Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
266 words
A capacitive type proximity sensor having substantial range and sensitivity between a machine and an intruding object in the immediate vicinity of the machine and a steerable sensing field, comprising: an outer electrical conductor on said machine forming one electrode of a sensor capacitor, the other electrode comprising said object, said outer conductor comprising a first thin sheet of conductive material; a plurality of intermediate electrical conductors located between said outer conductor and said machine, said plurality of intermediate electrical conductors in close proximity to each other, said plurality of intermediate electrical conductors together comprising a surface having a size substantially larger than said outer conductor acting as a shield for reducing the parasitic capacitance between said outer conductor and said machine, said plurality of intermediate conductors comprising a plurality of thin sheets of conductive material together substantially wider than said first conductor; said outer and plurality of intermediate conductors attached to a surface on said machine with no gap between said conductors and no gap between said surface and said plurality of intermediate conductors, the surfaces of said outer and plurality of intermediate conductors conjoining with each other and said surface of said machine, said conductors being electrically isolated from one another and said surface of said machine acting as a ground plane; first circuit means for coupling, in phase and with variable gain, the instantaneous voltage at said outer electrical conductor to said plurality of intermediate electrical conductors; second circuit means coupled to said outer conductor and being responsive to the capacitance of said sensor capacitor for generating a control signal to said machine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
266 words
A capacitive type proximity sensor having substantial range and sensitivity between a machine and an intruding object in the immediate vicinity of the machine and a steerable sensing field, comprising: an outer electrical conductor on said machine forming one electrode of a sensor capacitor, the other electrode comprising said object, said outer conductor comprising a first thin sheet of conductive material; a plurality of intermediate electrical conductors located between said outer conductor and said machine, said plurality of intermediate electrical conductors in close proximity to each other, said plurality of intermediate electrical conductors together comprising a surface having a size substantially larger than said outer conductor acting as a shield for reducing the parasitic capacitance between said outer conductor and said machine, said plurality of intermediate conductors comprising a plurality of thin sheets of conductive material together substantially wider than said first conductor; said outer and plurality of intermediate conductors attached to a surface on said machine with no gap between said conductors and no gap between said surface and said plurality of intermediate conductors, the surfaces of said outer and plurality of intermediate conductors conjoining with each other and said surface of said machine, said conductors being electrically isolated from one another and said surface of said machine acting as a ground plane; first circuit means for coupling, in phase and with variable gain, the instantaneous voltage at said outer electrical conductor to said plurality of intermediate electrical conductors; second circuit means coupled to said outer conductor and being responsive to the capacitance of said sensor capacitor for generating a control signal to said machine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein said plurality of intermediate electrical conductors comprises a pair of intermediate electrical conductors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein said plurality of intermediate electrical conductors comprises four intermediate electrical conductors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein said first circuit means comprises voltage follower circuits comprised of operational amplifiers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The sensor of claim 4 wherein said second circuit means comprises a signal generator having an output signal indicative of the capacitance of said sensor capacitor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sensor of claim 5 wherein said signal generator comprises a variable frequency oscillator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein said machine comprises a robotic apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sensor of claim 7 wherein said robotic apparatus comprises a movable member of said robotic apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sensor of claim 8 wherein said movable member comprises an articulated member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sensor of claim 9 wherein said articulated member comprises a robotic arm.