The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method for the capacitive detection of at least a contact of a capacitive sensor by an operator. The method includes providing the capacitive sensor and providing an electronic evaluation system; applying a first constant electric potential to the counter electrode of the capacitive sensor; applying a second constant electric potential, which differs from the first potential, to the counter electrode of the capacitive sensor; calculating a first parameter from the first measured value and the second measured value; calculating a second parameter from the first measured value and the second measured value; and respectively comparing the first parameter and the second parameter with a predefined quantity.

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 method for measuring a capacitance value of a capacitive sensor uses an integration process involving charge quantities being transferred in successive integration cycles from the capacitive sensor to an integration capacitor. The method includes performing the integration process until the number of integration cycles carried out has reached a number N of integration cycles to be carried out, wherein a starting value N.sub.Start is set to N and an end value N.sub.End is determined. An A/D converter measures a voltage value U.sub.CI(N) at the integration capacitor and the voltage value is added to a voltage sum value U.sub.Total. The number N is increased by a value n, where n is at least one and is less than N.sub.Diff=N.sub.End−N.sub.Start. The steps are repeated until the number N exceeds the end value N.sub.End. The ending voltage sum value is indicative of the capacitance value of the capacitive sensor.

The invention relates to an arrangement (10) for a vehicle (1) for detecting an activation action for activating a function on the vehicle (1), in particular for detecting an activation action in a front, side and/or rear region (1.7, 1.4, 1.2) of the vehicle (1) for activating an opening and/or unlocking of a lid (1.3, 1.6) on the vehicle (1), comprising: at least one sensor element (20) for sensing a change, in particular an approach by an activation means (3), in the surroundings of the sensor element (20), a controlling arrangement (100) which is electrically connected to the sensor element (20) to provide an electric sensor signal specific to a parameter of the sensor element (20), wherein the parameter in turn is specific to the sensed change in the surroundings, an evaluation arrangement (200) for repeatedly determining the parameter of the sensor element (20) by means of a transmission of the sensor signal to a storage arrangement (250) in order to perform the detection of the activation action, an evaluation filter arrangement (210) of the evaluation arrangement (200) for band-pass filtering and/or for transconductance conversion of the sensor signal for the transmission to the storage arrangement (250).

An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method of detection of a touch contact by a sensor including a first step of comparison of a voltage with a first voltage threshold; and a second step of comparison of the voltage with a second voltage threshold, the second step being implemented if the first voltage threshold has been reached within a duration shorter than a first duration threshold, the second voltage threshold being higher than the first voltage threshold.

The present disclosure provides a capacitance detection circuit capable of reducing a chip area. The present disclosure relates to a capacitance detection circuit and an input device. A sense pin of the capacitance detection circuit is connected to a sensor electrode. A first driving unit applies a high voltage or a low voltage to the sense pin. A second driving unit applies the high voltage or the low voltage to a first terminal of a reference capacitor. A third driving unit applies the high voltage or the low voltage to a second terminal of the reference capacitor. A first switch is disposed between the sense pin and the first terminal of the reference capacitor. A second switch is disposed between an input of a post-stage circuit block and the first terminal of the reference capacitor.

A capacitive sensor device comprises a first sensor electrode, a second sensor electrode, and a processing system coupled to the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode. The processing system is configured to acquire a first capacitive measurement by emitting and receiving a first electrical signal with the first sensor electrode. The processing system is configured to acquire a second capacitive measurement by emitting and receiving a second electrical signal, wherein one of the first and second sensor electrodes performs the emitting and the other of the first and second sensor electrodes performs the receiving, and wherein the first and second capacitive measurements are non-degenerate. The processing system is configured to determine positional information using the first and second capacitive measurements.

A method, apparatus, and system use logic circuitry arranged within an integrated circuit to: convert a self capacitance of a first sensor element arranged within the integrated circuit to a digital value, and apply a signal to an output pin of the integrated circuit based on the self capacitance.

The invention relates to an arrangement (10) for a vehicle (1) for detecting an activation action for activating a function on the vehicle (1), in particular for detecting an activation action in a front, side and/or rear region (1.2, 1.4, 1.7) of the vehicle (1) for activating an opening and/or unlocking of a lid (1.3, 1.6) on the vehicle (1), comprising: at least one sensor element (20) for sensing a change, in particular an approach by an activation means (3), in the surroundings of the sensor element (20), a signal generator arrangement (130) for providing a control signal for an electric control of the sensor element (20), an evaluation arrangement (200) for repeatedly determining at least one parameter of the sensor element (20) specific to the sensing on the basis of a sensor signal, in order in order to carry out the detection of the activation action, a sensor controlling arrangement (170) which is electrically interconnected to the sensor element (20), a transmission element (170.1) of the sensor controlling arrangement (170), which is electrically interconnected to the signal generator arrangement (130) in order to initiate repeated charge transfers at the sensor element (20) on the basis of the control signal, an amplifying means (170.2) of the sensor controlling arrangement (170), which is electrically interconnected to the evaluation arrangement (200) in order to provide the sensor signal on the basis of the charge transfers.

A measurement circuit for a capacitive measurement system includes a DC voltage source, a first switching member, a charge transfer circuit, an integration capacitor and a current sink electrically connected in parallel to the integration capacitor. The charge transfer circuit has an active semiconductor device and a direct current bias voltage source. At least one electrically conductive electrode that forms a capacitor of unknown capacitance in conjunction with a reference electrode is electrically connectable either to the DC voltage source for charging or to the charge transfer circuit for discharging into the integration capacitor. The charge transfer circuit is configured for receiving an electric input current at an input port and for giving out an electric output current at an output port that is equal to the electric input current within a predetermined range of voltages across the input port and the output port of the charge transfer circuit.