Switch operating device (100) with: a gesture sensor operating a switch (103) with a non-tactile push-gesture performed with a heat emitting part. The gesture has an approach phase (111) during which the part approaches the sensor, a waiting phase (113) during which the part remains proximate to the sensor, and a withdrawal phase (112) during which the part is moved away from the sensor. The sensor detects heat emitted by the part with at least one pixel and outputs per pixel a signal (51 to 54) with signal deflections (56, 57) corresponding to a temporal intensity curve of heat detected by the pixel while the gesture (115) is performed. A signal processing unit (101) which determines performance of the gesture from a temporal succession of signal deflections. An actuator (104) is controlled by the signal processing unit and operates the switch when the gesture is performed.

A light control type key switch assembly includes multiple key switch units each including a key switch holder and a key switch mounted in the key switch holder, multiple light receivers respectively mounted around one respective key switch holder, and a light-emitting unit including a light source and a light guide facing toward the light source and neighbored to each key switch holder for guiding the emitted light from the light source along a light path toward each light receiver. When the key switch is not pressed, the plunger of the respective key switch is kept away from the light path, and thus no electrical signal will be generated. When the key switch is pressed, the plunger of the respective key switch enters the light path, causing an electrical signal output.

An optical sensor, optical system, and proximity sensor are disclosed. An illustrative proximity sensor is disclosed to include a light source, a photodetector including a photo-sensitive area that receives incident light and converts the received incident light into an electrical signal, and a plurality of polarization layers stacked on the photodetector that limit light from becoming received incident light for the photo-sensitive area to light traveling toward the photodetector along a predetermined path.

A method and apparatus for ranging finding of signal transmitting devices is provided. The method of signal reception is digitally based only and does not require receivers that are analog measurement devices. Ranging can be achieved using a single pulse emitting device operating in range spaced relation with a minimum of a single signal transmitter and a single digital receiver and processing circuitry. In general a plurality of transmitting pulsed emitters may be ranged and positioned virtually simultaneously in 3-dimensions (XYZ coordinates) using a configuration of a plurality of digital receivers arranged in any fixed 3-dimensional configuration. Applications may involve at least one single transmitter to receiver design to determine range, or at least one transmitted reflecting signal off from an object to determine range.

Switch operating device (100) with: a presence sensor operating a switch (103) in response to presence of a heat emitting part. The presence has an approach phase (31) during which the part approaches the presence sensor, a remaining phase during which the part remains proximate to the sensor, and a withdrawal phase (41) during which the part is moved away from the sensor. The sensor detects heat emitted by the part with at least one pixel and outputs a signal (51 to 54) with signal deflections (56, 57) corresponding to a temporal intensity curve of heat detected by the pixel. A signal processing unit (101) determines the approach and withdrawal phases from the temporal succession and the shape of the signal deflections. An actuator (104) is controlled by the signal processing unit and operates the switch when the approach phase, the remaining phase and/or the withdrawal phase is determined.

A system and method for mechanical keyboard input to a computer system is disclosed. In one aspect the present invention provides a system and method for providing optical sensor based key input detection on a keyboard having a plurality of mechanically movable keys and tactile key entry. The keyboard may be functionally completely passive merely providing tactile feedback and reference markers for the optical sensor system. In another aspect the present invention provides touch sensing combined with the above noted keyboard key detection system and method.

A control circuit and a terminal are provided. The control circuit includes a detector, a current-voltage conversion circuit and a control signal generation circuit. The current output end of the detector is connected with the current input end of the current-voltage conversion circuit. The voltage output end of the current-voltage conversion circuit is connected with the voltage input end of the control signal generation circuit. The signal input end of the control signal generation circuit outputs a control signal. The detector detects a state of motion of a detected object and generates at least one current signal according to the state of motion of the detected object. The current-voltage conversion circuit converts the at least one current signal transmitted by the detector to at least one voltage signal. The control signal generation circuit generates the control signal based on a variation rule of the at least one voltage signal transmitted by the current-voltage conversion circuit and a preset control signal generation strategy, and output the control signal.

An optical sensor, optical system, and proximity sensor are disclosed. An illustrative proximity sensor is disclosed to include a light source, a photodetector including a photo-sensitive area that receives incident light and converts the received incident light into an electrical signal, and a plurality of polarization layers stacked on the photodetector that limit light from becoming received incident light for the photo-sensitive area to light traveling toward the photodetector along a predetermined path.

A light switch network comprises a plurality of light switch units, each comprising a gesture interface to sense a user gesture by receiving at least one gesture signal from a sensing zone, and configured to exchange one or more gesture status signals with at least one other switch unit in the network in relation to the received gesture signal; each switch being enabled, on receiving the gesture signal: in a first mode, to change a designated switch mode and/or state in response to the gesture signal; or in a second mode, to not change the designated switch mode and/or state according to one or more conditions associated with the status signals received from the other switch unit.

An optical sensor includes: a driving circuit that turns off a light-emitting element during a first period, a second period, and a fourth period and that turns on the light-emitting element during a third period; an integrating circuit that outputs a first integrated-value difference (FID) and a second integrated-value difference (SID), the FID being a difference between an integrated value of a photocurrent generated by a light-receiving element in accordance with respective states of the light-emitting element during the first period and the second period, the SID being a difference between an integrated value of a photocurrent generated in accordance with respective state of the light-emitting element during the third period and the fourth period; and an output control circuit that outputs the SID when the FID is zero and that outputs a difference between the SID and the FID when the FID is not zero.