A sensing device may include a first sensor of a first type. The first sensor may include a first conductive element, a second conductive element, and a reactive material between the first conductive element and the second conductive element. The sensing device further including a second sensor of a second type that may be different from the first type. The second sensor may use the first conductive element as a conductive element in the second sensor.

Three or more detection electrodes intersect in each of sections that divide a region to which an object is approachable. The detection electrodes each include partial electrodes connected in cascade via wiring, and partial electrodes included in the detection electrodes that intersect in each section are disposed in the section. Three or more partial electrodes disposed in the section includes a single first partial electrode and at least two second partial electrodes. The first partial electrode is connected in cascade to the partial electrode on one side through a first-layer or second-layer wiring and to the partial electrode on the other side through the second-layer wiring. Each second partial electrode is connected in cascade to the partial electrode in one side through the first-layer wiring and to the partial electrode on the other side through the second-layer wiring.

A capacitive button capable of improving tolerance to electrostatic discharge is provided. The capacitive button includes: a pair of sensor electrodes which are provided side by side; a floating electrode which is arranged on a front side of the pair of sensor electrodes via an insulating layer; and a ground electrode which is arranged so as to surround the floating electrode, and is grounded without being electrically connected with the pair of sensor electrodes and the floating electrode. By providing the configuration, the tolerance to the electrostatic discharge of the capacitive button can be improved.

A touch input device may be provided that includes a display module; a substrate which is disposed under the display module; a pressure sensor which is disposed between the display module and the substrate; and a pressure sensing circuit which outputs a predetermined voltage. The touch input device detects the pressure magnitude on the basis of the voltage output from the pressure sensing circuit. The pressure sensing circuit includes a pressure sensing node N.sub.A; a switch serially connected between a power voltage V.sub.DDA and the pressure sensing node; a current source serially connected between the pressure sensing node and the ground; and an output node N.sub.o. The current source is turned on during a first time period t1 every cycle. The switch is turned on every cycle during a third time period t3 separated from the first time period t1 by a predetermined time period.

An electrode device for a capacitive sensor device and a circuit arrangement for a capacitive sensor device for the operation of an electrode device are provided, wherein the electrode device has a first electrode structure with at least one transmitting electrode and at least one receiving electrode, and a second electrode structure with at least one field sensing electrode, wherein the electrode device or the capacitive sensor device can be operated in a first operation mode and in a second operation mode. In addition a method is provided for approach and/or touch detection with a sensor device.

The present invention provides a capacitive fingerprint sensor which images fingerprints by measuring differences between coupling capacitance formed between ridge lines of the fingerprints and corresponding units on planar sensing electrode arrays and that formed between valley lines of the fingerprints and corresponding units on the planar sensing electrode arrays. A conventional C-Q-T type capacitive fingerprint sensor employs twice conversion from capacitance to charge quantity and then to integrating time to indirectly measure the capacitance; and the capacitance-charge quantity conversion efficiency can be improved by coupling a human body with a driving signal so as to improve the sensitiveness of the sensor. According to the improved C-Q-T type capacitive fingerprint sensor provided by the present invention, coupling a ground potential of the fingerprint sensor with a reversed-phase driving signal equivalently substitutes for coupling the driving signal to the human body, so that the sensitiveness of the sensor is further enhanced.

This pinching detection device of a power window is provided with: a sensor electrode provided in a windowpane; a position-detecting electrode that opposes the sensor electrode; and a control unit. The size of an opposing surface area between the sensor electrode and the position-detecting electrode increases as the windowpane is raised. The control unit detects pinching of foreign matter on the basis of a change in capacitance in the sensor electrode and detects a position in the windowpane on the basis of the change in capacitance.

A touch input device may be provided that includes a display module; a substrate which is disposed under the display module; a pressure sensor which is disposed between the display module and the substrate; and a pressure sensing circuit which outputs a predetermined voltage. The touch input device detects the pressure magnitude on the basis of the voltage output from the pressure sensing circuit. The pressure sensing circuit includes a pressure sensing node N.sub.A; a switch serially connected between a power voltage V.sub.DDA and the pressure sensing node; a current source serially connected between the pressure sensing node and the ground; and an output node N.sub.o. The current source is turned on during a first time period t1 every cycle. The switch is turned on every cycle during a third time period t3 separated from the first time period t1 by a predetermined time period.

A vehicle manipulation detecting device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes and a shield electrode. Each of the sensor electrodes is configured to be attached to a window glass of a vehicle and output a detection signal corresponding to a capacitance changed in response to contact or approach of an object. The sensor electrodes include at least one first sensor electrode and at least one second sensor electrode. The shield electrode is arranged at a position corresponding to the first sensor electrode on an inner side of the first sensor electrode with reference to a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

A sensor device for a motor vehicle includes a multi-layer circuit board on which a plurality of metallized planes are formed. A capacitive sensor electrode is formed on one of the planes for detection by capacitive approachment sensing. A control device controls the sensor electrode as a capacitive sensor electrode in order to detect approaches of a user towards the sensor electrode via an evaluation device. At least one planar electrode region is formed on each of the metallized planes, wherein each of the electrode regions is coupled to the control device. At least two of the electrode regions on different metallized planes are activated and evaluated as sensor electrodes and at least two of the electrode regions on different planes are activated and evaluated as the ground in a temporally offset manner.