Abstract: A proximity detection device with a detection distance for detecting an object separated to some extent from an operation surface is provided. The proximity detection device includes a proximity detection unit that has a piezoelectric body and first and second electrodes disposed in contact with the piezoelectric body to detect proximity of an object, a signal applying unit that causes the proximity detection unit to perform capacitance detection and ultrasonic transmission and/or ultrasonic reception by applying a plurality of signals of different frequencies to at least one of the first and second electrodes, and a charge measurement unit connected to at least one of the first and second electrodes to measure electric charge.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor has: one or more front-side electrodes including at least one detection electrode; an elastic dielectric body disposed below the front-side electrodes; a shield electrode disposed below the elastic dielectric body; a first, second, and third voltage output unit that respectively outputs a first, second, and third AC voltage; and a detection unit that detects a proximity, a contact, and pressing of a detection target to the detection electrode. The first, second, and third AC voltages have substantially the same frequency. The amplitude of the first AC voltage is larger than or equal to the amplitude of the second AC voltage. The amplitude of the third AC voltage is smaller than the amplitude of the second AC voltage. The first AC voltage is output to a driving unit coupled to the detection electrode with capacitances intervening between them. The second AC voltage is applied to the detection electrode.

Abstract: A capacitance detection device includes at least one detection electrode, a shield electrode disposed in close vicinity of the detection electrode, an AC signal source that supplies an AC signal to the shield electrode, a detection circuit that detects capacitance between a physical object in close vicinity of the detection electrode and the detection electrode on the basis of a detection signal output from the detection electrode and the AC signal output from the AC signal source, and a phase adjustment circuit provided between the AC signal source and the shield electrode. The phase adjustment circuit advances the phase of the AC signal output from the AC signal source.

Abstract: This detection device includes a sensor electrode, a shield electrode, which has a parasitic capacitance between the sensor electrode and the shield electrode and is driven by an AC voltage, a detection circuit, which is electrically connected to the sensor electrode and the shield electrode and detects the electrostatic capacitance of the sensor electrode, a capacitor, which is connected in series between the sensor electrode and the detection circuit, and a bias unit, which biases the potential of the sensor electrode via a resistor.

Abstract: An operation input device includes a resistance element to generate a capacitance between an operating medium and the resistance element in response to an approach of the operating medium to the resistance element, and a power source to supply electric charge to one end and the other end of the resistance element. A first electric unit measures a first electric charge transfer amount supplied to the one end of the resistance element in response to generation of the capacitance. A second unit measures a second electric charge transfer amount supplied to the other end of the resistance element in response to generation of the capacitance. A controller is connected to the first and second units, and detects a position of the operating medium in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the resistance element based on a sum of the first and second electric charge transfer amounts.

Abstract: A capacitance detection device detecting a capacitance between a detection electrode and a detection target close to the detection electrode has: a first voltage output circuit that outputs a first alternating current voltage to be supplied to a shield electrode placed close to the detection electrode; a second voltage output circuit that outputs a second alternating current voltage with substantially the same frequency as the first alternating current voltage; and an operational amplifier that amplifies the difference in voltage between an inverting input terminal connected to the detection electrode and a non-inverting input terminal to which the second alternating current voltage is applied, and outputs the amplified difference in voltage.

Abstract: A proximity detecting device includes: a first detection electrode group having detection electrodes; a second detection electrode group having detection electrodes that orthogonally cross the first detection electrode group; an obliquely crossing detection electrode group having detection electrodes that orthogonally cross the first and second detection electrode groups; a detector capable of detecting electrostatic capacitances of each of the first and second detection electrode groups and the obliquely crossing detection electrode group; and a controller that performs detection through switching between a first detection mode in which a proximity state of a detection-target object is determined based on the electrostatic capacitances of the first and second detection electrode groups and a second detection mode in which a proximity state of each of a plurality of detection-target objects is determined based on the electrostatic capacitances of the first and second detection electrode groups and the oblique

Abstract: An electrostatic sensor includes a detection electrode, a shield electrode provided in a periphery of the detection electrode, a first power supply coupled to the detection electrode and configured to generate an AC voltage having a first amplitude, a second power supply coupled to the shield electrode and configured to generate an AC voltage having a second amplitude, a measuring device configured to measure a quantity of charge flowing from the first power supply to the detection electrode, and a control device coupled to the measuring device. The AC voltages generated by the first and second power supplies have the same frequency and the same phase. The second amplitude is larger than the first amplitude. A detection target on a side of a detection surface is detected based on a change in an electrostatic capacitance between the detection electrode and the detection target.

