Readout Circuits for Capacitive Sensors.

The development of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) processes enables the integration of capacitive sensors into silicon integrated circuits. These sensors have been gaining considerable attention as a solution for mobile and internet of things (IoT) devices because of their low power consumption. In this study, we introduce the operating principle of representative capacitive sensors and discuss the major technical challenges, solutions, and future tasks for a capacitive readout system.

Contact Pressure Level Indication Using Stepped Output Tactile Sensors.

In this article, we report on a novel diaphragm-type tactile pressure sensor that produces stepwise output currents depending on varying low contact pressures. When contact pressures are applied to the stepped output tactile sensor (SOTS), the sensor's suspended diaphragm makes contact with the substrate, which completes a circuit by connecting resistive current paths. Then the contact area, and therefore the number of current paths, would determine the stepped output current produced.

High-Accuracy, Compact Scanning Method and Circuit for Resistive Sensor Arrays.

The zero-potential scanning circuit is widely used as read-out circuit for resistive sensor arrays because it removes a well known problem: crosstalk current. The zero-potential scanning circuit can be divided into two groups based on type of row drivers. One type is a row driver using digital buffers.

Fast vertical alignment mode with continuous multi-domains for a liquid crystal display.

We proposed a fast liquid crystal display (LCD) in a vertical alignment (VA) mode with continuous multi-domains for wide-viewing characteristics. The fast VA LCD was fabricated by the mixed vertical alignment layer with UV curable reactive mesogen (RM) polymer memorizing the switching directions of the LC molecules. The wide-viewing and fast response characteristics were obtained by axially symmetric switching directions and the memorization of them without any specific electrode patterns or surface structures.