A capacitance measuring circuit measures an electrostatic capacitance formed between a first conductor that receive an AC signal and a second conductor. The capacitance measuring circuit includes an amplifier including an input and an output; signal detection means including a negative feedback unit that has a feedback capacitance and applies a negative feedback from an output of the amplifier to an input of the amplifier, wherein an input of the amplifier is connected to the second conductor and is virtually grounded by the negative feedback unit and an AC signal of an amplitude in a functional relation with the electrostatic capacitance is output; and measuring means that is connected to an output of the signal detection means and has a function of measuring at least an amplitude of an AC signal output of the signal detection means.

A textile pressure sensor for the capacitive measuring of a pressure distribution of objects of any shape, in particular body parts, on a surface is proposed, having a first structure (30a) which is conductive at least in regions and a second structure (30b) which is conductive at least in regions, wherein the first and the second structure which are conductive at least in regions are separated from each other by a dielectric intermediate element (48), and wherein conductive regions of the first structure (30a) form capacitors with opposite conductive regions of the second structure (30b). The textile pressure sensor is distinguished in that the first and/or the second structure (30a, 30b) which is conductive at least in regions is designed as a knitted fabric.

Disclosed embodiments include compliant sensors having a signal electrode layer of an elastomeric material with conducting material confined to at least one sensor region, at least one trace connected to the at least one sensor, and a perimeter electrode region. The compliant sensors also include a dielectric layer including an elastomeric material having a first side in contact with the signal electrode layer and configured to allow electrical contact to the perimeter electrode region and a top electrode layer including an elastomeric material with conducting material integrated within and in contact with a second side of the dielectric layer and in electrical contact with the perimeter electrode region. In some embodiments, the top electrode layer includes a portion of electrically conducting material configured in a hatched pattern.

A cardan shaft slip distance change detection system for determining the amount of length change of the cardan shaft, including a moveable element and a stationary element associated with a telescopic approach to compensate for the change of distance caused by the vehicle's axle movements. At least two conductive elements are configured as one of them connected to a fixed point, another to the moveable element. A power element is provided to supply power to at least one of the conductive elements. A detection unit measures the electrical value change provided by the electrical interaction between the conductive elements and correlating it with the distance between the conductive elements.

An object of the present invention is to accurately position a wire electrode and a work. A control device included in a wire electric discharge machine of the present invention causes, in a state in which movement of the wire electrode in a longitudinal direction is stopped, a capacitance measuring section to measure capacitance while causing a driving section to relatively move a wire electrode and a work, thereafter causes, in a state in which the control device causes a wire moving section to move the wire electrode in the longitudinal direction, the capacitance measuring section to measure the capacitance, and causes the driving section to adjust relative positions of the wire electrode and the work.

The electronic measurement circuit comprises a measurement sensor with two differential mounted capacitors each comprising a fixed electrode, and a common electrode arranged to move relative to the fixed capacitor electrode to alter the capacitive value when the physical parameter is measured. The circuit further comprises a first integrator unit connected to the common electrode for integrating charge received from the sensor, and comprising two integrators arranged to be connected alternately to the common electrode, a first comparator for comparing analogue output values from the first integrator unit, a second integrator unit for integrating charge received from the first integrator unit, a second comparator for comparing analogue output values from the second integrator unit, a switch circuit for switching different voltage values across the capacitors, and a feedback circuit for feeding a digital output signal from the first comparator to the switch circuit for controlling its operation, and an incremental calculation unit receiving digital output signals from the comparators and supplying a final digital output signal.

A capacitive surface sensor for a vehicle seat or a steering wheel has at least one electrically insulating carrier layer and one electrically conductive layer allocated to each side of the carrier layer. The carrier layer is a three-dimensionally malleable layer and at least one of the electrically conductive layers forms a direct bond with the carrier layer.

A capacitive surface sensor for a vehicle seat or a steering wheel has at least one electrically insulating carrier layer and one electrically conductive layer allocated to each side of the carrier layer. The carrier layer is a three-dimensionally malleable layer and at least one of the electrically conductive layers forms a direct bond with the carrier layer.

A vehicle steering wheel is provided that includes a rotatable rim comprising a core structure, a steering angle sensor sensing an angle of rotation of the rim, and a plurality of proximity sensors located on the rim and spaced apart from one another along an arc length. The vehicle steering wheel also includes a controller processing sensed outputs generated by each of the plurality of proximity sensors and determining operator input commands based on the sensed outputs. The controller assigns a function to each of the proximity sensors that changes as the rim is rotated at an angle such that a given function associated with a proximity sensor remains at the same position in space.

An apparatus is provided and includes a rotary encoder that comprises a stator, a rotor, and a controller. The stator has an opening adapted to surround a first portion of a rotatable shaft, a transmit region, and a receive region. The rotor has an opening adapted to surround a second portion of the rotatable shaft, an annular conductive region, and at least one conductor electrically coupled with the annular conductive region. The controller has an input coupled to the receive region and has an output coupled to the transmit region. The controller is configured to transmit a first signal on the output of the controller and to the transmit region of the stator, receive a second signal on the input of the controller and from the receive region of the stator, and determine, based on the second signal, a proximity of the at least one conductor to the receive region.