In one embodiment, an inductive/LC sensor device includes: an energy storage device for accumulating excitation energy, an LC sensor configured to oscillate using energy accumulated in the energy storage device and transferred to the LC sensor, an energy detector for detecting the energy accumulated in the energy storage device reaching a charge threshold, and at least one switch coupled with the energy detector for terminating accumulating excitation energy in the energy storage device when the charge threshold is detected having been reached by the energy detector.

A system may include a sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a distance between the sensor and a mechanical member associated with the sensor, a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to determine a physical force interaction with the mechanical member based on the sensor signal, and a compensator configured to monitor the sensor signal and to apply a compensation factor to the sensor signal to compensate for changes to properties of the sensor based on at least one of changes in a distance between the sensor and the mechanical member and changes in a temperature associated with the sensor.

The invention relates to an inductive proximity switch. The object of the invention to present a very simplified inductive position sensor, which can be reliably used for detecting a zero crossing of its output voltage when a target moves by will be solved by an inductive proximity switch comprising a transmitter coil, a receiver coil, an integrated circuit for excitation of the transmitter coil and a signal processing unit for processing a received signal from the receiver coil, wherein an oscillator excites a resonant circuit comprising the transmitter coil and a parallel capacitor for inducing a voltage in the receiver coil, wherein the receiver coil comprises two symmetrical segments with opposite orientation that are connected in series, wherein the transmitter coil surrounds the segments of the receiver coil or the transmitter coil is surrounded by the segments of the receiver coil.

An inductive sensor is proposed which comprises at least one resonant circuit, an evaluation device which in a measuring phase evaluates oscillations of the at least one resonant circuit for generating sensor signals, an energy storage device, and a transfer device which in a relaxation phase of the at least one resonant circuit stores oscillation energy of the at least one resonant circuit in the energy storage device.

The capacitive proximity sensor includes an oscillation means, an LCR resonance circuit including a sensor electrode, a sensor circuit that outputs a determination voltage signal corresponding to the capacitance of the sensor electrode, and a control unit that detects the proximity of a human body to the sensor electrode based on the determination voltage signal. The control unit performs control that alternatingly and repeatedly executes calibration steps for updating a detection frequency f.sub.1 and a first threshold value V.sub.th1 and a detection step for detecting the proximity of the human body to the sensor electrode.

A proximity sensor or switch having a sensing coil, an oscillator connected to the coil, a comparator connected to the oscillator, a reference voltage module connected to the comparator, and an output driver connected to the comparator. The voltage module may incorporate a resistor having an end connected to a high side of a power source, and a digital potentiometer having a first end connected to another end of the resistor and to the comparator, and having a second end connected to a ground side of the power source. The digital potentiometer may have a resistance that is varied with a signal. A variation of the resistance for the digital potentiometer may result in a change of a voltage from the reference voltage module which further changes a switching distance of the proximity switch to a predetermined value.

A method for detecting the intention of a user to lock or unlock a motor-vehicle door with a detection device integrated into a handle. The method includes continuously measuring the resonant frequency of the detection device and successively comparing the measured resonant frequency to a first threshold representative of the approach of the user and to a second threshold, higher than the first threshold, representative of the contact of the user, the intention of the user to lock or unlock the door of the vehicle being validated only if a duration between the passage of the resonant frequency below the first threshold and the passage of the resonant frequency above the second threshold is shorter than a preset duration. An associated detection device is also disclosed.

To ensure omnidirectional visibility of a proximity sensor with high luminance using a single light emitting element. A proximity sensor (1) includes a substrate (14) on which a control unit (20) is formed and in which a normal direction of the substrate is perpendicular to an axial direction of a coil section (13), a light emitting element (15) which emits light in the axial direction on the substrate, a light diffusion section (16a) which diffuses emitted light in a direction other than the axial direction, and a light guide section (16b) which guides diffused light to a display section (21) on a side surface.

An inductive sensor is proposed which comprises at least one resonant circuit, an evaluation device which in a measuring phase evaluates oscillations of the at least one resonant circuit for generating sensor signals, an energy storage device, and a transfer device which in a relaxation phase of the at least one resonant circuit stores oscillation energy of the at least one resonant circuit in the energy storage device.

A capacitance measuring system detecting an occupant of a vehicle. A sensor/heater assembly is arranged in at least one of a seat or a steering wheel of a vehicle and includes a sensor and a heater arranged adjacent to the sensor. A measurement circuit is configured to output an excitation signal to the measurement circuit and the sensor/heater assembly, measure a resonant frequency of the measurement circuit and the sensor/heater assembly in response to the excitation signal; determine at least one capacitance value based on the resonant frequency; and determine whether a body part is in proximity to the sensor based on the at least one capacitance value.