# US 2014/0197852 A1 · System and method for evaluating a module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197852 A1 - Document ID: US20140197852A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/127,162 - Filed: 2012-06-12 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-21 - Assignees: Ams AG - Inventors: Jan Enenkel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197852A1 ## CPC - G01R 27/2605: {Measuring capacitance (capacitive sensors G01D5/24)} - H03K 17/962: {Capacitive touch switches} - H01H 2003/0293: {with an integrated touch switch} - H01H 2239/006: Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such - H03K 2217/960775: Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract In one embodiment, a system comprises a circuit arrangement (8) and a module (M) having a first mechanical switch (S1) and an electrode (E1). The circuit arrangement (8) has a terminal (9) that is connected to the module (M), a drive unit (A) that is connected to the terminal (9) and serves to provide a drive signal (Sa), a first evaluation unit (B) that is connected to the terminal (9) and serves for key detection, as well as a second evaluation unit (C) that is connected to the first evaluation unit (B) and serves for proximity detection. Therein the drive signal (Sa) is designed for driving an electrode (E1) of a capacitive proximity sensor in the module (M), the first evaluation unit (B) is designed to provide a touch signal (Sb) according to an actuation of the module (M) by a person, and the second evaluation unit (C) is designed to provide a proximity signal (Sc) according to an approach of a person to the module (M). Furthermore, a method for evaluating the module is disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, having a module (M) comprising a first mechanical switch (S1) and an electrode (E1), and a circuit arrangement (8) having a terminal (9) that is connected to the module (M), a drive unit (A) for providing a drive signal (Sa), the drive unit (A) being connected to the terminal (9), a first evaluation unit (B) for key detection, the first evaluation unit (B) being connected to the terminal (9), and a second evaluation unit (C) for proximity detection, the second evaluation unit (C) being connected to the first evaluation unit (B), wherein the drive signal (Sa) is designed for driving the electrode (E1) of the module (M) as an electrode (E1) of a capacitive proximity sensor, wherein the first evaluation unit (B) is designed to provide a touch signal (Sb) as a function of an actuation of the module (M) by a person, and wherein the second evaluation unit (C) is designed to provide a proximity signal (Sc) as a function of the approach of a person to the module (M), wherein one contact of the first switch (S1) of the module (M) is electrically connected to the electrode (E1) of the module (M), characterized in that the capacitive proximity sensor of the module (M) is realized in the form of the contact of the first switch (S1). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, with the circuit arrangement (8) furthermore having an interrupt generator (D) that is designed to provide an interrupt signal (Si) as a function of the proximity signal (Sc) and/or the touch signal (Sb). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) The system according to claim 1 or 2, with the circuit arrangement (8) furthermore having an additional terminal (11) that is designed to be connected to the module (M), wherein the second evaluation unit (C) is also connected to the additional terminal (11). ### Claim 4 (canceled) ### Claim 5 (canceled) ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2, 3) The system according to one of claims 1-3, wherein the first switch (S1) is implemented within the electrode (E1). ### Claim 7 (depends on 3, 6) The system according to one of claims 3 or 6, wherein the proximity signal (Sc) is provided as a function of a change of the value of a ground capacitance between the module (M) and a reference potential terminal (10). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the module (M) has a second mechanical switch (S2) that is coupled to the first and the second evaluation unit (B, C) of the circuit arrangement (8), as well as a second electrode (E2), and wherein one contact of the second switch (S2) is electrically connected to the second electrode (E2). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein the contact of the second switch (S2) forms the second electrode (E2). ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein the second switch (S2) is implemented within the second electrode (E2). ### Claim 11 (depends on 8, 9, 10) The system according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the proximity signal (Sc) is provided as a function of a change of a value of a transmit-receive capacitance between the first switch (S1) and the second switch (S2) or between the first electrode (E1) and the second electrode (E2) of the module (M). ### Claim 12 (depends on 8, 9, 10, 11) The system according to one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the touch signal (Sb) is provided as a function of an actuation of the second switch (S2) by a person. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) The system according to one of claims 8 to 12, furthermore comprising a third mechanical switch (S3) that is arranged within the first electrode (E1) of the module (M) and connected to the reference potential terminal (10) via a resistor (R3), and a fourth mechanical switch (S4) that is arranged within the second electrode (E2) of the module (M) and connected to the reference potential terminal (10) via an additional resistor (R4), wherein the touch signal (Sc) is provided as a function of an activation of the third and/or fourth switch (S3, S4) by a person. ### Claim 14 A method for evaluating a module with a first mechanical switch and an electrode, comprising the following steps: feeding a drive signal (Sa) to an electrode (E1) of the module in order to drive the electrode as an electrode of a capacitive proximity sensor, detecting a change of a capacitance value (Sk) on the module as a function of an approach of a person to the module (M), providing a proximity signal (Sc) as a function of the change of the capacitance value (Sk), detecting a change of an amplitude of a current signal (I) on the module as a function of an actuation of the module (M) by a person, and providing a touch signal (Sc) as a function of the amplitude change of the current signal (I), wherein one contact of the first switch (S1) of the module (M) is electrically connected to the electrode (E1) of the module (M), and wherein the capacitive proximity sensor of the module (M) is realized in the form of the contact of the first switch (S1).