A key determination method for a metal key. The method comprises a step of determining whether values output by an electrical parameter converter on a metal key satisfy multiple levels of thresholds, and, a step of setting a press flag of the metal key according to multiple levels of thresholds; and after the metal key is released, determining whether a release flag is valid according to a press model, and if so, clearing the press flag that was previously set. Different press models and different thresholds are selected and configured by means of software, so that personalized choices are provided for respective metal keys, which effectively facilitates different operators in configuring a metal keyboard according to usage habits, thereby improving the operating efficiency. In addition, the setting of different thresholds effectively protects the operational details mean for the exclusive use of operators, thereby achieving the required confidentiality.

A method of generating an operating signal of an electronic device includes: deriving a force measurement value based on a change in inductance of a touch sensing device disposed inside a housing of the electronic device and configured to change inductance by external pressure applied to a touch switching unit of the housing; accumulatively recording the force measurement value derived in the deriving of the force measurement value; setting a reference value based on the recorded force measurement value, in response to the force measurement value being accumulatively recorded until a unit condition is satisfied; and generating an operating signal based on a high and low relationship between the force measurement value derived from the change in inductance occurring after the setting of the reference value, and the set reference value.

A touch sensing device includes: at least one sensing coil disposed on a substrate; a sensing circuit unit configured to detect applied external pressure, based on a change in inductance of the at least one sensing coil; and a deformation inducing shaft configured to block one side of the at least one sensing coil in one direction and open another side of the at least one sensing coil in another direction.

A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes an electric motor and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a plurality of logic gates and a monostable multivibrator. The monostable multivibrator is connected to a first one of the logic gates. The control circuit is configured to alter a rate of action of a function of the surgical instrument by controlling a speed of rotation of the electric motor based on a sensed parameter.

A sensing system for a keyboard. Each key sensor comprises passive and active resonant circuits. The passive resonant circuit has a resonant frequency and the active resonant circuit excites the passive resonant circuit at the resonant frequency. A sensor driver drives the active resonant circuit with an RF drive signal, a multiplexing system multiplexes the drive signal such that simultaneously driven key sensors are separated by at least (k−1) keys, and a detector detects a level of RF signal from a driven key sensor for sensing a position and/or velocity of a key.

An operation detection device for a key operation of a keyboard device includes a conductive unit configured to be disposed on each of keys, a substrate configured to be disposed facing each of the keys in a pressing direction of the keys. The substrate is provided with a sensor including at least first and second coils, the sensor being configured to be disposed spaced from one key so that at least one of the first or second coil outputs a signal corresponding to a distance between the one key and the respective sensor. The operation detection device includes a detection unit configured to detect a displacement of the one key in at least one of a yaw direction or a roll direction based on signals output from the first and second coils during a key pressing stroke of the one key.

The invention relates to an apparatus for detecting a key press comprising a circuit substrate, a key module with a key cap and a movement mechanism, and a device for detecting the movement of the key cap, wherein the movement mechanism has at least one movement element wherein this device comprises an electrical resonance circuit with at least one capacitor and with a primary coil and comprises a secondary coil wherein the device for detecting the movement of the key cap comprises a measuring device for detecting and/or processing at least one physical variable of the electrical resonance circuit, which variable changes during the movement of the key cap, and outputs at least one electrical signal that is dependent on the change in the physical variable. The invention also relates to a keyboard comprising one or more such apparatuses and to a method for detecting a key press.

The invention relates to an apparatus for detecting a key press comprising a circuit substrate, to a key module with a key cap and a movement mechanism, and to a device for detecting the movement of the key cap, wherein this device comprises an electrical resonance circuit with a primary coil and a secondary coil with a short-circuited winding, which secondary coil is moved with the key cap, wherein the primary coil and the secondary coil are inductively coupled to one another, and the strength of the inductive coupling between the primary coil and secondary coil and thus at least one physical variable of the resonance circuit change during the movement of the key cap. The invention also relates to a keyboard comprising one or more such apparatuses and to a method for detecting a key press.

A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a shaft, a sensing array and a fluid detection circuit. The sensing array is positioned within the shaft. The fluid detection circuit is electrically coupled to the sensing array, and is configured to determine when a fluid originating from an environment external to the shaft is present within the shaft.

A sensing system for a keyboard. Each key sensor comprises passive and active resonant circuits. The passive resonant circuit has a resonant frequency and the active resonant circuit excites the passive resonant circuit at the resonant frequency. A sensor driver drives the active resonant circuit with an RF drive signal, a multiplexing system multiplexes the drive signal such that simultaneously driven key sensors are separated by at least (k−1) keys, and a detector detects a level of RF signal from a driven key sensor for sensing a position and/or velocity of a key.