A method of recording measurement data for characterizing a response of a given type of device to an applied force, the given type defining devices of that type as comprising a defined arrangement of a surface and N force sensors of the device concerned, where N≥1, each force sensor configured to output a sensor signal, wherein in the defined arrangement the N force sensors are operatively coupled to a defined input region of the surface so as to sense a force applied to that input region, the method comprising: for a specimen device of the given type, performing at least one measurement procedure, each measurement procedure comprising at least one measurement operation, each measurement operation comprising applying a defined force at a corresponding location on the input region of the device concerned and recording measurement data for that device and location based on the sensor signals of the N force sensors of that device. Also disclosed are a related computer-implemented method of generating a characterization definition for devices of the given type, a computer-implemented method of generating a configuration definition for devices of the given type for a given use case defined by a use-case definition, a method of configuring a candidate device of the given type for the given use case, and a method of assessing or calibrating a candidate device of the given type.

A device including a piezoelectric actuator that can detect the actuation force and provide haptic feedback. The longitudinal extension of the actuator, generated for this purpose, can be reinforced in the desired direction by a deformable metal sheet. The deformable metal sheet is adhered on and has a borehole for pressure equalization.

A control device comprising a housing assembly, at least one button, and a controller. The housing assembly comprises a front surface including plurality of button zones each comprising a tactile switch and a plurality of touch sensors. The at least one button is adapted to attach to the housing assembly over at least one of the button zones such that a projection extending from a rear surface of the button is aligned with the tactile switch in the at least one of the button zones. The controller determines which button zone and which location of the button zone is actuated in response to receiving signals from at least one of the tactile switches and at least one of the touch sensors.

A push button switch assembly for a vehicle includes an elastic button that is moveable between a first unactuated position and a second actuated position. An actuator is disposed adjacent a plate and is pivotable between a first position and a second position. The actuator includes a magnetic element. When the elastic button is in the first unactuated position the magnetic element biases the actuator into the first position, and when the elastic button is moved to the second actuated position, a force applied to the elastic button is transmitted to the actuator such that the force overcomes the magnetic attraction and permits the actuator to pivot to the second position while providing a tactile haptic response. When the actuator is moved to the second position, a hall sensor senses a change in the magnetic field of the magnetic element.

A control device comprising a front portion, at least one button cap, and a controller. The front portion comprises a plurality of button zones each comprising a tactile switch and at least one touch sensor. The at least one button cap is adapted to attach to the control device over at least one of the button zones such that the at least one button cap is positioned over the at least one touch sensor and interacts with the tactile switch in the at least one of the button zones. The controller determines which button zone and which location of the button zone is actuated in response to a combination of signals received from at least one of the tactile switches and at least one of the touch sensors.

A cooking appliance includes a cooktop having at least one sensor operating field. The at least one sensor operating field has at least one scroll field for step by step modification of a multi-value operating parameter of the cooking appliance. The at least one scroll field has a number of discretely disposed sensor keys which are disposed below a cooktop plate.

The present invention relates to a moving equipment, such as in a medical examination system. In order to provide a facilitated way of moving equipment with high accuracy, a driving device (10) for moving equipment is provided, comprising a motor-driven positioning unit (12), a central processing unit (14), and a user interface (16) with at least one sensor unit (18). The motor-driven positioning unit is configured to carry out a movement (M) of movable equipment. Further, the central processing unit is configured to control the movement of the equipment provided by the motor-driven positioning unit. The at least one sensor unit comprises at least one touch sensitive area (20), and the at least one sensor unit is configured to provide control signals (22) to the central processing unit in dependency from a force (F) applied by a user to the at least one touch sensitive area. Still further, the at least one sensor unit is configured to be fixedly attached to the movable equipment.

A user-input system includes a force-measuring device, a cover member, and an elastic circuit board substrate interposed between the force-measuring device and the cover member and mechanically coupled to the cover member and to the force-measuring device. The force-measuring device includes a strain-sensing element. The force-measuring device is mounted to and electrically connected to the elastic circuit board substrate. The cover member undergoes a primary mechanical deformation in response to forces imparted at the cover member. The elastic circuit board substrate transmits a portion of the primary mechanical deformation to the force-measuring device resulting in a concurrent secondary mechanical deformation of the force-measuring device. The strain-sensing element is configured to output voltage signals in accordance with a time-varying strain at the strain-sensing element resulting from the secondary mechanical deformation.

A switch includes a substrate that has a contact area on a first face. At least one first conductor is located in the substrate and extends onto the contact area. At least one second conductor is located in the substrate and extends onto the contact area. A sensor is configured to detect when a user contacts the contact area.

Disclosed is a beacon for allowing a user to wirelessly manage software applications of a computing device and plurality of vehicle's sensors. The beacon includes a housing, a touch sensor to identify tap from the user, a bi-directional communication unit to wirelessly bi-directionally communicate with the computing device and the vehicle's sensors on receiving tap from the user, a memory unit to store plurality of modules and plurality of instructions, wherein each instruction corresponding to each tap and a processor coupled to the memory unit and configured in the housing to process the plurality of modules. The plurality of modules includes a computing device module opens the specific software application based upon specific number of taps received from the user; a vehicle sensor module operates a specific vehicle sensor based upon a specific number of taps receive from the user; and a vehicle sensor and computing device module opens the status of the vehicle sensor on the computing device depending upon the specific number of taps received from the user.