A system for sensing a position of a locking bolt of an industrial locking switch includes an inductive circuit, a converter, and a master controller. The inductive circuit includes an inductive coil and a capacitor electrically connected in parallel. The inductive coil is positioned to receive a locking bolt of an industrial locking switch when the locking bolt is transitioned to a lock position. The converter is configured to convert a frequency of a current signal on the inductive circuit to a digital frequency value. The master controller is configured to generate a bolt detection signal in response to determining that the digital frequency value changes by an amount equal to or substantially equal to a defined frequency shift corresponding to a frequency shift induced by the inductive coil in response to presence of the locking bolt within the inductive coil's magnetic field.

A system may include a sensor having a variable phase response, a dummy impedance having a known phase response, and a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to measure first phase information associated with the sensor, measure second phase information associated with the dummy impedance, and determine a phase response of the measurement circuit based on a comparison of the first phase information to the second phase information.

A touch input sensing device configured to be added to an electronic device, the electronic device including a touch input unit, the touch input unit including a first touch member integrated with a housing. The touch input sensing device includes a resonant circuit configured to generate a resonance signal having a resonant frequency that varies based on a touch of the touch input unit, a digital frequency counter configured to count a reference frequency signal based on the resonance signal, or count the resonance signal based on the reference frequency signal, to generate a count value, and a touch detector configured to detect whether the touch of the touch input unit has occurred based on the count value generated by the digital frequency counter, and output a touch detection signal indicating whether the touch has occurred.

A switching operation sensing apparatus includes an input operation unit, an oscillation circuit, a frequency digital converter, and a touch detection circuit. The input operation unit includes a first switching member integrally formed with a housing. The oscillation circuit is configured to generate an oscillation signal having a resonant frequency, varying based on a capacitive change or an inductive change, depending on a touch input member in contact with the first switching member during an input operation. The frequency digital converter is configured to convert the oscillation signal into a count value. The touch detection circuit is configured to detect capacitive sensing and inductive sensing based on a slope change of the count value received from the frequency digital converter, and output corresponding touch detection signals of different levels based on the detection.

An industrial locking switch includes an inductive sensing circuit that uses a non-contact technique to detect when the switch's locking bolt has transitioned to the lock position. The inductive sensing circuit can comprise an inductive coil, a capacitor, and a converter that converts a frequency of a current signal through the inductive coil to a digital frequency value. A controller detects when the locking bolt has advanced to the lock position by monitoring the digital frequency value for frequency shifts indicative of a disturbance of the induction coil's magnetic field by the locking bolt. To validate operation of the inductive sensing system without requiring actuation of the locking bolt, a diagnostic switch connects a diagnostic capacitor to the inductive circuit to simulate the frequency shift caused by the locking bolt, and the inductive sensing system is validated if the expected frequency shift is detected.

An activation module, intended to be fitted to a motor vehicle for the purpose of activating a function of the vehicle from a portable access device carried by a user, the module including: a single coil; a first controller for a device for detecting pressure from the hand of the user; a second controller for a near-field communication device; a selector, connected to the single coil, having two positions: a first position in which the selector connects the single coil to the first controller in order to constitute the pressure detection device; a second position in which the selector connects the single coil to the second controller in order to constitute the near-field communication device; a target having a void, the target being located facing the single coil; an impedance-adjuster that is connected to the target; and a controller for the selector.

The present invention relates to an oscillating sensor for a measurement device comprising: an oscillator comprising a resonance circuit for providing an oscillation signal; a gain stage configured to feed back to the resonance circuit to inject energy for excitation of the resonance circuit to maintain oscillation; at least one calibration element to adjust the open loop gain of the oscillator; a calibration unit to provide a modulated calibration control signal to selectively adjust an electrical measure of the at least one calibration element based on at least one predetermined duty cycle,
wherein the modulated calibration control signal has an irregularly time-varying cycle frequency.

The invention relates to an oscillating sensor for a measurement device comprising: an oscillator comprising: a resonance circuit for providing an oscillation signal; a gain stage configured to provide a feed-back to the resonance circuit to inject energy for excitation of the oscillator to maintain oscillation; at least one calibration element to adjust the open loop gain of the oscillator; a calibration unit to provide a modulated calibration control signal to selectively adjust an electrical measure of the at least one calibration element based on at least one predetermined duty cycle, wherein the calibration unit is further configured to provide the modulated calibration control signal with at least one cycle frequency which depends on the oscillation frequency.

An activation module, intended to be fitted to a motor vehicle for the purpose of activating a function of the vehicle from a portable access device carried by a user, the module including: a single coil; a first controller for a device for detecting pressure from the hand of the user; a second controller for a near-field communication device; a selector, connected to the single coil, having two positions: a first position in which the selector connects the single coil to the first controller in order to constitute the pressure detection device; a second position in which the selector connects the single coil to the second controller in order to constitute the near-field communication device; a target having a void, the target being located facing the single coil; an impedance-adjuster that is connected to the target; and a controller for the selector.

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.