A device for determining a position of a moving part, having a position detector for detecting a position of the moving part relative to a reference position, wherein the position detector has a transmitter which is fixedly connected with the moving part. The position detector is designed such that it is operable in a position detection state for detecting the position of the moving part relative to the reference position and in a power saving state to save power. A capacitive sensor includes the transmitter, and the transmitter and the remainder of the capacitive sensor are designed to coordinate with each other and are arranged in such a way that in the power-saving state of the position detector, a movement of the moving part relative to the reference position is detected by the capacitive sensor and the position detector is transferred automatically from a power-saving state to a position-detecting state.

A displacement measurement device for a sensing device. The sensing device includes a first displacement sensor. The displacement measurement device includes: a drive signal generating circuit configured to output a drive signal to the first displacement sensor; a first signal processing circuit configured to receive a signal from the first displacement sensor and output a first ADSO signal; and a computing device including a first timer. The first timer is configured to receive a CLK512 signal and the first ADSO signal, and time or count according to the CLK512 signal and the first ADSO signal; and the CLK512 signal is a square wave signal related to a period and phase of the drive signal.

A position sensor includes first and second sensor components. The second sensor component has a reading unit that is configured to evaluate a capacitive signal in relation to the position of the second sensor component relative to the first sensor component. The position sensor is in addition configured to provide the result of the evaluation at an interface of the first sensor component. A method for ascertaining a position of a second sensor component of a position sensor relative to a first sensor component of the position sensor as well as a linear actuator, are provided.

A measuring container for measurement of impurity ions in a liquid includes: a first electrode; a first insulation film formed on the first electrode; a second insulation film formed apart from the first insulation film to create a space into which the liquid is to be sealed; a second electrode on which the second insulation film is formed, the second electrode being arranged to face the first electrode; and a seal material having an inlet through which the liquid is injected into the space, the seal material being configured to seal the space.

A position transducer, a linear actuator and a method for determining a position of two components in relation to each other. The position transducer having measuring unit and a first, second, and third electrode assembly. The third electrode assembly capacitively couples the first and the second electrode assemblies to each other and is movable in relation thereto. The measuring unit is electrically conductively connected to the first electrode assembly by a first line assembly and to the second electrode assembly by a second line assembly. The measuring unit is configured to emit at least one excitation signal via the first line assembly and receive at least one readout signal via the second line assembly. The measuring unit is also designed to determine, based on readout signal, a position of the third electrode assembly in relation to the first and the second electrode assemblies.

A contactless encoder is disclosed. The encoder comprises a selector configured to select one of a plurality of states associated with the encoder. The encoder furthermore comprises an integrated circuit comprising a finite state machine configured to detect a currently selected state by the selector and generate an output signal corresponding to the detected currently selected state, wherein the currently selected state is detected based on a capacitive coupling between the selector and a portion of the encoder associated with the currently selected state.

A position detection device includes a fixed element, a movable element, a plurality of first electrodes, a second electrode, a third electrode and a first detection circuit. The movable element is movable relative to the fixed element. The first electrodes are arranged on either the fixed element or the movable element, and the second electrode is on the other of the movable element or the fixed element. The first electrodes include two or more phases with electrical signals having mutually different phases. The third electrode is provided on the fixed element and opposing the electrode that is on the movable element while the movable element is in a prescribed position. The first detection circuit detects when the movable element is in the prescribed position based on electrical signals generated in the second and third electrodes in accordance with the electrical signals supplied to the first electrodes.

A displacement detecting apparatus includes a first electrode including a base electrode segment and a plurality of detecting electrode segments, a second electrode having a predetermined periodic pattern and movable relative to the first electrode, a detector configured to detect a displacement based on a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a wiring configured to connect the plurality of detecting electrode segments and the detector with each other. A portion of the wiring facing the second electrode is located opposite to the second electrode with respect to the base electrode segment.

Example capacitive-sensing rotary encoders and methods are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a rotary encoder structured to be mounted to a motor, the rotary encoder including a plurality of circumferential capacitive sensor arrays, each of the plurality of capacitive sensor arrays having an output representing a binary bit of a rotary encoder output, the rotary encoder output changing as a conductor rotates responsive to a rotatable shaft of the motor relative to the rotary encoder.

Example capacitive-sensing rotary encoders and methods are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a rotary encoder structured to be mounted to a motor, the rotary encoder including a plurality of circumferential capacitive sensor arrays, each of the plurality of capacitive sensor arrays having an output representing a binary bit of a rotary encoder output, the rotary encoder output changing as a conductor rotates responsive to a rotatable shaft of the motor relative to the rotary encoder.