Patent ID: 7116116
Filing Date: 2006-10-03
Classification: G01D,G07C

Abstract:
1. A capacitance detecting device that reads surface contours of a target by detecting capacitance which changes according to a distance from the target, comprising: capacitance detecting elements arranged in a matrix of M rows and N columns; and a power line to supply power to the respective capacitance detecting elements, each of the capacitance detecting elements having: a) a signal detecting element to store electric charge corresponding to the capacitance; b) a reset element to reset the electric charge stored in the signal detecting element; and c) a signal amplifying element to amplify a signal corresponding to the electric charge stored in the signal detecting element, the signal detecting element having a capacitance detecting electrode, the signal amplifying element being composed of a thin film semiconductor device for signal amplification having a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a gate electrode, the reset element being composed of a thin film semiconductor device for reset having a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a gate electrode, and the gate electrode of the signal amplifying element, the capacitance detecting electrode, and the drain electrode of the reset element being connected to each other, wherein the gate electrode of the reset element is connected to a column line adjacent to a column line in which the capacitance detecting element having the reset element is positioned.