Disclosed are keyboards and keyboard switches sensitive to touch, including, hover and pressure. The keyboard switches have transmit and receive antennae that are spaced apart such that no portion of the transmit antenna touches any portion of the receive antenna. The keyboard switches are arranged in logical rows and logical columns such that each of the keyboard switches is associated with one row and one column. Signal emitters are conductively coupled to the transmit antennae for each of the keyboard switches associated with each of the rows, and each of the signal emitters are adapted to cause each of the transmit antennae to transmit one or more source signals. Receivers are coupled to the receive antennae for each of the keyboard switches associated with each of the columns, and each of the receivers are adapted to capture a frame of signals present on the coupled receive antennae. A signal processor adapted to determine a measurement from each frame, corresponding to an amount of the source signals present on the receive antennae during a time the corresponding frame was received. The signal processor further adapted to determine a keyboard switch touch state from a range of touch states based at least in part on the corresponding measurement.

A capacitive switch according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a switch structure having a first electrode pattern; a substrate having a second electrode pattern and an integrated circuit unit; and an elastic body interposed between the switch structure and the substrate, wherein the integrated circuit unit generates a first output signal by detecting a change in capacitance caused by a user touch input operation through the first electrode pattern, the elastic body, and the second electrode pattern, and generates a second output signal by detecting a change in capacitance caused by a user push input operation.

An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.

A device for detecting an intention of a user to lock or unlock an opening element of a motor vehicle includes a capacitive sensor and incorporates an inductive sensor with an amagnetic metal target moving under the action of the hand of the user on the handle or the frame, the target being associated with a coil placed in an oscillating circuit being connected to an inductive measurement circuit detecting the intention of the user to lock or unlock the opening element. The intention is only confirmed when detected by both the capacitive and inductive sensors, the target of the inductive sensor being borne by the electrode of the capacitive sensor and a member supporting the electrode being elastically deformable under the action of the user on the handle or the frame, the inductive and capacitive measurement circuits being independent of each other.

An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.

An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.

An earphone includes a speaker housing; a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; a stem extending from the speaker housing, the stem defining an input surface; a conductive object disposed within the stem; a flexible circuit positioned between the stem and the conductive object; a member positioned between the flexible circuit and the conductive object operable to allow the flexible circuit to move with respect to the stem; a force sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit; and a controller operable to determine an input to the earphone using a change in capacitance detected using the force sensor electrode, the change in capacitance corresponding to a non-binary amount of a force applied to the input surface. In some examples, the earphone further includes a touch sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit.

A portable electronic device includes a housing, a user input unit configured to detect touch input and push input, and a carrier, on which the user input unit is seated and which is inserted into the housing, wherein the user input unit includes a first input unit, closely disposed on an inner surface of the housing so as to detect touch input, and a second input unit, disposed inside the first input unit in the state of overlapping the first input unit so as to detect push input, the second input unit including a metal spring that changes in shape in response to the push input. The portable electronic device is capable of detecting two types of input and thus of ensuring that is possible to input a sufficient number of user instructions.

A capacitive switch according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a switch structure having a first electrode pattern; a substrate having a second electrode pattern and an integrated circuit unit; and an elastic body interposed between the switch structure and the substrate, wherein the integrated circuit unit generates a first output signal by detecting a change in capacitance caused by a user touch input operation through the first electrode pattern, the elastic body, and the second electrode pattern, and generates a second output signal by detecting a change in capacitance caused by a user push input operation.

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing including a window, configured to form a 1.sup.st side of the electronic device, and a 2.sup.nd side of the electronic device directed in an opposite direction of the 1.sup.st side of the electronic device, a circuit board between the 1.sup.st side and the 2.sup.nd side of the electronic device, and including an input circuit configured to detect an input based on a change in a capacitance, a spacer between the window and the circuit board, and having at least one space formed on one side facing the circuit board, a contact electrically connected to the input circuit by being mounted to one side of the circuit board, and contained in the at least one space, and a conductive plate coupled to the spacer, and electrically connected to the contact through the at least one space.