A cable pull switch includes a polychotomous sensor configured to provide a reading of at least one of a plurality of values, the reading corresponding to a tension on a pull cable or a linear displacement of an end of a pull cable. A processor coupled to the polychotomous cable pull sensor configured to determine a rate of change of the value of the reading from the sensor and determine an occurrence of a cable pull event, the determination based on the determined rate of change of the value, and determine whether the rate of change of the value of an electrical resistance through the polychotomous cable pull sensor is below a threshold rate of change value, and adjust an upper pull threshold value to a new upper pull threshold value that is based on a present reading of the value of the electrical resistance through the strain gauge.

An input apparatus for a vehicle is provided with a plurality of sensor electrodes; and a controller is configured to determine a capacitance reference value of the input apparatus based on information about sensor values collected from a subset of sensor electrodes, which is randomly selected from the plurality of sensor electrodes.

A device includes a touch and pressure sensitive screen having touch pressure sensors and a controller. The controller acquires touch pressure data from the plurality of touch pressure sensors. For each touch pressure sensor, the controller determines whether the touch pressure data from that touch pressure sensor is indicative of abnormal operation of that touch pressure sensor. Where no abnormal operation is indicated, the controller sums the touch pressure data from each of the touch pressure sensors to produce a touch pressure output. Where abnormal operation is indicated, the controller sums the touch pressure data from each of the touch pressure sensors and multiply the sum by a correction factor to produce the touch pressure output.

A cable pull switch includes a polychotomous sensor configured to provide a reading of at least one of a plurality of values, the reading corresponding to a tension on a pull cable or a linear displacement of an end of a pull cable. A processor coupled to the polychotomous cable pull sensor configured to determine a rate of change of the value of the reading from the sensor and determine an occurrence of a cable pull event, the determination based on the determined rate of change of the value, and determine whether the rate of change of the value of an electrical resistance through the polychotomous cable pull sensor is below a threshold rate of change value, and adjust an upper pull threshold value to a new upper pull threshold value that is based on a present reading of the value of the electrical resistance through the strain gauge.

To provide a connecting structure for a signal cable capable of securing a sufficient display area concerning a display in a photoelectric switch. A photoelectric switch includes a housing having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A display 5 is provided on a first surface of the housing and includes a display region. A signal cable 51 connects a control board and the display 5. The display 5 includes a connecting section 70a connected to the signal cable 51. The connecting section 70a is disposed between the display region and the signal cable in the longitudinal direction of the housing. Consequently, a connecting structure for the signal cable 5 capable of securing a sufficient display area concerning the display 5 in the photoelectric switch is provided.

To make a display in a photoelectric switch easy to see for a user. A photoelectric switch includes a housing having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A display is attached to a first surface of the outer surface of the housing. A control board is housed on the inside of the housing. A controller is mounted on the control board. The first surface includes a hole-like or cutout-like opening section for allowing a signal cable to pass from the outside to the inside of the housing. The signal cable electrically connects the control board disposed on the inside of the housing and the display disposed on the outside of the housing. A cover member includes a window section for exposing a display region of the display and covers a non-display region of the display. The cover member is provided outside the housing.

An adjustable sensing capacitance microelectromechanical system (MEMS) apparatus includes an ASIC and a sensing component. The ASIC includes a top surface, a readout circuit and a plurality of electrical switches. The sensing component, configured to sensing physical quantity, includes a fixed electrode and a movable electrode. The fixed electrode includes a plurality of electrode units. The movable electrode is able to be moved relative to the fixed electrode. The electrical switches are respectively and electrically coupled to the electrode units so as to control a working status of each of the electrode units, thereby changing a sensing capacitance of the MEMS sensor.

An input device includes: an inputter including a plurality of keys; a sensitivity controller that determines a sensitivity of input operation to the keys; an input detector that detects the presence or absence of input to the keys based on the input operation and the sensitivity; and an area controller that sets one or more input areas including at least one key to the inputter; wherein the sensitivity controller sets the sensitivity for each input area.

A proximity sensor or switch having a sensing coil, an oscillator connected to the coil, a comparator connected to the oscillator, a reference voltage module connected to the comparator, and an output driver connected to the comparator. The voltage module may incorporate a resistor having an end connected to a high side of a power source, and a digital potentiometer having a first end connected to another end of the resistor and to the comparator, and having a second end connected to a ground side of the power source. The digital potentiometer may have a resistance that is varied with a signal. A variation of the resistance for the digital potentiometer may result in a change of a voltage from the reference voltage module which further changes a switching distance of the proximity switch to a predetermined value.

An input device is disclosed, including a capacitive force sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, and an evaluation unit, where the capacitive force sensor includes an operating surface and a first conductive electrode, and a second conductive electrode; wherein the evaluation unit is configured to detect an associated characteristic value of a touch on the operating surface during the operation, such as a location surface of action of the touch, by means of the capacitive touch sensor, and wherein the evaluation unit is further configured to detect a measured quantity changing with the operating force by generating a first measuring capacitance between the first and second electrodes and to assign a switching or controlling function to the operation in accordance with the characteristic value detected by the capacitive touch sensor and with the measured quantity detected in the operation-detection step.