An apparatus, such as a set-top box, includes at least one capacitive touch button with a guard feature that provides, among other things, the ability to detect and reject false touches. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a first conductive element that is capacitively isolated from ground, and a second conductive element that is capacitively isolated from ground and located adjacent to the first conductive element. A first sensor is coupled to the first conductive element and measures a change in capacitance between the first conductive element and ground due to a change in physical environment. A second sensor is coupled to the second conductive element and measures a change in capacitance between the second conductive element and ground due to the change in physical environment. A controller is coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and determines a difference between the measured changes in capacitance of the first sensor and the second sensor.

The present invention is related to a method for proximity sensing and an applied electronic device thereof. The present invention provides that a movement signal is generated according to a detection data, a move baseline data and a move threshold and cooperated with a proximity signal for generating a judgement signal to judge if the human body or the object body is close to the electronic device.

A touch sensing device includes: an oscillation circuit including a sensing inductor disposed inside a touch member, a part of a cover of an electronic device, and generating an oscillation signal according to whether a touch has occurred through the touch member; a signal processor converting the oscillation signal into a digital sensing signal; a reference signal generator updating a reference signal based on the digital sensing signal; and a signal detector outputting a detection signal by detecting whether a touch has occurred through the touch member, using the reference signal and the digital sensing signal.

Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatuses for controlling an operation of a vibrational output system and/or an operation of an input sensor system, wherein the controller is for use in a device comprising the vibrational output system and the input sensor system. A controller comprises an input configured to receive an indication of activation or de-activation of an output of the vibrational output system; and an adjustment module configured to adjust the operation of the vibrational output system and/or the operation of the input sensor system based on the indication to reduce an interference expected to be caused by the output of the vibrational output system on the input sensory system.

An apparatus for an imbalance test includes a strain measurement module that measures a strain voltage across terminals of a strain gauge. The strain voltage is representative of an amount of force on the strain gauge. The apparatus includes a test measurement module that measures a test voltage across the terminals of the strain gauge while a test resistor is connected in parallel with a resistor of the strain gauge. The test resistor is connected while the test measurement module measures the test voltage and is disconnected while the strain module measures strain voltage. The apparatus includes an average module that calculates an average strain voltage from two strain voltage measurements. The strain voltages are measured preceding and after the test voltage measurement. The apparatus includes a difference module that determines a difference voltage. The difference voltage is a difference between the average strain voltage and the test voltage.

A proximity sensor having improved environmental compensation performance and an environmental compensation method in the proximity sensor are disclosed. The environmental compensation method and the proximity sensor advantageously reduce processing time, algorithm operation time, and power consumption by previously setting sensing values before sensing of sensors unlike a typical method in which compensation is carried out by multiplying factors obtained through software. Further, the environmental compensation method and the proximity sensor have an advantage of accurate compensation not only for linearly varying environmental factors but also non-linearly varying environmental factors.

A calibration system for induction keys includes a signal source and a computing device. The signal source is configured to generate a low frequency (LF) signal and a magnetic field signal at intervals. The computing device is configured to receive the magnetic field signal transmitted by an induction key when the induction key senses the LF signal. The computing device is configured to obtain a magnetic field strength from the magnetic field signal, and then comparing the magnetic field strength with a pre-stored standard strength of the magnetic field to achieve an offset. The computing device sends the offset value to the induction key and enables the induction key to get a calibrated strength value of the magnetic field according to the offset value. This disclosure further provided an induction key and a calibration method.

A capacitive proximity sensor for use in mobile devices such as smartphones and connected tables, in which it is used to switch off a display (70) when the device is brought to the ear. The capacitive sensor is arranged for rejecting spurious detection induced, for example, by condensation, ingress of water, or thermal drift, based on the time variations of a capacity seen by the readout circuit (80), Additionally, the proximity sensor may integrate signals form motion sensors, temperature sensors or other sensors, to discriminate spurious proximity signals.

A capacitive liquid level sensor is provided comprising a capacitive probe having a capacitance and comprising a sensing tip wherein the capacitive probe is configured such that the capacitance of the probe changes when the sensing tip is exposed to liquid. A signal generator operates to supply an electrical signal alternating between a high and low state to the capacitive probe, the electrical signal being configured such that the probe is alternately charged and discharged when the signal is high or low respectively. A comparator operates to detect the magnitude of an electrical signal across the capacitive probe and provides a first output signal value when the detected signal magnitude is greater than a predetermined threshold value and a second output signal value when the signal magnitude is less than the threshold value. A timer operates to receive an output signal from the comparator and measures a time period starting when the comparator output signal transitions to the first output signal value and ending when the comparator output signal transitions to the second output signal value. Liquid detection means also operate to utilize the time period measured by the timer to determine if the sensing tip is exposed to liquid.

An interference determining circuit for a capacitive sensor device comprises an amplifier, absolute differential circuitry, and comparator circuitry. The amplifier is configured for receiving a reference voltage at a first input and for receiving a resulting signal at a second input. The resulting signal is from a sensor electrode of the capacitive sensor device. The absolute differential circuitry is coupled with an output of the amplifier and configured for outputting a difference signal. The difference signal represents an absolute differential between currents utilized in the amplifier. The comparator circuitry is coupled with the absolute differential circuitry and configured for generating a non-linearity indication based on a comparison of the difference signal with at least one reference signal.