Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for dispensing a liquid to fill a container (4) up to a predetermined liquid level. The invention also refers to a dispenser capable of achieving such a method.

Abstract: Rapid chilling apparatus for beverages including a receptacle (2) accommodating beverage containers (3) of differing length, and cooling structure cooling said receptacle (2), wherein said receptacle (2) includes a plurality of electrodes (4), an inner surface (5) supporting a container (3) such that the electrodes (4) turn out as being distributed along the whole length of the container (3), the electrodes (4) being connected to circuit structure (6) detecting and measuring the capacitance value on each electrode (4) due to the presence of a container (3) made of a conductive or non-conductive material in proximity of the same electrode (4) so as to determine the actual length of the container (3), control structure (7) operating said cooling structure in response to the capacitance values detected by said circuit structure (6) for a period of time, the duration depending on the so determined length of the container (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a capacitive sensor system comprising a sensor circuit connected to a first (15) and a second (11) antenna, the first antenna (15) is arranged on a first object (10) and the second antenna (11) is arranged on a second object (11) movable relative to said first object (10). The first antenna (15) is arranged right next to the second object (11) for the sensor circuit to detect the movement and/or position of the second object (11).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for dispensing a liquid to fill a container (4) up to a predetermined liquid level. The invention also refers to a dispenser capable of achieving such a method.

Abstract: Electronic circuit for the detection of a capacitive variation on two distinct contact capacitors, (C1, C2), comprising means able of squaring the signals generated by a conventional pulse generator and filtered by two filters (R1, C1-R2, C2), wherein the respective capacitors (C1, C2) are the same said contact capacitors which are connected to a respective terminal to a common ground (G); said means are also able to generate respective signals formed of trains of squared pulses, to compare said two signals and to provide an output signal depending on the result of said signals comparison. Said output signal depends on the phase difference between the pulses of said two trains of squared pulses.

Abstract: A method of measuring the capacitance of a capacitive component (21), whereby a digital bridge with two measuring branches generates a first signal (B1) defined by a train of measuring pulses (M) having a frequency (f1) related to the unknown capacitance being measured, and a second signal (B2) defined by a train of reference pulses (L) having a frequency (f2) related to a reference capacitance (CREF) of known value. The time difference (?T) between the times (T1, T2) taken by the two measuring branches of the digital bridge to generate an equal number of pulses (Th1, Th2) is calculated. The capacitance difference (?C) between the unknown capacitance and the reference capacitance (CREF) is determined as a function of the time difference (?T). The unknown capacitance of the capacitive component (21) is calculated on the basis of the reference capacitance (CREF) and the capacitance difference (?C).

Abstract: A laundry dryer (1), wherein the laundry is dried inside a rotating drum (3) by a stream (7) of hot air blown into the drum (3) through a perforated wall (5) of the drum (3); and wherein two single-pole ion generators (10, 11) are located along a path of the stream (7) of air, close to the perforated wall (5), and generate respective streams of ions of opposite polarities, which are blown, together with the air, into the drum (3) to eliminate the electrostatic charge produced in the laundry by the drying process.

Abstract: A method of measuring the capacitance of a capacitive component (21), whereby a digital bridge with two measuring branches generates a first signal (B1) defined by a train of measuring pulses (M) having a frequency (f1) related to the unknown capacitance being measured, and a second signal (B2) defined by a train of reference pulses (L) having a frequency (f2) related to a reference capacitance (CREF) of known value; the time difference (?T) between the times (T1, T2) taken by the two measuring branches of the digital bridge to generate an equal number of pulses (Th1, Th2) is calculated; the capacitance difference (?C) between the unknown capacitance and the reference capacitance (CREF) is determined as a function of the time difference (?T); and the unknown capacitance of the capacitive component (21) is calculated on the basis of the reference capacitance (CREF) and the capacitance difference (?C).

Abstract: Rapid chilling apparatus for beverages comprising a receptacle (2) adapted to accommodate beverage containers (3) of differing length, and cooling means adapted to cool down said receptacle (2), wherein said receptacle (2) comprises a plurality of electrodes (4) arranged in succession one after the other along an inner surface (5) of said receptacle (2), said inner surface (5) being adapted to support a container (3) in such manner that the electrodes (4) turn out as being distributed along the whole length of the container (3), said electrodes (4) being connected to circuit means (6) adapted to detect and measure the capacitance value on each electrode (4) as brought about by the presence of a container (3) made of a conductive material in proximity of the same electrode (4) so as to determine the actual length of the container (3), or, in the case of a container (3) made of a non-conductive material, said capacitance value as brought about by the presence, inside the container, of beverage liquid in proximi

Abstract: The present invention relates to a capacitive sensor system comprising a sensor circuit connected to a first (15) and a second (11) antenna, the first antenna (15) is arranged on a first object (10) and the second antenna (11) is arranged on a second object (11) movable relative to said first object (10). The first antenna (15) is arranged right next to the second object (11) for the sensor circuit to detect the movement and/or position of the second object (11).

Abstract: Electronic circuit for the detection of a capacitive variation on two distinct contact capacitors, (C1, C2), comprising means able of squaring the signals generated by a conventional pulse generator and filtered by two filters (R1, C1-R2, C2), wherein the respective capacitors (C1, C2) are the same said contact capacitors which are connected to a respective terminal to a common ground (G); said means are also able to generate respective signals formed of trains of squared pulses, to compare said two signals and to provide an output signal depending on the result of said signals comparison. Said output signal depends on the phase difference between the pulses of said two trains of squared pulses.