Patent ID: 6583632
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: G01R,G06K

Abstract:
A method of determining capacitances, the method which comprises:(a) providing a grid-shaped configuration of capacitors, the capacitors being formed by pairs of electrical conductor surfaces; (b) dividing the electrical conductor surfaces into groups; (c) electrically conductively connecting the electrical conductor surfaces of in each case one of the groups to one another by a respective read line; (d) electrically conductively connecting the electrical conductor surfaces of in each case one of the groups separately from one another to a respective control line; (e) applying, during a given time, an electric potential to the respective control line such that a potential difference is present between the respective control line and a plurality of read lines and charging, with the potential difference, the capacitors formed in each case by at least one of the electrical conductor surfaces connected to the respective control line and at least one of the electrical conductor surfaces connected to one of the read lines; (f) carrying off a charge via each of the read lines separately to a respective collecting capacitor; (g) switching off the electric potential applied to the respective control line and impressing, at low resistance, a respective potential onto a respective one of the read lines by using a circuit, the respective potential defining a charge state of the respective collecting capacitor with respect to a reference potential; (h) repeating steps (e) to (g) until a given number of charge operations has taken place; and (i) subsequently determining for each of the read lines one of a charge of the respective collecting capacitor and a potential difference of the respective collecting capacitor.