Apparatus for determining the angular position, speed and/or direction of rotary objects

This paper describes a capacitively reading apparatus for determining the angular orientation, speed and/or direction of rotary objects such as shaft, dial hand, counter wheel and the like. The apparatus consists of sensing device and circuit accompanying with said sensing device. The sensing device is provided by arranging many stationary electrodes lying substantially on a surface of a stationary plane member and by arranging rotary electrode lying substantially on a surface of rotary objects to be monitored, in which said rotary electrode is in confronting relationship to some stationary electrodes so as to construct unique capacitors according to the angular position of rotary objects. The angular position of said rotary electrode is determined by sets of stationary electrodes which are in confronting relationship to rotary electrode. A carrier signal is generated by scanning device while scanning said stationarelectrodes, whose periods are in corresponding relationship to said stationary electrodes, respectively. The periods of carrier corresponding to the angular position of said rotary electrode is modulated by a modulation signal generated by detecting device according to said rotary electrode. This apparatus is applied to automatically monitor any kind of storage tank, as well as to automatically read the conventional utility meters such as Watthour meters, Gas meters, Water meters, etc..