A proximity sensor for a portable wireless connected device, the sensor being arranged to determine whether a part of a user's body is near the portable connected wireless device, The sensor generates a time-averaged proximity that is asserted when the device is brought near a part of a user's body for a given time and may be periodically reset momentarily during the periods of proximity. An integration time comparable with that used in SAR testing, such that the sensor may be used advantageously to reduce the radio power emitted by a portable device when it is near the body, can be obtained by a sigma/delta modulator configured as rate-compression unit.

An ultra-high resolution capacitive sensor affixed above an imaging member surface measures the thickness of fountain solution on the imaging member surface in real-time during a printing operation. The sensor is considered ultra-high resolution with a resolution high enough to detect nanometer scale thicknesses. The capacitive sensor would initially be zeroed to the imaging member surface. As fluid is added, the capacitive sensor detects the increase and can measure and communicate with the image forming device to adjust fountain solution flow rate to the imaging member surface and correct for any anomalies in thickness. This fountain solution monitoring system may be fully automated. The capacitive sensor may have a resolution (e.g., as low as about 1 nm resolution) of about 0.001% of the distance/gap that the capacitive sensor is mounted away from the imaging member surface.

An ultra-high resolution capacitive sensor affixed above an imaging member surface measures the thickness of fountain solution on the imaging member surface in real-time during a printing operation. The sensor is considered ultra-high resolution with a resolution high enough to detect nanometer scale thicknesses. The capacitive sensor would initially be zeroed to the imaging member surface. As fluid is added, the capacitive sensor detects the increase and can measure and communicate with the image forming device to adjust fountain solution flow rate to the imaging member surface and correct for any anomalies in thickness. This fountain solution monitoring system may be fully automated. The capacitive sensor may have a resolution (e.g., as low as about 1 nm resolution) of about 0.001% of the distance/gap that the capacitive sensor is mounted away from the imaging member surface.

A source follower for a capacitive sensor device having a sense node and a shield node is provided. The source follower may include a transistor, and a switch array selectively coupling the transistor between the sense node and the shield node. The switch array may be configured to substantially disable current to the transistor during a first mode of operation, precharge the transistor during a second mode of operation, and enable the transistor to copy a sense node voltage to a shield node voltage during a third mode of operation.

A source follower for a capacitive sensor device having a sense node and a shield node is provided. The source follower may include a transistor, and a switch array selectively coupling the transistor between the sense node and the shield node. The switch array may be configured to substantially disable current to the transistor during a first mode of operation, precharge the transistor during a second mode of operation, and enable the transistor to copy a sense node voltage to a shield node voltage during a third mode of operation.

The present invention relates to a proximity sensor and a proximity sensing method. The proximity sensor includes a sensing element and a sensing circuit. The sensing circuit is coupled to the sensing element and transmits a first driving signal and a second signal to the sensing element, respectively. The sensing element receives the first driving signal and the second driving signal, respectively, and generates a first sensing signal and a second sensing signal, respectively. The sensing circuit generates a proximity signal according to the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal. Therefore, the present invention may improve the accuracy of sensing the proximity of the human body whether near to the sensor. In addition, the sensing circuit is further coupled to a radio-frequency circuit, and the sensing circuit transmits a driving signal or/and receives a sensing signal according to the state of the radio-frequency circuit, thereby reducing interference of the sensing circuit to the radio-frequency circuit.

A user-input system includes a force-measuring device, a cover member, and an elastic circuit board substrate interposed between the force-measuring device and the cover member and mechanically coupled to the cover member and to the force-measuring device. The force-measuring device includes a strain-sensing element. The force-measuring device is mounted to and electrically connected to the elastic circuit board substrate. The cover member undergoes a primary mechanical deformation in response to forces imparted at the cover member. The elastic circuit board substrate transmits a portion of the primary mechanical deformation to the force-measuring device resulting in a concurrent secondary mechanical deformation of the force-measuring device. The strain-sensing element is configured to output voltage signals in accordance with a time-varying strain at the strain-sensing element resulting from the secondary mechanical deformation.

A method includes receiving sensed signal data from at least one circuit based on a user in proximity to at least one electrode corresponding to the at least one circuit. Hover detection data indicating a detected hover in proximity to an interactable element of a vehicle is generated. Button feedback display data indicating the interactable element is generated based on the hover detection data. Display of the button feedback display data via a display device is facilitated.

Disclosed herein is an electrostatic capacitance detection circuit including a sense pin to which a sense electrode is to be connected, a ground pin to be grounded, a reference pin to be connected to a node where parasitic capacitance is to be formed between the node and the sense electrode, and a capacitance detection circuit connected to the sense pin, the ground pin, and the reference pin and configured to detect electrostatic capacitance formed by the sense electrode.

Present teachings relate to a method for proximity detection on an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of: performing a first measurement using a first sensor; calculating, using a processing unit, a first distance value from the first measurement; the first distance value being indicative of the distance between a user and the electronic device; in response to the first distance value, through the processing unit, adapting an energy level on the electronic device, said energy level being related to the Specific Absorption Rate (“SAR”), such that predefined SAR requirements due to exposure of emitted energy from the electronic device are met. The present teaching further relate to an electronic device comprising a measurement system configured to control an energy level on the electronic device, said energy level being related to the Specific Absorption Rate (“SAR”). The present teachings also relate to a computer software product for implementing any method steps disclosed herein.