glen Waverley, Australia; Juuso Tuomas Olkkonen, Espoo, Finland; and Tomi Juha Petteri Mattila, Espoo, Finland.
Assigned to Fred Bergman Healthcare Pty. Ltd., North Sydney, Australia.

Filed: 7/31/12
Issued: 4/19/16

A sensor device for detecting a wetness in an absorbent article worn by a subject, the sensor device including: (a) one or more capacitive sensing elements formed by first conductive member and a second conductive member separated by a dielectric region; and (b) a coupling for communicating sensor signals between the one or more sensing elements and a receiver; wherein a change in wetness caused by a wetness event in the absorbent article causes a change in capacitance for at least one of the sensing elements, which change in capacitance is detectable to determine occurrence of a wetness event in the absorbent article, and wherein the changes in capacitance are communicated in the sensor signals to the receiver; and wherein at least one of the one or more capacitive sensing elements includes a third conductive member and wherein a change in capacitance between first and second conductive members of the at least one capacitive sensing element is detectable relative to a change in capacitance between one of (i) the second and third conductive members, and (ii) the first and third conductive members.