Relative capacitance of a plurality of capacitive sensors may be monitored by using only one ADC conversion. A plurality of capacitive sensors individually charges a sample and hold capacitor. After all of the plurality of capacitive sensors have charged the sample and hold capacitor, a digital conversion of the resulting analog on the sample and hold capacitor is made and stored in a memory. This stored digital collective voltage is compared to a previously stored one and if different then a proximity/touch event may have occurred. Therefore, an entire panel of capacitive sensors may be quickly monitored for a change in the group capacitance thereof, or portions of the capacitive sensors may be monitored for a change in the subgroup capacitance thereof. By knowing which subgroup of capacitive sensors has changed its collective capacitive value, a more focused and selective capacitive sensor measurement can be made that uses less power.

An amplification device including: a switch including an output that is suitable for being connected to a first or a second input; a first branch that is connected to the first input, which applies a first gain to generate a first amplified signal; a second branch that is connected to the second input, which applies a second gain to generate a second amplified signal; a controller for controlling the switching of the switch to apply the first or the second amplified signal to the output, depending on whether or not the value of a predetermined quantity of the first amplified signal falls within a predetermined range. The first gain and the second gain being non-zero real numbers of opposite sign.

An RF electronic impedance tuner uses multiple PIN diodes, Varactors or MOSFETs, mounted in a low loss slab-line, between the bottom surface of the center conductor and ground, are DC controlled individually and spaced appropriately along the slab-line in order to generate maximum Gamma and bandwidth. The electronic tuner is combined with a slide screw tuner, using the same slab-line in various configurations, before, after or sharing the same slab-line section, mounted on top of each-other. Calibration on a VNA allows high Gamma and harmonic tuning.

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant width ON-time.

A voltage sensing device includes: a multiplexer configured to choose either two corresponding voltages at two voltage sensing target nodes or two corresponding voltages at the terminals of a shunt resistor, and output either the two corresponding voltages at the two voltage sensing target nodes or the two corresponding voltages at the terminals of the shunt resistor, which are chosen by the multiplexer, as a first output voltage and a second output voltage; a differential switched capacitor amplifier circuit including a sampling capacitor and a feedback capacitor and configured to sample the first output voltage and the second output voltage through the sampling capacitor, and output sensing voltages corresponding to the first output voltage and the second output voltage by transferring a charge stored in the sampling capacitor through the feedback capacitor; and an operation control unit configured to control the multiplexer and the differential switched capacitor amplifier circuit.

A multimeter has a protection mechanism of charging. A measuring body includes a shell and a knob-turning set, and the shell has a charging socket. A control module is disposed in the shell and includes a circuit board and a connector electrically connected with the circuit board. The connector is disposed corresponding to the charging socket, and the circuit board is electrically connected with the knob-turning set and selectively actuated through a rotation of the knob-turning set. A charging unit is disposed in the shell and electrically connected with the connector. A stopper moves with the knob-turning set together. An external plug is inserted with the connector via the charging socket, and the stopper is actuated so that the knob-turning set will not to be rotated. Thus, it ensures the multimeter cannot perform a measurement when it is charging for avoiding danger.

Relative capacitance of a plurality of capacitive sensors may be monitored by using only one ADC conversion. A plurality of capacitive sensors individually charges a sample and hold capacitor. After all of the plurality of capacitive sensors have charged the sample and hold capacitor, a digital conversion of the resulting analog on the sample and hold capacitor is made and stored in a memory. This stored digital collective voltage is compared to a previously stored one and if different then a proximity/touch event may have occurred. Therefore, an entire panel of capacitive sensors may be quickly monitored for a change in the group capacitance thereof, or portions of the capacitive sensors may be monitored for a change in the subgroup capacitance thereof. By knowing which subgroup of capacitive sensors has changed its collective capacitive value, a more focused and selective capacitive sensor measurement can be made that uses less power.

A multimeter has a protection mechanism of charging. A measuring body includes a shell and a knob-turning set, and the shell has a charging socket. A control module is disposed in the shell and includes a circuit board and a connector electrically connected with the circuit board. The connector is disposed corresponding to the charging socket, and the circuit board is electrically connected with the knob-turning set and selectively actuated through a rotation of the knob-turning set. A charging unit is disposed in the shell and electrically connected with the connector. A stopper moves with the knob-turning set together. An external plug is inserted with the connector via the charging socket, and the stopper is actuated so that the knob-turning set will not to be rotated. Thus, it ensures the multimeter cannot perform a measurement when it is charging for avoiding danger.

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant width ON-time.

The front-end circuit for an impedance measurement comprises an excitation-terminal, intended to receive an excitation signal relative to a common ground, a first and a second input-terminal, intended to be connected to two electrodes, a first and a second output-terminal, whereby each one of the two output-terminals is intended to provide a measurement signal during a use of the front-end circuit in a measurement, preferably to an analogue to digital converter device; a first and a second mode selection-switch-unit, each with two mode switch-inputs, an operational amplifier and a reference resistor. During a measurement and depending on the state of the mode selection-switch-units, a feedback-loop of the operational amplifier comprises either a sample arranged between the two input-terminals or the reference resistor.