A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controller, a method of receiving signals from a keypad and an HVAC system incorporating the controller or the method. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes: (1) a keypad having at least first and second banks, (2) a reference signal source configured to generate a time-varying untransformed reference signal and provide the untransformed reference signal to the first bank, (3) transformation circuitry configured to transform the untransformed reference signal into a transformed reference signal and provide the transformed reference signal to the second bank and (4) a processor having interrupt pins coupled to corresponding keys of both the first and second banks and a further interrupt pin coupled to receive one of the untransformed and transformed reference signal.

A membrane digital analog switch includes an input button surface adapted to receive an input pressure from a user, and a digital switch positioned below the input button surface to generate a digital switch activation signal when the received pressure on the input button surface is greater than or equal to a specified digital pressure threshold. The membrane digital analog switch also includes an analog switch adapted to generate an analog switch activation signal when the received pressure on the input button surface is greater than or equal to a specified analog pressure threshold. The specified analog pressure threshold is greater than the specified digital pressure threshold, the digital switch activation signal is a binary digital signal, and the analog switch activation signal is variable and corresponds to an analog sensed value of the received pressure on the input button surface.

An anti-ghost membrane switch device includes a first membrane layer, a second membrane layer, and a spacing layer. A first surface of the first membrane layer is provided with first trigger points and a first signal line. The first signal line is connected to the first trigger points and extends to a first output terminal. A second surface of the second membrane layer faces towards the first surface and is provided with second trigger points and second signal lines. Ends of the second signal lines are connected to the second trigger points. Another ends of the second signal lines extend to the second output terminal. The second signal lines are not electrically connected with one another. The first signal line of the first membrane layer and the second signal lines are not electrically connected with one another. The spacing layer is between the first and second membrane layers.

To achieve simplification of the circuit configuration and prevention of damage to the control part in an input device provided with a plurality of switches. An input device for inputting operation instructions including: two switches each having one end and the other end; and a control part having at least an input part and two input/output parts; where the input part is connected to the one end of each of the two switches; where the first input/output part is connected to the other end of the first switch; where the second input/output part is connected to the other end of the second switch; and where the control part switches the second input/output part to an input acceptance state when the control part outputs a scan signal from the first input/output part, and obtains a conductive state of the first switch by detecting the voltage generated at the input part.

A ghost key preventing circuit includes plural driving lines, plural sensing lines, plural key switches, plural bias resistors and a controller. The plural driving lines and the plural sensing lines are collaboratively formed as a matrix circuit. The plural key switches are included in the matrix circuit. The plural bias resistors are connected with the corresponding sensing lines. When the key switch of a specified switch circuit is turned on, a divided voltage is generated and outputted from the specified switch circuit. The controller judges whether the key switch of the specified switch circuit is normally turned on or the key switch is a ghost key according to the divided voltage.

An input accepting device includes operation keys, a character receiving unit, a converting unit, an operation key state detection unit, a timer, and a conversion control unit. The converting unit converts a combination of characters corresponding to the operation keys sequentially operated into another character or word. The operation key state detection unit detects a first timing and a second timing while the user operates the operation key. The first timing is at which a state of the user becomes a state of touching the operation key from a state of not touching the operation key. The second timing is at which a state of the user becomes a state of not touching the operation key after the first timing. The timer detects an elapsed time from the first timing. The conversion control unit causes the conversions with different contents depending on the elapsed time at the second timing.

A controlling device having an activity mode corresponding to a controllable activity in which activation of a command key within a logical group of command keys of the controlling device causes a transmission of command data to control one or more functional operations of an intended target appliance. For a controllable activity the controlling device has a memory in which is stored a plurality of predetermined appliance to logical group of command keys mappings. To configure the controlling device for the controllable activity one or more predetermined keys of the controlling device are activated to thereby designate one or more intended target appliances for the controllable activity. When the controlling device is then placed into the activity mode corresponding to the controllable activity, the controlling device will use the configuration to select one of the plurality of predetermined appliance to logical group of command keys mappings to determine which appliance command data to transmit in response to an activation of a command key within a logical group of command keys.

A method of performing communication between a sink device and a source device in a Wi-Fi direct network is provided. The method includes receiving a user's input, on a sink device, for controlling audio/video (AV) data received from the source device, generating a message for controlling the AV data based on the user's input, and transmitting the message to the source device through a Wi-Fi direct link.

An intelligent hybrid touch display device, including: a touch display unit; a rotary mechanical switch, being integrated with the touch display unit in a body; and a control unit, located in the body and including: a first interface for driving the touch display unit; a second interface coupled with the rotary mechanical switch; a touch and switch detection unit coupled with the first interface and the second interface; a transmission interface for communicating with at least one external device; and a processor and an operating system stored in a memory, the processor being coupled with the touch and switch detection unit and the transmission interface, and being used for executing a control program with a support of the operating system, so that the touch display unit and the rotary mechanical switch can cooperate to provide a hybrid operation for selecting, changing or activating function options.

An operation apparatus includes: an operation plate on which an operation surface performed by a pressing operation with an operation body; an assembly member assembled with the operation plate; a first elastic member opposite to the operation surface with respect to the operation plate, and between the operation plate and the assembly member to be elastically deformable by a pressing force applied by the operation body; a sensor detecting an elastic deformation changing amount of the first elastic member generated by the pressing operation; a pressing determinator determining whether the pressing operation is performed based on a detection value of the sensor; and a second elastic member between the operation plate and the assembly member to be elastically deformable with the first elastic member by the pressing force. The first and second elastic members are arranged to enable the pressing force applied serially.