A capacitance sensor detects proximity of a detection object based on changes in capacitances between the detection object and a first detection electrode and between the detection object and a second detection electrode. The capacitance sensor includes: a capacitor applied with a first potential; a first switch provided over terminals of the capacitor; a second switch connected to the capacitor; a third switch connected to the second switch and the first detection electrode, and applied with a second potential; a fourth switch connected to the capacitor; a fifth switch connectable to the second detection electrode and connected to the fourth switch, and applied with the second potential; and a determination unit determining a failure of the first detection electrode based on a potential difference between a potential of the terminal of the capacitor and a reference potential.

The invention relates to an arrangement (10) for a vehicle (1) for detecting an activation action for activating a function on the vehicle (1), comprising: at least one sensor element (21) for sensing a change in a vicinity of the sensor element (21), a controlling arrangement (80) for an electric control of the sensor element (21) in order to provide a sensing signal (S), the frequencies of which comprise at least one predefined sensing frequency, an evaluation arrangement (90), which is interconnected to the sensor element (21) via a signal path (SP) in order to use the sensing signal (S) to repeatedly determine at least one parameter of the sensor element (21) specific to the sensing for detecting the activation action, a filter arrangement (40) in the signal path (SP) comprising at least one high-pass (41, 43) in order to at least reduce the frequencies of the sensing signal (S) lower than the at least one sensing frequency.

An operator control device for a vehicle, and a method for operating such an operator control device is disclosed. The operator control device is for controlling safety-relevant functions. To this end, the operator control device has at least one user interface having at least one user input panel for user input and a sensor system for identifying a user input in the area of the user input panel, wherein the sensor system has at least one capacitive sensor device having a first, electrically conductive sensor structure and a second, capacitive sensor device having a second, electrically conductive sensor structure, the sensor structures being arranged beneath the user interface in the area of the user input panel. The first sensor structure and the second sensor structure are each configured in comb-like and/or meanderous fashion and arranged in intermeshing fashion at least in a subarea of the user input panel.

A sensor switch including a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode at least partially surrounding the first sensor electrode. An evaluation and control circuit of the sensor switch is configured to generate a switch output signal if a first sensor electrode attenuation signal indicates a high signal attenuation, a second sensor electrode attenuation signal indicates a low signal attenuation, and a cross-coupling signal from the first to the second electrode indicates a low cross-coupling.

A method for capacitive detection of nearby objects that may be located in the environment of an equipment provided with a capacitive detection device including a detection step, called discriminative detection step, including the following operations: polarizing a first nearby object at a first alternating potential (V1), different from a ground potential (M), and from the potential of at least one second nearby object, at a first frequency (F1); and determining a first discriminative signal representative of a capacitance, called electrode-object capacitance, seen by the at least one measurement electrode, at said first frequency (F1).

A circuit includes a timer to count edges of a clock from an initial count value to a terminal count value and to output a timer signal responsive to the terminal count value being reached. A random number generator circuit generates a plurality of random number values. Each generated random number value is sequentially loaded into the timer as one of the initial count value or the terminal count value. A capacitive sensor circuit determines, responsive to receipt of a plurality of timer signals from the timer, a touch event of a capacitive touch sensor.

A capacitance detection device includes: a variable capacitance capacitor; an electrode constituting a detection target whose capacitance is to be detected; and a control circuit, in which the control circuit executes: manipulation processing of manipulating a capacitance of the variable capacitance capacitor to control an intermediate potential, which is a potential at a connection point between the variable capacitance capacitor and the electrode, to a reference potential, when a voltage of a voltage application device is applied to the electrode via the variable capacitance capacitor; and detection processing of detecting the capacitance of the detection target, based on the capacitance of the variable capacitance capacitor when being controlled to the reference potential.

A vehicle operation detection device includes processing circuitry configured to output a command causing an opening-closing body of a vehicle to open and close in reference to capacitances of sensor electrodes arranged so as to form a row. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that a first operation has been performed when one of the sensor electrodes of which the capacitance increases is sequentially shifted in a first direction from an operation start electrode and determine that a second operation has been performed when the shifting is performed in a second direction. The sensor electrodes include an adjacent electrode adjacent to the operation start electrode. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that the capacitance of the adjacent electrode has increased when the capacitance becomes greater than or equal to a second determination value that is greater than a first determination value.

Systems, methods, and devices improve the sensitivity of capacitive sensors. Devices may include an attenuator configured to receive an input from at least one sense electrode of a capacitive sensing device. The attenuator may be included in a sensing channel of a capacitive sensor. Devices may further include a signal generator coupled to an input of the attenuator. The signal generator may include one or more processors configured to generate a sinusoidal signal based, at least in part, on one or more noise characteristics of a scan sequence associated with one or more transmit electrodes of the capacitive sensing device, and provide the sinusoidal signal to the input of the attenuator.

A high-sensitivity capacitive sensor circuit having improved sensitivity by implementing a plurality of detection units using charging and discharging, has: an oscillation unit for generating a control clock; a first charge/discharge unit connected to a sensing unit electrode, which generates a sensing signal while being charged/discharged according to the control clock; a second charge/discharge unit connected in parallel to the first charge/discharge unit, which generates a reference signal while being charged/discharged according to the control clock; and a detection unit for detecting a change in the capacitance on the side of the sensing unit electrode by comparing the sensing signal from the first charge/discharge unit with the reference signal from the second charge/discharge unit. The first charge/discharge unit includes: a first capacitor connected at one end thereof to the sensing unit electrode, which is charged/discharged according to the control clock; a first constant-current source for supplying a predetermined amount of constant-current to the first capacitor, which charges the first capacitor; and a first switch for controlling the first capacitor such that, according to the control clock, the first capacitor is repetitively charged and discharged every half cycle of the clock. The second charge/discharge unit includes: a second capacitor which is charged/discharged according to the control clock; a second constant-current source for supplying a predetermined amount of constant-current to the second capacitor so as to charge the second capacitor; and a second switch for controlling the second capacitor such that, according to the control clock, the second capacitor is repetitively charged and discharged every half cycle of the clock.