A capacitive proximity sensor of the present invention principally comprises a sensor electrode, a sensor circuit, a detection circuit, and a microcomputer. The sensor circuit has an LC parallel circuit and an LC series resonant circuit. Furthermore, the single sensor electrode is connected in parallel with the LC parallel circuit. By decreasing the drive voltage applied to the sensor electrode, the radiated noise generated by the sensor electrode is also decreased. In addition, foot detection sensitivity can be improved by amplifying the detection signal with the LC series resonant circuit.

A touch window for a touch sensor includes: a touch member having a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface configured to be pressed by a user, a plurality of conductive printed portions printed on the rear surface of the touch member, the conductive printed portions being configured to respectively contact a plurality of conductive electrodes of the touch sensor, and a non-conductive film attached to the rear surface of the touch member and defining one or more through-holes. Inner surfaces of the one or more through-holes are configured to respectively surround the conductive printed portions and the conductive printed portions and the non-conductive film have different thicknesses from each other such that surface condensation on the conductive printed portions and surface condensation on the non-conductive film are spaced apart from each other.

A capacitive proximity sensor of the present invention principally comprises a sensor electrode, a sensor circuit, a detection circuit, and a microcomputer. The sensor circuit has an LC parallel circuit and an LC series resonant circuit. Furthermore, the single sensor electrode is connected in parallel with the LC parallel circuit. By decreasing the drive voltage applied to the sensor electrode, the radiated noise generated by the sensor electrode is also decreased. In addition, foot detection sensitivity can be improved by amplifying the detection signal with the LC series resonant circuit.

Systems and methods for determining a touch input are provided. The systems and methods generally include measuring the peak voltage at an electrode over a measurement period and determining a touch input based on the peak voltage. The systems and methods can conserve computing resources by deferring digital signal processing until after a peak electrode capacitance has been sampled. The systems and methods are suitable for capacitive sensors using self-capacitance and capacitive sensors using mutual capacitance. The systems and methods are also suitable for capacitive buttons, track pads, and touch screens, among other implementations.

A proximity sensor, and a portable device equipped therewith, with at least two sense electrodes, one influencing the other. By reading twice the capacity of one electrode, while either setting the potential of the counter-electrode to guard or letting it float, the sensor of the invention discriminates between a body part, or another electrically equivalent object, and low-permittivity objects.

A capacitance-type sensing system for indirect contact includes a capacitance-type sensor and a grounding conductor. The capacitance-type sensor includes a sensing electrode and a driving circuit electrically connected to the sensing electrode. The driving circuit has a grounding terminal. The grounding conductor is electrically connected to the grounding terminal and configured to contact a grounding surface. A contact area of the grounding conductor is greater than or equal to 3000 mm.sup.2.

An electronic device includes a touch sensing layer, a touch sensor, a biometric sensor and a driver. The touch sensor is used to identify a touch location and output a touch signal upon the touch sensing layer being touched. The biometric sensor includes a plurality of sensing blocks, and is used to generate electrical signals corresponding to biometric data. The driver is coupled to the touch sensor and the biometric sensor, and is used to drive a portion of the plurality of sensing blocks according to the touch signal.

A vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a bumper assembly, a skid plate, and a capacitive sensor system of the skid plate. A sensing method for a vehicle includes using a capacitive sensing system to detect a proximity of a vehicle to an object. The capacitive sensing system is incorporated into a skid plate that is vertically beneath a portion of a bumper assembly of the vehicle.

A device for detecting an object with respect to a detection surface including at least one measurement electrode and at least one guard electrode separated by a distance (D) that is elastically modifiable locally by a load exerted by the object on the detection surface; and structure for electrical polarization of the electrodes (V, E) arranged in order to: (i) apply to the measurement and guard electrodes one and the same first alternating electrical potential (V.sub.g) so as to measure a first signal relating to an electrode-object capacitance (C.sub.eo); and (ii) apply between the measurement and guard electrodes an alternating electrical potential difference (V1), so as to measure a second electrical signal relating to an electrode-guard capacitance (C.sub.eg). A detection method utilizing the present detection device is also provided.

An input device includes: a substrate; a first detection electrode that detects input to the input device; a light emitter that emits light when the input is performed; a body plate disposed on the front surface side of the substrate and through which the light is transmitted; and a light guide including an incident surface from which the light enters and a light exit surface from which the light entered from the incident surface exits. A design portion that is light transmissive is disposed on an opposite side of the body plate to the substrate. A penetration hole penetrates through the substrate at a position opposite the design portion. The light guide is disposed in the penetration hole with the incident surface oriented facing a light emitting surface of the light emitter and the light exit surface oriented facing the design portion with the body plate interposed therebetween.