Patent US4559716A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5910781A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5910781A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Capacitive angle detector
Assignee: Tokai Rika Co Ltd
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Filing: 1997-12-19
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Granted: 1999-06-08
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Expires: 2017-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A capacitive angle detector according to the present invention is capable of detecting a rotating angle with a high precision. The capacitive angle detector includes a first member, a second member and a third member. The first and second members have a plurality of electrodes thereon to form a plurality of capacitors. The electrodes on the first member and the electrodes on the second member are free from relative rotation and arranged opposite each other. The third member rotates relative to the first and second members in accordance with a rotating movement of a rotating body, thus changing capacitance values of the capacitors. Based on capacitance values of the capacitors, the capacitive angle detector detects a rotating angle of the rotating body. In this capacitive angle detector, the third member is made of a dielectric material or a conductive metal material. The third member is partially interposed between the electrodes arranged opposite each other.
Inventors
- 👤 Masayuki Kawamoto
- 👤 Kimitoshi Tsuzi
- 👤 Jun-ichi Nakaho
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:36
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/12; G01D5/14; G01D5/24; G01D5/2405
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
A capacitive angle detector comprising: a first member having at least one electrode; a second member having a plurality of electrodes thereon to define a plurality of capacitors with at least said one electrode on said first member, the first and second members being non-rotatable with respect to and arranged opposite each other; a third member arranged between said first and second members and moving relative to said first and second members in accordance with rotating movement of a rotating body, said third member thereby changing capacitance values of said capacitors; and said capacitive angle detector detecting a rotating angle of said rotating body based on the capacitance values of said capacitors, wherein said third member is made of at least one of a dielectric material and a conductive metal material and is partially interposed between said at least one electrode and said plurality of electrodes of said first and second members, respectively, the capacitors defined by said first and second members are composed of a plurality of sets of capacitors, and, in accordance with rotating movement of said third member, the capacitance values of respective sets of the capacitors change with a predetermined phase difference, and said at least one electrode on said first member arranged opposite said plurality of electrodes on said second member comprises large and small-diameter circular electrodes each having a predetermined width, and said electrodes on said second member are formed by half-dividing large and small-diameter circular electrodes each having a predetermined width and offsetting the half-divided large and small-diameter electrodes from each other uniformly by 90°.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
262 words
A capacitive angle detector comprising: a first member having at least one electrode; a second member having a plurality of electrodes thereon to define a plurality of capacitors with at least said one electrode on said first member, the first and second members being non-rotatable with respect to and arranged opposite each other; a third member arranged between said first and second members and moving relative to said first and second members in accordance with rotating movement of a rotating body, said third member thereby changing capacitance values of said capacitors; and said capacitive angle detector detecting a rotating angle of said rotating body based on the capacitance values of said capacitors, wherein said third member is made of at least one of a dielectric material and a conductive metal material and is partially interposed between said at least one electrode and said plurality of electrodes of said first and second members, respectively, the capacitors defined by said first and second members are composed of a plurality of sets of capacitors, and, in accordance with rotating movement of said third member, the capacitance values of respective sets of the capacitors change with a predetermined phase difference, and said at least one electrode on said first member arranged opposite said plurality of electrodes on said second member comprises large and small-diameter circular electrodes each having a predetermined width, and said electrodes on said second member are formed by half-dividing large and small-diameter circular electrodes each having a predetermined width and offsetting the half-divided large and small-diameter electrodes from each other uniformly by 90°.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The capacitive angle detector according to claim 1, wherein said first and second members define four capacitors therebetween, and a rotation angle of said rotating body is detected based on a first capacitance difference of two of said capacitors composed of said large-diameter circular electrodes and a second capacitance difference of the other two capacitors composed of said small-diameter circular electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The capacitive angle detector according to claim 1, further comprising a reference capacitor for referencing the capacitance values of said capacitors, wherein voltages applied to said capacitors are changed based on the capacitance values of said capacitors that have been changed by disturbances and a capacitance value of said reference capacitor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
167 words
A capacitive angle detector comprising: first and second members defining at least first and second capacitors therebetween; a third member arranged between the first and second members and moving relative to the first and second members to thereby change capacitance values of said first and second capacitors; a reference capacitor that references the capacitance values of said first and second capacitors, wherein voltages applied to said first and second capacitors are changed based on the capacitance values of the first and second capacitors that have been changed by disturbances and a reference capacitance value of said reference capacitor; and at least one electrode on said first member arranged opposite a plurality of electrodes on said second member, the at least one electrode comprising large and small-diameter circular electrodes each having a predetermined width, said electrodes on said second member being formed by half-dividing large and small-diameter circular electrodes each having a predetermined width and offsetting the half-divided large and small-diameter electrodes from each other uniformly by 90°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
167 words
A capacitive angle detector comprising: first and second members defining at least first and second capacitors therebetween; a third member arranged between the first and second members and moving relative to the first and second members to thereby change capacitance values of said first and second capacitors; a reference capacitor that references the capacitance values of said first and second capacitors, wherein voltages applied to said first and second capacitors are changed based on the capacitance values of the first and second capacitors that have been changed by disturbances and a reference capacitance value of said reference capacitor; and at least one electrode on said first member arranged opposite a plurality of electrodes on said second member, the at least one electrode comprising large and small-diameter circular electrodes each having a predetermined width, said electrodes on said second member being formed by half-dividing large and small-diameter circular electrodes each having a predetermined width and offsetting the half-divided large and small-diameter electrodes from each other uniformly by 90°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
224 words
A capacitive angle detector comprising: a first member having at least one electrode; a second member having a plurality of electrodes thereon to define a plurality of capacitors with said at least one electrode on said first member, the first and second members being non-rotatable with respect to and arranged opposite each other; a third member arranged between said first and second members and moving relative to said first and second members in accordance with rotating movement of a rotating body, said third member thereby changing capacitance values of said capacitors; and said capacitive angle detector detecting a rotating angle of said rotating body based on the capacitance values of said capacitors, wherein said third member is made of at least one of a dielectric material and a conductive metal material and is partially interposed between said at least one electrode and said plurality of electrodes of said first and second members, respectively, and said at least one electrode on said first member is arranged opposite said plurality of electrodes on said second member, the at least one electrode comprising large and small-diameter circular electrodes each having a predetermined width, said electrodes on said second member being formed by half-dividing large and small-diameter circular electrodes each having a predetermined width and offsetting the half-divided large and small-diameter electrodes from each other uniformly by 90°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
224 words
A capacitive angle detector comprising: a first member having at least one electrode; a second member having a plurality of electrodes thereon to define a plurality of capacitors with said at least one electrode on said first member, the first and second members being non-rotatable with respect to and arranged opposite each other; a third member arranged between said first and second members and moving relative to said first and second members in accordance with rotating movement of a rotating body, said third member thereby changing capacitance values of said capacitors; and said capacitive angle detector detecting a rotating angle of said rotating body based on the capacitance values of said capacitors, wherein said third member is made of at least one of a dielectric material and a conductive metal material and is partially interposed between said at least one electrode and said plurality of electrodes of said first and second members, respectively, and said at least one electrode on said first member is arranged opposite said plurality of electrodes on said second member, the at least one electrode comprising large and small-diameter circular electrodes each having a predetermined width, said electrodes on said second member being formed by half-dividing large and small-diameter circular electrodes each having a predetermined width and offsetting the half-divided large and small-diameter electrodes from each other uniformly by 90°.
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) | 2002-06-07 | 2002-12-07 | 2003-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-06-07 | 2006-12-07 | 2007-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-06-07 | 2010-12-07 | 2011-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |