Patent ID: 6744258
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: G01D

Abstract:
A capacitive sensor apparatus comprising:a capacitive sensor including a plurality of physical-quantity-detection capacitors each having a movable electrode and a fixed electrode; a conversion device for converting an output signal of the capacitive sensor into an apparatus output signal; first means for selectively connecting and disconnecting each of the plurality of physical-quantity-detection capacitors to and from the conversion device; second means for determining whether or not each of the plurality of physical-quantity-detection capacitors fails in response to the capacitive sensor output signal; and third means for, when the second means determines that a first one of the plurality of physical-quantity-detection capacitors fails, disconnecting the first one from the conversion device and connecting a second one of the plurality of physical-quantity-detection capacitors to the conversion device, wherein the conversion device includes means for changing a characteristic of the conversion of the output signal of the capacitive sensor into the apparatus output signal in accordance with which one of the plurality of physical-quantity-detection capacitors is connected to the conversion device to make the apparatus output signal independent of which one of the plurality of the physical-quantity-detection capacitors is connected to the conversion device.