Capacitive sensing device

• US 10,065,590 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2015
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SA (Aerospace Hi-Tech Holding Group Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SA (Aerospace Hi-Tech Holding Group Company Limited)
• Inventors: Lamesch, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Huy Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frederiksen, David
• Application Number:
  US15/518,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20170305376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2403 by moving plates, not forming part of the capacitor itself, e.g. shields
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96071 characterised by the detection principle
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960735 characterised by circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960765 Details of shielding arrangements

Abstract

A capacitive sensing device includes an antenna electrode for emitting an alternating electric field in response to an alternating voltage caused in the antenna electrode and a control and evaluation circuit configured to maintain the alternating voltage equal to an alternating reference voltage by injecting a current into the antenna electrode and to measure the current. The control and evaluation circuit includes a microcontroller with a digital output for providing a digital signal and a low-pass filter operatively connected to the digital output for generating the alternating reference voltage by low-pass-filtering the digital signal.

Claims

1. A capacitive sensing device, comprising

an antenna electrode for emitting an alternating electric field in response to an alternating voltage caused in the antenna electrode

and a control and evaluation circuit that includes

a transimpedance amplifier arrangement configured to maintain the alternating voltage in the antenna electrode equal to an alternating reference voltage on a reference voltage node by injecting a current into the antenna electrode and to measure the current,

a microcontroller,

and a first multiplexer configured and arranged to switch said antenna electrode alternately to an input node of the transimpedance amplifier arrangement and to the alternating reference voltage node,

wherein said transimpedance amplifier arrangement comprises a differential transimpedance amplifier with an inverting input and a non-inverting input and a second multiplexer, said second multiplexer configured and arranged to switch a signal on the input node of the transimpedance amplifier arrangement alternately to the inverting input and a non-inverting input of said transimpedance amplifier, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the second multiplexer with a digital control signal, wherein the second multiplexer and the differential transimpedance amplifier and a first low-pass filter operatively connected to the transimpedance amplifier form together a synchronous rectifier arrangement.

2. A capacitive sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the inverting input node and the non-inverting input node of the transimpedance amplifier are AC-coupled to the reference voltage node by a respective protection capacitor.

3. A capacitive sensing device according to claim 1, further comprising a second low pass filter operationally arranged at the input node of the transimpedance amplifier arrangement.

4. A capacitive sensing device according to claim 3, wherein said first low pass filter comprises first and second ferrite beads arranged respectively in the inverting and non-inverting input nodes and first and second filter capacitors for AC coupling a downstream end of said first and second ferrite beads to ground.

5. A capacitive sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller comprises a digital output for providing a digital signal, and wherein said control and evaluation circuit includes a third low-pass filter operatively connected to said digital output for generating said alternating reference voltage by low-pass-filtering said digital signal.

6. The capacitive sensing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said third low-pass filter comprises an LC low-pass filter.

7. The capacitive sensing device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a driven shield electrode operatively connected to said third low-pass filter so that said alternating reference voltage is applied to said driven shield electrode.

8. The capacitive sensing device as claimed in claim 7, comprising a shielded cable, said shielded cable comprising a core conductor and a shield conductor surrounding said core conductor, wherein said antenna electrode is operatively connected with said control and evaluation circuit via said core conductor and wherein said driven shield electrode is operatively connected to said third low-pass filter via said shield conductor.

9. The capacitive sensing device as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one normative impedance controlledly switchable in parallel to said antenna electrode with a switch arranged in series with said at least one normative impedance and controlled by said microcontroller.

10. The capacitive sensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microcontroller comprises a measurement input, wherein said output of said transimpedance amplifier arrangement is operatively connected with said measurement input via a further low pass filter, said further low-pass filter including an offset correction circuit.

11. The capacitive sensing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first shunt capacitor connected between said antenna electrode and said reference voltage input of said transimpedance amplifier arrangement and a second shunt capacitor connected between said reference voltage input and circuit ground.

12. A combined capacitive sensing and heating system, comprising a heating circuit and a capacitive sensing device wherein said capacitive sensing device comprises

an antenna electrode for emitting an alternating electric field in response to an alternating voltage caused in the antenna electrode, said antenna electrode being part of said heating circuit

and a control and evaluation circuit that includes

a transimpedance amplifier arrangement configured to maintain the alternating voltage in the antenna electrode equal to an alternating reference voltage on a reference voltage node by injecting a current into the antenna electrode and to measure the current,

a microcontroller,

and a first multiplexer configured and arranged to switch said antenna electrode alternately to an input node of the transimpedance amplifier arrangement and to the alternating reference voltage node,

wherein said transimpedance amplifier arrangement comprises a differential transimpedance amplifier with an inverting input and a non-inverting input and a second multiplexer, said second multiplexer configured and arranged to switch a signal on the input node of the transimpedance amplifier arrangement alternately to the inverting input and a non-inverting input of said transimpedance amplifier, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the second multiplexer with a digital control signal, wherein the second multiplexer and the differential transimpedance amplifier and a first low-pass filter operatively connected to the transimpedance amplifier form together a synchronous rectifier arrangement.