A keyswitch structure includes a base plate, a keycap, a lift mechanism connecting the keycap and the base plate, a movable part movably disposed relative to the base plate, a linking support, and a magnetic part on the base plate. The linking support has a pivotal connection portion, a magnetic portion, and a driving portion. The magnetic part and the magnetic portion produce a magnetic attraction force therebetween. When the movable part is located at a first position, the pivotal connection portion is rotatably disposed on a protruding portion of the movable part, and the magnetic attraction force drives the keycap through the linking support to move away relative to the keycap. When the movable part moves from the first position to a second position, the protruding portion moves away, so that the pivotal connection portion falls down and the keycap moves toward the base plate.

The invention concerns an inverter housing (15) with at least two housing parts (16, 17), which can be detachably connected to one another by way of fastening elements (19), with a connection area (21), and an operation area (20) provided on a housing part (16, 17). In accordance with the invention, an optoelectronic control unit (1) is provided for purposes of operation, with at least one reflection light sensor (2), with in each case a light source (3) and in each case a light detector (4), evaluation electronics (5), and with an operating panel (6) for purposes of operating the reflection light sensor (2) as a result of the approach of an object (7), wherein a light guide (8) is arranged connected to a housing part (17), the other housing part (16) has a mounting (25) for a circuit board (14), which contains the reflection light sensor (2) of the optoelectronic control unit (1), and a signal light source (9) for the emission of light in the visible wavelength range is arranged such that the light emitted by the signal light source (9) can be projected via the light guide (8) onto the operating panel (6), wherein the connection area (21) is arranged below the operation area (20).

The present disclosure provides an optical sensing device, including: a storage circuitry being coupled to a charging circuitry, a photosensitive circuitry, and a voltage-readout circuitry, the storage circuitry storing a voltage value; the charging circuitry being coupled to the storage circuitry for charging the storage circuitry; the photosensitive circuitry being connected to a first terminal for discharging the storage circuitry to the first terminal; and the voltage-readout circuitry being connected to the storage circuitry, for reading the voltage value of the storage circuitry.

A keyboard is disclosed. The keyboard includes a keyboard housing and a switch assembly coupled to the keyboard housing. The switch assembly includes a switch body defining an interior volume, a collapsible dome positioned in the interior volume, an actuation member configured to actuate the collapsible dome in response to an actuation of the actuation member, and a cover coupled to the switch body. The cover retains the actuation member to the switch body. The keyboard also includes a flexible material coupled to the keyboard housing and extending over the actuation member.

The invention concerns an inverter housing (15) with at least two housing parts (16, 17), which can be detachably connected to one another by way of fastening elements (19), with a connection area (21), and an operation area (20) provided on a housing part (16, 17). In accordance with the invention, an optoelectronic control unit (1) is provided for purposes of operation, with at least one reflection light sensor (2), with in each case a light source (3) and in each case a light detector (4), evaluation electronics (5), and with an operating panel (6) for purposes of operating the reflection light sensor (2) as a result of the approach of an object (7), wherein a light guide (8) is arranged connected to a housing part (17), the other housing part (16) has a mounting (25) for a circuit board (14), which contains the reflection light sensor (2) of the optoelectronic control unit (1), and a signal light source (9) for the emission of light in the visible wavelength range is arranged such that the light emitted by the signal light source (9) can be projected via the light guide (8) onto the operating panel (6), wherein the connection area (21) is arranged below the operation area (20).

A method for operating at least one optoelectronic button or operating element arranged behind an optically transparent control panel of a field device of automation technology for detecting an actuation of the optoelectronic button or operating element by an operator of the field device includes detecting whether the field device of automation technology is located in an interior area or in an exterior area; defining an evaluation condition which is used to detect the actuation of the optical button or control element; and detecting or evaluating whether an actuation of the optoelectronic button or control element is present based on the defined evaluation condition.

A method for operating at least one optoelectronic button or operating element arranged behind an optically transparent control panel of a field device of automation technology for detecting an actuation of the optoelectronic button or operating element by an operator of the field device includes detecting whether the field device of automation technology is located in an interior area or in an exterior area; defining an evaluation condition which is used to detect the actuation of the optical button or control element; and detecting or evaluating whether an actuation of the optoelectronic button or control element is present based on the defined evaluation condition.

A touch sensor system includes a sensing area having a periphery and a plurality of light sources and a plurality of analog optical detectors arranged about the periphery of the sensing area. The system further includes addressing circuitry that selectively drives each of the plurality of light sources with a modulated signal and selectively activates the plurality of analog optical detectors, and a controller that receives a collective detector output from the plurality of analog optical detectors. The outputs from the analog optical detectors may be a time multiplexed to provide the collective detector output. Each optical detector may include a photodiode; a first transistor coupled to the photodiode in a current amplifier configuration that generates an amplified current output as a function of a photodiode current; and enable circuitry to enable and disable the optical detector as a function of an enable input signal.

In some examples, a first keyboard includes a plurality of light-sensing electrodes, where individual ones of the light-sensing electrodes correspond to individual keys of the first keyboard. The first keyboard includes a microprocessor electrically coupled to individual ones of the light-sensing electrodes. A second keyboard comprised of light-transmitting material may be placed on top of the first keyboard. The second keyboard may include a plurality of keys, with individual keys including a keycap having opaque material attached to a bottom surface and a scissors mechanism to lower the opaque material when a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the keycap. The microprocessor is configured to perform operations including determining that the opaque material is obstructing light to a first particular light-sensing electrode of the plurality of light-sensing electrodes and sending a signal indicating a selection of a first key corresponding to the first particular light-sensing electrode.

Disclosed is a system for a motor vehicle, including a steering wheel (2) connected to the steering system of the vehicle, the steering wheel including a plurality of optical sensors (7) arranged on the rim (25) of the steering wheel and designed to detect the presence of at least one finger (5) of at least one hand of the driver near or in contact with the rim of the steering wheel, by way of which the system is able to determine the number of fingers near or in contact with the rim of the steering wheel as well as their respective positions on the rim. Also disclosed is a method associated with the device.