Patent ID: 6304091
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: G01D

Abstract:
A capacitive position sensor comprising:a first stator and a second stator, each of said first and second stators coupled to a driver signal input to allow a driver signal to be input to said first and second stators;a resistor coupled between said driver signal input and said first stator;a vane, wherein said vane moves parallel to said first stator such that said vane overlaps at least a portion of said first stator, thereby creating a capacitance that varies as said vane moves;a dielectric provided between said vane and said first stator; anda circuit coupled to said first stator, said circuit sensing a voltage on said first stator based on relative positions of said first stator and said vane, said circuit providing a phase-shifted signal describing a phase shift of said voltage with reference to said driver signal, said phase shifted signal suitable for deriving an absolute position of said vane with respect to said first stator.