Method and circuit for detecting the presence, position and/or approach of an object relative to an electrode

• US 7,969,166 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Germany GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IDENT Technology AG (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fasshauer, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOAI AN D
• Application Number:
  US12/091,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20090219039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,702 Days
• Field of Search: 324/663, 324/658, 324/649, 324/600
• US Class Current: 324/663
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/088 operating with electric fields G01V3/082 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector

Abstract

A circuit for detecting the presence, position or the approach of an object in an observation area, the circuit has a sensor electrode assembly with an electrode that forms part of a capacitor system whose capacitance relative to a reference potential (e.g. ground) is dependent on the presence, position or approach of objects in the observation area. An evaluation circuit coupled to the sensor electrode detects a phase shift of the capacitance of the condenser system. An LC network is coupled to the capacitor system, and an oscillator connected to the electrode applies a frequency to the system formed by including the electrode and the LC network at a frequency within the range of a parallel resonance frequency of the LC network.

Claims

1. A circuit for detecting the position or presence of an object in an observation area, the circuit comprising:

a sensor electrode assembly comprising a first electrode forming part of a capacitor system whose capacitance to a reference potential is dependent on the presence or position of objects in an observation area bordered by the first electrode,

an LC network coupled to the capacitor system and including

a parallel-connected inductor and capacitor forming a resonant circuit having a parallel resonance frequency,

a gyrator establishing a predetermined inductivity of the LC network, and

an operational amplifier and a feedback capacitor feeding back a potential of the resonant circuit,

a generator for applying an exciter frequency to the first electrode and the LC network at a frequency within the range of the parallel resonance frequency of the LC network, and

evaluating means coupled to the sensor electrode for tracking resonance behavior of the LC network in capacitance changes of the detection capacitor system including the sensor electrode.

2. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the generator changes the exciter frequency occurs in dependence on the phase position.

3. The circuit according to claim 2 wherein the evaluating means evaluates a change of the exciter frequency as a presence signal.

4. The circuit according to claim 2 wherein the resonance frequency of the circuit is changed by the generator by changing the capacitance or the inductance, of circuit elements of the resonant circuit.