Patent US5681990A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5681990A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Capacitive throttle position sensor
Assignee: SAMUEL V ALBIMINO
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Filing: 1995-12-07
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Granted: 1997-10-28
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Expires: 2015-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A capacitive throttle position sensor includes an electrode board having at least three electrodes, a driver for selectively driving the electrodes, and a rotary member including a dielectric that provides capacitive path to an output electrode. Preferably, a logical driver provides incrementally sequenced charges to the driver electrodes. The output electrode is coupled to a signal processor that prepares the signal for comparison in a logical decoder with respect to an initiating driver electrode signal. Preferably, the phase difference between the output and input of the capacitive sensor provides an output signal which is not dependent upon the absolute capacitance of the element, and thus provides an output signal which can be adapted to a number of formats for motor vehicle control. Both two piece and three piece versions of the stationary and rotary parts are disclosed, and the capacitive gap may be axially or radially aligned between the stationary and rotary components.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Joseph Hampo
- 👤 David Lee Striker
- 👤 William Henry Lee
- 👤 Michael John Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/12; G01D5/14; G01D5/24; G01D5/2405; G01D5/241; G01D5/2412; G01D5/2415
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A throttle position sensor comprising: a driver electrode board including a plurality of electrodes; a rotating member with a coupler for rotational movement with the throttle shaft; an intermediate dielectric having a spatially non-uniform, conductive dimension between said driver board and said rotating member; an output electrode associated with said rotating member for delivering output passed through said intermediate dielectric from said driver board electrodes; a logical driver for inputting an electrical charge to a selected set of said plurality of electrodes; a signal processor for generating a phase responsive signal; and a logical decoder for comparing the phase difference between said input charge and said phase responsive signal and generating a sensor output representing throttle angular position independent of absolute capacitance between said electrodes, wherein said driver board and said output electrodes are on a single body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A throttle position sensor comprising: a driver electrode board including a plurality of electrodes; a rotating member with a coupler for rotational movement with the throttle shaft; an intermediate dielectric having a spatially non-uniform, conductive dimension between said driver board and said rotating member; an output electrode associated with said rotating member for delivering output passed through said intermediate dielectric from said driver board electrodes; a logical driver for inputting an electrical charge to a selected set of said plurality of electrodes; a signal processor for generating a phase responsive signal; and a logical decoder for comparing the phase difference between said input charge and said phase responsive signal and generating a sensor output representing throttle angular position independent of absolute capacitance between said electrodes, wherein said driver board and said output electrodes are on a single body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotating member includes said intermediate dielectric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said driver electrode board is concentric with said output electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said signal processor comprises a zero-crossing detector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said signal processor includes a bandpass filter intermediate said output electrode and said zero-crossing detector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said selected set is a sequentially incremented set of adjacent electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said selected set is a plurality of spaced apart, uniformly charged electrodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said logical decoder sensor output is a pulse width modulated signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said sensor further comprises a low pass filter receiving said pulse width modulated signal to generate an analog sensor output signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A capacitive throttle position sensor for attachment to a throttle shaft comprising: a driver electrode board including a plurality of radially aligned electrodes concentrically arranged about said throttle shaft on said driver electrode board; a tubular electrode adapted to concentrically receive the throttle shaft; and an intermediate dielectric having a radially non-uniform, dielectric strength concentrically carried about said tubular electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
A capacitive throttle position sensor for attachment to a throttle shaft comprising: a driver electrode board including a plurality of radially aligned electrodes concentrically arranged about said throttle shaft on said driver electrode board; a tubular electrode adapted to concentrically receive the throttle shaft; and an intermediate dielectric having a radially non-uniform, dielectric strength concentrically carried about said tubular electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said driver electrode board includes a logical driver circuit for inputting an electrical charge to a selected set of said plurality of electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said driver electrode board includes a signal processor for generating a phase responsive signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein said driver electrode board includes a logical decoder for comparing the phase difference between an input charge to said plurality of electrodes and said phase responsive signal and generating a sensor output representing throttle angular position independent of absolute capacitive between said plurality of electrodes and said tubular electrode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
A capacitive throttle position sensor comprising: a driver electrode board disc including a plurality of electrodes radially aligned on the disc from a point and a conductor ring concentric to said radially aligned electrodes with respect to said point; a rotating member with a coupler for rotational movement with a throttle shaft, said rotational member having a plurality of conductive areas separated by a plurality of nonconductive areas; and an output electrode coupled to said concentric conductor ring.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
A capacitive throttle position sensor comprising: a driver electrode board disc including a plurality of electrodes radially aligned on the disc from a point and a conductor ring concentric to said radially aligned electrodes with respect to said point; a rotating member with a coupler for rotational movement with a throttle shaft, said rotational member having a plurality of conductive areas separated by a plurality of nonconductive areas; and an output electrode coupled to said concentric conductor ring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as defined in claim 14 wherein said output electrode comprises a coil spring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention as defined in claim 15 wherein said coil spring is concentrically carried by said coupler.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as defined in claim 14 wherein said driver electrode board includes a first set of electrodes and at least one redundant set of radially aligned electrodes to reduce sensitivity to mechanical misalignment.
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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) | 2000-10-27 | 2001-04-28 | 2001-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-27 | 2005-04-28 | 2005-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-27 | 2009-04-28 | 2009-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |