Back to results
US 6,356,085 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for converting capacitance to voltage
AssigneePacesetter, Inc.
InventorsMarc Ryat, Dean Andersen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for converting capacitance in a capacitive sensor into a voltage signal. A capacitive sensor monitors a physical parameter. A capacitance of the sensor varies with the physical parameter. A voltage supply applies an alternating voltage to the capacitive sensor, which creates an output signal from the sensor. A modulator modulates the output signal, which produces a voltage signal that corresponds to the capacitance of the sensor.
Claims32
An apparatus comprising:
- a capacitive sensor;
- a voltage supply configured to apply a voltage to said capacitive sensor, thereby producing a sensor output signal;
- and
- a modulator configured to receive as an input said sensor output signal, wherein said modulator comprises:
- a first integrator configured such that an input of said first integrator is electrically responsive to said sensor output signal;
- a second integrator configured such that an input of said second integrator is electrically responsive to an output of said first integrator;
- a comparator configured such that an input of said comparator is electrically responsive to an output of said second integrator.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- capacitive sensor means for monitoring a physical parameter;
- voltage supply means for applying a voltage to said capacitive sensor, thereby producing a sensor output signal;
- and
- modulating means for modulating said sensor output signal, wherein said modulating means comprises:
- first integrating means for integrating said sensor output signal;
- second integrating means for integrating an output of said first integrating means;
- and
- comparing means for comparing an output of said second integrating means to a reference signal.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- applying a voltage to a capacitive sensor, thereby producing a sensor output signal;
- and
- modulating said sensor output signal, wherein the step of modulating said sensor output signal comprises:
- integrating said sensor output signal, thereby producing a first integrated signal;
- integrating said first integrated signal, thereby producing a second integrated signal;
- and
- comparing said second integrated signal to a reference signal, thereby producing a comparator output signal.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.