Method of sensing absolute position of a structure using a capacitively coupled position encoder
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- generating a signal pattern to repetitively provide a changing voltage to each of two or more tracks of a sensor;
capacitively coupling an electrode of the sensor to the tracks to determine a first electrode position along the tracks by detecting a first group of signals emitted in response to the signal pattern, a first one of the tracks includes a first set of electrode segments each spaced apart from another by a corresponding one of a first set of electrically nonconductive gaps, a second one of the tracks includes a second set of electrode segments each spaced apart from another by a corresponding one of a second set of electrically nonconductive gaps, the first set of electrode segments includes a first electrode subset and a second electrode subset, and each member of the first electrode subset alternates with a member of the second electrode subset along the first one of the tracks;
moving at least one of the electrode and the tracks relative to another of the electrode and the tracks to result in a second electrode position along the tracks different from the first electrode position; and
detecting a second group of signals emitted in response to the signal pattern with the electrode capacitively coupled to the tracks to determine the second electrode position.
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Abstract
A method of sensing absolute position of a structure includes: generating a signal pattern to repetitively provide a changing voltage to each of two or more tracks of a sensor, capacitively coupling an electrode of the sensor to the tracks to determine a first electrode position along the tracks by detecting a first group of signals emitted in response to the signal pattern, moving at least one of the electrode and the tracks relative to another of the electrode and the tracks to result in a second electrode position along the tracks different from the first electrode position, and detecting a second group of signals emitted in response to the signal pattern with the electrode capacitively coupled to the tracks to determine the second electrode position.
25 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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generating a signal pattern to repetitively provide a changing voltage to each of two or more tracks of a sensor; capacitively coupling an electrode of the sensor to the tracks to determine a first electrode position along the tracks by detecting a first group of signals emitted in response to the signal pattern, a first one of the tracks includes a first set of electrode segments each spaced apart from another by a corresponding one of a first set of electrically nonconductive gaps, a second one of the tracks includes a second set of electrode segments each spaced apart from another by a corresponding one of a second set of electrically nonconductive gaps, the first set of electrode segments includes a first electrode subset and a second electrode subset, and each member of the first electrode subset alternates with a member of the second electrode subset along the first one of the tracks; moving at least one of the electrode and the tracks relative to another of the electrode and the tracks to result in a second electrode position along the tracks different from the first electrode position; and detecting a second group of signals emitted in response to the signal pattern with the electrode capacitively coupled to the tracks to determine the second electrode position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method, comprising:
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generating a signal pattern to repetitively provide a changing voltage to each of two or more tracks of a sensor, capacitively coupling an electrode of the sensor to the tracks to determine a first electrode position along the tracks by detecting a first group of signals emitted in response to the signal pattern, with a first one of the tracks including a first set of electrode segments having a first electrode subset and a second electrode subset wherein each member of the first electrode subset alternates with a member of the second electrode subset along the first one of the tracks; moving at least one of the electrode and the tracks relative to another of the electrode and the tracks to result in a second electrode position along the tracks different from the first electrode position; and detecting a second group of signals emitted in response to the signal pattern with the electrode capacitively coupled to the tracks to determine the second electrode position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification