A sensor for detecting an amount of current flowing in a wire wherein displacement of a sensing mirror is used in an interferometer to enable determination of the amount of current. The sensor includes a magnetostrictive element located within a magnetic field formed by the wire. The sensor also includes a position sensor that detects a size increase of the magnetostrictive element. In addition, the sensor includes an amplifying device that amplifies the size increase of the magnetostrictive element by a predetermined amplification factor to provide an amplified size increase. Further, the sensor includes a displacement device that displaces the sensing mirror by an amount corresponding to the amplified size increase.

A voltage sensor includes a vibrator configured to be supported by a mechanical supporting portion and to be given a floating potential, a drive electrode configured to be disposed adjacent to the vibrator and to resonate the vibrator with applied AC voltage, a driver configured to apply an AC voltage that crosses 0 V to the drive electrode, a fixed electrode configured to be disposed adjacent to the vibrator with a gap formed between the fixed electrode and the vibrator, and a calculator configured to detect a magnitude of a measurement target voltage based on a change of a resonant frequency of the vibrator when the measurement target voltage is applied to the fixed electrode.

A voltage sensor includes a vibrator configured to be supported by a mechanical supporting portion and to be given a floating potential, a drive electrode configured to be disposed adjacent to the vibrator and to resonate the vibrator with applied AC voltage, a driver configured to apply an AC voltage that crosses 0 V to the drive electrode, a fixed electrode configured to be disposed adjacent to the vibrator with a gap formed between the fixed electrode and the vibrator, and a calculator configured to detect a magnitude of a measurement target voltage based on a change of a resonant frequency of the vibrator when the measurement target voltage is applied to the fixed electrode.

Apparatuses and methods of distinguishing between a finger and stylus proximate to a touch surface are described. One apparatus includes a first circuit to obtain capacitance measurements of sense elements when a conductive object is proximate to a touch surface. The apparatus also includes a second circuit coupled to the first circuit. The second circuit is operable to detect whether the conductive object activates the first sense element, second sense element, or both, in view of the capacitance measurements. To distinguish between a stylus and a finger as the conductive object, the second circuit determines the conductive object as being the stylus when the second sense element is activated and the first sense element is not activated and determines the conductive object as being the finger when the first sense element and the second sense element are activated.

Apparatuses and methods of distinguishing between a finger and stylus proximate to a touch surface are described. One apparatus includes a first circuit to obtain capacitance measurements of sense elements when a conductive object is proximate to a touch surface. The apparatus also includes a second circuit coupled to the first circuit. The second circuit is operable to detect whether the conductive object activates the first sense element, second sense element, or both, in view of the capacitance measurements. To distinguish between a stylus and a finger as the conductive object, the second circuit determines the conductive object as being the stylus when the second sense element is activated and the first sense element is not activated and determines the conductive object as being the finger when the first sense element and the second sense element are activated.

A platform embedded in an electrical cable that stores and transmits data or information related to the electrical cable is designed. The embedded platform includes a non-volatile memory element to store product data describing at least one of electrical characteristics and certifications of the electrical cable. The platform also includes a current detector to detect a current that flows in the electrical cable based on a magnetic field generated by the current. The platform further includes a communication circuit to transmit at least one of the stored product data and information related to the detection of the current to a remote device.

A platform embedded in an electrical cable that stores and transmits data or information related to the electrical cable is designed. The embedded platform includes a non-volatile memory element to store product data describing at least one of electrical characteristics and certifications of the electrical cable. The platform also includes a current detector to detect a current that flows in the electrical cable based on a magnetic field generated by the current. The platform further includes a communication circuit to transmit at least one of the stored product data and information related to the detection of the current to a remote device.

Apparatuses and methods of distinguishing between a finger and stylus proximate to a touch surface are described. One apparatus includes a first circuit to obtain capacitance measurements of sense elements when a conductive object is proximate to a touch surface. The apparatus also includes a second circuit coupled to the first circuit. The second circuit is operable to detect whether the conductive object activates the first sense element, second sense element, or both, in view of the capacitance measurements. To distinguish between a stylus and a finger as the conductive object, the second circuit determines the conductive object as being the stylus when the second sense element is activated and the first sense element is not activated and determines the conductive object as being the finger when the first sense element and the second sense element are activated.

A voltage sensor includes a vibrator configured to be supported by a mechanical supporting portion and to be given a floating potential, a drive electrode configured to be disposed adjacent to the vibrator and to resonate the vibrator with applied AC voltage, a driver configured to apply an AC voltage that crosses 0 V to the drive electrode, a fixed electrode configured to be disposed adjacent to the vibrator with a gap formed between the fixed electrode and the vibrator, and a calculator configured to detect a magnitude of a measurement target voltage based on a change of a resonant frequency of the vibrator when the measurement target voltage is applied to the fixed electrode.

Apparatuses and methods of distinguishing between a finger and stylus proximate to a touch surface are described. One apparatus includes a first circuit to obtain capacitance measurements of sense elements when a conductive object is proximate to a touch surface. The apparatus also includes a second circuit coupled to the first circuit. The second circuit is operable to detect whether the conductive object activates the first sense element, second sense element, or both, in view of the capacitance measurements. To distinguish between a stylus and a finger as the conductive object, the second circuit determines the conductive object as being the stylus when the second sense element is activated and the first sense element is not activated and determines the conductive object as being the finger when the first sense element and the second sense element are activated.