Capacitive sensor, integrated circuit, electronic device and method
US8779781B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 3, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 3, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N27/226
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A sensor for sensing an analyte includes capacitive elements, each having a pair of electrodes separated by a dielectric wherein the dielectric constant of the dielectric of at least one of the capacitive elements is sensitive to the analyte, the sensor further including a comparator adapted to compare a selected set of capacitive elements against a reference signal and to generate a comparison result signal, and a controller for iteratively selecting the set in response to the comparison result signal, wherein the sensor is arranged to produce a digitized output signal indicative of the sensed level of the analyte of interest. An IC comprising such a sensor, an electronic device comprising such an IC and a method of determining a level of an analyte of interest using such a sensor are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.