Abstract: A new and improved method for measuring the value of a capacitor and for detecting small variations in the value of a capacitor around a reference value is described. In accordance with the invention, the capacitance of capacitor may be determined by applying a voltage input having a known amplitude and wave form V to an RC circuit having a substantially known or constant load impedance R and sampling the voltage across the resistor or capacitor at a precisely controlled elapsed time interval T. The method now permits improved detector circuits to be created for measuring small variations in value with precision and accuracy. Solid state keypads incorporating sensor cells and software algorithms provide superior human to machine interface systems which are not subject to environmentally induced errors or errors due to component aging.