Methods and apparatus provide for controlling an operating device, wherein the operating device includes: (i) a grip part to be gripped by a user; and (ii) an operation part for activation by a finger of the user gripping the grip part, where the operation part includes: (i) a movable part capable of moving from a resting position toward another position in response to a force applied by the finger of the user, (ii) a biasing element operating to urge the movable part toward the resting position, (iii) a sensor operating to measure the force applied by the finger of the user to the movable part and produce a sensing signal therefrom, and (iv) a motorized assembly operating to receive a drive signal, and in response, apply an amount of force to the movable part in opposition to the force applied by the finger of the user, and where the drive signal is a variable dependent on variations in the sensing signal, such that the amount of force applied to the movable part in opposition to the force applied by the finger of the user provides the user with haptic feedback.

Methods and apparatus provide for controlling an operating device, wherein the operating device includes: (i) a grip part to be gripped by a user; and (ii) an operation part for activation by a finger of the user gripping the grip part, where the operation part includes: (i) a movable part capable of moving from a resting position toward another position in response to a force applied by the finger of the user, (ii) a biasing element operating to urge the movable part toward the resting position, (iii) a sensor operating to measure the force applied by the finger of the user to the movable part and produce a sensing signal therefrom, and (iv) a motorized assembly operating to receive a drive signal, and in response, apply an amount of force to the movable part in opposition to the force applied by the finger of the user, and where the drive signal is a variable dependent on variations in the sensing signal, such that the amount of force applied to the movable part in opposition to the force applied by the finger of the user provides the user with haptic feedback.

The invention relates to a rotary control device for a vehicle comprising a user interface surface, in particular a knob, that is embodied to rotate with respect to a housing of the device around a rotational axis of the device, further comprising a sensor unit for monitoring the orientation and/or rotational movement of the user interface surface with respect to the housing, a processing unit, and a communications interface for transmitting control signals according to an output from the processing unit, said output being generated by the processing unit on the basis of sensor data from the sensor unit.

The invention relates to a rotary control device for a vehicle comprising a user interface surface, in particular a knob, that is embodied to rotate with respect to a housing of the device around a rotational axis of the device, further comprising a sensor unit for monitoring the orientation and/or rotational movement of the user interface surface with respect to the housing, a processing unit, and a communications interface for transmitting control signals according to an output from the processing unit, said output being generated by the processing unit on the basis of sensor data from the sensor unit.

Embodiments herein are directed to an emulator assembly. The assembly includes a housing with a cavity, a pedal arm, an elongated member, a carrier, an end plate and a compressible member. The pedal arm is at least partially received in the cavity and has a pedal pad on one end. The elongated member extends and couples to the pedal arm on one end and couples to a carrier on an opposite other end. The end plate is spaced apart from the carrier. The compressible member is positioned in the space between the carrier and the end plate. When the pedal pad is depressed, the elongated member moves the carrier in a direction towards the end plate which drives the carrier into the compressible member such that the compressible material compresses to generate a force feedback onto a foot positioned on the pedal pad.

Embodiments herein are directed to an emulator assembly. The assembly includes a housing with a cavity, a pedal arm, an elongated member, a carrier, an end plate and a compressible member. The pedal arm is at least partially received in the cavity and has a pedal pad on one end. The elongated member extends and couples to the pedal arm on one end and couples to a carrier on an opposite other end. The end plate is spaced apart from the carrier. The compressible member is positioned in the space between the carrier and the end plate. When the pedal pad is depressed, the elongated member moves the carrier in a direction towards the end plate which drives the carrier into the compressible member such that the compressible material compresses to generate a force feedback onto a foot positioned on the pedal pad.

An electronic throttle control pedal assembly includes a housing having a friction generating surface, a pedal arm, a spring carrier, and at least one spring. The pedal arm includes a hub portion and a friction generating member. The friction generating member has a lobe connected to a cross member and is positioned on a side surface of the hub portion. The cross member extends within the hub portion. The spring carrier has a friction generating portion. As the pedal arm is depressed, a portion of the spring carrier engages the friction generating portion against the cross member positioned within the hub aperture and pivotally engages a portion of the lobe of the friction generating member against the friction generating surface of the housing thereby creating at least two independent friction generating surfaces to create a hysteresis proportional to the depression of the pedal arm.

An operation device includes a movable member that is movable within a predetermined range, and a restriction member that is disposed in a state of being movable in a movable direction of the movable member, that restricts the movable range of the movable member by coming into contact with a contact surface of the movable member in the movable direction, and that can be switched between a state of being in contact with a first range of the contact surface and restricting the movable range of the movable member and a state of being in contact with a second range, the second range being different from the first range, of the contact surface and restricting the movable range of the movable member.

An operation device includes a movable member that is movable within a predetermined range, and a restriction member that is disposed in a state of being movable in a movable direction of the movable member, that restricts the movable range of the movable member by coming into contact with a contact surface of the movable member in the movable direction, and that can be switched between a state of being in contact with a first range of the contact surface and restricting the movable range of the movable member and a state of being in contact with a second range, the second range being different from the first range, of the contact surface and restricting the movable range of the movable member.

A switch device includes a knob, a support to support the knob to be movable in a linear direction, a switch main body to make electrical switching upon an operation of the knob, and a detent member to give a detent feeling to the operation on the knob. The knob, the switch main body and the detent member are serially arranged in the linear direction.