A luminous touch keyboard includes a baseplate, a plurality of keycaps, a plurality of support mechanisms connected between the baseplate and the keycaps, and a keyboard composite electrode module disposed between the baseplate and the keycaps and configured to sense a non-pressing movement over the keycaps and to provide light emitting through the keycaps. The support mechanism supports the keycap to move relative to the baseplate and the keyboard composite electrode module. The keyboard composite electrode module includes a light source circuit and a plurality of electrode matrices arranged along a first direction and a second direction. Two of the electrode matrices adjacent in the second direction are mis-aligned. The light source circuit includes a plurality of light sources disposed in the plurality of electrode matrices in a one-to-one manner, and the position of the light source in the electrode matrix is correspondingly the same.

There is described a touch sensor for a keyboard, the touch sensor comprising one or more holes. Also described is a keyboard comprising the touch sensor as well as methods of manufacturing the touch sensor and the keyboard.

A touch-based control device is operable to detect touch input over an entirety of the control device's exterior, including at regions of an exterior panel that (i) overlay portions of a circuit board where no touch sensors exist, and/or (ii) extend beyond a perimeter of a touch region or circuit board on which touch sensors are provided.

A device, comprising: a pair of force sensors located for detecting a user squeeze input; and a controller operable in a squeeze detection operation to detect the user squeeze input based on a cross-correlation between respective sensor signals originating from the pair of force sensors.

An operation device includes an operation unit configured to be movable relative to a device body of the operation device. The operation device includes a first detector that detects touching of the operation unit and a second detector that detects movement of the operation unit relative to the device body. The operation device further includes a controller that processes detection signals of the first detector and the second detector so that the movement of the operation unit relative to the device body and the touching of the operation unit correspond to inputs for operating an operation subject apparatus.

Systems and methods for determining a touch input are provided. The systems and methods generally include measuring the peak voltage at an electrode over a measurement period and determining a touch input based on the peak voltage. The systems and methods can conserve computing resources by deferring digital signal processing until after a peak electrode capacitance has been sampled. The systems and methods are suitable for capacitive sensors using self-capacitance and capacitive sensors using mutual capacitance. The systems and methods are also suitable for capacitive buttons, track pads, and touch screens, among other implementations.

An operating apparatus for a vehicle component comprises an operating panel (12) as well as an electric motor (34) mechanically coupled thereto with an unbalance mass. A detector (20) can capture the contact of the operating panel (12) by a user. A sensor (46) is provided in order to set exactly the number of revolutions of the electric motor in response to the contact of the operating panel by a user. The number of revolutions of the rotor is determined via this sensor.

A touch-based control device can include an exterior panel that includes a groove region and a surrounding region, one or more touch sensors for detecting touch inputs performed anywhere on a substantial portion of the exterior panel, and a sensing module comprising one or more processors to detect, via the one or more touch sensors, touch inputs performed by a user on the exterior panel. The sensing module can interpret the touch input based on at least one of (i) a region where the touch input occurred, or (ii) a type of the touch input, and control a connected device based on the interpreted touch input.

A control system for a vehicle interior comprising a control element for a user to interact with is provided. The control element may comprise a sensing electrode configured to provide one or more electrical signals and a non-conductive cover material provided on or over the sensing electrode. The sensing electrode may be formed of or comprise a conductive plastic. The non-conductive cover material may be formed of or comprise a non-conductive plastic. The non-conductive cover material may be or comprise an outer layer, over-layer or skin of the control element. The non-conductive cover material may provide one or more touch interactive surfaces of the control element.

A control device includes an exterior panel comprising multiple regions, including a groove region and a surrounding region that surrounds the groove region. The control device further includes a sensor layer comprising one or more sensors to detect touch inputs performed on the groove region and the surrounding region of the exterior panel. The control device further includes a control module configured to operate a plurality of devices. The control module is configured to detect a first touch input performed by a user on the groove region and a second touch input performed on the surrounding region. Based at least in part on the location of the touch inputs the control module operates respective devices of the plurality of devices.