Acoustic touch sensing systems can include a mechanically integrated structure including multiple acoustic transducers. For example, an annular structure including one or more piezoelectric segments can be fabricated and then coupled to a front crystal/cover glass. A single structure can simplify the structural integration of the device, can provide a mechanically reliable and stable structure for improved structural integrity of the system, and can provide for improved water sealing for a waterproof or water resistant device. The piezoelectric material in the annular structure can be shear poled such that a poling direction of the piezoelectric material can follow the curvature of the annular piezoelectric structure.

A method and a device are provided for deactivating a driver assistance system for autonomous transverse guidance of a vehicle, which driver assistance system has a sensor unit for detecting a contact with the rim of a steering wheel by a driver, and a control unit which detects, via the detected contact, a request by the driver to transfer from the autonomous transverse guidance into a manual transverse guidance by the driver. The pressure sensor constitutes at least one pressure sensor, which extends over at least that part of the surface of the steering wheel rim which is usually touched by the driver's hands. It does not extend over the area of the surface of the steering wheel rim which, viewed in a cross section of the steering wheel rim, describes an approximately circular-segment-shaped arc which extends over a sector angle of the order of magnitude of 90, which arc is spaced apart as far as possible from the center point of the steering wheel.

An electronic device may have input devices and/or output devices based on piezoelectric components. Piezoelectric components may include piezoelectric ink in which particles of piezoelectric material are dispersed in a binder. The piezoelectric ink may be printed or otherwise deposited onto a substrate to form piezoelectric ink traces. The piezoelectric ink traces may be deposited on flexible substrates such as elastic speaker diaphragms or flexible fabric layers. The piezoelectric traces may be part of a key in a keyboard or a stand-alone button. In arrangements where the piezoelectric trace forms part of a key in a keyboard, the piezoelectric trace may be coupled to a grid of horizontal and vertical signal lines. The signal lines may convey key press data from the piezoelectric trace to control circuitry and/or may supply control signals from the control circuitry to the piezoelectric trace to produce haptic output.

Provided is a metal touch sensing apparatus in which recognition performance thereof is improved, a plurality of touch parts are successively manipulated to enter into a specific mode, thereby preventing a refrigerator from being malfunctioned, and touch sensitivity of the refrigerator to be touched for the manipulation is visually adjusted, and a home appliance including the touch apparatus and a method for controlling the same.

A piezoelectric sensor comprises a microcontroller, a plurality of piezoelectric sensor elements of which at least two are useable for producing a haptic signal by a voltage (HV) generated by a boost converter connected to each piezoelectric sensor element, and connected to a piezo channel of the microcontroller. A multiplexer individually controls each of the switches if an enable a signal is present. The microcontroller is configured to use each of the piezo channels as a sensor channel for reading sensor input from the respective piezoelectric sensor element and in response to detecting a sensor input in at least one of the piezo channels to set the enable signal at the increase voltage pin and/or the enable signal pin, and to set a signal to at least one piezo channel in which the sensor input was detected.

In a method of using an ultrasonic sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, a plurality of ultrasonic signals are transmitted according to a beamforming pattern at a position of the two-dimensional array. The beamforming pattern focuses the plurality of ultrasonic signals to location above the two-dimensional array, wherein the beamforming pattern identifies ultrasonic transducers of the two-dimensional array that are activated during transmission of the ultrasonic signals, and wherein at least some ultrasonic transducers of the beamforming pattern are phase delayed with respect to other ultrasonic transducers of the beamforming pattern. At least one reflected ultrasonic signal is received at the position according to a receive pattern, wherein the receive pattern identifies at least one ultrasonic transducers of the two-dimensional array that is activated during the receiving. The transmitting and the receiving are repeated at a plurality of positions of the two-dimensional array.

A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.

A touch type operation input device capable of accurately detecting pressing force with which an operator presses is provided. The touch type operation input device includes a touch panel including a piezoelectric sensor and a touch sensor, and a pressing force detection unit. Until the pressing force detection unit detects a position detection signal given by the touch sensor, the pressing force detection unit causes a reference voltage of the pressing force detection to follow an output voltage of the piezoelectric sensor to be the same as the output voltage of the piezoelectric sensor. When the pressing force detection unit obtains the position detection signal given by the touch sensor, the pressing force detection unit fixes the reference voltage. The pressing force detection unit calculates a pressing force detection voltage from the difference between the output voltage and the fixed reference voltage, and detects the pressing force.

Provided is a metal touch sensing apparatus in which recognition performance thereof is improved, a plurality of touch parts are successively manipulated to enter into a specific mode, thereby preventing a refrigerator from being malfunctioned, and touch sensitivity of the refrigerator to be touched for the manipulation is visually adjusted, and a home appliance including the touch apparatus and a method for controlling the same.

A motor vehicle operating device (10) for an interior of a motor vehicle has an operating surface (26) which has a plurality of switching symbols (28) displayed thereon, each of which having a touch sensor (38) associated therewith. The touch sensors (38) are each configured to detect an approach to and/or a touch of the operating surface (26). The motor vehicle operating device (10) further comprises a plurality of pressure sensors (40) which are associated with the switching symbols (28), the number of pressure sensors (40) being smaller than the number of touch sensors (38).