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Capacitive sensor apparatus

  • US 6,744,258 B2
  • Filed: 07/08/2002
  • Issued: 06/01/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2001
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A capacitive sensor apparatus comprising:

  • a capacitive sensor including a plurality of physical-quantity-detection capacitors each having a movable electrode and a fixed electrode;

    a conversion device for converting an output signal of the capacitive sensor into an apparatus output signal;

    first means for selectively connecting and disconnecting each of the plurality of physical-quantity-detection capacitors to and from the conversion device;

    second means for determining whether or not each of the plurality of physical-quantity-detection capacitors fails in response to the capacitive sensor output signal; and

    third means for, when the second means determines that a first one of the plurality of physical-quantity-detection capacitors fails, disconnecting the first one from the conversion device and connecting a second one of the plurality of physical-quantity-detection capacitors to the conversion device, wherein the conversion device includes means for changing a characteristic of the conversion of the output signal of the capacitive sensor into the apparatus output signal in accordance with which one of the plurality of physical-quantity-detection capacitors is connected to the conversion device to make the apparatus output signal independent of which one of the plurality of the physical-quantity-detection capacitors is connected to the conversion device.

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