Patent · US Expired

Object position detector

US5374787A · kind A · utility

626Cited by
2References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 31, 1993
Grant dateDec 20, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 31, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2203/04101
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A proximity sensor system includes a sensor matrix array having a characteristic capacitance on horizontal and vertical conductors connected to sensor pads. The capacitance changes as a function of the proximity of an object or objects to the sensor matrix. The change in capacitance of each node in both the X and Y directions of the matrix due to the approach of an object is converted to a set of voltages in the X and Y directions. These voltages are processed by analog circuitry to develop electrical signals representative of the centroid of the profile of the object, i.e., its position in the X and Y dimensions. The profile of position may also be integrated to provide Z-axis (pressure) information.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.