Capacitive sensing techniques that include determing rotational position of one electrode relative to other electrodes separated by an electrically nonconductive gap
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- providing a sensor with a first member including a first electrode and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by an electrically nonconductive gap, and a second member including a third electrode positioned opposite the first member;
sequentially applying a first voltage waveform to the first electrode and a second voltage waveform to the second electrode;
capacitively coupling the third electrode to the first member to provide a first signal in response to the application of the first waveform and a second signal in response to the application of the second waveform; and
evaluating the first signal and the second signal relative to one another to resolve position of the third electrode to one of four or more different positions corresponding to a range, the range being from a first point on the first electrode, and along the gap to a second point on the second electrode.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention comprises a sensor with a face having several tracks spaced apart from one another. One of these tracks has a first electrode and a second electrode separated by an electrically nonconductive gap. Also included is a detection device extending across the tracks to receive signals by capacitive coupling. Sensor circuitry electrically coupled to the tracks and the detection device is structured to generate a first number of bits from a sequential signal pattern applied to the tracks in accordance with an established sequence. The circuitry is also structured to generate a second number of bits as a function of a first signal and a second signal. The first bits and second bits represent a position of the detection device along the tracks with the first bits being more numerically significant than the second bits.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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providing a sensor with a first member including a first electrode and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by an electrically nonconductive gap, and a second member including a third electrode positioned opposite the first member; sequentially applying a first voltage waveform to the first electrode and a second voltage waveform to the second electrode; capacitively coupling the third electrode to the first member to provide a first signal in response to the application of the first waveform and a second signal in response to the application of the second waveform; and evaluating the first signal and the second signal relative to one another to resolve position of the third electrode to one of four or more different positions corresponding to a range, the range being from a first point on the first electrode, and along the gap to a second point on the second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method, comprising:
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applying a voltage waveform sequence to a sensor track, the track including a first electrode and a second electrode separated by an electrically nonconductive gap, and a third electrode positioned opposite the track; capacitively coupling the third electrode to the first electrode and the second electrode to provide a sequence of detection signals in response to the waveform sequence; processing the sequence of detection signals to provide a comparison of a signal sum and a signal difference; and interpolating position of the third electrode relative to a range along the first electrode, the gap, and the second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus, comprising:
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a sensor face including a track with a first electrode and a second electrode separated from one another by an electrically nonconductive gap; a detection device spaced apart from the track to receive signals form the first electrode and the second electrode by capacitive coupling; and sensor circuitry electrically coupled to the track and the detection device, the circuitry being structured to provide a voltage waveform sequence to the first electrode and the second electrode and process a sequence of detection signals from the detection device in response to the waveform sequence by comparing a signal sum and a signal difference to interpolate position of the detection device relative to a range of positions along the first electrode and the second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification