Acceleration sensor with differential capacitance

US5092171A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• VDO Adolf Schindling AG · DE

Inventor

• Werner Wallrafen · Schwalbach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 31, 1990
• Grant date: Mar 3, 1992
• Expiry date: May 31, 2010

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R27/00
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In an acceleration sensor, in particular for automobiles, at least two electrodes which are surrounded by a dielectric are arranged, substantially parallel to each other, in a housing and immersed over part of their length in an electrically conductive liquid. Flip-flops output pulses having durations based on capacitance of the sensor. Output signals of the flip-flops are combined arithmetically.