Kostal Automobil Elektrik Gmbh & Co. Kg

Marc Lux

Matthias Seifert

A capacitive multipath force sensor module includes a movable actuator, first and second stationary capacitor plates, and a central capacitor plate connected to the actuator and positioned between the stationary plates. The central plate moves by a same amount toward one stationary plate and away from the other stationary plate when the actuator is moved. In multiple successive cycles, while the first stationary plate is held at ground, (i) the central plate and the second stationary plate are connected to a voltage and (ii) are then disconnected from the voltage with the central plate being connected to a capacitor having a known capacitance value to thereby enable a charge quantity stored on the central plate to be transferred to the capacitor. After a predefined number of cycles, a voltage of the capacitor, which is indicative of an amount of movement of the actuator, is measured.

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Bochum, Germany

Marc Lux