Circuit arrangement for determining a capacitance of a number of capacitive sensor elements
US9083345B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 24, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 17, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K2217/96074
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A circuit arrangement for determining a capacitance of a number n of capacitive sensor elements (SE1˜SEn) comprises at least one collecting capacitor (CS1˜CSm), a reference voltage source (RQ), an evaluation device (AE) connected to the at least one collecting capacitor to evaluate a voltage present at the at least one collecting capacitor, a control unit (MC) for generating at least one control signal (SS1˜SSk), and at least one integrated circuit (IC1˜ICm) connected to the reference voltage source, the sensor elements, and the at least one collecting capacitor. The at least one integrated circuit comprises a number k of changeover switches (WS1˜WSk) responsive to the at least one control signal to connect the respectively associated sensor element to the reference voltage source in a first switching position, and to the at least one collecting capacitor in a second switching position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.