Disclosed is a device for detecting an intention of a user to lock or unlock an opening element of a motor vehicle. The device includes a capacitive sensor and incorporates an inductive sensor with an amagnetic metal target moving under the action of the hand of the user on the handle or the frame, the target being associated with a coil placed in an oscillating circuit being connected to an inductive measurement circuit detecting the intention of the user to lock or unlock the opening element. The intention is only confirmed when detected by both the capacitive and inductive sensors, the target of the inductive sensor being borne by the electrode of the capacitive sensor and a member supporting the electrode being elastically deformable under the action of the user on the handle or the frame, the inductive and capacitive measurement circuits being independent of each other.

An access control device including a keypad member and an communication module. The keypad member may include a substrate layer having a mounting surface and an internal surface, and a capacitive sensing layer mounted on the internal surface of the substrate layer and including a keypad circuit having a plurality of capacitive sensors defining a plurality of keys. They keypad circuit may include a clear conductive ink. The keypad member may further include a user interface layer mounted on the capacitive sensing layer. The access control device may be configured to be in communication with the capacitive sensing layer and have a mounting structure positioned at a spacing distance from the mounting surface of the substrate layer and a communication link electrically connecting the communication module and the capacitive sensing layer.

An electromagnetic-based sensor system includes a sensor assembly with a biometric identification sensor to determine a unique biometric characteristic of a user using a first non-visible electromagnetic radiation. Specifically, a palm vein sensor may measure a unique pattern of veins in a user's palm using near-field infrared light. A gesture sensor uses a second non-visible electromagnetic radiation, such as infrared or radio frequency to detect movement in a specific gesture pattern. An object detection sensor uses a third non-visible electromagnetic radiation to detect the presence of an object. A mirror overlies the sensor assembly and is reflective to visible light and transmissive to the non-visible electromagnetic radiation. The sensor assembly may be used within a vehicle to authenticate an individual user as an authorized user to unlock the vehicle. One or more settings of the vehicle may be set to predetermined values depending on the identity of the user.

An access control device including a keypad member and an communication module. The keypad member may include a substrate layer having a mounting surface and an internal surface, and a capacitive sensing layer mounted on the internal surface of the substrate layer and including a keypad circuit having a plurality of capacitive sensors defining a plurality of keys. They keypad circuit may include a clear conductive ink. The keypad member may further include a user interface layer mounted on the capacitive sensing layer. The access control device may be configured to be in communication with the capacitive sensing layer and have a mounting structure positioned at a spacing distance from the mounting surface of the substrate layer and a communication link electrically connecting the communication module and the capacitive sensing layer.

An electromagnetic-based sensor system includes a sensor assembly with a biometric identification sensor to determine a unique biometric characteristic of a user using a first non-visible electromagnetic radiation. Specifically, a palm vein sensor may measure a unique pattern of veins in a user's palm using near-field infrared light. A gesture sensor uses a second non-visible electromagnetic radiation, such as infrared or radio frequency to detect movement in a specific gesture pattern. An object detection sensor uses a third non-visible electromagnetic radiation to detect the presence of an object. A mirror overlies the sensor assembly and is reflective to visible light and transmissive to the non-visible electromagnetic radiation. The sensor assembly may be used within a vehicle to authenticate an individual user as an authorized user to unlock the vehicle. One or more settings of the vehicle may be set to predetermined values depending on the identity of the user.

A lighting wall controller having a capability to reject user inputs at a surface of the wall controller and/or proximity detection in accordance with sensing signals received at locations on and near the wall controller. Programming configures a processor for proximity detection to detect a presence of a conductive object within a predetermined distance to the wall controller. The processor further determines whether user inputs correspond to touches at locations on the wall controller or user gestures near the wall controller to perform one of a plurality of defined lighting functions for a lighting system. When user inputs do not correspond to defined lighting functions, a number of the non-defined inputs is counted to provide an indicator of activity on the surface of the wall controller to activate a locked mode for a duration of the non-defined inputs.

A switching device for actuating drive elements includes first switching elements situated on a housing surface to be actuatable by fingers of a person and a second switching element situated on a housing surface to be actuatable by a palm, a palm heel, or a thumb of the person. The first and second switching elements are formed by touch surface sensors without switching contacts. In one variation, actuation of one of the first switching elements causes actuation of a corresponding one of the drive elements only when the second switching element is actuated during the actuation of the one of the first switching elements. In another variation, simultaneous actuation of one of the first switching elements and the second switching element causes a drive element corresponding to the one of the first switching elements to be actuated according to a function corresponding to the second switching element.

A touch device includes a cover plate, a first piezoelectric element, and a second piezoelectric element. The cover plate has a first surface and a second surface. The first piezoelectric element is disposed on the second surface of the cover plate. The second piezoelectric element is adjacent to the first piezoelectric element. The method for operating the touch device includes outputting a first detection voltage signal to the first piezoelectric element to cause the first piezoelectric element to vibrate, receiving a second detection voltage signal from the second piezoelectric element, and determining that a touch event on the first surface of the cover plate has occurred when an energy level of the second detection voltage signal is lower than a predetermined value. The first detection voltage signal has a specific frequency which can cause the greatest vibration of the first piezoelectric element.

A device for detecting an intention of a user to lock or unlock an opening element of a motor vehicle includes a capacitive sensor and incorporates an inductive sensor with an amagnetic metal target moving under the action of the hand of the user on the handle or the frame, the target being associated with a coil placed in an oscillating circuit being connected to an inductive measurement circuit detecting the intention of the user to lock or unlock the opening element. The intention is only confirmed when detected by both the capacitive and inductive sensors, the target of the inductive sensor being borne by the electrode of the capacitive sensor and a member supporting the electrode being elastically deformable under the action of the user on the handle or the frame, the inductive and capacitive measurement circuits being independent of each other.

A system includes a base unit associated with an object, and a mobile unit carriable by a person. The base unit includes a base unit capacitive coupling element providing a base unit-human capacitive coupling between the base unit and the person, and the mobile unit includes a mobile unit capacitive coupling element providing a mobile unit-human capacitive coupling between the mobile unit and the person. The base unit-human capacitive coupling and mobile unit-human capacitive coupling enable a data transmission connection between the base unit and mobile unit that passes through the person's body. Base unit transmitter circuitry of the base unit transmits object related data via the data transmission connection passing through the person's body, mobile unit receiver circuitry of the mobile unit receives the object related data, and an output device of the mobile unit outputs human-perceptible signals based on the received object related data.