Patent ID: 8188814

Claim:
A high voltage isolation dual capacitor communication system, comprising: a transmitter having a first capacitor comprising at least first and second communication drive electrodes separated by a distance d tx and disposed in at least a first electrically conductive metallized layer, the first and second drive electrodes having a first capacitance C tx therebetween, a first electrically conductive ground plane being spaced vertically apart from the first and second drive electrodes by a first electrically insulative layer, the first drive electrode being operably coupled to a drive input through a first node, a drive circuit being operably coupled to the drive input and configured to transmit a communication drive signal through the first capacitor; a receiver having a second capacitor comprising at least first and second communication sense electrodes separated by a distance d rx and disposed in at least a second electrically conductive metallized layer, the first and second sense electrodes having a second capacitance C rx therebetween, a second electrically conductive ground plane being spaced vertically apart from the first and second sense electrodes by a second electrically insulative layer, the second sense electrode being operably coupled to a sense output through a second node, a receive circuit being operably coupled to the sense output and configured to receive the communication drive signal received by the second capacitor; wherein the first and second capacitors of the transmitter and receiver, respectively, are connected electrically in series to permit the transfer of the communication drive signal through an electrical connection disposed therebetween, the first and second capacitors are configured to provide galvanic isolation between the transmitter and the receiver, a high voltage isolation distance of the system is defined by a sum of the distances d tx and d rx , and a voltage developed between the first node and the second node is shared and distributed between the first and second capacitors.