A precision capacitor sensor
First Claim
1. A capacitor sensor, comprising;
- two substantially parallel capacitive plates comprising a first plate and second plate;
a dielectric between said plates, comprised of nonconductive materials such as air and other gases;
electrical conductive coating, forming an electrode, on at least the inwardly facing surface of each of said plates;
means for spacing said plates a precise distance apart;
said first plate comprising a mechanically flexible diaphragm being relatively capable of responding to flexure forces as compared to said second plate, wherein an input force will cause said first plate to flex, causing the effective plate spacing to be reduced or increased, resulting in a proportional increase or decrease in sensor capacitance, and sensor function occurs when said input force changes said sensor capacitance by varying said plate spacing;
each of said plates being comprised of vitreous materials for a substrate;
at least one of said plates being comprised of transparent vitreous materials; and
said conductive coating on said transparent plate being transparent.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A precision, low cost, capacitor sensor comprised of two parallel plates, with an air dielectric, with preferably both substrates comprised of vitreous materials and electrically conductive coating, but with at least one of the substrates and coating being transparent. The coatings are preferably of identical material, thickness and pattern to offset stress distortion of the sensor plates from thermal expansion and contraction. Uniform spacing between the plates is provided by means of glass fibers of uniform diameter, dispersed in a matrix of adhesive and bonded under pressure, deposited between the plates as two thin semicircular seal rings surrounding the dielectric and separated by a diametrical gap, allowing entrance or escape of air dielectric. A novel feature, provided by at least one plate and coating being transparent, is use of optical measuring techniques during fabrication to verify acceptability of the manufacturing process and uniformity of the sensor product. This permits easy, rapid, efficient and economical grading and process control of the sensors during fabrication with resulting improved precision performance of the product and economical cost to manufacture. As an option, three or more of the four faces of the two substrates will bear conductive coatings, for structural stability, to minimize distortion in capacitance due to changes in temperature.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A capacitor sensor, comprising;
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two substantially parallel capacitive plates comprising a first plate and second plate; a dielectric between said plates, comprised of nonconductive materials such as air and other gases; electrical conductive coating, forming an electrode, on at least the inwardly facing surface of each of said plates; means for spacing said plates a precise distance apart; said first plate comprising a mechanically flexible diaphragm being relatively capable of responding to flexure forces as compared to said second plate, wherein an input force will cause said first plate to flex, causing the effective plate spacing to be reduced or increased, resulting in a proportional increase or decrease in sensor capacitance, and sensor function occurs when said input force changes said sensor capacitance by varying said plate spacing; each of said plates being comprised of vitreous materials for a substrate; at least one of said plates being comprised of transparent vitreous materials; and said conductive coating on said transparent plate being transparent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A capacitor sensor, comprising;
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two substantially parallel capacitive plates comprising a first plate and a second plate; a dielectric between said plates, comprised of nonconductive materials such as air and other gases; electrical conductive coating, forming an electrode, on at least the inwardly facing surface of each of said plates; means for binding said plates together; said first plate comprising a mechanically flexible diaphragm being relatively capable of responding to flexure forces as compared to said second plate, wherein an input force will cause said first plate to flex, causing the effective plate spacing to be reduced or increased, resulting in a proportional increase or decrease in sensor capacitance, and sensor function occurs when said input force changes said sensor capacitance by varying said plate spacing; each of said plates being comprised of vitreous materials for a substrate; at least one of said plates being comprised of transparent vitreous materials; and said conductive coating on said transparent plate being transparent. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A capacitor sensor, comprising;
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two substantially parallel capacitive plates comprising a first plate and a second plate; a dielectric between said plates, comprised of nonconductive materials such as air and other gases; electrical conductive coating, forming an electrode, on at least the inwardly facing surface of each of said plates; means for bonding said plates together a precisely spaced distance apart; said first plate comprising a mechanically flexible diaphragm being relatively capable of responding to flexure forces as compared to said second plate, wherein an input force will cause said first plate to flex, causing the effective plate spacing to be reduced or increased, resulting in a proportional increase or decrease in sensor capacitance, and sensor function occurs when said input force changes said sensor capacitance by varying said plate spacing; each of said plates being comprised of vitreous materials for a substrate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification