Capacitive sensor system

US11099223B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• IEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A. · LU

Inventors

• Laurent Lamesch · Reichlange, LU
• Michael Puetz · Trier, DE
• Christoph Wendt · Mettendorf, DE
• Gianluca Favalli · Aubange, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 12, 2018
• Grant date: Aug 24, 2021
• Expiry date: Oct 12, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F3/044
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A capacitive sensor system that includes: a sensor arrangement with a plurality of capacitive electrodes, each being connected to a corresponding detector line; and a detector device connected to each detector line and configured to detect the capacitance of each electrode by applying a detector signal. The sensor arrangement includes: at least one electrode group having at least two electrodes, each electrode of an electrode group being connected to another electrode via a resistive element so that all electrodes of this electrode group are connected in series; and a diagnose device that is connected, for each electrode group, at least to a first detector line of a first electrode and to a second detector line of a second detector electrode and is configured to apply a diagnose signal via the first and second detector lines and to detect a conductor break based on a response to the diagnose signal.