Patent ID: 7602376

Claim:
A capacitive position sensor configured for interconnection to a utilization device, comprising: a stationary signal-detecting capacitor plate; a stationary signal-transmitting capacitor plate supported parallel to, and spaced apart from, the signal-detecting capacitor plate, the transmitting capacitor plate being divided into a plurality of electrically separated segments; a non-circular, movable dielectric element disposed between the signal detecting and signal-transmitting capacitor plates; an elongate member having a user-manipulable proximal end and a distal end coupled to the dielectric element, the member being operative to rotate and laterally shift the element in the x or y directions in a plane substantially parallel to the stationary plates as a function of user position; circuitry in electrical communication with the stationary plates, the circuitry being operative to (a) measure the capacitance between each segment of the signal-transmitting plate and the signal-detecting plate, (b) determine the position of the elongate member in the x and y directions as a function of the measured capacitance, and (c) determine rotation of the elongate member as a function of the measured capacitance, with or without lateral shifting of the dielectric element; and an output for communicating the x-y position and rotation to the utilization device.