Capacity responsive control circuit

• US 4,831,279 A
• Filed: 01/27/1988
• Issued: 05/16/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nartron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nartron Corporation
• Inventors: Ingraham, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Logan, Sharon D.
• Application Number:
  US07/148,878
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 307/116, 307/117, 340/562, 361/181
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches

Abstract

A capacitive detecting circuit for detecting transient capacitive changes such as that of a person moving into proximity of a sensing element. A sensing element is coupled to a threshold level controlled amplifier supplied with relatively high frequency signals from an oscillator through a high input impedance. A detector circuit is coupled to the amplifier output to detect D.C. variations in the level control loop caused by transient capacitive changes and provide a control output signal representative of such change.

Claims

1. A capacity responsive circuit for providing a control output signal in response to a person'"'"'s proximity to a sensing element comprising:

an oscillator for providing periodic output signals therefrom;

a relatively high impedance element coupled to said oscillator;

an amplifier circuit having an input coupled to the output of said oscillator through said relatively high input impedance and an output terminal, said amplifier including an automatic level control circuit having a selected response time for controlling the switching threshold of said amplifier to a predetermined level;

switch circuit coupled to said amplifier output and responsive to changes in the output signals therefrom for changing state;

a sensing element coupled to the input of said amplifier circuit for coupling a body'"'"'s capacitance t said amplifier input for varying the signal voltage applied to said amplifier from said oscillator and affecting a change in output state of said switch circuit in response to transient body capacitance coupled to said sensing element for a time period generally corresponding to the response time of said automatic level control circuit; and

an initializing circuit coupled between said oscillator and said amplifier circuit for establishing an initial D.C. voltage level for said automatic level control circuit.

2. The circuit as defined in claim 1 and further including a detector circuit extending between said amplifier and said switch circuit.

3. The circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said detector circuit includes a first transistor and further including a potentiometer coupled in series with the emitter-to-collector current path of said first transistor, wherein said potentiometer provides a sensitivity adjustment and wherein the adjustment arm of said potentiometer is A.C. coupled to a control input terminal of said switch circuit.

4. The circuit as defined in claim 3 wherein said switch circuit comprises a solid state switch.

5. The circuit as defined in claim 4 wherein said solid state switch comprises a second transistor having a base terminal coupled to the wiper arm of said potentiometer by means of a coupling capacitor.

6. The circuit as defined in claim 5 wherein said sensing element comprises a loop of wire coupled to the input of said amplifier circuit.

7. The circuit as defined in claim 6 wherein said automatic level control circuit includes a pair of serially coupled capacitors coupled between a source of D.C. operating power and system ground and the junction of said capacitors is coupled to the input of said amplifier and to a current feedback resistor having its terminal remote from said junction coupled to the junction of said potentiometer with said first transistor.

8. The circuit as defined in claim 7 wherein said oscillator provides an output frequency of about 50 kilohertz.

9. The circuit as defined in claim 1 and further including an alarm circuit coupled to said switch circuit for receiving control signals therefrom for actuating said alarm in response to the proximity of a body capacitance to said sensing element.

10. A capacitive sensitive circuit for providing a control output signal in response to a change in capacity at a sensing element comprising:

an oscillator for providing periodic output signals therefrom;

a threshold level controlled amplifier circuit having an input coupled to the output of said oscillator by a relatively high impedance and an output terminal for providing output signals thereat;

a detector circuit coupled to said amplifier for establishing a quiescent D.C. voltage level corresponding to a steady state environmental capacity field; and

a sensing element coupled to the input of said amplifier circuit for coupling a capacitance to be detected to said amplifier input for momentarily lowering the D.C. voltage level in response to a transient capacitance coupled to said sensing element;

a switch circuit coupled to said detector and responsive to changes in the D.C. voltage level therefrom to provide a control output signal representative of a detected change in capacity at said sensing element; and

a clamping circuit coupled between said oscillator and said amplifier circuit for initializing a predetermined D.C. voltage level for said level controlled amplifier.

11. The circuit as defined in claim 10 wherein said detector circuit includes a first transistor and further including a potentiometer coupled in series with the emitter-to-collector current path of said first transistor wherein said potentiometer provides a sensitivity adjustment and wherein the adjustment arm of said potentiometer is coupled to a control input terminal of said switch circuit.

12. The circuit as defined in claim 11 wherein said switch circuit comprises a solid state switch

13. The circuit as defined in claim 12 wherein said sensing element comprises a loop of wire.

14. The circuit as defined in claim 13 wherein said oscillator provides an output frequency of about 50 kilohertz.

15. The circuit as defined in claim 14 wherein said amplifier includes an automatic level control circuit having a pair of serially coupled capacitors coupled between a source of D.C. operating power and system ground and the junction of said capacitors is coupled to the input of said amplifier and to a current feedback resistor having its terminal remote from said junction coupled to said potentiometer.

16. The circuit as defined in claim 15 and further including an alarm circuit coupled to said switch circuit for receiving control signals therefrom for actuating said alarm in response to the proximity of a person'"'"'s body capacitance to said sensing element.

17. The circuit as defined in claim 10 and further including an alarm circuit coupled to said switch for providing an alarm signal in response to a transient capacitance change near said sensing element.