A method of operating a capacitive sensing device that includes a capacitive sensor having at least one sense electrode, a measurement signal source for providing an alternating electric measurement signal with at least three fixed predefined signal frequencies to the at least one sense electrode, and an impedance measurement circuit for determining an unknown complex impedance of the at least one sense electrode from a response to the provided electric measurement signal. The method includes, for each predefined signal frequency: determining statistical quantities and signal parameters regarding a number of determined momentary values of an unknown complex impedance; eliminating portions up to a predefined hand touch movement lower limit frequency and from a predefined high-frequency limit down to a predefined hand touch movement upper limit frequency; excluding statistical outliers from determined momentary values; and using an eliminated frequency portion for calculating a momentary reference value for the unknown complex impedance.

With the steering wheel, steering system, method of controlling steering, and non-temporary computer readable storage media, a grasp detection function can be applied to a steering wheel with a heating function, where one function can contribute to the improvement of the other function. The steering wheel (1) includes a core part (10) to which ground potential is supplied, a first conductor (12) provided on the exterior of the core part (10) and insulated from the core part (10), and a second conductor (14) provided on the exterior of the first conductor (12) and insulated from the first conductor (12) to sense gripping of the steering wheel (1).

A door handle including a capacitance sensor configured to detect an operation body is provided. The capacitance sensor includes a substrate formed of an insulator and having a surface, at least one first sensor electrode disposed on the surface of the substrate, a plurality of second sensor electrodes disposed on the surface of the substrate, and a controller. The number of the plurality of second sensor electrodes is greater than the number of the at least one first sensor electrode. The controller applies a voltage to the plurality of second sensor electrodes and detects a coordinate position of the operation body, in a case where a capacitance between the operation body and the at least one first sensor electrode is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

Embodiments of the present invention provide robust capacitive grip sensors that may be used in a variety of applications, including single-handed and double-handed grips, such as but not limited to barbells. Apparatus as disclosed herein and efficiently measure the presence of a human grip without requiring deformation of a gripped surface area.

A multi-modal sensing transducer may include a force concentrator having an external sensing surface. The multi-modal sensing transducer may also include at least one electrode coupled to the force concentrator. Further, the multi-modal sensing transducer may include at least one force sensitive element disposed adjacent to the at least one electrode. Moreover, the multi-modal sensing transducer may include at least one air gap disposed between the at least one electrode and the at least one force sensitive element.

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).

Textile material having conductive elements for an interior of a vehicle includes a flat textile substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface. At least one conductor track formed of a conductive paint is printed onto the first surface. At least one sensitive element, which is electrically conductively connected to the conductor track on the first surface, is arranged on the second surface.

The present application generally relates to antennas embedded in or on glass structures. More specifically, the application teaches a wideband conformal antenna employing thin film constructions facilitating attachment to external automotive surfaces with capacitive feedback and integrated lighting to enable a conformal activation switch.

An electronic device such as a fabric item or other item may have control circuitry. Buttons such as fabric-based buttons may be mounted within the device. A user may depress the buttons when it is desired to control operation of the device. Each button may have sensor circuitry such as capacitive sensor circuitry or resistive sensor circuitry. A control circuit can monitor conductive structures in the button to detect changes in electrical button characteristics such as capacitance and resistance and thereby gather information on button press events. Fabric buttons may have fabric movable button structures that are coupled to fabric support structures by fabric biasing structures. The fabric biasing structures may contain strands of material that are configured to form bistable fabric springs and/or hinges. The biasing structures and other fabric structures in a fabric button may be formed from knit fabric or other intertwined strands of material.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a sensor for a high-temperature environment. The method comprises the steps of: depositing an electrically insulating material (108) to form at least one portion of a layer (112); depositing an electrically conductive material (110) to form at least one further portion of the layer (112); depositing successive layers (112), each layer being formed of the electrically insulating material (108) and/or the electrically conductive material (110), wherein the electrically conductive material (110) in each layer is deposited on at least a portion of the electrically conductive material (110) in the previous layer so as to form at least one electrically continuous portion extending through the layers; and fusing the materials. The invention further relates to a sensor for a high-temperature environment comprising: at least one electrically conductive portion; and at least one electrically insulating portion, encapsulating the or each electrically conductive portion. The or each electrically conductive portion and the or each electrically insulating portion are fused to form a monolithic body.