Patent ID: 7508220

Claim:
A detection assembly to capacitively detect an object on a support structure, comprising: at least one electrode being arranged adjacent said support structure; at least one cable having a first conductor and a second conductor, said first conductor having a first end connected to said at least one electrode; a first AC source connected to a second end of the first conductor; a controller structured to control said first AC source to provide a first AC voltage with a first amplitude and a first phase via said first conductor to said at least one electrode to capacitively detect said object on said support structure; a second AC source connected to said second conductor, wherein said controller is configured to control said second AC source to provide a second AC voltage to said second conductor, said second AC voltage having a second amplitude and a second phase, which are substantially equal to said first amplitude and said first phase, respectively; and a DC source, wherein the DC source is in series with said first AC source to provide a DC voltage to said at least one electrode to provide a clamping force on said object.