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:
Jun. 01, 2004
Filed:
Jul. 08, 2002
Seiichiro Ishio, Kariya, JP;
Yasutoshi Suzuki, Okazaki, JP;
Hajime Ito, Ichinomiya, JP;
Yasuaki Makino, Oakazaki, JP;
Norikazu Ohta, Aichi-ken, JP;
Keiichi Shimaoka, Aichi-ken, JP;
Hirofumi Funabashi, Aichi-ken, JP;
Denso Corporation, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
In a capacitive sensor apparatus, a capacitive sensor includes a plurality of physical-quantity-detection capacitors each having a movable electrode and a fixed electrode. A conversion device operates for converting an output signal of the capacitive sensor into an apparatus output signal. Each of the physical-quantity-detection capacitors is selectively connected and disconnected to and from the conversion device. A determination is made as to whether or not each of the physical-quantity-detection capacitors fails in response to the sensor output signal. When it is determined that a first one of the physical-quantity-detection capacitors fails, the first one is disconnected from the conversion device and a second one of the physical-quantity-detection capacitors is connected to the conversion device.