Encoding system and method for differential capacitive transducer

Claim 2

A transducer system comprising a first transducer, switch means, a comparator, and an optical source, said first transducer being adapted to measure displacement, said first transducer and said optical source being connected to said comparator, said switch means being connected to said comparator and being adapted to be sequentially operated to produce first, second and third pulses, the time relationships of said second pulse to said first and third pulses being representative of a displacement being measured by said transducer.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said time relationships are the differences in time between said first pulse and said second pulse, between said first pulse and said third pulse, and between said second pulse and said third pulse.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein said transducer comprises a readily rotatable plate.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 wherein said optical source is connected to an optical fiber.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4 wherein said optical fiber is connected to an optical detector.

Claim 7

The system of claim 5 wherein said optical detector is connected to a display.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1 further comprising a voltage ramp generator, said voltage ramp generator being connected to said comparator.

Claim 9

The system of claim 7 further comprising a counter, said counter being connected to said comparator.

Claim 10

The system of claim 8 further comprising a switch, said switch being connected to said counter and to said comparator.

Claim 11

The system of claim 9 wherein said transducer further comprises a first transimpedance amplifier and a second transimpedance amplifier, said first and second transimpedance amplifiers being connected to said comparator.

Claim 12

The system of claim 10 wherein said transducer further comprises a first voltage amplifier, a second voltage amplifier and a third voltage amplifier, said first, second and third voltage amplifiers being connected to said first and second transimpedance amplifiers, and to said switch.

Claim 13

The system of claim 1 wherein said transducer means comprises a capacitor.

Claim 14

The system of claim 1 further comprising a second capacitive transducer, said second transducer being connected to said comparator.

Claim 15

A displacement measuring system, comprising: a variable capacitor, a ramp generator, signal processing means, and an optical source, said capacitor being connected to said generator and to said signal processing means, said signal processing means being connected to said optical source, said variable capacitor having a movable planar plate and a first and a second fixed planar plate, said movable plate being adapted to be displaced in a plane parallel to the planes of said fixed plates adjacent to said fixed plates at a substantially constant lateral distance from said fixed plates, said generator being adapted to generate a substantially linear ramp, said signal processing means being adapted to produce a first and a second pulse, said first and said second pulses being displaced in time in proportion to the displacement of said movable plate.

Claim 16

A displacement measuring system, comprising: a variable capacitor, a ramp generator, signal processing means, and an optical source, said capacitor being connected to said generator and to said signal processing means, said signal processing means being connected to said optical source, said variable capacitor having a movable planar plate and a first and a second fixed planar plate, said movable plate being adapted to be displaced in a plane parallel to the planes of said fixed plates adjacent to said fixed plates at a substantially constant lateral distance from said fixed plates, said generator being adapted to generate a substantially linear ramp, said signal processing means being adapted to produce a first and a second pulse, said first and said second pulses being displaced in time in proportion to the displacement of said movable plate.

Claim 17

The system of claim 14 wherein said ramp generation is a voltage ramp generator, and said pulses are voltage pulses.

Claim 18

The system of claim 14 further comprising a fuel tank.

Claim 19

The system of claim 14 further comprising a readily rotatable shaft, said shaft being connected to said movable plate.

Claim 20

The system of claim 14 further comprising a linearly movable arm, said arm being connected to said movable plate.

Claim 21

The method of claim 14 wherein said optical source is connected to an optical fiber.

Claim 22

The method of claim 19 wherein said optical fiber is connected to an optical detector.

Claim 23

The method of claim 20 wherein said detector is connected to a display.