Capacitive Sensors
Capacitive measurement techniques are well established in science and industry. Advances in electronics continously extend the fields where they are applicable. Main advantages of capacitive technology are simplicity, high accuracy and resolution over the total measurement range, excessive temperature operating capabilities, insensitivity to dirt, moisture and dew.
The versatility of capacitive sensors originates from the fact that different sensing modalities are possible. These are illustrated in following image and comprise dielectric coupling, conductive shielding and conductive coupling.
Many different types of applications can be covered:
- Angular and linear position and velocity
- Fill level
- Flow rate
- Moisture
- Proximity detection
- Inclination
- Acceleration
- Force
- Input devices such as sliders, touchpads...
- Electrical Capacitance Tomography
- and lot more
Capacitive sensors can be quite power efficient and are thus ideal canditates for wireless sensor applications.
Contact: Hubert Zangl, Georg Brasseur, Thomas Bretterklieber