Capacitive sensor signal processing arrangement using switch capacitor structures

• US 5,451,940 A
• Filed: 05/22/1992
• Issued: 09/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Endress U Hauser GmbH U Company
• Original Assignee: Endress U Hauser GmbH U Company
• Inventors: Wagner, Richard, Schneider, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US07/887,465
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.37, 324/678, 324/677, 324/679, 324/686, 324/607, 324/660, 324/661, 370/112, 73/718, 73/724, 257/415, 257/417, 257/418, 257/419, 257/420, 381/174
• US Class Current: 340/870.37
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2417 by varying separation
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0072 using variations in capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/12 by making use of variations in capacitance , i.e. electric circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2605 Measuring capacitance capacitive sensors G01D5/24

Abstract

The arrangement serves for the processing of sensor signals which are furnished by a capacitive sensor which includes a measuring capacitor having a measuring capacitance influenceable by a physical measured quantity to be determined and at least one reference capacitor having a reference capacitance influenceable in another manner and furnishing a measuring effect dependent on the measuring capacitance and the reference capacitance. The arrangement comprises a signal processing circuit which operates by the principle of quantized charge transport by means of switch-capacitor structures and charge balancing at least in time average and which receives the sensor signals representing the measuring effect and furnishes an output signal corresponding to the measuring effect. The first electrodes of the capacitors of the sensor are at a fixed potential and their second electrodes are connectable for performing the charge transport to the first input of an input operational amplifier, the second input of which lies at a reference potential. The reverse charging of the capacitors of the sensor necessary for forming the transported charge packets is effected by switching over the reference potential of the input operational amplifier. This permits a one-sided fixed binding of the sensor capacitors to any desired potential.

Claims

1. Arrangement for processing sensor signals furnished by a capacitive sensor

which includes a measuring capacitor having a measuring capacitance influenceable by a physical measured quantity to be determined and at least one reference capacitor having a reference capacitance which is substantially unaffected by said physical measured quantity and

which includes an operational amplifier,

which furnishes a measuring effect dependent on said measuring capacitance and said reference capacitance, comprising a signal processing circuit

which operates by the principle of quantized charge transport by means of switch-capacitor structures and charge balancing at least in time average and

which receives said sensor signals representing said measuring effect and furnishes an output signal corresponding to said measuring effect,

wherein first electrodes of said measuring capacitor and said reference capacitor of said sensor lie at a fixed potential and second electrodes of said measuring capacitor and said reference capacitor for performing said charge transport are selectively coupled through a selected portion of the switch-capacitor structures to a first input of the operational amplifier, a second input of which lies at a reference potential, and

wherein a reverse charging of said measuring capacitor and said reference capacitor of said sensor necessary for forming transported charge packets is effected by switching over said reference potential of said second input of said operational amplifier between different voltage levels.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein one of said second electrodes of said measuring capacitor and said reference capacitor not connected to one of said inputs of said operational amplifier for performing said charge transport is switched to said reference potential of said operational amplifier.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein to eliminate a parasitic capacitance in a connection leading to said first input of said operational amplifier, said measuring capacitor and said reference capacitor of said sensor are separated from said operational amplifier during the switching over of said reference potential.

4. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein between said sensor and said operational amplifier a function block is inserted which contains a first group of periodically actuated switches which selectively connect said second electrodes of said measuring capacitor and said reference capacitor to said first input of said operational amplifier or to said reference potential of said operational amplifier, and said function block includes a second group of periodically actuated switches which alternately apply a first or a second voltage to said second input of said operational amplifier for switching said reference potential over.

5. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein signal lines leading from said second electrodes of said measuring capacitor and said reference capacitor to said first input of said operational amplifier are shielded and a potential of a shield of said signal lines is caused to follow up a reference of said operational amplifier.

6. Arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said function block contains a voltage divider at which said voltages serving for generating measuring charge packets are tapped and which is adjusted for matching said measuring charge packets to a working range of said single processing circuit.

7. Arrangement according to claim 6 delivering an analog output signal, wherein in order to generate compensation charge packets, a terminal of said voltage divider not connected to a reference conductor is coupled via a first switch of a third group of switches to an output of an integrator, and in order to generate said measuring charge packets said terminal of said voltage divider is coupled via a second switch of said third group of switches to a fixed potential.

8. An apparatus for processing sensor signals furnished by a capacitive sensor which includes a measuring capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode for providing a measuring capacitance influenceable by a physical measured quantity to be determined and at least one reference capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode for providing a reference capacitance which is substantially unaffected by said physical measured quantity and which furnishes a measuring effect dependent on said measuring capacitance and said reference capacitance, the apparatus comprising a signal processing circuit which operates by the principle of quantized charge transport by means of switch-capacitor structures and charge balancing at least in time average and which receives said sensor signals representing said measuring effect and furnishes an output signal corresponding to said measuring effect, the first electrodes of said measuring capacitor and said reference capacitor of said sensor being coupled to a fixed potential, and wherein the second electrodes of said measuring capacitor and said reference capacitor for performing said charge transport are selectively coupled through a selected portion of the switch-capacitor structures to a first input of an operational amplifier in the signal processing circuit, a second input of the operational amplifier being coupled to the reference potential, and wherein a reverse charging of said measuring capacitor and said reference capacitor of said sensor necessary for forming transported charge packets is effected by selectively switching over said reference potential of said second input of said operational amplifier between different voltage levels.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein one of said second electrodes of said measuring capacitor and said reference capacitor not connected to one of the first and second inputs of said operational amplifier for performing said charge transport is switched to said reference potential of said operational amplifier.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein to eliminate a parasitic capacitance in a connection leading to said first input of said operational amplifier, said measuring capacitor and said reference capacitor of said sensor are separated from said operational amplifier during the switching over of said reference potential.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein signal lines leading from said second electrodes of said measuring capacitor and said reference capacitor to said first input of said operational amplifier are shielded and a potential of a shield of said single lines is caused to follow up a reference of said operational amplifier.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a function block is coupled between said sensor and said operational amplifier, the function block including a first group of periodically actuated switches which selectively connect said second electrodes of said measuring capacitor and said reference capacitor to said first input of said operational amplifier or to said reference potential of said operational amplifier, and said function block including a second group of periodically actuated switches which alternately apply a first or a second voltage to said second input of said operational amplifier for switching said reference potential over.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said function block contains a voltage divider at which said voltages serving for generating measuring charge packets are tapped and which is adjusted for matching said measuring charge packets to a working range of said single processing circuit.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, delivering an analog output signal, wherein in order to generate compensation charge packets, a terminal of said voltage divider not connected to a reference conductor is coupled via a first switch of a third group of switches to an output of an integrator, and in order to generate said measuring charge packets said terminal of said voltage divider is coupled via a second switch of said third group of switches to a fixed potential.