Abstract: A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly and tuning the assembly. The assembly includes proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field to sense activation. The method of tuning includes generating an activation field with a proximity sensor, generating a signal in response to the activation field, detecting noise associated with the signal, and adjusting a parameter based on the detected noise, wherein the parameter is used to detect a proximity state such as activation of the proximity switch.

Abstract: Determination of phases of multiple stimulation signals to be simultaneously applied to a touch sensor panel is disclosed. A matrix may be determined that is invertible and has a gain greater than one, where each row of the matrix may represent a single step among multiple steps needed to compute values for generating an image of touch, each column of the matrix may represent a drive line of the touch sensor panel to be stimulated, and each element of the matrix may represent the phase of the stimulation signal to be applied to a particular drive line in a particular step. For each step, stimulation signals having phases in accordance with the matrix elements may be simultaneously applied to the drive lines of the touch sensor panel.

Abstract: A method of mitigating a phase shift in a mutual capacitance touch screen panel having a plurality of row conductors intersecting with a plurality of column conductors to form a matrix of pixels, the method comprising: driving the row conductors with row drive signals formed from an excitation matrix, wherein each row in the excitation matrix is orthogonal to every other row in the excitation matrix, and the excitation matrix has a dimension larger than the matrix of pixels; sensing signals from the column conductors; and determining the mutual capacitance of the pixels using the sensed signals and an inverse of the excitation matrix. The excitation matrix can be a Hadamard matrix or a modified Hadamard matrix and can comprise a cyclic extension at the end of each row. A different region-specific phase shift can be applied to different clusters of signals.

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 determines activation upon detection of a stable signal. The control circuit further determines a rate of change and generates an output when the rate of change exceeds a threshold rate to enable activation of a switch.

Abstract: A user interface features a single, generic input field configured to receive multiple types of available input information. In various embodiments, the generic input field of the interface may include a drop-down menu offering user selection from a plurality of available input types. The interface may reduce an amount of time consuming, error-prone manual activity required to navigate between, select, and enter data into multiple fields located in different regions of a screen. Embodiments may be particularly suited for interfaces with portable devices having small displays and cramped input environments (e.g. small keys, touchscreens, touchpads).

Abstract: An operation apparatus includes image capturing device capable of capturing images of a plurality of mark members provided in assembled members in a compartment; determining device capable of determining individually whether each of the mark members is or is not shielded on the basis of the image data taken and outputted by the image capturing device; and operation instructing device configured to output an operation command to on-board devices in accordance with a result of the determining by the determining device. Accordingly, it is easy for an operator to understand operational steps, thereby effectively preventing an erroneous operation due to the operator's misunderstanding. Furthermore, it is possible to simplify a determination logic of the operation instructing device, and also possible to easily provide a retrofitted option.

Abstract: A configurable touch sensitive keyboard system is used to adjust or control the interface to a computer or other electronic device, particularly, for disabled individuals. The configurable touch sensitive keyboard system includes a touch sensitive keyboard having touch sensitive regions and a keyboard overlay having symbols corresponding to the touch sensitive regions. The symbols can be visually recognizable symbols or tactually recognizable symbols, such as Braille characters. A keyguard template is disposed on the keyboard over the overlay and includes keyboard access regions spatially separated on the keyguard. The keyboard access regions on the keyguard help disabled individuals to locate the touch sensitive regions for activation. Keyboard access cover members are used to selectively cover the keyboard access regions and the symbols and corresponding touch sensitive regions.