The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 06, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 24, 1995
Applicant:
Inventors:
Rudi De Winter, Heusden-Zolder, BE;
Roger Diels, Erps-Kwerps, BE;
Assignee:
Sigma-Delta N.V., Tessenderlo, BE;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01P / ; H01H / ; G01C / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
7351432 ; 200 6152 ; 200 / ; 340669 ; 361280 ; 33366 ;
Abstract
A capacitive position sensor employs conventional printed circuit board (PCB) technology to detect capacitive changes caused by the movement of a ball along conductive tracks. A recessed region (or through hole) is stamped on the PCB with well controlled dimensions. Electrically conductive tracks are laid around the region and connect to a capacitance detection circuit on the PCB. As the PCB experiences inclination or acceleration the ball moves along the axis of the recessed region causing variations in the measured capacitance.