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Method and apparatus for detecting the insertion or removal of expansion cards using capacitive sensing

  • US 5,568,610 A
  • Filed: 05/15/1995
  • Issued: 10/22/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A detection system for detecting the insertion and removal of an expansion card relative to an I/O connector of a computer system, the expansion card including a connector having a plurality of conductive pins for interfacing corresponding pins of the I/O connector, said detection system comprising:

  • a conductive plate for mounting to the expansion card to capacitively interface a corresponding pin on the I/O connector, wherein capacitive coupling develops between said plate and said corresponding pin which changes as the expansion card is moved relative to the I/O connector;

    an oscillator coupled to said capacitive coupling between said plate and said corresponding pin, wherein said oscillator has a frequency which varies with changes of said capacitive coupling; and

    a processor coupled to said oscillator for detecting movement of the expansion card through changes of said frequency.

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