The operating device (10) for a vehicle is provided with a housing (12) having a front wall (14). On the front wall (14) there is at least one operating element (18) which can be operated manually starting from an initial position for the purpose of inputting a command or activating a function. The operating element (18) has associated therewith a switch (32) having a switching member (36) upon which the operating key acts when manually operated. A supporting element (24) is also situated in the housing (12) at a distance from the operating element (18), on which supporting element (24) the switch (32) associated with the operating element (18) is situated, wherein the supporting element (24) has a flexible bar (40) having an upper surface (42) facing the operating element (18) and a lower surface (44) facing away from the upper surface (42), and the switch (32) is situated on the flexible bar. Finally, the operating device (10) is provided with an adjustment member (46) which acts upon the flexible bar (40) to adjust the bending position of the flexible bar (40) relative to the operating element (18) in the initial position thereof and to maintain and thus stabilize the flexible bar (40) in the adjusted bending position thereof when the operating element (18) acts upon the switching member (36).

An input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes and a processing system that is operable in at least a first mode or a second mode. The processing system is configured to receive an input current from a pair of the sensor electrodes. When operating the first mode, the processing system is configured to measure a capacitance across the pair of sensor electrodes based on the received input current. When operating the second mode, the processing system is configured to measure a resistance between the pair of sensor electrodes based on the received input current.

A safety cutting device including: an electrically conductive cutting member; a motor for actuating the cutting member; a handle for gripping the tool; and an emergency stop device that is sensitive to a user making contact with the cutting member. The tool further includes: at least a first and at least a second manual contact electrode; an electrical monitoring circuit having the first manual contact electrode and the cutting member; a device for measuring a monitoring voltage between the cutting member and the second manual contact electrode; a comparator for comparing at least one electrical monitoring characteristic with an electrical threshold characteristic, the comparator driving the emergency stop device. The safety cutting device is applicable to secateurs and shears in particular.

A method of detecting possible living body contact at an electrical contact surface, wherein the living body has a detectable characteristic initial impedance and a corresponding characteristic time constant defined by the initial impedance upon touching the electrical contact surface when the electrical contact surface is at a touching voltage, wherein the method comprises sending a non-hazardous probing signal to the contact surface, wherein the probing signal comprises one probing pulse or a plurality of probing pulses forming a probing pulse train, and the probing pulse has a base voltage level and a probing voltage level which is above the base voltage level and equal to the touching voltage or a probing voltage level which is below the base voltage level and equal to the touching voltage; detecting an electrical response from the contact surface in response to the electrical probing signal, wherein the electrical response comprises electrical response signals; and determining from the electrical response signals whether there is possible living body contact at the electrical contact surface.

An electronic device may include a proximity sensor, a touch sensor, and one or more light emitting elements. The touch sensor may be configured to detect touch input provided on a surface of the electronic device at a location in front of the touch sensor for purposes of powering on the electronic device. Prior to powering on the electronic device, a location of the touch sensor may remain inconspicuous. When the proximity sensor detects an object, such as a user, which moves within a threshold distance from a surface of the electronic device, the location of the touch sensor can be made conspicuous. After the power switch is made conspicuous, the user is able to see where to provide touch input on the electronic device to power on the electronic device.

A touch sensitive control system is disclosed, capable of providing touch activated control for use on substrate surfaces such as walls, flooring, doors, furniture, cabinetry, vehicles and machinery. The system may find particular application in large area substrates such as building walls, floors or ceilings, but may alternatively or additionally find application in any other non-active, non-electronic substrate such as furniture, cupboard doors or drawers, or tables for example. The touch sensitive system comprises at least one electrically active layer having at least one electrical property and configured to be applied to the substrate and an electronic controller. The electrically conductive active layer is configured to have an electrical connection with the electronic controller wherein a differentiated touch on the substrate disrupts the electrical property of the electrically active layer; and wherein the disruption is detected by the electronic controller to provide a control signal. The differentiated touch is selected from: one or more of multiple sequential touches, and/or one or more touches of extended duration.

The disclosure makes an insulating component and a sensor bracket to be an integrally molded article, simplifies the manufacturing process and cuts down the cost. A sensor holder and a sensor bracket made of a resin are made to be an integrally molded article, wherein the sensor holder inside which a pair of electrodes are arranged, and the sensor bracket made of a resin which holds the sensor holder and is attached to a tailgate. During an operation of filling a molten resin to a cavity, a part of the sensor holder is melted by the molten resin, and thus integrating the sensor holder and the molten resin, therefore, the two components can be structurally and firmly integrated. Accordingly, a touch sensor unit which endures long-term use can be obtained.

An operation input device includes a resistance element to generate a capacitance between an operating medium and the resistance element in response to an approach of the operating medium to the resistance element, and a power source to supply electric charge to one end and the other end of the resistance element. A first electric unit measures a first electric charge transfer amount supplied to the one end of the resistance element in response to generation of the capacitance. A second unit measures a second electric charge transfer amount supplied to the other end of the resistance element in response to generation of the capacitance. A controller is connected to the first and second units, and detects a position of the operating medium in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the resistance element based on a sum of the first and second electric charge transfer amounts.

A detection apparatus and a detecting method thereof are provided. In the method, an input impedance structure, a sensing impedance structure and an output impedance structure are provided. The sensing impedance structure is connected to the input impedance structure. At least two impedances are formed in the sensing impedance structure. The output impedance structure is connected to the sensing impedance structure. At least three discontinuous impedance surfaces are formed in the input impedance structure, the sensing impedance structure and the output impedance structure. A detection signal is inputted into the input impedance structure, and the detection signal passes through the three impedance structures. Then, a variation of at least one of the discontinuous impedance surfaces can be determined according to the outputted detection signal from the output impedance structure.

An example device can include a circuit assembly, an infrared sensor coupled to the circuit assembly, a switch coupled to the circuit assembly, an infrared lens coupled to a resistive element to alter a state of the switch when the infrared lens alters a position of the resistive element, and a light pipe ring positioned around the infrared lens to allow visible light to pass between an exterior and interior portion of an enclosure.