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.

Provided are a rotary operating element which is rotated about an axis of a rotation shaft with an operator's finger when operating or stopping vehicle-mounted equipment mounted on a vehicle, a rotary encoder which detects displacement of rotation of the rotary operating element about the axis; and a housing which accommodates the rotary operating element and the rotary encoder and holds the rotary operating element so as to be relatively rotatable about the axis. The rotary operating element has an accommodating chamber in which the rotary encoder is accommodated.

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.

An electronic watch includes an input device capable of receiving rotational and translational inputs. The watch may include a crown positioned along an exterior of an enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The watch may include a tactile switch, and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs received at the crown. 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.

This shifting device is equipped with an operation unit that is operated for switching among a plurality of shift ranges of a transmission installed in a vehicle. The operation unit includes: a first operation portion that is operated by pressing; and a plurality of second operation portions that are arranged on either side of the first operation portion and are operated in different directions about their common turning axis.

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.

There is provided an operation device. An operation knob rotatable on an axial line, configured to include: a cylindrical base member extending in an axial direction; a cylindrical outer member disposed on an outer side in a radial direction of the base member; and an inner member disposed on an inner side in the radial direction of the base member. The cylindrical outer member has protruding parts extending inward in the radial direction and abutting on the inner member via through-holes formed through the base member in the radial direction.

A knob switch device includes a knob portion and a control circuit portion. The control circuit portion is electrically connected to an encoder and at least one switching component. The knob portion includes a knob configured to control the encoder, and further includes a trigger mechanism configured to trigger the switching component. The knob drives the trigger mechanism to trigger the switching component by an axial movement. The knob transforms a change in a mechanical rotation angle into an electrical signal, and the functional mode of the intelligent closestool is switched by pressing or pulling the knob in the axial direction. In this way, the multiple functions of the intelligent closestool are flexibly controlled by using a single knob, and the knob switch device has a compact and small structure, thereby shortening the distance between a person and the intelligent closestool.

A knob with internal switches can be installed on a gear shift to provide a driver with handy access to the switches while keeping a hand on the shifter. This can be very handy during four wheeling. A particular switch can be selected by rotating the lower section of the knob to the switch position for that switch. The selected switch can be activated or closed by pulling a spring loaded sliding piece up into the knob. A lockout position prevents the lower section from rotating while detents provide tactile guidance as to when the knob is in a switch position or the lockout position.

A switch device includes an operation unit, a switch unit detachably attached to the operation unit, and an engagement portion provided at the operation unit. The switch unit includes an opening-closing contact mechanism opened in association with an operation of the operation unit, and a drive portion driving the opening-closing contact mechanism to an open condition at a standby position and to a closed condition at a usage position. When the operation unit is attached to the switch unit, the engagement portion engages the drive portion to drive the drive portion from the standby position to the usage position. When the operation unit is inserted to the switch unit, the operation unit and the switch unit are engaged at the usage position.