Disclosed is a device for detecting an intention of a user to lock or unlock an opening element of a motor vehicle. The device includes a capacitive sensor and incorporates an inductive sensor with an amagnetic metal target moving under the action of the hand of the user on the handle or the frame, the target being associated with a coil placed in an oscillating circuit being connected to an inductive measurement circuit detecting the intention of the user to lock or unlock the opening element. The intention is only confirmed when detected by both the capacitive and inductive sensors, the target of the inductive sensor being borne by the electrode of the capacitive sensor and a member supporting the electrode being elastically deformable under the action of the user on the handle or the frame, the inductive and capacitive measurement circuits being independent of each other.

A method for detecting the intention of a user to lock or unlock a motor-vehicle door with a detection device integrated into a handle. The method includes continuously measuring the resonant frequency of the detection device and successively comparing the measured resonant frequency to a first threshold representative of the approach of the user and to a second threshold, higher than the first threshold, representative of the contact of the user, the intention of the user to lock or unlock the door of the vehicle being validated only if a duration between the passage of the resonant frequency below the first threshold and the passage of the resonant frequency above the second threshold is shorter than a preset duration. An associated detection device is also disclosed.

A material-discerning sensing device includes an antenna, a capacitive proximity sensor, and a control circuit. The antenna includes multiple conductive loops and is configured to radiate a wireless signal. The antenna defines an interior region devoid of the conductive loops and an exterior region outside the conductive loops. The capacitive proximity sensor includes a conductive pattern provided within the interior region or within a projection of the interior region, as well as a conductive bar. The control circuit is configured to detect a change in a characteristic of an electrical signal from the capacitive sensor. The conductive pattern includes a longitudinal portion, a first plurality of parallel conductors extending away from the longitudinal portion in a first direction and orthogonal to the longitudinal portion, and a second plurality of parallel conductors extending away from the longitudinal portion in a second direction opposite the first direction.

A switching operation sensing apparatus includes an input operation unit, an oscillation circuit, a frequency digital converter, and a touch detection circuit. The input operation unit includes a first switching member integrally formed with a housing. The oscillation circuit is configured to generate an oscillation signal having a resonant frequency, varying based on a capacitive change or an inductive change, depending on a touch input member in contact with the first switching member during an input operation. The frequency digital converter is configured to convert the oscillation signal into a count value. The touch detection circuit is configured to detect capacitive sensing and inductive sensing based on a slope change of the count value received from the frequency digital converter, and output corresponding touch detection signals of different levels based on the detection.

Disclosed is a system for allowing users to capacitively interact with objects using gestures in an environment. The system includes a smart sense unit for communicating gesture information and a smart sensing master unit is capacitively coupled to the smart sense unit for identifying the received gesture information and identification information from the smart sense unit to operate the object. The gestures may either be 2D, 3D, multiple 2D or 3D gestures from different users or different body parts. The smart sense unit identifies the change in a provided electric field caused by the user and the object and converts into a digital value. The smart sense unit further identifies the location of the object and the user and further communicates the information to the smart sensing master unit. The smart sensing master unit identifies the gesture and the identification information to interact with the object on receiving the impedance changes forked out from a resonator.

An operation device includes an operating portion including plural adjacent operating regions, plural detection portions that are arranged on the operating portion so as to correspond to the plurality of operating regions to detect contact and each output a detection value, and a determination unit that calculates a calculated value from a sum of the obtained detection values and the largest detection value among the obtained detection values, compares the calculated value to a predetermined threshold value, and thereby decides whether or not to display an image on an electrically connected display device, the image being associated with the detection portion that output the largest detection value.

A capacitive proximity sensor assembly is provided that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a first compliant dielectric layer disposed between the first and second electrodes, and a controller processing signals associated with the first and second electrodes and selectively reconfiguring operation of the first and second electrodes in different proximity sensor arrangements to provide a plurality of capacitive sensors. The capacitive proximity assembly may be selectively reconfigured into up to four capacitive sensors.

A vehicle seating assembly is provided that includes a seat base, a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat base and having a front portion and a rear portion, and an actuator operable to change a position of the seating assembly. The assembly also includes a capacitive proximity sensor located on the seat back and configured to detect a user touch command and a user pressure command, and a controller for receiving the user touch command and pressure command and controlling the actuator to change a position of the seating assembly based on a user input.

A vehicle floor assembly includes a floor structure and a capacitive proximity sensor assembly configured to detect a user touch command and a user pressure command. The floor assembly further includes a controller for receiving the user touch command and pressure command and controlling a vehicle related operation based on the detected user input commands.

In at least one embodiment, a system is provided that includes a user interface, a plurality of proximity sensors, and at least one controller. The user interface is configured to enable selection of one or more operations for a vehicle. The plurality of proximity sensors is positioned about or within the user interface and is configured to transmit first signals indicative of a location of a user relative to the user interface as the user selects the one or more operations for the vehicle with the user interface. The at least one controller is configured to determine the location of the user relative to the user interface in response to the first signals and to transmit a vehicle control signal to a vehicle subsystem to perform the one or more operations based on the location of the user relative to the user interface.