DRIVE BY WIRE NON-CONTACT CAPACITIVE THROTTLE CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A drive-by-wire non-contact capacitive throttle control apparatus, comprising:
- at least one capacitive position sensor comprising a rotatable electrode attached to a throttle lever on a handle bar placed into a mounting bracket, wherein said rotatable electrode rotates when said throttle lever rotates; and
a stationary electrode associated with said at least one capacitive position sensor in order to detect a position of said throttle lever by measuring a capacitance between said rotatable electrode and said stationary electrode, wherein said capacitance between said rotatable electrode and said stationary electrode changes with respect to said position of said throttle lever.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A drive-by-wire non-contact capacitive throttle control apparatus and method of forming the same. A capacitive position sensor is provided, which includes a stationary electrode and a rotatable electrode. The rotatable electrode can be attached to a throttle lever such that the rotatable electrode rotates as the throttle lever rotates. The capacitance between the rotatable electrode and the stationary electrode varies with the position of the throttle lever. The position of the throttle lever can be measured by measuring the capacitance between the electrodes and a signal can be generated based on the sensed position. The signal can be electrically transmitted to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) utilizing one or more electrical wires. The signal can be sent in the form of a varying voltage, which in turn controls the throttle of a vehicle.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A drive-by-wire non-contact capacitive throttle control apparatus, comprising:
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at least one capacitive position sensor comprising a rotatable electrode attached to a throttle lever on a handle bar placed into a mounting bracket, wherein said rotatable electrode rotates when said throttle lever rotates; and a stationary electrode associated with said at least one capacitive position sensor in order to detect a position of said throttle lever by measuring a capacitance between said rotatable electrode and said stationary electrode, wherein said capacitance between said rotatable electrode and said stationary electrode changes with respect to said position of said throttle lever. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A drive-by-wire non-contact capacitive throttle control apparatus, comprising:
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at least one capacitive position sensor comprising a rotatable electrode attached to a throttle lever on a handle bar placed into a mounting bracket, wherein said rotatable electrode rotates when said throttle lever rotates; a stationary electrode associated with said at least one capacitive position sensor in order to detect a position of said throttle lever by measuring a capacitance between said rotatable electrode and said stationary electrode, wherein said capacitance between said rotatable electrode and said stationary electrode changes with respect to said position of said throttle lever; and an electronic control unit associated with said at least one capacitive position sensor, wherein said electronic control unit is associated with said at least one capacitive sensor utilizing a plurality of electrical wires in order to generate a signal in a form of a varying voltage based on said sensed position and thereby control a throttle of a vehicle and eliminate a need for throttle cables. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of forming a drive-by-wire non-contact capacitive throttle control apparatus, comprising:
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configuring at least one capacitive position sensor to include a rotatable electrode attached to a throttle lever on a handle bar placed into a mounting bracket, wherein said rotatable electrode rotates when said throttle lever rotates; and associating a stationary electrode with said at least one capacitive position sensor in order to detect a position of said throttle lever by measuring a capacitance between said rotatable electrode and said stationary electrode, wherein said capacitance between said rotatable electrode and said stationary electrode changes with respect to said position of said throttle lever. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification