536results about "Mechanically variable capacitors" patented technology

A multi-layer cover for an electronic device having one or more of a sensor panel, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a display device can include an outer hardcoat, a structural layer, an IR transmissive ink layer, a mask layer, and a backside hardcoat. The backside hardcoat can reduce cover warpage, enable full surface lamination of the cover to the sensor panel, prevent bubbles from forming in transparent windows in the cover, enable a wider range of functional inks to be applied in various layering orders to allow certain types of light to pass through while blocking others, and hide the sensors to provide a seamless, uncluttered visual appearance.

A fringing-field capacitive liquid level sensor comprising an electrically insulating substrate, having a first and a second pattern of conductive capacitance plates plated on the substrate. Each pattern constitutes a fringing-field capacitor having a capacitance the value of which is both dependent on the liquid level and dependent on the dielectric constant of the liquid. The ratio of the two capacitances, however, is proportional to the liquid level and independent of the dielectric constant of the liquid. The fringing-field capacitive liquid level sensor may be used for measurement of liquids of substantially any dielectric constant without requiring full-scale calibration or knowledge of, and calibration for, dielectric constant of the liquid to be measured. Compensation for tilt angle can be provided through the addition of a second level sensor.

A reconfigurable tactile input device includes a first rigid electrode layer, a compressible dielectric structure, and a second flexible electrode layer forming together a tactile sensor with appropriate electrode connection means to a control means. The control means may include a mixed-signal IC mounted next to the input device in a compact package and capable of measuring capacitance in real time. The dielectric structure may include a matrix of compressible geometric elements with voids therebetween optionally vented to atmosphere, making the entire assembly thin and facilitating its use for mobile phones and other small, portable electronic devices. Some embodiments provide the user wit tactile feedback upon compression of the electrodes. An optional flexible display may be mounted over the input device to indicate the present configuration to the user.

A capacitive proximity switch for detecting the change in the capacitance relative to a setpoint capacitance by the approach or retreat of an object in the sensitive area of a proximity switch, especially for use in the door handle of a motor vehicle, provides reliable error detection and error suppression at a fundamentally high sensitivity of the capacitive proximity switch by utilizing an evaluation unit that evaluates a measured value of the change in capacitance over time and depending on the time behavior of the measured value activates changes the operating threshold from a first threshold (which can be caused by a false object coming into or out of the sensitive area of the proximity switch) to a higher second threshold which can be reached only at a relatively greater change in capacitance caused by a target object coming into or out of the sensitive area of the proximity switch.

The invention relates to a process for the production of electrolyte capacitors having a low equivalent series resistance and low residual current, and which comprise a solid electrolyte of conductive polymers and an outer layer comprising conductive polymers applied in the form of a dispersion. Electrolyte capacitors produced by this process and the use of such electrolyte capacitors are also provided.

A variable capacitor for sensing the level of a liquid. The capacitor provides a readable capacitance that varies with respect to the level of the liquid. A pump control system implementing the capacitive sensor to control the level of a liquid by activating and deactivating the pump depending on the level of the liquid. Methods relating to varying capacitance of a capacitive sensor and controlling a pump based on the level of a liquid. A pump controller for controlling the level of a liquid in a reservoir includes a controller and a capacitor. The capacitor is adapted to provide an activation signal to the controller when the liquid in the reservoir reaches a first predetermined level relative thereto. Additionally, the capacitor is adapted to provide a trigger signal to the controller when the liquid in the reservoir reaches a second predetermined level relative thereto. Based on the trigger signal, the controller determines when to deactivate the pump.

A capacitor including an expandable part fabricated on a capacitor housing is enclosed. The expandable part is expandable by a fault that occurs within the capacitor housing, thereby extending the capacitor housing to contact with an external interrupter. The external interrupter includes an external electrode and an external sensing circuit. The external sensing circuit detects a contact between the capacitor housing and the external electrode and sends a signal to disconnect the capacitor from an apparatus circuit.

A solid electrolytic capacitor is here disclosed in which a dielectric layer formed on the surface of an anode obtained by molding and then sintering a niobium metal powder which includes a niobium oxide layer and a niobium nitride region, and a method for manufacturing the solid electrolytic capacitor is also disclosed.

A capacitive humidity sensor includes a detection portion and a reference portion. The detection portion includes detection electrodes and a moisture sensitive film. The reference portion includes reference electrodes and a moisture permeation film as a capacitance adjusting film. The capacitive humidity sensor detects humidity by converting a capacitance difference between a capacitance of the detection electrodes and a capacitance of the reference electrodes to an electric signal by using a capacitance-voltage conversion circuit. The moisture permeation film reduces offset voltage of the capacitive humidity sensor. Thus, an offset compensation circuit or the like is not required.

An anode (14, 208, 410) and / or cathode (12, 212, 420) of a capacitor has a large surface area. The high surface area of the anode is provided by forming the anode from a thin, electrically conductive layer (16) formed from metal particles (18) or an electrically conductive metallic sponge (416). These materials provide a porous structure with a large surface area of high accessibility. The particles are preferably directional or non-directional sponge particles of a metal, such as titanium. The conductive layer has a dielectric film (36, 236, 414) on its surface, formed by anodizing the particle surfaces. The dielectric film has a combination of high dielectric constant and high dielectric strength. The cathode (12, 212, 420) of the capacitor is either a conventional solid material or, more preferably, has a large surface provided by forming the surface from a sponge or particles analogously to the anode. The high dielectric strengths obtainable from the capacitor allow for extreme miniaturization, making the capacitor particularly suited for integrated circuit applications.

Disclosed herein is a structural sheet includes an energy storage density that is greater than 10-mWh / ft2 and is capable of withstanding greater than 5-KPa stress under at least 5% strain.

A solid electrolytic capacitor comprising a capacitor element obtainable by compressing a porous valve-acting metal substrate having on the dielectric film surface thereof a solid electrolyte layer containing an electrically conducting polymer in the thickness direction, wherein assuming that the maximum thickness and the minimum thickness of the electrically conducting polymer layer including the substrate before the compression are Hamax and Hamin, and the maximum thickness and the minimum thickness of the electrically conducting polymer layer after the compression are Hbmax and Hbmin, the percentage decrease ΔH in the difference of thickness represented by the following formula is preferably from 5 to 95%: Formula (I). The thin solid electrolytic capacitor element of the present invention, which can be stably produced with a small variety in shape, enables fabrication of a solid electrolytic multilayer capacitor having a high-capacitance and small-size with a low height, which, free from short-circuit failure, exhibits stable performanceΔ⁢⁢H⁡(%)=[1-(Hb⁢⁢max-Hb⁢⁢min)(Ha⁢⁢max-Ha⁢⁢min)]×100.(I)

Dielectric elastomer or electroactive polymer film transducers configured to minimize high electrical field gradients that can lead to partial discharge and corona.

A method for increasing the surface area of foil electrodes of electrolytic capacitors. A valve metal is deposited by evaporation on a valve metal foil in a low pressure inert atmosphere including oxygen at a pressure one to two orders of magnitude lower than the pressure of the inert gas. The resulting surface is fractal-like. The foil thus treated is suitable as such for use as a cathode. Prior to anodization to produce an anode, a discontinuous layer of a valve metal oxide is deposited on the foil, to preserve the high surface area of the fractal-like surface and otherwise promote the formation of a dielectric coating whose interface with the metal foil has a high surface area.