Abstract: A capacitive sensor device is provided, especially for determining a rotational frequency of a rotary body, for example of a washing drum and for detecting the amount and/or of the humidity grade of a laundry situated in the washing drum. The sensor device comprises a first electrode device for the irradiation of an alternating electric field, a second electrode device, into which the alternating electric field irradiated by the first electrode device can be coupled, and an evaluation circuit, which is coupled with the first electrode device and which is formed to generate the alternating electric field irradiated at the first electrode device, for detecting field-electrical interactions on at least one of the two electrode devices. The second electrode device preferably comprises a modulator for modulating the alternating electric field irradiated by the first electrode device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for detecting body parts by absorbing an electric near field. Various, particularly capacitive methods exist for detecting an approaching human body. Most of said methods operate on the principle that an electrode emits an alternating electric field, the distribution of which changes towards the environment when a body or body part approaches, and said change is detected by means of suitable electronics. The detection arrangement according to the invention is used for detecting objects, particularly moving limbs, that approach or are present in an observation zone and comprises a transmitter electrode device for inducing an alternating electric field in the observation zone or the surrounding area thereof, a receiver electrode device for detecting an electric field in the observation zone or said surrounding area, and an isolating electrode device for shielding part of the field that extends between the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for touch/proximity detection, especially a capacitive switch device, which is designed to set switching states by approaching the switch device or by touching the switch device, in order to perform, for example, switching actions on an instrument. The invention also relates to a switch device, especially a switch device on a capacitive basis, for a cooktop, for operating the cooktop.

Abstract: A display screen is carried on a base by an elastically deformable support such that a touch shifts the screen relative to the base. A pair of juxtaposed electrodes form a capacitor, with one of the electrodes fixed to the screen and the other of the electrodes fixed to or formed by the base. A capacitance of the capacitor changes when the screen electrode moves relative to the base electrode. A circuit connected to the electrodes initiates an action on change of the capacitance.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an electric circuit arrangement and to a method to collect and transfer circuit signals, in particular for use in connection with electrical devices. The object of the invention is to provide a circuit arrangement which is cost-effective to implement overall and which offers a high degree of configurability with regard to the positioning or design of switching or input zones.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit for selectively producing switching signals, in particular signals used for locking vehicle doors, a vehicle provided with said circuit, a system and method for protecting areas of risk and a system, components and method for hermetically transferring validated data. For automotive engineering, it is desired that certain switching processes in or outside the vehicle like the opening of a door, the actuation of a start button or the activation of a parking brake be carried out exclusively by a driver. The aim of said invention is to develop the solutions which make it possible to advantageously produce distinctive signals for coordinating a switching process. For this purpose, the inventive method for generating switching signals consists in producing said signals according to the selective activation of a switching device by a user.

Abstract: Provided by the invention is a sensor device for the detection of touch or approach of an object. A server circuit of the sensor device according to the invention is formed in such a manner, that the server circuit alone (i.e. without co-operation with a client circuit) may be used as approaching sensor, at the same time however also together with one or several client circuits may be implemented a sensor network, in which the client circuits preferably are fed with energy with the electric field of the server electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a monitoring system for automatically actuated, in particular power-driven closing covers, for example boot lids of motor vehicles. The invention also relates to a method and a detection system for detecting the presence of objects per se. The aim of the invention is to provide solutions for the implementation of a reliable safety system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device for generating electronic signals which as such provide information on a position in space, and/or the movement of limbs, especially of the hand of a user in relation to the sensor device. Said electronic signals can be used to carry out input processes in data processing devices, communication devices and other electric devices. The aim of the invention is to devise ways of generating, in an especially advantageous manner, signals that are indicative of the position and/or the movement of limbs.

Abstract: A toy has a body in the form of a doll or a living being, an audio output to reproduce audio effects, a memory to provide audio data, a controller to control the reproduction of different audio effects based on the reading of the audio data, and a sensor for generating detection signals correlated with the proximity of an object to the toy. The controller is designed in such a way that a selection of the reproduced audio effects depends on an evaluation of the detection signals and of signals generated by a provided interface device that is connected through devices in the play accessories being fed to that controller, and/or being made available for access.

