Patent US3558446A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4434665A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4434665A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated capacitive transducer
Assignee: F Hoffmann La Roche AG
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Filing: 1982-01-27
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Granted: 1984-03-06
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Expires: 2002-01-27
Abstract
Abstract A capacitive transducer indicates the value of a physical quantity to be measured and is constructed with two spaced electrically conducting plates movable relative to one another in response to a mechanical signal representative of the physical quantity to be measured to generate an electrical signal in response thereto with the transducer capacitor being actuated and de-actuated to be respectively responsive and non-responsive to the mechanical signal in accordance with pre-designated time intervals. The electrical signal in accordance with the capacitance of the transducer capacitor is integrated to provide an output signal when the integrated signal exceeds a reference value.
Inventors
- 👤 Morgan Adolfsson
- 👤 Sture Goransson
- 👤 Bertil Hok
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:01
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P3/00; G01P3/42; G01P3/44; G01P3/48; G01P3/4802; G01P3/4805; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/12; G01D5/14; G01D5/24; G01D5/241; G01D5/2417; G01L; G01L9/00; G01L9/0041; G01L9/0072; G01L9/0073; G01L9/12; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A transducer for indicating the value of a physical quantity to be measured, comprising: a transducer capacitor having two spaced electrically conducting plates movable relative to one another in response to a mechanical signal representative of the physical quantity to be measured and for generating an electrical signal in response thereto; capacitive means for trimming said transducer capacitor; means for actuating and de-actuating said transducer capacitor to be respectively responsive and non-responsive to said mechanical signal in accordance with pre-designated time intervals; means for integrating an electrical signal in accordance with the capacitance of said transducer capacitor and providing an output signal when the integrated signal exceeds a reference value; and means for receiving control signals for controlling said means for actuating and for transmitting said output signal
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A transducer for indicating the value of a physical quantity to be measured, comprising: a transducer capacitor having two spaced electrically conducting plates movable relative to one another in response to a mechanical signal representative of the physical quantity to be measured and for generating an electrical signal in response thereto; capacitive means for trimming said transducer capacitor; means for actuating and de-actuating said transducer capacitor to be respectively responsive and non-responsive to said mechanical signal in accordance with pre-designated time intervals; means for integrating an electrical signal in accordance with the capacitance of said transducer capacitor and providing an output signal when the integrated signal exceeds a reference value; and means for receiving control signals for controlling said means for actuating and for transmitting said output signal
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A transducer according to claim 1, in which one of the conducting plates of the transducer capacitor is mounted on a support plate, which at least at one point is rigidly connected to a substrate and which by being deflected by the mechanical signal is moved relative to the substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A transducer according to claim 2, in which the support plate is made of a material having substantially the same temperature coefficient of expansion as the substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A transducer according to claim 3, in which the support is made of the same material as the substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A transducer according to claim 2 in which the substrate and the other of said conducting plates are at least partially separated by a closed volume.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A transducer according to claim 2 in which the substrate and the other of said conducting plates are partially separated by a volume which is closed, except for a hole provided in the substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A transducer according to claim 2 in which the substrate and the other of said, conducting plates are partially separated by a volume which is closed, except for a channel between the support plate and the substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A transducer according to claim 7, in which the support plate is in mechanical connection with a mass, the force exerted on said mass caused by acceleration causing a deflection of the support plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A transducer according to claim 1, wherein said means for receiving and transmitting includes means for receiving and transmitting optical energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A transducer according to claim 9 wherein said means for receiving and transmitting optical energy is a photo-luminescent diode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said capacitive means includes a first capacitor having essentially the same capacitance value as said transducer capacitor in the absence of a mechanical signal applied thereto for nulling said output signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said capacitive means further includes a second capacitor for calibrating the electrical signal from said transducer capacitor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A transducer as claimed in claim 12, in which at least one of said first or second capacitors is constructed with one of its plates sub-divided into plate parts, said plate parts being connected together by further electrical switch means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A transducer as claimed in claim 13, in which the area of at least one of the plate parts is half that of one adjacent plate part and twice that of the other adjacent plate part.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A transducer according to claim 14, in which said further electrical switch means comprises at least one breakable metallic connection.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
A transducer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for actuating and de-actuating includes a first transistor switch for actuating said first capacitor and said transducer capacitor, a second transistor switch for actuating said second capacitor and said transducer capacitor and a third switch for de-actuating said first and second capacitors and said transducer capacitor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
A transducer as claimed in claim 16 wherein said first and second capacitors are respectively connected in parallel and in series with said transducer capacitor by said first and second transistor switches.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A transducer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for actuating and de-actuating includes means for storing a control signal for actuating or de-actuating said transducer capacitor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A transducer as claimed in claim 16, in which said first, second and third transistor switches are respective field effect transistors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-03-06 | 1987-09-05 | 1988-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-06 | 1991-09-05 | 1992-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-06 | 1995-09-05 | 1996-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |