Patent US3593073A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3593073A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Antenna system for capacitance responsive circuit
Assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
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Filing: 1968-12-16
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1988-12-16
Abstract
Abstract Each of two embodiments of an antenna system for capacitancecontrolled circuits comprises an antenna member which forms a common plate of first and second capacitances, and a shield for interrupting electric flux between the antenna and grounded elements near the rear surface of the antenna. A first embodiment also comprises a fixed increment of the first capacitance between the antenna and a conductive element situated between the antenna system encasement and the controlled sanitary facility which the encasement abuts. The encasement functions as a dielectric in the aforementioned increment of capacitance, and the conductive element operates to prevent spurious increases in antenna capacitance to ground which result from the intermittent flow of water in the controlled sanitary facility. A second embodiment comprises a conductive element disposed about the periphery of he antenna member and spaced therefrom This conductive element forms a second plate to the second capacitance, and effectively shields he antenna member from electric fields apssing through the c encasement.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl E Atkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:22
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/945; H03K17/955
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
In a capacitance-responsive circuit operative to provide an output which varies in response to changes in detected capacitance, said circuit including first and second capacitances which have a common first plate, the improvement comprising: a modular antenna system for retrofitting existing facilities and comprising (1) electrically-conductive antenna means formed by said common first plate of said first and second capacitances, a second plate of said first capacitance being formed by an object to be detected, and (2) electrically-conductive shielding means forming a second plate of said second capacitance and shielding said antenna means from rearwardly-positioned grounded elements, said antenna means being substantially coextensive horizontally and vertically with said shielding means and being disposed between said shielding means and any object within the utilization range of said antenna system so as to prevent any substantial capacitive coupling between said shielding means and such object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a capacitance-responsive circuit operative to provide an output which varies in response to changes in detected capacitance, said circuit including first and second capacitances which have a common first plate, the improvement comprising: a modular antenna system for retrofitting existing facilities and comprising (1) electrically-conductive antenna means formed by said common first plate of said first and second capacitances, a second plate of said first capacitance being formed by an object to be detected, and (2) electrically-conductive shielding means forming a second plate of said second capacitance and shielding said antenna means from rearwardly-positioned grounded elements, said antenna means being substantially coextensive horizontally and vertically with said shielding means and being disposed between said shielding means and any object within the utilization range of said antenna system so as to prevent any substantial capacitive coupling between said shielding means and such object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The antenna system according to claim 1, further comprising a coaxial cable having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, said inner conductor being electrically connected to said antenna means and said outer conductor being electrically connected to said shielding means, said coaxial cable forming an increment of said second capacitance and serving to connect said antenna means and said shielding means to the remainder of said capacitance-responsive circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The antenna system described in claim 2, further comprising an adjustable capacitance electrically connected between said inner and outer conductors of said coaxial cable, thereby forming an increment of said second capacitance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The antenna system described in claim 2, further comprising an encasement containing said capacitance-responsive circuit, and contoured to be installed adjacent to a sanitary facility to be retrofitted, said encasement being composed of a material having a dielectric constant substantially higher than that of air and having a conductive strip co-extensive with the surface of the encasement adjacent to the sanitary facility, said strip, said encasement and said antenna means forming an increment of said first capacitance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The antenna system described in claim 4, further comprising a grounded conductive mounting member, said conductive strip being electrically connected to said mounting member for interposition between said surface of the encasement adjacent to the sanitary facility to be retrofitted and the adjacent channel of flow in the sanitary facility.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
The antenna system described in claim 5, wherein: 1 said mounting member includes: a. opposite side portions, b. protrusions extending inwardly from the forward upper area of said side portions; 2 said shielding means is substantially L-shaped and comprises: a. an insulating strip along the vertical and lower horizontal edges, b. a pair of hook members engaging said protrusions, thereby suspending said shielding means between substantially the entire forward surface of said mounting member and the rear surface of said antenna means and electrically insulating said shielding means from said mounting member; 3 said encasement is contoured to abut the upper exterior surface of the sanitary facility to be retrofitted; and 4 said antenna means is mounted against the forward interior surface of said encasement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
116 words
The antenna system described in claim 2, further comprising a grounded conductive mounting member and an encasement covering said capacitance-responsive circuit and the load controlled thereby, and contoured for installation adjacent to a sanitary facility to be retrofitted, said encasement being Composed of a material having a dielectric constant substantially higher than that of air and said mounting member having a bottom portion, the peripheral area of which is contoured for interposition between a surface of the sanitary facility to be retrofitted and the surface of the encasement adjacent to said surface of the sanitary facility, said antenna means, said encasement and said lower portion of said mounting member forming an increment of said first capacitance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
The antenna system described in claim 7, wherein: 1 said mounting member includes: a. opposite side portions, b. protrusions extending inwardly from the forward upper area of said side portions; 2 said shielding means is substantially L-shaped and comprises: a. an insulating strip along the vertical and lower horizontal edges, b. a pair of hook members engaging said protrusions, thereby suspending said shielding means between substantially the entire forward surface of said mounting member and the rear surface of said antenna means and electrically insulating said shielding means from said mounting member; 3 said encasement is contoured to abut the upper exterior surface of the sanitary facility to be retrofitted; and 4 said antenna means is mounted against the forward interior surface of said encasement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The antenna system according to claim 1, further comprising a conductive ring disposed about the periphery of said antenna means in proximity thereto to form a second plate of said second capacitance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The antenna system according to claim 8, further comprising a grounded conductive member and an encasement covering said capacitance-responsive circuit and contoured for installation adjacent to a sanitary facility to be retrofitted, said encasement being composed of a material having a dielectric constant substantially higher than that of air, said antenna means and said conductive ring being disposed upon the forward inner surface of said encasement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
The antenna system described in claim 10, wherein: 1 said mounting member includes: a. opposite side portions, b. protrusions extending inwardly from the forward upper area of said side portions; 2 said shielding means is substantially L-shaped and comprises: a. an insulating strip along the vertical and lower horizontal edges, b. a pair of hook members engaging said protrusions, thereby suspending said shielding means between substantially the entire forward surface of said mounting member and the rear surface of said antenna means and electrically insulating said shielding means from said mounting member; 3 said encasement is contoured to about the upper exterior surface of the sanitary facility; and 4 said antenna means is mounted against the forward interior surface of said encasement.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |