CAPACITOR ARRAY SENSORS TACTILE AND PROXIMITY SENSING AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF

摘要

Multiple capacitor arrays which are employed for a diversity of applications, particularly in the field of robotics. The capacitance sensor array is used for proximity and tactile sensing of properties of an object and comprises a plurality of capacitor plate elements formed in a predetermined array, means for actively connecting each capacitor plate element and the object to one of a plurality of oscillating circuits so that the oscillation frequency of each of the oscillating circuit is a function of the capacitance between each capacitor plate element and the object, and means for generating an output from the sensor which is a function of the tactile properties of the object from the plurality of oscillator circuits.