A system is disclosed, comprising a base and at least a first moveable entity, the first moveable entity being moveable with respect to the base and positionable in at least a first position with respect to the base. The base comprises a first base electrode and a second base electrode, and the moveable entity comprises a first moveable entity electrode and a second moveable entity electrode. The electrodes are arranged such that when the moveable entity is in the first position the first base electrode and the first moveable entity electrode align to form a first capacitor and the second base electrode and second moveable entity electrode align to form a second capacitor. The first moveable entity further comprises a first resistor connecting the first moveable entity electrode to the second moveable entity electrode, and the base further comprises: signal supply means arranged to supply a time-varying electrical signal to the first base electrode; and signal detection means arranged to detect an electrical signal from the second base electrode.

A displacement sensor measures capacitance between a rotor-stator pair. The displacement sensor includes a plurality of stators coupled to a first object. The plurality of stators is oriented parallel to an axis of motion between the first object and a second object. The displacement sensor further includes a plurality of rotors coupled to the second object. The plurality of rotors is oriented parallel to the axis of motion. Each rotor of the plurality of rotors is aligned with and configured to receive a corresponding stator of the plurality of stators to create a respective rotor-stator pair. Capacitance between the rotor-stator pairs change as a function of position of the first object relative to the second object along the axis of motion. An amount of displacement of the first object relative to the second object is determined based in part on the capacitance values.

An input mechanism, such as a crown, detects amounts of applied force. In various examples, an assembly including an input mechanism has an enclosure; a stem coupled to the enclosure such that the stem is rotatable, translatable, and transversely moveable with respect to the enclosure; a sensor, coupled between the stem and the housing, to which force is transferred when the stem moves with respect to the housing; and a processing unit coupled to the sensor. The processing unit is operable to determine a measurement of the force, based on a signal from the sensor.

A high-resolution index (HRI) detector module for use with a meter including an HRI wheel therein having a modulator thereon is provided. The HRI detector module includes a plurality of capacitive sensors positioned on a printed circuit board (PCB). The plurality of capacitive sensors is configured to detect a change in capacitance caused by the modulator of the HRI wheel when the modulator enters into an electric field generated by the plurality of capacitive sensors. Related systems are also provided.

Embodiments relate to an optical trial frame that includes: left and right frames extending in the left and right directions respectively; a bridge located between and connected to the left and right frames such that the left and right frames can move relative to each other along a longitudinal axis of the bridge; left and right temples connected to the respective left and right frames; left and right lens holders rotatably coupled to the left and right frames respectively and configured to receive and retain lenses in use; and, capacitive sensing means configured to detect and measure at least one of: a lateral position of one of the frames; and, a rotational position of one of the lens holders.

A monitoring device for monitoring a screw joint of an object includes a base plate to be attached to the object and a top plate to be attached to one part of the screw joint, wherein the base plate and the top plate are positioned parallel to and on top of each other and wherein both plates each includes at least one electrode that capacitively interact with each other. The monitoring device is characterized in that the electrodes are shaped and positioned such that at least one electrode of one of the plates interacts with at least two different electrodes of the other one of the plates depending on the rotational position of the plates relative to each other. A monitoring arrangement having at least one monitoring device of this kind and a monitoring method are also provided.

A multibend sensor comprises a reference strip having a first plurality of electrodes, wherein each of the first plurality of electrodes is adapted to receive a signal; a sliding strip having a second plurality of electrodes, wherein each of the second plurality of electrodes is adapted to transmit at least one signal, wherein the sliding strip moves with respect to the reference strip; and measurement circuitry adapted to process signals received by the first plurality of electrodes, wherein the processed signals provide information regarding the relative position of the sliding strip to the reference strip.

An input mechanism, such as a crown, detects amounts of applied force. In various examples, an assembly including an input mechanism has an enclosure; a stem coupled to the enclosure such that the stem is rotatable, translatable, and transversely moveable with respect to the enclosure; a sensor, coupled between the stem and the housing, to which force is transferred when the stem moves with respect to the housing; and a processing unit coupled to the sensor. The processing unit is operable to determine a measurement of the force, based on a signal from the sensor.

Disclosed embodiments include a multi-mode sensor including an elastomeric strand having a first multi-mode sensing region configured to sense at least two different physical parameters, and a second multi-mode sensing region, space apart from the first multi-mode sensing region, and configured to sense at least two different physical parameters. In some disclosed embodiments the first multi-mode sensing region is configured to measure the physical parameters of angular displacement and strain.

A system may include electronic devices that communicate wirelessly. When positioned so that a pair of devices overlap or are adjacent to one another, the devices may operate in a linked mode. During linked operations, devices may communicate wirelessly while input gathering and content displaying operations are shared among the devices. One or both of a pair of devices may have sensors. A capacitive sensor or other sensor may be used to measure the relative position between two devices when the two devices overlap each other. Content displaying operations and other linked mode operations may be performed based on the measured relative position between the two devices and other information.