A system may include a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to measure phase information associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and based on the phase information, determine a displacement of a mechanical member relative to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor. The system may also include a Q factor enhancer communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to control a Q factor of the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor.

Self-testing proximity testing systems and corresponding methods are discussed herein and can include a proximity probe and controller in electrical communication via a cable. A self-testing subsystem can be in communication with the controller and configured to determine whether proximity probes and cables assembled with a controller are compatible or incompatible. The self-testing subsystem can place a known impedance in electrical communication with the controller, modifying a proximity signal output by the controller. When the modified proximity signal differs from a predicted proximity signal by greater than or equal to a threshold amount, the self-testing subsystem can output a first indication indicating that incompatible proximity probes and cables are assembled with a controller. When the modified proximity signal differs from a predicted proximity signal by less than the threshold amount, the self-testing subsystem can output a second indication indicating that compatible proximity probes and cables are assembled with a controller.

One embodiment provides an optical encoder. The optical encoder includes an optical comb source to generate a multi-wavelength optical signal; a number of optical filters sequentially coupled to the optical comb source, with a respective optical filter being tunable to pass or block a particular wavelength of the multi-wavelength optical signal based on a corresponding bit value of a multi-bit search word; and a common output for the optical filters to output the filtered multi-wavelength optical signal, which encodes the multi-bit search word and can be used as an optical search signal for searching an optical content-addressable memory (CAM).

A capacitive proximity sensor of the present invention principally comprises a sensor electrode, a sensor circuit, a detection circuit, and a microcomputer. The sensor circuit has an LC parallel circuit and an LC series resonant circuit. Furthermore, the single sensor electrode is connected in parallel with the LC parallel circuit. By decreasing the drive voltage applied to the sensor electrode, the radiated noise generated by the sensor electrode is also decreased. In addition, foot detection sensitivity can be improved by amplifying the detection signal with the LC series resonant circuit.

A device for detecting a user's intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle opening element, this device being integrated into a handle, including: an inductive sensor that includes an LC resonant circuit consisting at least of a coil and a main capacitor; a handle target; a microcontroller equipped with a unit for measuring the resonant frequency of the LC resonant circuit; an adjustment device for adjusting the value of the total capacitance of the LC resonant circuit, this adjustment device providing at least two different total capacitance values for the LC resonant circuit.

An electronic module for an inductive sensor apparatus is provided which comprises at least one voltage-controlled current source, a current source port connected to the at least one voltage-controlled current source for providing a voltage-controlled current from the at least one voltage-controlled current source, an adder device, an adder input port connected to the adder device, and an adder output port which is connected to the adder device. The current source port is connectable to an electrical resonant circuit and/or to a coil element. The adder input port is connectable to the current source port or to at least one further coil element. By way of the adder device, an operation of addition and/or subtraction of a voltage applied to the adder input port and at least one offset voltage is performed. An evaluation signal for evaluation by an evaluation device is providable at the adder output port.

One embodiment provides an optical encoder. The optical encoder includes an optical comb source to generate a multi-wavelength optical signal; a number of optical filters sequentially coupled to the optical comb source, with a respective optical filter being tunable to pass or block a particular wavelength of the multi-wavelength optical signal based on a corresponding bit value of a multi-bit search word; and a common output for the optical filters to output the filtered multi-wavelength optical signal, which encodes the multi-bit search word and can be used as an optical search signal for searching an optical content-addressable memory (CAM).

A device for detecting a user's intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle opening element, this device being integrated into a handle, including: an inductive sensor that includes an LC resonant circuit consisting at least of a coil and a main capacitor; a handle target; a microcontroller equipped with a unit for measuring the resonant frequency of the LC resonant circuit; an adjustment device for adjusting the value of the total capacitance of the LC resonant circuit, this adjustment device providing at least two different total capacitance values for the LC resonant circuit.

A capacitive proximity sensor of the present invention principally comprises a sensor electrode, a sensor circuit, a detection circuit, and a microcomputer. The sensor circuit has an LC parallel circuit and an LC series resonant circuit. Furthermore, the single sensor electrode is connected in parallel with the LC parallel circuit. By decreasing the drive voltage applied to the sensor electrode, the radiated noise generated by the sensor electrode is also decreased. In addition, foot detection sensitivity can be improved by amplifying the detection signal with the LC series resonant circuit.

Self-testing proximity testing systems and corresponding methods are discussed herein and can include a proximity probe and controller in electrical communication via a cable. A self-testing subsystem can be in communication with the controller and configured to determine whether proximity probes and cables assembled with a controller are compatible or incompatible. The self-testing subsystem can place a known impedance in electrical communication with the controller, modifying a proximity signal output by the controller. When the modified proximity signal differs from a predicted proximity signal by greater than or equal to a threshold amount, the self-testing subsystem can output a first indication indicating that incompatible proximity probes and cables are assembled with a controller. When the modified proximity signal differs from a predicted proximity signal by less than the threshold amount, the self-testing subsystem can output a second indication indicating that compatible proximity probes and cables are assembled with a controller.