Patent ID: 6138508
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
Apparatus for determining and monitoring the position of a dielectric material relative to a reference point, comprising:a plurality of independent input elements arranged generally parallel to one another and in spaced apart relation to one another;a common receiver plate spaced apart but adjacent said input elements for receiving electrical output signals coupled thereonto such that said receiver plate, in cooperation with said input elements, forms a plurality of independent capacitors;a controller for applying an electrical signal to each said input element to sequentially electrically excite each of said input elements;said controller including:an amplifier for generating a voltage signal representative of each said electrical output signal;a peak detector for detecting a peak magnitude of each said voltage signal coupled onto said receiver plate as each of said input elements is electrically excited;a comparator for comparing said voltage signals against a reference value;said controller determining from said voltage signals which ones of said capacitors have experienced a change in capacitance and the relative percentage of coverage of each said capacitor by said dielectric material to make a determination of the position of said dielectric material within a predetermined area.