Abstract: An electrical hand-held device with proximity detection can be placed on a surface and has at least one transmission electrode, at least one reception electrode, and at least one compensation electrode between the transmission and reception electrodes. The transmission and compensation electrodes can be supplied with electric switching signals of predetermined frequency and amplitude. The electric switching signal at the compensation electrode is phase-delayed with respect to the electric signal at the transmission electrode. Alternating electric fields radiated at the transmission and compensation electrodes generate in the reception electrode a current that is representative of an approach of a hand to the hand-held device. The transmission and reception electrodes are arranged such that the impedance between the transmission and the reception electrodes exceeds a predetermined value suitable to keep the current generated in the reception electrode under a predetermined value.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrode arrangement for a capacitive sensor device and for a capacitive sensor, respectively, for detecting a position and/or an approach of an object, which comprises a sensor electrode and a first shield electrode, wherein the sensor electrode is arranged on a first side of a substantially flat substrate with a first side and a second side, and wherein the first shield electrode is arranged on the second side of the substrate and serves for shielding the alternating electric field emitted by the sensor electrode from ground. There is also provided a foil with an electrode arrangement according to the invention as well as a method for the production of a display arrangement with an electrode arrangement according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device for determining a first positional information and a second positional information regarding a user input object, such as at least one user hand or at least one stylus, the electronic device comprising: a touch-sensitive surface; contact-free detection means; and controller means that are operatively connected to the touch-sensitive surface and to the contact-free detection means; wherein the first positional information depends on where the user input object contacts the touch-sensitive surface, and wherein the second positional information depends on the spatial configuration of the user input object with regard to the touch-sensitive surface, characterized in that the controller means are adapted for simultaneously and/or alternately determining the first positional information via the touch-sensitive surface and the second positional information via the contact free detection means.

Abstract: The invention is based on an input panel and switch device for the operation of an electrical appliance, in particular to realize the input of operating settings in household appliances.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus for generating electrical signals which indicate the position or movement of limbs relative to a reference area has a transmitter electrode apparatus, a voltage generator for applying an alternating voltage to the transmitter electrode, a first receiver electrode apparatus, a second receiver electrode apparatus, and a third receiver electrode apparatus, wherein the first, second, and third receiver electrode apparatuses are each connected to high-impedance tapping systems. The first, second, and third receiver electrode apparatuses are preferably each connected to high-impedance inputs of an impedance transformer system, wherein information indicative of a location or movement is obtained on the basis of differences between the electrical events present at the outputs of the respective impedance transformer.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement has a field producing electrode device which is connected in an LC network and exposed to a spatial area of the field such that the capacity of the capacitor system with the electrode device alters according to dielectric properties of material present in the spatial area, an insulating layer extending on a rear side of the field electrode device which is oriented away from the spatial area, a screening electrode device which extends on the rear side of the insulating layer which is oriented away from the field electrode device and a field extinction electrode device which has an electrode surface which is oriented towards an extinction area. The field expansion electrode device and the field extinction electrode device are arranged such and impinged upon by a voltage that the spatial area of the field and the extinction area are superimposed on each other in sections.

Abstract: A sensor system for generating control signals is provided, and the control signals being used for setting switching states, a user located in the region of the sensor system acting as a signal transmission structure.

Abstract: A circuit for generating an indicative signal regarding the approach of an object to an observation area has a send electrode device, a generator circuit for supplying alternating voltage to the send electrode device, a receive electrode device which extends in or along the observation area, and an output circuit for generating an output signal correlating with the field at the receive electrode device. A compensation circuit is provided to add a compensation current i2 to a signal current i1 flowing from the receive electrode device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detection device, particularly for realizing a protection system via which, for example, motor-driven injury-relevant systems can be operated in a controlled manner. The aim of the invention is to provide solutions via which advantages result with regard to the detection of injury-relevant situations, particularly the presence of limbs in danger-relevant areas. To this end, according to a first aspect of the invention, a detection system is provided, particularly for realizing a protection system via which, for example, motor-driven injury-relevant systems can be operated in a protected manner, comprising a receiving device for detecting the presence of an object, particularly of a living thing, in an observation area. This detection device comprises a detection element for recording a received event caused by the action of a modulated electrical field.

Abstract: A system for preventing accidents in the operation of a monitored apparatus carried by a user has terminal in direct contact with the body of the user and provided with a circuit for continuously or periodically transmitting an authorizing user data signal through the body of the user. A signal receiver assigned on the monitored apparatus or machine has an interface in contact with the user for receiving the signal, a circuit for continuously or periodically testing the received data signal, another circuit for outputting a clearance signal that allows operation of the monitored machine or apparatus after a successful test of the received authorizing user data signal, and yet another circuit for terminating output of the clearance signal following a successful test of the authorizing user data signal when a subsequent test of the data signal fails.