Patent ID: 6989677
Filing Date: 2006-01-24
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A capacitance type sensor comprising: a substrate determining an XY-plane in a defined XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system; a detective member facing said substrate; a conductive member facing said substrate; a plurality of capacitance element electrodes formed on said substrate and cooperating with said conductive member to form a plurality of first capacitance elements, respectively; a reference electrode formed on said substrate and cooperating with said conductive member to form a second capacitance element, wherein said reference electrode is grounded or kept at a certain potential; and an insulating member disposed in between said conductive member and said plurality of capacitance element electrodes, and movable in parallel with said substrate as said detective member is moved along said XY-plane, wherein said plurality of first capacitance elements are operatively connected in series with said second capacitance element, respectively, and wherein displacement of said detective member is detected on the basis of detection of changes in the respective capacitance values of said plurality of first capacitance elements caused by a change, along said XY-plane, of the position of an end portion of said insulating member between said conductive member and said plurality of capacitance element electrodes.