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 sensor system includes a first electrode serving as a primary electrode with a controller electrically and physically coupled to the first electrode. Computer executable instructions execute software commands on the controller causing the controller to apply a voltage to the first electrode to generate an electric field around the first electrode. A second electrode has at least a portion of the second electrode being disposed within the electrical field generated by the first electrode, and the second electrode operates while being physically decoupled from the controller. The electrical field generated by the first electrode induces a corresponding charge on the second electrode, and proximity of a conductive material on or near the first or second electrode alters the electrical signal received back by the controller from the first electrode to allow for sensing the conductive material.

The invention relates to a sensor device (100) for the n capacitive detection of a user action in a vehicle (1), with a sensor element (110), which is configured as an electric line element, wherein the sensor element (110) comprises: an electrically conducting outer conductor element (112), at least one insulator element (120) for the electric insulation of the outer conductor element (112), an evaluation connection adaptation (20) on the outer conductor element (112) for the electrically-conducting connection of the outer conductor element (112) to an evaluation device (210) of the vehicle (1), whereby the detection can be performed. A test connection adaptation (10) in provided on the outer conductor element (112), in order to test a functional test of the sensor device (100) based upon an electric circuit with the outer conductor element (112).

A method for manufacturing an integrated multilayer structure for sensing applications, including obtaining at least one film including a sensing area; arranging the at least one film with reactance sensing electronics for sensing of one or more selected target quantities or qualities and conversion thereof into representative electrical signals, said sensing electronics including at least one sensing element and an electrical connection configured to connect the sensing element to an associated control circuitry; and molding or casting, and configuring, at least one plastic layer so that the plastic layer defines an integrated, intermediate layer between the sensing electronics and the sensing area and that the sensing area is superimposed with the sensing element of the sensing electronics, wherein it is further provided at least one physical feature to locally reduce the electrical distance between the sensing area and the sensing element to improve the associated sensing sensitivity.

An integrated multilayer structure for use in sensing applications and a method of manufacture are presented. The multilayer structure includes at least one molded or cast plastic layer and a film layer on both first and second sides of said plastic layer. The film layer on the first side of said plastic layer is provided with reactance sensing electronics. The sensing electronics includes at least one sensing element and an electrical connection for connecting the sensing element to an associated control circuitry. The film layer on the second side of the plastic layer has a sensing area superimposed with the sensing element of the sensing electronics. The electrical distance between the film layer on the second side of the plastic layer and the sensing element are locally reduced by a physical feature at the position of the sensing area of the film layer to improve the associated sensing sensitivity.

A method for manufacturing an integrated multilayer structure for sensing applications, including obtaining at least one film including a sensing area; arranging the at least one film with reactance sensing electronics for sensing of one or more selected target quantities or qualities and conversion thereof into representative electrical signals, said sensing electronics including at least one sensing element and an electrical connection configured to connect the sensing element to an associated control circuitry; and molding or casting, and configuring, at least one plastic layer so that the plastic layer defines an integrated, intermediate layer between the sensing electronics and the sensing area and that the sensing area is superimposed with the sensing element of the sensing electronics, wherein it is further provided at least one physical feature to locally reduce the electrical distance between the sensing area and the sensing element to improve the associated sensing sensitivity.

Various embodiments of the present technology may provide methods and apparatus for a capacitive touch sensor. The capacitive touch sensor may include a first substrate separated from a second substrate by a conducting member. The first substrate may include a first electrode and a second electrode. The conducting member may be in direct contact with the second substrate.

Touchscreen mirror device (100) comprising a touchscreen panel (10) and a mirror surface (20). The touchscreen panel (10) comprises a grid of capacitive sensors (12) for detecting a position of an input object such as a fingertip (F) near the touchscreen panel (10). The mirror surface (20) is configured to at least partially reflect a mirror image (M) at a front side of the mirror surface (20). The mirror surface (20) comprises a reflective metal layer (21) divided in separate metal islands (21a,21b) that are electrically isolated from each other by a single contiguous gap (G) for allowing the capacitive sensor (12) to detect a position of the input object through the mirror surface (20).

An input device according to an embodiment includes a first sensor electrode disposed on a substrate, a second sensor electrode which faces the first sensor electrode and which is capacitively coupled to the first sensor electrode, and a detection circuit which detects approach of an operation body to the second sensor electrode based on an electrostatic capacitance of the first sensor electrode.

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.