CONTACTLESS CAPACITIVE SENSOR, METHOD FOR DETECTING THE APPROACH OF A HUMAN OR ANIMAL BODY PART, AND ASSEMBLY HAVING A SENSOR

摘要

The invention relates to a contactless capacitive sensor for detecting the approach of a human or animal body part, comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the second electrode surrounds the first electrode and wherein an electrically nonconductive intermediate region is provided between the two electrodes, wherein the first electrode, the intermediate region, and the second electrode jointly form a sensor surface or are arranged under the sensor surface, and comprising a control and evaluation electronic unit, which supplies the second electrode with a substantially fixed voltage and the first electrode with a voltage that can be changed by the approach of a body part, and comprising means for interrupting a water film on the sensor surface, wherein the means are arranged on the sensor surface in the region of the second electrode.