Patent · US Active

Sensor device for capacitively ascertaining distance

US8659407B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
7References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 11, 2008
Grant dateFeb 25, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 21, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01B7/023
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A sensor unit, in particular a sensor unit in or on a vehicle, for capacitively ascertaining the distance between the sensor device and an object, having an electrode for forming a capacitive system with the object and an apparatus for creating a signal proportional to the capacitance of the capacitive system. The sensor unit has a reference electrode for forming a capacitive reference system with the object, an additional apparatus for creating a reference signal proportional to the capacitance of the capacitive reference system, and an analyzer device for ascertaining the distance by forming a ratio of the signal and the reference signal, the reference electrodes having an electrode shape, which is different from the electrode shape of the electrode.

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