A composite pane with a capacitive switching zone includes a substrate, a first intermediate layer areally bonded to the substrate, a second intermediate layer areally bonded to the first intermediate layer, and a cover pane areally bonded to the second intermediate layer. A carrier film with an electrically conductive layer is arranged between the first and second intermediate layers. A capacitive switching zone is electrically isolated from the electrically conductive layer by a coating-free separating line, the capacitive switching zone has a contact zone, a supply line zone, and a connection zone; the supply line zone electrically connects the contact zone to the connection zone, and the connection zone is electrically connectable to sensor electronics. The surface capacitance between the contact zone and the outside surface of the substrate is greater than the surface capacitance between the contact zone and the outside surface of the cover pane.

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.

A touch-based control device is operable to detect touch input over an entirety of the control device's exterior, including at regions of an exterior panel that (i) overlay portions of a circuit board where no touch sensors exist, and/or (ii) extend beyond a perimeter of a touch region or circuit board on which touch sensors are provided.

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.

A touch-based control device can include an exterior panel that includes a groove region and a surrounding region, one or more touch sensors for detecting touch inputs performed anywhere on a substantial portion of the exterior panel, and a sensing module comprising one or more processors to detect, via the one or more touch sensors, touch inputs performed by a user on the exterior panel. The sensing module can interpret the touch input based on at least one of (i) a region where the touch input occurred, or (ii) a type of the touch input, and control a connected device based on the interpreted touch input.

A control device includes an exterior panel comprising multiple regions, including a groove region and a surrounding region that surrounds the groove region. The control device further includes a sensor layer comprising one or more sensors to detect touch inputs performed on the groove region and the surrounding region of the exterior panel. The control device further includes a control module configured to operate a plurality of devices. The control module is configured to detect a first touch input performed by a user on the groove region and a second touch input performed on the surrounding region. Based at least in part on the location of the touch inputs the control module operates respective devices of the plurality of devices.

Intelligent electrical switches are provided to implement multi-way circuits using two or more intelligent electrical switches for controlling power to a load.

A touch-based control device is operable to detect touch input over an entirety of the control device's exterior, including at regions of an exterior panel that (i) overlay portions of a circuit board where no touch sensors exist, and/or (ii) extend beyond a perimeter of a touch region or circuit board on which touch sensors are provided.

A touch sensing device includes: an oscillation circuit including a sensing inductor disposed inside a touch member, a part of a cover of an electronic device, and generating an oscillation signal according to whether a touch has occurred through the touch member; a signal processor converting the oscillation signal into a digital sensing signal; a reference signal generator updating a reference signal based on the digital sensing signal; and a signal detector outputting a detection signal by detecting whether a touch has occurred through the touch member, using the reference signal and the digital sensing signal.

A touch sensing device includes: an oscillation circuit including a sensing inductor disposed inside a touch member, a part of a cover of an electronic device, and generating an oscillation signal according to whether a touch has occurred through the touch member; a signal processor converting the oscillation signal into a digital sensing signal; a reference signal generator updating a reference signal based on the digital sensing signal; and a signal detector outputting a detection signal by detecting whether a touch has occurred through the touch member, using the reference signal and the digital sensing signal.