Abstract: A decoder unit for determining a substance or material structure of a detected object based on signals of a capacitive sensor comprises a distribution determination device arranged to determine a detected distribution relation based on signals of the at least one capacitive sensor; a comparison device arranged to compare the detected distribution relation with at least one predetermined distribution relation, the at least one predetermined distribution relation corresponding to a substance or a material structure and an output device arranged to indicate the result of the comparison carried out by the comparison device.

Abstract: A method of sensing a user input to a capacitive touch sensor having a sense electrode is described. The method comprises obtaining a measure of capacitance of the sense electrode of the capacitive touch sensor, determining an indication of contact between a finger of a user and the capacitive touch sensor from comparing the measure of capacitance to a first threshold and determining an indication of exceeding a minimum pressure exercised by the finger of the user on the capacitive touch sensor from comparing the measure of capacitance to a second threshold, the second threshold being different from the first threshold. A capacitive touch sensor controller being arranged to perform such method is described. An input device for receiving user input is described. The input device comprises a capacitive touch sensor and such capacitive touch sensor controller.

Abstract: An electronic device for proximity detection is described. The electronic device has a first light emitting diode and a control unit. The control unit has a first terminal electrically connected to the anode of the first light emitting diode and a second terminal electrically connected the cathode of the first light emitting diode. The control unit is arranged to operate the first light emitting diode in a plurality of modes, the plurality of modes comprising at least a drive mode and a capacitive sense mode. The control unit is arranged to, in the drive mode, operate the first light emitting diode via the first terminal and the second terminal in forward bias condition for operating the first light emitting diode to generate light. The control unit is arranged to, in the capacitive sense mode, performing a capacitance measurement on at least one terminal of the first terminal and the second terminal.

Abstract: A capacitance sensing circuit comprises a capacitive device having a capacitance, the device initially being at a first voltage level. The capacitance sensing circuit is capable of applying one or more pull-up currents to the device during one or more corresponding pull-up periods of time, for changing the first voltage level into one or more corresponding pull-up voltage levels; applying a measurement current to the device; and measuring a measurement period of time, during which one of the pull-up voltage levels changes into a second voltage level. A method of sensing a capacitance of a capacitive device comprises applying a first voltage to the device; applying one or more pull-up currents during corresponding pull-up times, for changing the first voltage into corresponding pull-up voltages; applying a measurement current; and measuring a time, during which one pull-up voltage changes into a second voltage.

Abstract: A decoder unit for determining a substance or material structure of a detected object based on signals of a capacitive sensor comprises a distribution determination device arranged to determine a detected distribution relation based on signals of the at least one capacitive sensor; a comparison device arranged to compare the detected distribution relation with at least one predetermined distribution relation, the at least one predetermined distribution relation corresponding to a substance or a material structure and an output device arranged to indicate the result of the comparison carried out by the comparison device.

Abstract: A capacitance sensing circuit comprises a capacitive device having a capacitance, the device initially being at a first voltage level. The capacitance sensing circuit is capable of applying one or more pull-up currents to the device during one or more corresponding pull-up periods of time, for changing the first voltage level into one or more corresponding pull-up voltage levels; applying a measurement current to the device; and measuring a measurement period of time, during which one of the pull-up voltage levels changes into a second voltage level. A method of sensing a capacitance of a capacitive device comprises applying a first voltage to the device; applying one or more pull-up currents during corresponding pull-up times, for changing the first voltage into corresponding pull-up voltages; applying a measurement current; and measuring a time, during which one pull-up voltage changes into a second voltage.