An operation knob apparatus includes a base a conductive transmitting member, an operation member that brings the transmitting member near to and away from a display panel, and a stabilizer disposed between the bases and the operation member. The stabilizer includes a main body, a pair of arms connected to respective ends of the main body, and a pair of base portions and connected to the respective arms. One of the base and the operation member has a holding portion configured to rotatably hold the main body, and the other has a pair of holding grooves respectively configured to slidably and rotatably hold the base portions.

An input device has a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode. The second electrode opposes to the first electrode while being spaced apart therefrom. The third electrode is spaced apart from the first electrode and rotatably or slidably provided relative to the second electrode. By the third electrode being brought into contact with or spaced apart from the second electrode, an electrical state between the first electrode and the second electrode changes. Based on this electrical change, a rotary manipulation or a slide manipulation is detected.

An input device includes a switch, light sources, and a light guide body. The switch is configured to switch between ON and OFF by being pressed. The light sources include a first light source and a second light source disposed at a position different from a position of the first light source. The light guide body guides a light emitted from the light sources in an opposite direction opposite from a pressing direction of the switch. The light guide body includes an output section, a first light guide leg section, and a second light guide leg section. The output section outputs the light emitted from the light sources in the opposite direction. The first light guide leg section is connected to the output section and guides the first light emitted by the first light source to the output section. The second light guide leg section is connected to the output section and guides the second light emitted by the second light source to output section. The output section includes a first design configured to emit light by reflecting the first light in the opposite direction and a second design configured to emit light by reflecting the second light in the opposite direction.

One embodiment of the disclosure includes an input module. The input module includes a switch, a rotatable and translatable input member operably connected to the switch and configured to actuate the switch, and an electrical contact operably connected to the switch and in electrical communication with the input member. During operation, the electrical connection between the input member and the electrical contact is maintained during translation and rotation of the input member. The input module may be used with a variety of electronic devices and can be used by a user to provide input to those devices.

An electronic watch may include a tactile switch and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs. The watch may include a display configured to produce graphical outputs that may change in response to rotational inputs, translational inputs, and/or touch inputs received at the display. The watch include a crown positioned along an exterior of the watch enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The tactile switch and/or the one or more sensors may be used to detect rotational and/or translational inputs provided at the crown.

A magnetic thumbstick device including a manual actuator assembly, a restorative element, a base assembly, one or more magnets, and one or more magnetic sensors is disclosed. The magnetic sensor is positioned to measure magnetic fields generated by movement of the magnet, which may be disposed in the manual actuator assembly, and sensed by the magnetic sensor, which may be disposed in the base assembly. These magnetic field signals may then be provided to a processing element where they may be used to determine position and/or motion of the magnet in relation to the magnetic sensor. The processing element may further generate output signals or commands usable by an electronic computing system such as personal computer, cellular phone, video game console, or other device.

In a power seat operation device, a micro switch is attached inside a dial that is rotatably provided to a side face of a power seat. An opening is formed inside the dial, with an operation portion of a knob to operate the micro switch inserted through the opening. There is accordingly a possibility that liquid might infiltrate into the dial, however a channel is formed inside the dial by the dial and the knob. The channel lets liquid flow downward to the lower side of the micro switch so as to discharge the liquid to outside the dial in cases in which liquid has infiltrated into the dial through the opening in a state in which the opening is positioned at the upper side of the micro switch. The channel is partitioned from the micro switch, enabling flow of liquid to the micro switch to be prevented or suppressed.

In a power seat operation device, a micro switch is attached inside a dial that is rotatably provided to a side face of a power seat. An opening is formed inside the dial, with an operation portion of a knob to operate the micro switch inserted through the opening. There is accordingly a possibility that liquid might infiltrate into the dial, however a channel is formed inside the dial by the dial and the knob. The channel lets liquid flow downward to the lower side of the micro switch so as to discharge the liquid to outside the dial in cases in which liquid has infiltrated into the dial through the opening in a state in which the opening is positioned at the upper side of the micro switch. The channel is partitioned from the micro switch, enabling flow of liquid to the micro switch to be prevented or suppressed.

An operating device includes: an operating section that rotates about a predetermined axis; and a shaft part to move integrally with the operating section. The shaft part has a first end and a second end projected in directions opposite from each other along the axis. A guide regulates movement of the shaft part in a radial direction. A first regulation part specifies a position of the shaft part in a thrust direction by contacting the first end of the shaft part. A second regulation part is press-contacted to the second end, such that the first end of the shaft part is made to contact the first regulation part. A locking part is arranged integrally with the second regulation part, and restricts the shaft part from separating from the guide, by contacting the second end.

A switch mechanism for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The switch mechanism may comprise a slide within a carrier, at least one pin movable within the slide to center the slide in the carrier and a spring to move the pin within the slide. The pin may comprise a protrusion movable against the slide to guide pin movement. The slide may comprise a rib; the protrusion may slide against the rib to guide pin movement. The rib may comprise two ribs; the protrusion may move between the two ribs. The spring may be contained within an opening in the slide; the rib may extend beyond the opening. The pin may comprise first and second guides to slide along first and second slide walls to guide pin movement. The vehicle interior component may be at least one of a console, an overhead console, a vehicle system actuator, a sunroof actuator.