Capacitance to frequency converter
US8169238B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 1, 2008 |
| Grant date | May 1, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 29, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K2217/96074
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A capacitance to frequency converter includes a switching capacitor circuit, a charge dissipation circuit, a comparator, and a signal generator. The switching capacitor circuit charges a sensing capacitor and transfers charge from the sensing capacitor to a circuit node of the charge dissipation circuit. The comparator is coupled to the charge dissipation circuit to compare a potential at the circuit node to a reference voltage. The signal generator is coupled to an output of the comparator and to the charge dissipation circuit. The signal generator is responsive to the output of the comparator to generate a signal fed back to control the charge dissipation circuit. A frequency of the signal is proportional to a capacitance of the sensing capacitor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.