Capacitive sensor control system
US4323829A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 1980 |
| Grant date | Apr 6, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61G2203/16
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electronic control system for controlling the operation of electromotive apparatus utilizes a capacitive sensor for sensing human touch and producing a command signal whose magnitude corresponds to the contact area of the contact. The sensor command signal is applied to an oscillator which produces a series of output width pulses having a frequency corresponding with the magnitude of the sensor command signal. A discriminator detects the trailing edge of the oscillator pulses and produces a series of fixed width pulses and an integrator produces a D.C. voltage signal corresponding to the discriminator output, which voltage signal corresponds to the area in proximity to and thereby stimulated by the human body. A comparator is employed to produce a pulse-width modulated rectangular pulse output whose duty cycle corresponds to the integrator D.C. voltage by comparing the integrator D.C. voltage with a reference triangular waveform. The comparator output is applied via power circuit to drive the electromotive apparatus which may typically comprise one or more D.C. electric motors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.