A door handle includes door handle case, a first detection electrode and a second detection electrode disposed in the door handle case, and a controller connected to the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode. The controller separately measures a first capacitance between the first detection electrode and an operation body and a second capacitance between the second detection electrode and the operation body, and the controller determines whether a locking operation is performed by the operation body based on one or both of the first capacitance and the second capacitance.

A multi-state keyboard function row is provided. A plurality of representations can be formed on an insert of the multi-state keyboard function row. An assembly of the multi-state keyboard function row can be configured to cause either a first set of the representations or a second set of the representations to be visible to a user. A brightness of the representations may also be controlled based on a brightness of ambient light.

A touch control human-machine interface for use in controlling operation of a machine, said interface including: an interface housing; a cover plate disposed on an outer-surface of the housing, said cover plate having a first electrically-conductive portion configured for touch interaction by a user's finger; a circuit assembly disposed within the housing, said circuit assembly including a circuit board having a second electrically-conductive portion and a light illumination module operably-connected thereto; a spacer element disposed between and separating the first conductive portion from the second conductive portion such that the first conductive portion, the second conductive portion and the spacer element are configured to form a capacitor device that is operably-connected with the circuit assembly; said first electrically-conductive portion being configured for deformation by the user's finger so as to cause a change in capacitance across the capacitor device, and whereby responsive to said change in capacitance, the circuit assembly is configured for generating a control signal for controlling operation of the machine, and, for controlling the light illumination module to propagate a light emission from the circuit assembly through the housing and cover plate so as to be visible externally of the housing.

A switch to be attached to a panel having an opening in a surface includes: a stationary member to be attached to the panel; a movable member to be placed at a distance from the panel, the movable member having a manipulation surface separated from the panel in the opening with a gap intervening between the manipulation surface and the panel, the manipulation surface being exposed from the opening; and a vibration element disposed between the stationary member and the movable member, the vibration element vibrating the movable member.

Electronic control device (10) comprising: —an electronic circuit (11) having an operative face (11a) on which a plurality of LEDs (12) are mounted; —a frame (13) defining a plurality of first channels (14) which face the LEDs so as to guide their light radiation; —a composite screen (15) which covers the first channels (14) so as to be crossed by a light radiation coming from the LEDs (12) and guided by the first channels (14) towards the composite screen (15). The composite screen (15) comprises: —a diffuser layer (16) configured to homogenize a light radiation that crosses it; —an operative layer (17) having electronic tracks comprising touch-sensitive pads (18) and connection contacts (19). The electronic control device (10) further comprises at least one connector (20) which connects electrically the connection contacts (19) to the electronic circuit (11) in order to transmit to the latter electrical signals following touching, by a user, of at least one of said sensitive pads (18) on the composite screen (15).

Ambient lighting system (3) for motorcars (2) comprising: an optical system (4) comprising: RGB LED light sources (41); a structural support (40) on which said light sources (41) are placed; a diffusive module (42) adapted to diffuse light rays. The ambient lighting system (3) comprising a capacitive touch sensor (6), the latter being locally integrated in the ambient lighting system (3); and light guide modules (43), interposed between the light sources (41) and said diffusive module (42), and being adapted to guide light rays emitted by the light sources (41) and being designed to isolate the light rays emitted by each light guide module (43), in order to realize sectors (C) adapted to be illuminated with sharp contrast with the rest of the ambient lighting system (3), defining the position of at least one soft button (B), the latter being realized by means of the capacitive touch sensor (6).

A key unit and a keyboard using the same are provided. The key unit includes a circuit board, a supporting assembly, a keycap, and a floating conductive structure. The circuit board includes a capacitance sensing circuit embedded therein, and the capacitance sensing circuit includes a pair of sensor electrodes which are spaced apart from each other. The supporting assembly is disposed on the circuit board. The keycap is moveably disposed above and spaced apart from the circuit board. The supporting assembly disposed between the keycap and the circuit board allows the keycap to be moved between a non-depressed position and a depressed position with respect to the circuit board. The floating conductive structure is disposed on the supporting assembly, and an orthogonal projection of the floating conductive structure on the circuit board overlaps with the pair of sensor electrodes.

There is provided a touch detection circuit including a charging circuit, a discharging circuit, a counter and a processor. The charging circuit charges a detection capacitor within a charging interval using different currents. The discharging circuit discharges the detection capacitor within a discharging interval using different currents. The counter counts the charging interval and the discharging interval. The processor subtracts a baseline time from a counted charging time and a counted discharging time to cancel the noise interference.

A multi-state keyboard function row is provided. A plurality of representations can be formed on an insert of the multi-state keyboard function row. An assembly of the multi-state keyboard function row can be configured to cause either a first set of the representations or a second set of the representations to be visible to a user. A brightness of the representations may also be controlled based on a brightness of ambient light.

A method for manufacturing a plastic part forming a human-machine control interface includes formation of a decorative film, formation of a technical film including a layer of haptic actuators and a layer of capacitive sensors, assembly to form an interface film, positioning in an injection mould, including an upper portion and a lower portion including a moveable support pad capable of coming into contact with the interface film such that a thickness is left free between the interface film and the lower portion of the injection mould outside of the support pad, injection of a plastic material into the free thickness on either side of the support pad, and opening of the injection mould and ejection of the plastic part formed.