Target material sensing using resonant circuit with sensing capacitor and electrical isolation

US11231221B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED · US

Inventors

• Yichang Wang · 安丰镇, CN
• Michael Seidl · Freising, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 13, 2018
• Grant date: Jan 25, 2022
• Expiry date: Sep 14, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R27/2605
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A system includes a conductive element. The system also includes a resonant circuit having a sensing capacitor arranged such that an amount of target material in a sensing zone of the sensing capacitor changes a capacitance of the sensing capacitor, wherein the conductive element is electrically isolated from at least part of the resonant circuit. The system also includes a resonant circuit analyzer configured to detect a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit and to output a digitized analyzer signal based on the resonant frequency. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the digitized analyzer signal, to determine a target material estimate based on the digitized analyzer signal, and to output the target material estimate or a signal derived from the target material estimate to an output device.