Sensor and method for detecting a number of objects

US10288657B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microchip Technology Germany GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Artem Ivanov · Gilching, DE
• Axel Heim · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 8, 2012
• Grant date: May 14, 2019
• Expiry date: Sep 10, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03K2217/960765
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A sensor device for detecting a number of objects, has a number of electrode configurations forming a sensor surface, each electrode configuration having a number of measurement electrodes and each electrode configuration being associated with at least one transmitter electrode, and an evaluation device coupled to the measurement electrodes and the transmitter electrodes, which is adapted for using a time multiplexing method for applying an alternating signal to one of the transmitter electrodes, and to apply a predetermined constant electrical potential to the remaining transmitter electrodes, and tapping an electrical signal indicating the position of the object relative to the sensor surface at the measurement electrodes associated with the transmitter electrode having the electrical alternating signal applied.