Modeling a Capacitive Position Sensor Using FEM

Application ID: 47541


This tutorial model explains how to extract lumped matrices by means of the Stationary Source Sweep study. The capacitance matrix of a five-terminal system is used to infer the position of a metallic object similar to real-world capacitive position sensors.

The example illustrates the use of FEM, which is supported by the Electrostatics interface. When FEM is used, a volumetric mesh of a portion of the surrounding air is necessary.

The model also compares how the study’s performance is affected when using direct and iterative solvers.

This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products: