Abstract: A system may include a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor configured to sense a physical quantity, and a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to measure one or more resonance parameters associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and indicative of the physical quantity and, in order to maximize dynamic range in determining the physical quantity from the one or more resonance parameters, dynamically modify, across the dynamic range, either of reliance on the one or more resonance parameters in determining the physical quantity or one or more resonance properties of the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor.

Abstract: A method for operating a capacitive device. The method includes providing a pulsed readout signal having a pulse frequency at a readout signal channel, to which at least one capacitor unit of the capacitive device is electrically connected, and reading out the at least one capacitor unit of the capacitive device, which has a natural frequency with a natural frequency period duration tres, using the pulsed readout signal. Each voltage pulse of the pulsed readout signal is applied to the readout signal channel in n temporally offset voltage stages, n being a natural number greater than or equal to 2, and a time offset ?ti is maintained between each two consecutively applied voltage stages in such a way that the following is true for at least one time offset ?ti between the voltage stages: ? ? t i = m * t res + t res n , m being a natural number greater than or equal to zero.

Abstract: A capacitance sensor includes a switch control unit that performs a first switching process that turns on a first switch and then repeatedly performs a second switching process that complementarily switches off and on second and third switches that are respectively connected to second and third capacitors; an obtaining unit that calculates, as a sensor output value, a number of times the second switching process is repeated until a magnitude relationship reverses between an intermediate potential and a reference potential; a calculation unit that calculates a sensor output corrected value obtained by correcting the sensor output value such that a resolution becomes uniform; and a determination unit that determines whether a detection target exists from a magnitude relationship between a sensor output difference value and a determination threshold value.

Abstract: A system and method for determining whether a working fluid being used in a machine is near its failure point. The system includes an impedance/admittance sensor having a flow chamber through which the working fluid flows and a pair of spaced apart electrodes. A function generator generates frequency signals at certain frequencies over a range of frequencies and a sensor circuit receives the frequency signals and provides the frequency signals to the electrodes, where the conductance of the working fluid creates a measurement signal in the sensor circuit. A processor is responsive to the measurement signal and generates a relationship between the frequency signals and the measurement signal that is indicative of a contamination level of the working fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for measuring fill level of a liquid comprising: a measuring tube having a tube wall extending between first and second terminal openings and which surrounds a volume for guiding the liquid, wherein a tube axis extends between the two tube openings; a first conductor extending at least sectionally around the volume and is electrically insulated from the volume; a second conductor extending at least sectionally around the volume and is electrically insulated from the first conductor and from the volume, wherein the two conductors extend essentially in parallel with one another and form a waveguide for microwaves; an HF circuit for in-coupling a microwave signal into the waveguide and for receiving reflected microwave signals out-coupled from the waveguide; an operating and evaluating circuit for determining fill level of the liquid in the measuring tube based on received microwave signals.

Abstract: Methods for determining an electrical conductivity of an operating liquid in an operating liquid container for a motor vehicle. The operating liquid container includes at least one capacitor which is fastened to a container wall of the operating liquid container and has a first electrode and a second electrode opposite said first electrode. A first method determines the electrical conductivity of the operating liquid by means of a frequency-dependent phase progression of the impedance of the at least one capacitor. Another method determines the electrical conductivity of the operating liquid by means of a frequency-dependent capacitance profile of the at least one capacitor. An operating liquid container which is designed for carrying out the methods.

Abstract: A circuit for measurement of a voltage comprises a passive sensing element configured to be coupled between a measurement point and a reference point. The passive sensing element has a voltage-dependent impedance. Further, the circuit comprises an impedance detector and a reference circuit. The impedance detector is configured to detect the impedance of the passive sensing element by providing a probe signal to the passive sensing element and evaluating a response to the probe signal from the passive sensing element and a reference response from the reference circuit. Further, the circuit comprises a converter circuit configured to convert a result of evaluating the response and the reference response to a voltage level information.

Abstract: A gas sensor capable of stably detecting a gas concentration with a high reliability even under a high temperature environment is provided. The gas sensor includes an element unit having a capacitance value changing in accordance with a gas concentration, an inductor forming a resonant circuit in cooperation with the element unit, a phase detection circuit detecting a phase difference between a standard frequency and a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit, and a feedback unit supplying, to the element unit, a voltage changing in accordance with the phase difference detected by the phase detection circuit. The capacitance value of the element unit is controlled by the voltage from the feedback unit so as to reduce the phase difference between the resonant frequency and the standard frequency, and a gas concentration detection output is output based on the phase difference.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for monitoring and compensating an offset between a reference voltage used in a first device and a corresponding reference voltage used in a second device. The first device can include offset circuitry. The offset circuitry receives two voltage signals. The first voltage signal is equal to a first voltage value that is used as a reference voltage in the first device. The second voltage signal can be a time-varying voltage signal that has a known relationship with a second voltage value that is used as a reference voltage in the second device. The offset circuitry can then determine the second voltage value from the second voltage signal, and output an offset value based on a difference between the first voltage value and the second voltage value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a force detection apparatus and method, a touch device and an electronic terminal. The apparatus includes: a first detection capacitor, and a second detection capacitor configured to perform differential processing for a capacitance of the first detection capacitor to cancel an interference signal; wherein the first detection capacitor includes a force detection electrode, and the second detection capacitor includes a reference detection electrode, the force detection electrode and the reference detection electrode being arranged within a surface, such that the first detection capacitor and the second detection capacitor are simultaneously coupled to the interference signal causing interference to force detection, and differential processing is performed for capacitances of the first detection capacitor and the second detection capacitor.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a fingerprint sensing system is provided, comprising: a sensing unit configured to measure a physical property of a sensing cell and to produce a voltage in dependence on said physical property; and an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert said voltage into a digital signal, wherein said analog-to-digital converter implements a non-linear conversion function. According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding fingerprint sensing method is conceived. According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding computer program product is provided.

Abstract: A method for measuring the relative dielectric constant of powder in a powder-dispersed composite material. A composite material is assumed as a cell combination in which unit cells having the same length a in each of an x-axis direction, a y-axis direction, and a z-axis direction are combined together and which has a length l in the x-axis direction, a length m in the y-axis direction, and a length n in the z-axis direction, each of the unit cells of the cell combination is considered to be constituted by a single powder element or a single medium element, the cell combination is created in which the powder element or the medium element is assigned to each of the unit cells in consideration of the number-based median particle diameter D50, the maximum diameter Dmax, the minimum diameter Dmin, and the geometric standard deviation ?g.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to managing characteristics of a mobile device based upon capacitive detection of materials proximate the mobile device, a capacitive gesture system that can allow the same gestures be used in arbitrary locations within range of a mobile device. One such method includes receiving a first capacitive sensor measurement with a first capacitive sensor of the mobile device. The method further includes determining a value indicative of a material adjacent to the mobile device based on a correspondence between the first capacitive sensor measurement and stored values corresponding to different materials. The method further includes sending instructions to adjust a characteristic of the mobile device based on the determined value indicative of the material adjacent to the mobile device. In certain examples, gesture sensing can be performed using capacitive measurements from the capacitive sensors.

Abstract: A grip sensor includes: a plurality of capacitive detectors which are disposed in a grip of a steering wheel of a vehicle, and output values which vary according to whether a human body is in contact; and a controller which determines, at a preset timing, a reference value to be subtracted from the values output from the plurality of capacitive detectors, to determine whether the human body is in contact, wherein the controller identifies, from among values output from the plurality of capacitive detectors at the preset timing, one or more values each having an absolute value smaller than a first threshold, and determines, as the reference value, one of the one or more values identified or an average of the one or more values identified.

Abstract: Defects in a touch sensor are detected by coupling the sensor lines to a common signal line. Each of the sensor lines is tested by disconnecting the sensor line from the common signal line, connecting it to a voltage (e.g., ground) and comparing the voltage on the common signal line to a reference voltage. Detected defects include a short circuit between any two transmit and/or receive lines and a short between any transmit or receive line to ground.

Abstract: A method of estimating distance to empty (DTE) for a vehicle includes, in response to detecting an energy loss condition expected to be present during an initial portion of a drive cycle for a period of time needed for a current temperature or pressure associated with the vehicle to achieve a steady state, outputting a DTE. The DTE is based on an amount of drive energy available and an energy loss factor associated with the energy loss condition that accounts for conversion of some of the drive energy to heat as the current temperature or pressure increases to the steady state.

Abstract: A low power capacitive detector is disclosed. The detector includes a mechanism to measure and detect touch on capacitive sensors. The detector uses signal processing to suppress noise and increase sensitivity. The detector does not require dedicated analog circuitry, making it easy to adopt in a microcontroller system. The detector can be scaled to a larger number of capacitive sensors without noticeable increase in silicon cost.

Abstract: Provided are a method of measuring a degree of degradation of a lubricating oil and a measuring device therefor, in which (a) acidity is measured through use of an ISFET of hydrogen ion sensitive type and (b) dielectric constants or electrostatic capacitances at two or more different frequencies are obtained, to thereby determine a degradation state of the lubricating oil based on the acidity and a plurality of values of the dielectric constants or the electrostatic capacitances. Accordingly, the degree of degradation of the lubricating oil can be measured easily and precisely and a degradation mechanism of the lubricating oil can be predicted.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a dielectric property of a capacitor arrangement, having an alternating signal generator for applying an electric alternating signal to the capacitor arrangement. It further contains an evaluation circuit for evaluating at least one electric measuring quantity of an electric signal tapped from the capacitor arrangement. It further comprises balancing means which are arranged in an electric path between the alternating signal generator and the capacitor arrangement and by means of which a parameter of the electric alternating signal can be changed in such a way that an output signal of the evaluation circuit assumes a specific value, preferably zero, under defined constant conditions. Control means are provided for emitting an electric control signal to the balancing means, by means of which the change of the at least one parameter can be controlled. The apparatus can thus be balanced in a simple, rapid, cost-effective and especially automatic way.

Abstract: A salinity measuring apparatus to determine salinity of food includes a salinity sensing unit including a pair of measuring electrodes and a capacitor, a switching unit to switch a voltage of the capacitor of the salinity sensing unit, and a control unit to provide a pulse signal with a constant frequency to the switching unit and to determine the salinity of the food which is in contact with the measuring electrodes of the salinity sensing unit based on when the voltage of the capacitor reaches a reference voltage. By providing the pulse signal with the constant frequency to the switching unit, it is possible to minimize the internal impedance variation of the capacitor and to more accurately measure the salinity of the food. Since a period when the voltage of the capacitor is substantially “0” is present, it is possible to minimize accumulation of ions in the measuring electrodes.

Abstract: A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field of each proximity switch to sense activation. The control circuitry monitors the signal responsive to the activation field and determines a differential change in generated signal, and further generates an activation output when the differential signal exceeds a threshold. The control circuitry further distinguishes an activation from an exploration of the plurality of switches and may determine activation upon detection of a stable signal.

Abstract: A touch detection method for a touch control device including a touch panel includes examining whether a charging capacity for charging a measured capacitor of the touch panel and a discharging capacity for discharging the measured capacitor are determined; charging and discharging the measured capacitor by using the charging capacity and the discharging capacity when the charging capacity and the discharging capacity are determined and receiving a count value representing the capacitance of the measured capacitor, examining whether a base count value is set, calculating a difference between the count value and the base count value when the base count value is set, for determining whether the touch panel is touched, examining whether the count value is in a predetermined range, and performing a charging and discharging capacity setting process when the count value is out of the predetermined range, for adjusting the charging capacity and the discharging capacity.

Abstract: Capacitive proximity detection is provided by combining a delta-sigma modulator and a capacitive voltage divider circuit to create a high resolution capacitive-to-digital converter. Period and duty cycle counters provide duty cycle ratios from the delta-sigma modulator for comparison of changes in capacitance values of a capacitive sensor when an object is in proximity thereto.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor device with an electrode system has a first transmitting electrode and a first reception electrode, wherein the first transmitting electrode can be brought into capacitive coupling with the first reception electrode, and a second transmitting electrode and a second reception electrode, wherein the second transmitting electrode can be brought into capacitive coupling with the second reception electrode, a signal generator for feeding the first transmitting electrode with a first electric alternating signal and the second transmitting electrode with a second electric alternating signal, and a signal processing device, which is coupled with the first reception electrode and with the second reception electrode, and which is adapted to form a first measurement variable from the difference between a first electric value tapped at the first reception electrode and a second electric value tapped at the second reception electrode

Abstract: A capacitive sensor system and method resistant to electromagnetic interference is disclosed. The system includes a capacitive core, differential amplifier with inverting and non-inverting inputs, capacitive paths, and chopping system. Core can include inputs and outputs coupled to variable capacitors, and common nodes coupling variable capacitors. Capacitive paths couple core outputs to amplifier inputs. When chopping system is high, one polarity voltage is applied to core inputs, a first core output is coupled to the inverting input and a second core output is coupled to the non-inverting input. When the chopping system is low, opposite polarity voltage is applied to core inputs, and core output to amplifier input couplings are flipped. Capacitive paths can include bond wires. Chopping system can be varied between high and low at frequencies that smear noise away from a frequency band of interest, or that smear noise substantially evenly across a wide frequency range.

Abstract: Provided is a method of measuring a degree of degradation/alteration of a lubricating oil, including obtaining dielectric constants or electrostatic capacitances at two or more different frequencies and determining a degradation/alteration state of the lubricating oil based on values of the dielectric constants or the electrostatic capacitances, in which one frequency (H1) of the two or more frequencies is in a range of 1 to 100 Hz, and another frequency (H2) is more than the frequency (H1) and in a range of 10,000 Hz or less. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a method of measuring a degree of degradation/alteration of a lubricating oil and a measuring device therefor, which are capable of measuring a degree of degradation of the lubricating oil easily and precisely and predicting a degradation/alteration mechanism of the lubricating oil.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor system and method resistant to electromagnetic interference is disclosed. The system includes a capacitive core, differential amplifier with inverting and non-inverting inputs, capacitive paths, and chopping system. Core can include inputs and outputs coupled to variable capacitors, and common nodes coupling variable capacitors. Capacitive paths couple core outputs to amplifier inputs. When chopping system is high, one polarity voltage is applied to core inputs, a first core output is coupled to the inverting input and a second core output is coupled to the non-inverting input. When the chopping system is low, opposite polarity voltage is applied to core inputs, and core output to amplifier input couplings are flipped. Capacitive paths can include bond wires. Chopping system can be varied between high and low at frequencies that smear noise away from a frequency band of interest, or that smear noise substantially evenly across a wide frequency range.

Abstract: A low power capacitive detector is disclosed. The detector includes a mechanism to measure and detect touch on capacitive sensors. The detector uses signal processing to suppress noise and increase sensitivity. The detector does not require dedicated analog circuitry, making it easy to adopt in a microcontroller system. The detector can be scaled to a larger number of capacitive sensors without noticeable increase in silicon cost.

Abstract: Systems provide for a test system for capacitors in a digitally controllable oscillator (DCO). The system includes: capacitor toggling logic configured to switch on and off a selected one of the capacitors at a modulation frequency; a tone generator configured to generate a tone; a mixer configured to receive the tone and an output carrier signal from the DCO while the capacitor toggling logic is switching the selected one of the capacitors on and off and to output an intermediate frequency signal having FM sidebands based on the modulation frequency and relative capacitor size; and an evaluation circuit configured to evaluate a frequency deviation associated with the selected one of the capacitors based on at least one of the FM sidebands.

Abstract: A touch sensing circuit is provided. The touch sensing circuit includes: a touch capacitor, for being touched; a touch capacitor frequency detection unit, coupled to the touch capacitor, for detecting an output frequency from the touch capacitor; a reference frequency generation unit, for generating a reference frequency; a calculation unit, coupled to the touch capacitor frequency detection unit and the reference frequency generation unit, for calculating the variation of the difference between the output frequency from the touch capacitor and the reference frequency; and a determination unit, coupled to the calculation unit, for determining whether the touch capacitor is being touched based on whether the variation of the difference is greater than a criterion value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes, at a first input of a comparator, receiving from an analog multiplexer one of multiple first voltages. Each of the first voltages results at least in part from an interaction between an object and an electrode of each of one or more nodes of a capacitive touch sensor. The method includes, at a second input of the comparator, receiving a second voltage across a measurement capacitor that has a first terminal coupled to the second input of the comparator. The method includes charging the measurement capacitor at least in part through a measurement resistor coupled in series to the first terminal of the measurement capacitor and monitoring an output of the comparator during the charging of the measurement capacitor. The output of the comparator changes state when the second voltage becomes approximately equal to or greater than the one of the first voltages.

Abstract: In method and a control device for triggering person protection device, a signal of a planarly measuring environment sensor system and a second signal of a contact sensor system are evaluated separately in order to produce a respective trigger signal. These two trigger signals are then gated in order to produce a third trigger signal. A trigger circuit triggers the person protection device as a function of this third trigger signal.

Abstract: An emission spectrophotometer capable of inhibiting non-uniformity of spectral intensities of component elements is provided. The emission spectrophotometer generates pulse light emission by supplying an energy accumulated in an electricity accumulating and discharging unit to a gap between an electrode and a test material, and the emission spectrophotometer includes a detection unit, for detecting an energy charged to the electricity accumulating and discharging unit before the pulse light emission; and a detection unit, for detecting an energy remaining in the electricity accumulating and discharging unit after the pulse light emission. It is determined whether the detected light is emitted by fully using the energy accumulated in the electricity accumulating and discharging unit.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing system having two or more capacitive sensors, one or more AC power sources for energizing the capacitive sensors, and a signal processing circuit for processing signals from the sensors. The sensors are arranged in pairs, wherein the one or more AC power sources are arranged to energize a first sensor of a pair of the sensors with an alternating current or voltage 180 degrees out of phase to a current or voltage for a second sensor of the pair of sensors, and wherein a pair of the sensors provides a measuring unit for a single measured distance value, the signal processing circuit receiving an output signal from each sensor of the pair and generating a measured value related to the average distance between the sensors of the pair and the target.

Abstract: The electronic circuit has a capacitive sensor that includes two capacitors mounted in differential, whose common electrode can move relative to each fixed electrode of the two capacitors to alter the capacitive value of each capacitor. The electronic circuit has an interface connected to the capacitive sensor, which includes a charge transfer amplifier unit connected to the common electrode, an integrator unit, and an excitation unit arranged between the output of the first integrator unit and the sensor to polarise each fixed electrode of the sensor capacitors at a determined voltage value. A compensation capacitor is connected to the input of the integrator unit. The electronic circuit interface includes comparison means for comparing the output voltage with a comparison voltage to control disconnection of the compensation capacitor at the integrator unit input, if the deviation between the output voltage and the comparison voltage exceeds a determined voltage threshold.

Abstract: A method for detecting capacitor variation in a device comprises operating an oscillator in the device, the oscillator being an Inductive-Capacitive (LC) oscillator and including an inductor of known value and a capacitor under test, comparing an output of the oscillator to a reference output, and evaluating variation for a plurality of capacitors in the device based on the comparing.

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 device for detecting a dielectric object includes a first electrode and a second electrode. A first unit is configured to determine a first capacitance that exists between the first electrode and a common reference point and that is influenced by the object. A second unit is configured to determine a second capacitance that exists between the second electrode and the reference point and that is influenced by the object. The device further includes a control unit for actuating the first and second units and an evaluating unit that is configured to detect the object when the determined capacitances differ by more than a predetermined amount. The control unit is configured to actuate the units in such a manner that the capacitance determinations are carried out in succession. A switching unit is provided so as to electrically connect the electrode of the respective non-actuated unit to the common reference point.

Abstract: A smoke detection sensor ion chamber has a capacitance and a change in the permittivity of that capacitance dielectric (ionized air in the chamber) may be used to detect the presence of smoke therein. Smoke from typical fires is mainly composed of unburned carbon that has diffused in the surrounding air and rises with the heat of the fire. The permittivity of the carbon particles is about 10 to 15 times the permittivity of clean air. The addition of the carbon particles into the air in the ion chamber changes in the permittivity thereof that is large enough to measure by measuring a change in capacitance of the ion chamber.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus for detecting a positional relationship includes a first electrode, an applying unit applying a charging signal with a first cycle period to the first electrode, a second electrode, a selecting unit selecting the first or second cycle period which have overlapped segment periods, an output unit outputting electrical signals supplied from the second electrode with the first cycle period, if the first cycle period is selected, and parts of the electrical signals during the segment periods, if the second cycle period is selected, a comparator comparing an amplitude of the electrical signals with a threshold value and generating a first or second comparison signal and a controller generating a proximity and non-proximity signal in response to the first and second comparison signal, respectively, so that the selecting unit selects the first and second cycle period in response to the proximity and non-proximity signal, respectively.

Abstract: A device for detecting a phase boundary in a liquid tank a sensor that can be advanced in the direction of the phase boundary in the liquid tank. A circuit processes an output signal of the sensor to detect a change in capacitance and has a first channel with a first filter module to filter out a first signal having a short pulse width from the output signal and a second channel having a second filter module to filter out a second signal having a greater pulse width from the output signal. A controller module with comparator module determines whether the first signal reaches a first threshold value and a processing module determines whether the second signal meets predefined second signal criteria.

Abstract: Provided is a method of measuring a degree of degradation/alteration of a lubricating oil, including obtaining dielectric constants or electrostatic capacitances at two or more different frequencies and determining a degradation/alteration state of the lubricating oil based on values of the dielectric constants or the electrostatic capacitances, in which one frequency (H1) of the two or more frequencies is in a range of 1 to 100 Hz, and another frequency (H2) is more than the frequency (H1) and in a range of 10,000 Hz or less. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a method of measuring a degree of degradation/alteration of a lubricating oil and a measuring device therefor, which are capable of measuring a degree of degradation of the lubricating oil easily and precisely and predicting a degradation/alteration mechanism of the lubricating oil.

Abstract: Provided are a method of measuring a degree of degradation of a lubricating oil and a measuring device therefor, in which (a) acidity is measured through use of an ISFET of hydrogen ion sensitive type and (b) dielectric constants or electrostatic capacitances at two or more different frequencies are obtained, to thereby determine a degradation state of the lubricating oil based on the acidity and a plurality of values of the dielectric constants or the electrostatic capacitances. Accordingly, the degree of degradation of the lubricating oil can be measured easily and precisely and a degradation mechanism of the lubricating oil can be predicted.

Abstract: A sensing arrangement for sensing a body part in a vehicle opening is described. The arrangement includes a flexible sealing member with two separate electrically conductive members. The two electrically conductive members are interconnected by an electrical oscillator which generates an electric field in the vehicle opening. The arrangement also includes detecting circuitry for detecting a change in the capacitance of the electric field when the body part is in the vicinity of the opening, and for detecting electrical continuity of the first and second electrically conductive members.

Abstract: Activation systems and methods initiate High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) communication between an HDMI source and an HDMI sink through an HDMI receptacle of the source. These systems and methods are especially suited for use with mobile sources that generally operate from a battery that cannot provide the +5V signal which the HDMI protocol requires sources to place on the +5V pin of their HDMI receptacles. These systems and methods automatically detect the insertion of an HDMI cable into the source's HDMI receptacle and subsequently generate and apply the required +5V signal to the +5V pin of the source's HDMI receptacle to initiate HDMI communication. Because they are directed to use in mobile sources, the embodiments are configured to minimize current drain.

Abstract: Scanning rate in a capacitance change measuring circuit for a capacitive sensor device is enhanced. The circuit includes: an electrode drive section line-sequentially applying an input pulse signal to a plurality of columns of first electrode patterns in the capacitive sensor device; a peak hold circuit storing a peak level of a detection signal extracted from each column of second electrode patterns into a capacitive element as a corresponding potential; a current source initializing the potential in the capacitive element within one period of the input pulse signal; a comparator comparing the potential in the capacitive element with a reference value; and determination sections each determining whether or not an input operation using a human body or the like is executed, based on a timing information and a reference timing information, the timing information representing a timing when the potential held in the capacitive element crosses the reference value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing a chemical or gas species of interest are provided. In one aspect, a method of sensing a chemical includes determining a capacitance change between at least two layers in a MEMS device, the capacitance between the at least two layers indicative of a presence of one or more chemicals; and identifying the presence of the one or more chemicals based on a determined electrical response of the at least two layers and the determined capacitance change.

Abstract: A touch switch for controlling accessory equipment of a vehicle avoids a malfunction which is caused due to an environmental change such as a change in a state of air, arrival of unnecessary electromagnetic waves, or the like. Conductor plates 20-1 to 20-3 are disposed in an arrangement isolated from one another on a surface opposite to a sensor surface 16T of a touch plate 16 which is touched by a person's hand. The conductor plates 20-1 to 20-3 are each connected to a capacity measurement/control unit 34. The capacity measurement/control unit 34 determines as a judgment value D the absolute value of a value obtained by subtracting a minimum absolute value among changes ?C1 to ?C3 in electrostatic capacity from a maximum absolute value among the changes ?C1 to ?C3 in electrostatic capacity. The capacity measurement/control unit 34 controls a switch 28 according to the judgment value D.

Abstract: A salinity measuring apparatus to determine salinity of food includes a salinity sensing unit including a pair of measuring electrodes and a capacitor, a switching unit to switch a voltage of the capacitor of the salinity sensing unit, and a control unit to provide a pulse signal with a constant frequency to the switching unit and to determine the salinity of the food which is in contact with the measuring electrodes of the salinity sensing unit based on when the voltage of the capacitor reaches a reference voltage. By providing the pulse signal with the constant frequency to the switching unit, it is possible to minimize the internal impedance variation of the capacitor and to more accurately measure the salinity of the food. Since a period when the voltage of the capacitor is substantially “0” is present, it is possible to minimize accumulation of ions in the measuring electrodes.

Abstract: Disclosed is method for compensating for variation in the capacitance between multiple capacitive sensors. Prior to sensing operations, baseline capacitance values can be acquired for all sensors. A correction factor can be calculated based on such baseline values. During sensing operations (run-time), variations in capacitance from baseline values can be modified by appropriate correction factors. Sensitivity between sensors can thus be made more uniform.