Abstract: This detection device includes a sensor electrode, a shield electrode, which has a parasitic capacitance between the sensor electrode and the shield electrode and is driven by an AC voltage, a detection circuit, which is electrically connected to the sensor electrode and the shield electrode and detects the electrostatic capacitance of the sensor electrode, a capacitor, which is connected in series between the sensor electrode and the detection circuit, and a bias unit, which biases the potential of the sensor electrode via a resistor.

Abstract: An input device that inputs information corresponding to a change in pressure due to load includes: a first charge detection circuit that outputs a first detection signal corresponding to charges generated in a first piezoelectric sensor and a second piezoelectric sensor; and a switch circuit provided on a path through which the charges are transmitted from the first and second piezoelectric sensors to the first charge detection circuit. The first charge detection circuit alternately iterates a first period in which a first charge is input from a first positive electrode via the switch circuit and a second period in which a second charge is input from a second negative electrode via the switch circuit, reverses a sign of one of the first and second charges, combines a resulting charge with the other charge, and outputs the first detection signal corresponding to the amount of accumulation of the combined charge.

Abstract: An electrostatic sensor detecting a position of an object being approaching the electrostatic sensor includes a first electrode group including electrodes, a second electrode group including electrodes adjacent to the electrodes of the first electrode group, detection circuits connected to electrodes selected from among the electrodes of the first and second electrode groups and having first alternating-current sources and current measurement units, a second alternating-current source connected to unselected electrodes among the electrodes of the first and second electrode groups, and a controller. The controller successively selects electrodes to be connected to the detection circuits from among the electrodes of the first and second electrode groups, causes the selected electrodes to be connected to the detection circuits, and detects a position of the object based on current detected by the current measurement units.

Abstract: A proximity detecting device includes: a first detection electrode group having detection electrodes; a second detection electrode group having detection electrodes that orthogonally cross the first detection electrode group; an obliquely crossing detection electrode group having detection electrodes that orthogonally cross the first and second detection electrode groups; a detector capable of detecting electrostatic capacitances of each of the first and second detection electrode groups and the obliquely crossing detection electrode group; and a controller that performs detection through switching between a first detection mode in which a proximity state of a detection-target object is determined based on the electrostatic capacitances of the first and second detection electrode groups and a second detection mode in which a proximity state of each of a plurality of detection-target objects is determined based on the electrostatic capacitances of the first and second detection electrode groups and the oblique

Abstract: An input device includes at least one electrode including multiple detection terminals. The detection terminals are connected to an image data calculation unit. The image data calculation unit detects detection values that vary in accordance with an amount of electric charge detected through the detection terminals. Based on coefficient information values, the image data calculation unit calculates image data values each corresponding to capacitance of each of multiple sections. The coefficient information corresponds to different combinations of one of the multiple sections and one of the multiple detection terminals. The coefficient information represents a ratio of electric charge detected by the one of the detection terminals to an amount of electric charge charged in one of the sections.

Abstract: Charge is periodically supplied to a detection electrode so that a first alternating current voltage is generated in the detection electrode, and a detection signal corresponding to the supplied charge is created. A second alternating current voltage having the same frequency and phase as the first alternating current voltage is applied to a plurality of driving electrodes. An amplitude pattern, which is a combination of the amplitudes of the second alternating current voltages to be applied to the plurality of driving electrodes is switched according to a predetermined series of amplitude patterns. In each amplitude pattern included in the series of amplitude patterns, the second alternating current voltage having a certain amplitude is applied to the remaining driving electrodes resulting from excluding one driving electrode, and the second alternating current voltage having an amplitude different from the remaining driving electrodes is applied to the one driving electrode.

