Abstract: This invention relates to a capacitive sensing device comprising (i) at least one capacitive electrode (12) with a substantially conductive material arranged so as to form a conductive surface (51); (ii) at least one guard component placed close to said at least one capacitive electrode (12); said capacitive electrode(s) (12) comprises(comprise) at least one opening (52) without conductive material arranged within or on the edge of the conductive surface (51) so as to reduce the coupling capacitance between said capacitive electrode(s) (12) and said guard component(s). The invention also relates to an apparatus implementing the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for generating an alternating voltage difference between a first and second reference potential. The device comprises: an oscillator electrically referenced to the first reference potential; and a voltage follower/amplifier device electrically referenced to the second reference potential and having an input connected to the oscillator and an output connected to the first reference potential such that it can impose an alternating voltage difference, which depends on the signal generated by the oscillator, between said first and second reference potentials. The invention also relates to a system that uses the device and to a method for generating an alternating voltage difference between a first and second reference potential.

Abstract: An accessory device for use with an electronic user apparatus is disclosed. The electronic user apparatus includes at least one capacitive sensor for detection of at least one control object with respect to a control surface, and at least one apparatus guard placed at an alternating guard potential (VG), different from a ground potential of the at least one control object, and identical to a potential of the capacitive sensor. The accessory device includes at least one accessory guard capable of being set to the alternating guard potential (VG) by coupling with the electronic user apparatus.

Abstract: A device is provided for interacting without contact, via at least one command object, with a user appliance, including at least one first and one second part which, in use, form between them a non-zero angle, the device including: at least one first mechanism of detection by capacitive technology, and without contact, of the at least one command object with respect to a first control surface defined with respect to the first part of the user appliance, the first detection mechanism including several measurement electrodes; at least one, of the measurement electrodes being guarded, by a guard mechanism, at a guard potential, different from a ground potential, of the at least one command object, and substantially identical to the potential of the measurement electrode; and at least one second guard mechanism, for guarding the second part of the user appliance at least partially at the guard potential.

Abstract: A human-machine interface device is provided having a transparent detection zone and an access zone, and including a surface having electrodes made from a conductive transparent material in the detection zone, conductive connecting tracks arranged in the access zone and connected to the surface having electrodes, a first conductive surface in the transparent zone made from transparent material, and utilized as a guard for the surface having electrodes. The connecting tracks are arranged in a sandwich between a second and a third conductive surfaces utilized as second and third guards for these connecting tracks. Linking tracks are made from a transparent conductive material for linking the connecting tracks to electrodes of the surface having electrodes. The linking tracks are positioned between the electrodes when these linking tracks are situated on the detection surface; and positioned between the second and third guards when these linking tracks are in the access zone.

Abstract: A method is provided for interacting with an electronic and/or computing apparatus, termed the user apparatus, the user apparatus including: a control surface furnished with a plurality of capacitive electrodes, and at least one neutral surface, arranged at the periphery of the control surface so that none of the capacitive electrodes of the control surface is disposed in the neutral surface; the method including the following steps: detection of at least one control object disposed in contact with or opposite the neutral surface of the apparatus, by utilization of the edge effect, and triggering, as a function of the detection, at least one function in the user apparatus. The invention also relates to a man-machine interface for interacting with a user apparatus and a user apparatus, implementing this method.

Abstract: A human-machine interface device is provided having a transparent area for viewing a display screen and an access area including at least one metal connector connected to at least two planes arranged above the display screen, the planes including an electrode plane made of a transparent resistive conductive material, the plane located in the transparent area, a conductor plane made of a transparent resistive conductive material used as an active guard for the electrode plane, the active guard located in the transparent area and extending into the access area. The present device includes at least one guard strip, for reducing the resistance of the guard, the guard strip being arranged within the access area and connected to the active guard and to the metal connector, the latter being connected to the electrode plane such that the conductor plane and the electrode plane are at substantially the same potential.

Abstract: A method of capacitive measurement between an object and an electrode plane is provided, in which method use is made of a processing unit so as to:—apply an excitation signal to the resistive electrode plane, and—determine a value of capacitance on the basis of a measurement of a measurement signal originating from the electrode plane. The excitation signal is a nonsinusoidal signal having at least one discontinuity, and to determine the value of capacitance, the measurement signal is attenuated over a time window, this time window being the duration for which the resistivity of the electrode plane is manifested on the measurement signal in response to the at least one discontinuity.

Abstract: A human-machine interface device is provided having a transparent detection zone and an access zone, and including a surface having electrodes made from a conductive transparent material in the detection zone, conductive connecting tracks arranged in the access zone and connected to the surface having electrodes, a first conductive surface in the transparent zone made from transparent material, and utilized as a guard for the surface having electrodes. The connecting tracks are arranged in a sandwich between a second and a third conductive surfaces utilized as second and third guards for these connecting tracks. Linking tracks are made from a transparent conductive material for linking the connecting tracks to electrodes of the surface having electrodes. The linking tracks are positioned between the electrodes when these linking tracks are situated on the detection surface; and positioned between the second and third guards when these linking tracks are in the access zone.

Abstract: A capacitive measurement device is provided, including: (i) a first electronic system electrically referenced to a guard potential and connectable to capacitive electrodes; (ii) a second electronic system electrically referenced to a ground potential; and (iii) an energizing component connected to the guard and ground potentials, respectively, to impart an AC voltage differential between the potentials. The device also includes an integrated circuit that is referenced to the ground and includes a first installation area in which the first electronic system is implemented, and a second installation area in which the second electronic system is implemented. Also included are systems using the device and uses of the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for generating an alternating voltage difference between a first and second reference potential. The device comprises: an oscillator electrically referenced to the first reference potential; and a voltage follower/amplifier device electrically referenced to the second reference potential and having an input connected to the oscillator and an output connected to the first reference potential such that it can impose an alternating voltage difference, which depends on the signal generated by the oscillator, between said first and second reference potentials. The invention also relates to a system that uses the device and to a method for generating an alternating voltage difference between a first and second reference potential.

Abstract: A capacitive measurement device is provided, including: (i) a first electronic system electrically referenced to a guard potential and connectable to capacitive electrodes; (ii) a second electronic system electrically referenced to a ground potential; and (iii) an energizing component connected to the guard and ground potentials, respectively, to impart an AC voltage differential between the potentials. The device also includes an integrated circuit that is referenced to the ground and includes a first installation area in which the first electronic system is implemented, and a second installation area in which the second electronic system is implemented. Also included are systems using the device and uses of the device.

Abstract: A method and device for generating a power supply voltage (Vf), referenced to a first reference potential (4), in an electronic system including an energizing source (3) connected to the first and second reference potentials (4, 5) so as to impart an AC voltage differential between the reference potentials (4, 5), wherein the device includes: (i) a source (10) for supplying AC voltage, which is referenced to the second reference potential (5), connected to the first reference potential (4), and encompasses the energizing source (3); and (ii) rectifying and filtering elements (1) connected, at the input thereof, to the first reference potential (4) and to the source (10) for supplying AC voltage, respectively, so as to generate, at an output (8), a power supply voltage (Vf) referenced to the first reference potential (4) by rectifying a voltage at the terminals of the source (10) for supplying AC voltage.

Abstract: A device is provided for interconnecting electronic systems having reference potentials separated by an alternating potential difference, the device includes a plurality of electrical connections that can electrically connect the electronic systems, and inductance coils arranged in series on the electrical connections, the inductance coils being electromagnetically coupled. Als provided is a method for interconnecting electronic systems.