Method for capacitive image acquisition

• US 6,365,888 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Willer, Josef, Marksteiner, Stephan, Von Basse, Paul-Werner, Scheiter, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US09/782,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 250/556, 250/566, 250/214.R, 250/559.22, 250/559.44, 356/71, 382/305, 382/306, 382/312
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing

Abstract

A grid-shaped array of conductor areas is used for capacitive image acquisition. Shielding conductors are disposed in each case between the conductors that are provided for measurement. During a plurality of charging and discharging cycles, the potential is always carried along on the conductors belonging to a respective pixel in order to prevent displacement currents between the shielding capacitors. By way of example, a compensation line with a feedback operational amplifier can be used for identically altering the electrical potentials on the conductors.

Claims

1. A method for capacitive image acquisition, which comprises:

a) dividing an area to be acquired as an image in a grid-shaped array into pixels assigned an assembly of electrical conductors comprising, for each pixel, a measuring conductor and a shielding conductor;

b) placing the area to be acquired as an image opposite the measuring conductors, so that a capacitance is present between the pixels and the measuring conductors in each case dependent on the relevant pixel;

c) at each pixel, connecting the measuring conductor and the shielding conductor to the same electrical potential and disconnecting from the potential;

d) at each pixel, discharging a charge present on one of the measuring conductor and the shielding conductor onto a respective collecting capacitor, and simultaneously compensating a potential difference between the measuring conductor and the shielding conductor; and

e) repeating steps c and d until the charges collected on the collecting capacitors have at least a value predetermined to be sufficient for a separate measurement of each collecting capacitor.

2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises compensating the potential difference between the respective measuring conductor and the respective shielding conductor identically for all pixels by placing the shielding conductors on the same predetermined potential.

3. The method according to claim 1, which comprises compensating the potential difference between the respective measuring conductor and the respective shielding conductor separately for all the pixels, by always applying a same potential that is currently present on the measuring conductor to the respective shielding conductor.