Field effect sensor two wire interconnect method and apparatus

• US 7,023,215 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2004
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Steenwyk, Timothy Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Deb, Anjan
• Application Number:
  US10/828,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20050068049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 324/769, 324/713, 324/457, 324/415, 341/33, 307/116, 345/173, 345/174
• US Class Current: 324/415
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches

Abstract

A field effect sensor interfaces with a power supply and detection circuit using two wires. The detection circuit can determine which of several parallel-connected field affect sensors is or is not activated at any given time.

Claims

1. An apparatus for powering and reading data from a plurality of field effect sensors over two wires, comprising:

a power supply;

a first field effect sensor having a first power terminal coupled to a first terminal of said power supply and a second power terminal coupled to a second terminal of said power supply;

a first load resistor having a first terminal coupled to an output terminal of said first field effect sensor and a second terminal coupled to said second terminal of said power supply, said first load resistor having a first value of resistance;

a second field effect sensor having a first power terminal coupled to a first terminal of said power supply and a second power terminal coupled to a second terminal of said power supply;

a second load resistor having a first terminal coupled to an output terminal of said second field effect sensor and a second terminal coupled to said second terminal of said power supply, said second load resistor having a second value of resistance, said second value of resistance being substantially different from said first value of resistance; and

a detection circuit coupled to said first field effect sensor and said second field effect sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a third field effect sensor having a first power terminal coupled to a first terminal of said power supply and a second power terminal coupled to a second terminal of said power supply; and

a third load resistor having a first terminal coupled to an output terminal of said third field effect sensor and a second terminal coupled to said second terminal of said power supply, said third load resistor having a third value of resistance, said third value of resistance being substantially different from said first value of resistance and said second value of resistance,

said detection circuit further coupled to said third field effect sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first, second, and third values of resistance are selected such that none of said three values of resistance is substantially equal to the mathematical sum of said other two values of resistance.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sense resistor coupled to said first power terminal of said first field effect sensor and said first power terminal of said second field effect sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said sense resistor is coupled between first and second input terminals of said detection circuit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a decoding circuit coupled to said detection circuit, said decoding circuit configured to determine the state of said first field effect sensor and said second field effect based on the output of said detection circuit.

7. An apparatus for powering and reading data from a field effect sensor over two wires, comprising:

a pulse generator and detection circuit having an input/output terminal;

a field effect sensor having a first power terminal and an output terminal;

said first power terminal of said field effect sensor coupled to said input/output terminal;

a transistor having a power terminal coupled to said input/output terminal;

a load resistor coupled between said power terminal of said transistor and said input/output terminal;

a pull-up resistor coupled between a source of power and said input/output terminal; and

said output terminal of said field effect sensor coupled to the control terminal of said transistor.

8. An apparatus for switching a controlled device over two wires, comprising:

a field effect sensor having a first power terminal and an output terminal;

a battery coupled to said first power terminal of said field effect sensor, said battery providing power to said field effect sensor and said battery not providing power to said controlled device; and

means, coupled to said two wires and to said output terminal of said field effect sensor, for switching said controlled device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for switching comprises a transistor.

10. An apparatus for powering and reading data from a field effect sensor over two wires, comprising:

a first field effect sensor having a power terminal and an output terminal;

a first storage capacitor coupled to said power terminal of said first field effect sensor;

a pulse generator and detection circuit having an input/output terminal, said input/output terminal coupled to said power terminal of said first field effect sensor and to said output terminal of said first field effect sensor, said control circuit adapted to selectively output a power signal to said power terminal of said first field effect sensor and said first storage capacitor and to selectively receive a data signal corresponding to the state of said output terminal of said first field effect sensor;

a first diode coupled between (a) said power terminal of said first field effect sensor and said first storage capacitor and (b) said input/output terminal; and

a first transistor coupled between said output terminal of said first field effect sensor and said input/output terminal, said output terminal of said first field effect sensor coupled to the control terminal of said first transistor.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a first resistor and a second resistor coupled in series as a voltage divider, said input/output terminal coupled to the junction of said first resistor and said second resistor.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:

a second field effect sensor having a power terminal and an output terminal;

a second storage capacitor coupled to said power terminal of said second field effect sensor;

a second diode coupled between (a) said power terminal of said second field effect sensor and said first storage capacitor, and (b) said input/output terminal; and

a second transistor coupled between said output terminal of said second field effect sensor and said input/output terminal, said output terminal of said second field effect sensor coupled to the control terminal of said second transistor.

13. A method for powering and reading data from a field effect sensor having a power terminal coupled to an input/output terminal of a pulse generator and detection circuit and an output terminal coupled to the control terminal of a transistor, said transistor further coupled to said input/output terminal of said pulse generator and detection circuit, comprising the steps of:

outputting a power signal from said input/output terminal of said pulse generator and detection circuit;

providing said power signal to a storage capacitor coupled to said power terminal of said field effect sensor;

powering said field effect sensor by discharging said capacitor through said power terminal of said field effect sensor;

detecting through said input/output terminal the voltage present at said input/output terminal;

determining the state of said field effect sensor based on said voltage at said input/output terminal.

14. A method for powering and reading data from a field effect sensor having a power terminal coupled to an input/output terminal of a pulse generator and detection circuit and an output terminal coupled to the control terminal of a transistor, said transistor further coupled to said input/output terminal of said pulse generator and detection circuit, comprising the steps of:

outputting a power signal from said input/output terminal of said pulse generator and detection circuit;

providing said power signal to said power terminal of said field effect sensor;

detecting through said input/output terminal the voltage present at said input/output terminal; and

determining the state of said field effect sensor based on said voltage at said input/output terminal.