A capacitive detection device includes a capacitive sensor having a sense electrode and an auxiliary electrode that are arrangeable in the vicinity of an electric heater member for mutual capacitive coupling. The capacitive detection device has a signal voltage source providing an alternating measurement voltage, a complex impedance measurement circuit for measuring complex sense currents and for determining a complex impedance based on the measured complex sense current, and for electrically connecting the auxiliary electrode either with the reference voltage or with the guard signal. The method includes providing the measurement signal to the sense electrode and electrically connect the auxiliary electrode selectively either to the reference voltage or to the guard voltage; determining capacitance values in the two different connection states of the auxiliary electrode; and calculating a compensated capacitance value as a weighted sum of the two determined capacitance values, wherein the weighting factors are predefined constant values.

A touch sensing module includes a sensing coil, a metal portion disposed to be spaced apart from the sensing coil, and a first bracket having one surface, on which the metal portion is disposed, and an other surface, opposing the one surface, on which a pad having a capacitance, configured to vary as a touch is applied, is disposed.

An electronic device according to an embodiment includes a first touch key disposed in a first area of the electronic device, a second touch key disposed in a second area of the electronic device, an antenna, a communication circuit, electrically connected to the antenna, for transmitting or receiving a signal using the antenna, a sensing circuit for sensing an external object corresponding to the electronic device, a frequency adjustment circuit, electrically connected to the antenna, adjusting a resonance frequency of the antenna, and a processor wherein the processor detects the external object using the sensing circuit while communicating with an external device using the communication circuit, in response to detecting the external object, detects an amount of change of capacitance corresponding to the external object using the first touch key or the second touch key. If a first amount of change of capacitance detected through the first touch key is greater than a second amount of change of capacitance detected through the second touch key, the electronic device communicates using the communication circuit wherein the frequency adjustment circuit is designated in a first mode. If the second amount of change of capacitance detected through the second touch key is greater than the second amount of change of capacitance detected through the first touch key, the electronic device communicates using the communication circuit wherein the frequency adjustment circuit is designated in a second mode. In addition, various other embodiments are possible.

A device for closing or opening two or more main switches of corresponding electrical power supply circuits of related electrical devices includes a plate having at least two capacitive touch contact areas , and a control circuit configured to control two or more additional switches so that, in the event that only one of the contact areas is touched, only the corresponding main switch is opened or closed, while in the event of a combined touching of at least two of the contact areas, one of the additional switches is opened or closed.

A user interface system for controlling a vehicle operation including a printed circuit board (PCB) that has a front side and a back side. A top layer that is electrically conductive defines the front side of the PCB. A plurality of indicia are etched into the top layer. An applique overlies the front side of the PCB. At least one proximity sensor is integrated into the front side of the PCB for detecting user object adjacent to the associated indicia and outputting a corresponding detection signal. The PCB further includes a base layer under the top layer. The base layer is at least partially formed of an optically transparent material. At least one light emitting device is positioned on the back side of the PCB for illuminating the indicia. A controller unit is coupled to the at least one proximity sensor and the at least one light emitting device.

A method for operating a capacitive touch-sensitive switch having a capacitive sensor element and a sensor circuit includes initially setting a scanning frequency of the capacitive touch-sensitive switch with a good signal-to-noise ratio and then operating the capacitive touch-sensitive switch at a scanning frequency which has been set to detect switch actuation. The process of setting the scanning frequency includes operating the touch-sensitive switch using a first measurement method and at a selected scanning frequency, detecting the measurement signals from the sensor circuit and checking whether the detected measurement signals contain or could contain a critical alias effect. If no critical alias effect and no possibility of a critical alias effect are detected during the check, the scanning frequency can be set as the selection frequency for detection operation of the touch-sensitive switch. A capacitive touch-sensitive switch is also provided.

A method of operating a capacitive sensing device that includes a capacitive sensor having at least one sense electrode, a measurement signal source for providing an alternating electric measurement signal with at least three fixed predefined signal frequencies to the at least one sense electrode, and an impedance measurement circuit for determining an unknown complex impedance of the at least one sense electrode from a response to the provided electric measurement signal. The method includes, for each predefined signal frequency: determining statistical quantities and signal parameters regarding a number of determined momentary values of an unknown complex impedance; eliminating portions up to a predefined hand touch movement lower limit frequency and from a predefined high-frequency limit down to a predefined hand touch movement upper limit frequency; excluding statistical outliers from determined momentary values; and using an eliminated frequency portion for calculating a momentary reference value for the unknown complex impedance.

A capacitive sensing circuit which uses the same electrodes or conductive structure or structures to perform both self-capacitance and mutual-capacitance measurements during a self-capacitance mode and a mutual-capacitance mode respectively, wherein the mutual-capacitance measurements are used to detect user proximity and the self-capacitance measurements are used to detect user touch.

An electronic device according to an embodiment includes a first touch key disposed in a first area of the electronic device, a second touch key disposed in a second area of the electronic device, an antenna, a communication circuit, electrically connected to the antenna, for transmitting or receiving a signal using the antenna, a sensing circuit for sensing an external object corresponding to the electronic device, a frequency adjustment circuit, electrically connected to the antenna, adjusting a resonance frequency of the antenna, and a processor wherein the processor detects the external object using the sensing circuit while communicating with an external device using the communication circuit, in response to detecting the external object, detects an amount of change of capacitance corresponding to the external object using the first touch key or the second touch key. If a first amount of change of capacitance detected through the first touch key is greater than a second amount of change of capacitance detected through the second touch key, the electronic device communicates using the communication circuit wherein the frequency adjustment circuit is designated in a first mode. If the second amount of change of capacitance detected through the second touch key is greater than the second amount of change of capacitance detected through the first touch key, the electronic device communicates using the communication circuit wherein the frequency adjustment circuit is designated in a second mode. In addition, various other embodiments are possible.

A sensor apparatus and method of installation, and a system for controlling at least one electrical device and a method of use of such system. The apparatus comprises a mount adapted to be attached to a support and a sensor element adapted to be detachably connected to the mount. The method of installing a sensor apparatus comprises providing a sensor apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention. The method further comprises the steps of retainably affixing the mount to, or within, the support and detachably connecting the sensor element to the mount. The system for controlling at least one electrical device comprises at least one sensor apparatus, at least one electrical device, and a controller, wherein the at least one sensor apparatus and the at least one electrical device are electrically connected to the controller.