A proximity sensor and a proximity sensing method are disclosed. The proximity sensor includes a sensing element and a sensing circuit. The sensing circuit is coupled to the sensing element and transmits a first driving signal and a second signal to the sensing element, respectively. The sensing element receives the first driving signal and the second driving signal, respectively, and generates a first sensing signal and a second sensing signal, respectively. The sensing circuit generates a proximity signal according to the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal. The accuracy of sensing the proximity of the human body whether near to the sensor is improved. In addition, the sensing circuit is further coupled to a radio-frequency circuit, and the sensing circuit transmits a driving signal or/and receives a sensing signal according to the state of the radio-frequency circuit, thereby reducing interference of the sensing circuit to the radio-frequency circuit.

Systems and methods for determining a likelihood of an occurrence of an anomaly in a sensor are described. A processor can receive a first measurement of a first capacitance change between a first port and a second port of a device connected to the sensor. The first measurement can be obtained in response to the first port being configured to perform a first function, and in response to the second port being configured to perform a second function. The processor can receive a second measurement of a second capacitance change between the first and second ports. The second measurement can be obtained in response to the first port being configured to perform the second function, and in response to the second port being configured to perform the first function. The processor can determine the likelihood of the occurrence of the anomaly based on the first and second measurements.

Provided are a capacitance detecting circuit, a touch control chip, a touch detection apparatus and an electronic device. The capacitance detecting circuit, by configuring a first input side of an operational amplifier as a preset voltage, and utilizing the same characteristics of voltages at two input sides of the operational amplifier, enables that an output voltage in a touch sensor is configured as a preset voltage by a second input side of the operational amplifier, and by changing a position of a drive of a coding voltage, mutual-capacitance and self-capacitance detection can be realized with the same circuit. After replicating a single-channel current signal output by the operational amplifier into a multi-channel current signal, a current subtracting circuit is used to determine a differential signal of current signals output by two adjacent channels, and the differential signal is converted into a voltage through a charge amplifying circuit.

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.

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.

To prevent generation of a loud impact sound, a tactile generation apparatus is provided with a vibration generator on a back surface of a vibration member. The vibration generator is a solenoid including a movable core and a coil. The movable core is capable of moving close to and away from the vibration member. The coil displaces the movable core toward the vibration member to deform the vibration member when energized, and moves the movable core away from the vibration member when deenergized, so as to vibrate the vibration member due to an elastic restoring force of the vibration member.

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.

An operator control device for a vehicle, and a method for operating such an operator control device is disclosed. The operator control device is for controlling safety-relevant functions. To this end, the operator control device has at least one user interface having at least one user input panel for user input and a sensor system for identifying a user input in the area of the user input panel, wherein the sensor system has at least one capacitive sensor device having a first, electrically conductive sensor structure and a second, capacitive sensor device having a second, electrically conductive sensor structure, the sensor structures being arranged beneath the user interface in the area of the user input panel. The first sensor structure and the second sensor structure are each configured in comb-like and/or meanderous fashion and arranged in intermeshing fashion at least in a subarea of the user input panel.

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.