According to various embodiments, there is provided a method for identifying a user input in a user input device, the method including: detecting edges in an output signal generated by a switch in the user input device; identifying a first-to-second-state edge as being indicative of a transition from a first state to a second state; counting down to a first rest period upon identifying the first-to-second-state edge; before completion of the counting down to the first rest period, restarting the counting down upon each detection of a further edge in the output signal; detecting a second-to-first-state edge in the output signal that occurs after completion of the counting down to the first rest period; and identifying the second-to-first-state edge as being indicative of a transition from the second state to the first state.

A sensor, comprised of various mechanical components and electromechanical components, that measures/detects the relative position between two (2) or more objects and can measure/detect relative acceleration of one (1) or more objects, using fundamental natural physical forces, e.g. magnetism, electrostatics. More particularly, this invention relates to a sensor that can measure/detect the relative position of two or more objects and/or measure/detect the acceleration of one or more objects. Specifically, this invention uses fundamental physical forces in combination with mechanical components to actuate electro-optical-mechanical signal devices, e.g. electrical switches, optical switches, magnetic switches.

A control circuit for controlling a data input/output is provided. The control circuit comprises a plurality of control level circuits that include a first control level circuit and a last control level circuit. Each control level circuit has a control element, with a number of control elements of the last control level circuit being greater than a number of control elements of the first control level circuit. Each control element is configured to receive a first control signal and a second control signal, and controls a current for the data input/output depending on the first and second control signals. The control circuit is configured to provide the first control signal to the control elements in a sequence starting at the first control level circuit and ending at the last control level circuit, and then to provide the second control signal to the last control level circuit in reverse order.

According to various embodiments, there is provided a method for identifying a user input in a user input device, the method including: detecting edges in an output signal generated by a switch in the user input device; identifying a first-to-second-state edge as being indicative of a transition from a first state to a second state; counting down to a first rest period upon identifying the first-to-second-state edge; before completion of the counting down to the first rest period, restarting the counting down upon each detection of a further edge in the output signal; detecting a second-to-first-state edge in the output signal that occurs after completion of the counting down to the first rest period; and identifying the second-to-first-state edge as being indicative of a transition from the second state to the first state.

A safety switch for an automated industrial plant includes a swivel-mounted rocker having at least one rip cord connector and at least one accelerometer arranged on the rocker. Swivel movement of the rocker is identified by evaluating signals of the accelerometer.

The present invention provides a low-pressure capacitive tactile sensor for measuring tactile pressures in a range of approximately 0.5 kPa to approximately 20 kPa, the sensor including a first flexible electrode layer; a second flexible electrode layer; a micro-patterned, discontinuous, flexible, UV-curable in approximately 60 seconds or less, elastic polymer nano-imprinted dielectric layer; and a ground shielding layer disposed above the first flexible electrode layer and below the second flexible electrode layer of the capacitive tactile sensor respectively to minimize electromagnetic and capacitive interference. The pressure sensing range of the capacitive tactile sensor is approximately 0.5-20 kPa, the sensitivity is approximately greater than 0.12 pF/kPa. A method for fabricating the capacitive tactile sensor is also provided.

Thermal compensation can be applied to force measurements of a force-sensitive button. A temperature differential between an object and the force-sensitive button can result in changes in the reconstructed force by the force sensor due to thermal effects rather than actual user force, which in turn can result in degraded performance of the force sensor (e.g., false positive or inconsistent activation force). In some examples, a force-sensitive button can include a force sensor configured to measure an amount of force applied to the force-sensitive button, and a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature associated with the force sensor. The measured temperature can be used to compensate the amount of force measured by the force sensor based on the temperature associated with the force sensor. In some examples, the thermal compensation can be applied when an object is detected contacting the force-sensitive button (i.e., when rapid temperature differentials can occur).

A switching device includes a header, first and second magnets, first and second inductors, and a first magnetic sensing element aligned with the first magnet and the first inductor and a second magnetic sensing element aligned with the second magnet and the second inductor. The switching device further includes a printed circuit board (PCB) including an upper face on which are mounted the first and second magnetic sensing elements and a lower face on which are mounted the first and second inductors. When the switching device is operated, the header is pressed towards the PCB, the first and second magnets get closer respectively to the first and second magnetic sensing elements, which increases the magnetic flux through the magnetic sensing elements and changes the status of the switching device when a threshold is reached. The PCB further includes first and second microcontrollers configured to determine a state of the switching device.

A method and corresponding system for providing a depressed state signal from a keyboard or button. The method comprises sensing movement of an actuator of the keyboard or button, determining, during depression of the actuator, a velocity of the actuator at a depression sense position of the actuator and at a first time, processing the determined velocity to predict when the actuator will reach a second depression sense position of the actuator at a later point during depression of the actuator, and generating the depressed state signal with a timing based on the prediction of when the actuator will reach the second depression sense position. A complementary method and system provides a released state signal.

A sensor, comprised of various mechanical components and electromechanical components, that measures/detects the relative position between two (2) or more objects and can measure/detect relative acceleration of one (1) or more objects, using fundamental natural physical forces, e.g. magnetism, electrostatics. More particularly, this invention relates to a sensor that can measure/detect the relative position of two or more objects and/or measure/detect the acceleration of one or more objects. Specifically, this invention uses fundamental physical forces in combination with mechanical components to actuate electro-optical-mechanical signal devices, e.g. electrical switches, optical switches, magnetic switches.