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:
Mar. 30, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 09, 2000
Hiroki Morimura, Kanagawa, JP;
Satoshi Shigematsu, Kanagawa, JP;
Katsuyuki Machida, Kanagawa, JP;
Hakaru Kyuragi, Tokyo, JP;
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A surface shape recognition apparatus includes a plurality of sensor electrodes, passivation film, capacitance detection circuit, and ground electrode. The sensor electrodes are formed on an interlevel insulator on a substrate and insulated from each other. The passivation film is formed on the interlevel insulator to cover the upper and side surfaces of each sensor electrode. The passivation film is formed from a dielectric material. When a target recognition object comes into contact with the surface of the passivation film, the capacitance detection circuit detects an electrostatic capacitance formed between the sensor electrode and the surface of the target recognition object opposing the sensor electrode. The ground electrode passes static electricity on the surface of the passivation film.