Abstract: A capacitance detection device includes a first voltage output circuit configured to output a first alternating current voltage supplied to a shield electrode provided proximate to a detection electrode, a second voltage output circuit configured to output a second alternating current voltage whose frequency and phase are the same as that of the first alternating current voltage and whose amplitude is less than that of the first alternating current voltage, and a current output circuit configured to output a driving current Is to the detection electrode so that the difference between the voltage of the detection electrode and the second alternating current voltage becomes smaller, and output a detection signal corresponding to the driving current. The second voltage output circuit outputs a second alternating current voltage whose amplitude is adjusted so that the driving current in the absence of the object proximate to the detection electrode.

Abstract: An electrostatic sensor detecting a position of an object being approaching the electrostatic sensor includes a first electrode group including electrodes, a second electrode group including electrodes adjacent to the electrodes of the first electrode group, detection circuits connected to electrodes selected from among the electrodes of the first and second electrode groups and having first alternating-current sources and current measurement units, a second alternating-current source connected to unselected electrodes among the electrodes of the first and second electrode groups, and a controller. The controller successively selects electrodes to be connected to the detection circuits from among the electrodes of the first and second electrode groups, causes the selected electrodes to be connected to the detection circuits, and detects a position of the object based on current detected by the current measurement units.

Abstract: An electrostatic sensor includes a detection electrode, a shield electrode provided in a periphery of the detection electrode, a first power supply coupled to the detection electrode and configured to generate an AC voltage having a first amplitude, a second power supply coupled to the shield electrode and configured to generate an AC voltage having a second amplitude, a measuring device configured to measure a quantity of charge flowing from the first power supply to the detection electrode, and a control device coupled to the measuring device. The AC voltages generated by the first and second power supplies have the same frequency and the same phase. The second amplitude is larger than the first amplitude. A detection target on a side of a detection surface is detected based on a change in an electrostatic capacitance between the detection electrode and the detection target.

Abstract: An input device that inputs information corresponding to a change in pressure due to load includes: a first charge detection circuit that outputs a first detection signal corresponding to charges generated in a first piezoelectric sensor and a second piezoelectric sensor; and a switch circuit provided on a path through which the charges are transmitted from the first and second piezoelectric sensors to the first charge detection circuit. The first charge detection circuit alternately iterates a first period in which a first charge is input from a first positive electrode via the switch circuit and a second period in which a second charge is input from a second negative electrode via the switch circuit, reverses a sign of one of the first and second charges, combines a resulting charge with the other charge, and outputs the first detection signal corresponding to the amount of accumulation of the combined charge.

Abstract: An operation input device includes a resistance element to generate a capacitance between an operating medium and the resistance element in response to an approach of the operating medium to the resistance element, and a power source to supply electric charge to one end and the other end of the resistance element. A first electric unit measures a first electric charge transfer amount supplied to the one end of the resistance element in response to generation of the capacitance. A second unit measures a second electric charge transfer amount supplied to the other end of the resistance element in response to generation of the capacitance. A controller is connected to the first and second units, and detects a position of the operating medium in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the resistance element based on a sum of the first and second electric charge transfer amounts.

Abstract: Charge is periodically supplied to a detection electrode so that a first alternating current voltage is generated in the detection electrode, and a detection signal corresponding to the supplied charge is created. A second alternating current voltage having the same frequency and phase as the first alternating current voltage is applied to a plurality of driving electrodes. An amplitude pattern, which is a combination of the amplitudes of the second alternating current voltages to be applied to the plurality of driving electrodes is switched according to a predetermined series of amplitude patterns. In each amplitude pattern included in the series of amplitude patterns, the second alternating current voltage having a certain amplitude is applied to the remaining driving electrodes resulting from excluding one driving electrode, and the second alternating current voltage having an amplitude different from the remaining driving electrodes is applied to the one driving electrode.