Abstract: A pair of first electrodes 111, 112 is arranged in a state being separated in a direction parallel to a contact surface 102 of a base material 10 made of a dielectric and being at least partially in contact with the base material 10. A pair of second electrodes 121, 122 is arranged in a state of overlapping at least one of the pair of first electrodes and sandwiching the base material 10 at a position farther from the contact surface 102 of the base material 10 than the pair of first electrodes 111 and 112 in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface 102 of the base material 10. The proximity state of an object Q with respect to the contact surface 102 of the base material 10 is detected according to the measurement result of the capacitance C1 between the pair of first electrodes 111 and 112.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting and distinguishing between increasing and decreasing proximity of a pointing element, touch by a pointing element, pressure applied by a pointing element, stretching (and/or other deformation) of the sensor, and any of the above while stretching and/or otherwise deforming the sensor. The sensor may comprise a cluster sensor unit having a first sensor and a second sensor wherein the first sensor has a higher ratio of distal flux to proximate flux as compared to the second sensor. With this flux characteristic, the first sensor is relatively more sensitive (as compared to the second sensor) to proximity of a pointing element, while the second sensor is relatively more sensitive (as compared to the first sensor) to force and/or pressure applied by the pointing element.

Abstract: A sensor comprises conductive elements arranged and connected for proximity sensing. The conductive elements are formed of an ionically conductive polymer. The sensor may also include conductive elements arranged and connected for touch sensing. The conductive elements may be connected to an alternating-current (AC) source. Another sensor comprises one or more conductive elements arranged and connected for touch sensing by detecting resistivity changes in the one or more conductive elements. A flexible and transparent sensor is also provided, which comprises a layer of a piezoelectric polymer and conductive elements in contact with the layer for transmitting an electric signal generated by compression of the layer. Methods and processes for using such sensors are also provided.

Abstract: A sensor unit for detecting bending of the sensor unit comprises: a capacitive upper sensor having an upper capacitance and comprising first and second deformable upper electrodes spaced apart from one another in a Z direction, the first and second upper electrodes respectively having first and second upper shapes; and a capacitive lower sensor having a lower capacitance, spaced apart from the upper sensor in a Z direction and comprising first and second deformable lower electrodes spaced apart from one another in the Z direction, the first and second lower electrodes respectively having first and second lower shapes. For a bend of the sensor unit in a first direction, the first and second upper shapes change such that the upper capacitance decreases and the lower shapes change such that the lower capacitance increases.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting and distinguishing between increasing and decreasing proximity of a pointing element, touch by a pointing element, pressure applied by a pointing element, stretching (and/or other deformation) of the sensor, and any of the above while stretching and/or otherwise deforming the sensor. The sensor may comprise a cluster sensor unit having a first sensor and a second sensor wherein the first sensor has a higher ratio of distal flux to proximate flux as compared to the second sensor. With this flux characteristic, the first sensor is relatively more sensitive (as compared to the second sensor) to proximity of a pointing element, while the second sensor is relatively more sensitive (as compared to the first sensor) to force and/or pressure applied by the pointing element.

Abstract: A sensor unit for detecting bending of the sensor unit comprises: a capacitive upper sensor having an upper capacitance and comprising first and second deformable upper electrodes spaced apart from one another in a Z direction, the first and second upper electrodes respectively having first and second upper shapes; and a capacitive lower sensor having a lower capacitance, spaced apart from the upper sensor in a Z direction and comprising first and second deformable lower electrodes spaced apart from one another in the Z direction, the first and second lower electrodes respectively having first and second lower shapes. For a bend of the sensor unit in a first direction, the first and second upper shapes change such that the upper capacitance decreases and the lower shapes change such that the lower capacitance increases.

Abstract: A sensor comprises conductive elements arranged and connected for proximity sensing. The conductive elements are formed of an ionically conductive polymer. The sensor may also include conductive elements arranged and connected for touch sensing. The conductive elements may be connected to an alternating-current (AC) source. Another sensor comprises one or more conductive elements arranged and connected for touch sensing by detecting resistivity changes in the one or more conductive elements. A flexible and transparent sensor is also provided, which comprises a layer of a piezoelectric polymer and conductive elements in contact with the layer for transmitting an electric signal generated by compression of the layer. Methods and processes for using such sensors are also provided.