An operation device includes a support portion, a moving body operated by an operator and movably supported by the support portion, a detection unit that detects movement of the moving body, and contact portions respectively provided on the support portion and the moving body and brought into contact with each other. The contact portion of one of the support portion and the moving body has an elastic region that is first brought into contact with the contact portion of the other when the contact portions are brought into contact with each other and a rigid region provided adjacent to the elastic region and continuously brought into contact with the contact portion of the other following the contact of the elastic region to regulate the movement of the moving body.

A rotary button system for use in a domestic apparatus, comprising: a ferromagnetic plate; a button removably mountable at a predefined first distance from said ferromagnetic plate on a first side of said plate, and rotatable about a virtual rotation axis substantially perpendicular to said plate, and comprising a permanent magnet magnetised in a direction perpendicular to said rotation axis; and a magnetic sensor device mounted at a predefined second distance from said ferromagnetic plate on a second side of said plate opposite the first side, and comprising one or more magnetic sensors for measuring one or more magnetic field components or field gradients, and configured for determining an angular position of the rotary button based on said one or more field components and/or field gradients.

A rotary button system for use in a domestic apparatus, comprising: a ferromagnetic plate; a button removably mountable at a predefined first distance from said ferromagnetic plate on a first side of said plate, and rotatable about a virtual rotation axis substantially perpendicular to said plate, and comprising a permanent magnet magnetised in a direction perpendicular to said rotation axis; and a magnetic sensor device mounted at a predefined second distance from said ferromagnetic plate on a second side of said plate opposite the first side, and comprising one or more magnetic sensors for measuring one or more magnetic field components or field gradients, and configured for determining an angular position of the rotary button based on said one or more field components and/or field gradients.

A sensing system is provided. A processing system drives a first subset of sensor electrodes with a sensing signal and receives corresponding resulting signals. The processing system also drives a second subset of the sensor electrodes with a reference signal and a third subset of the sensor electrodes with a guard signal. A rotatable electronic device includes a first coupling electrode and a second coupling electrode. The second coupling electrode couples with and receives the reference signal from the second subset of the sensor electrodes. The rotatable electronic device also includes a conductive region that rotates relative to the first coupling electrode and the second coupling electrode. The resulting signals are affected based on the position of the conductive region relative to the first coupling electrode when the first coupling electrode is coupled with the first subset of the sensor electrodes.

A sensing system is provided. A processing system drives a first subset of sensor electrodes with a sensing signal and receives corresponding resulting signals. The processing system also drives a second subset of the sensor electrodes with a reference signal and a third subset of the sensor electrodes with a guard signal. A rotatable electronic device includes a first coupling electrode and a second coupling electrode. The second coupling electrode couples with and receives the reference signal from the second subset of the sensor electrodes. The rotatable electronic device also includes a conductive region that rotates relative to the first coupling electrode and the second coupling electrode. The resulting signals are affected based on the position of the conductive region relative to the first coupling electrode when the first coupling electrode is coupled with the first subset of the sensor electrodes.

An earbud device having a user interface that incorporates a rotary switch is described. The rotary switch is part of a stem that extends from the main body of the earbud, and can provide file selection and/or volume control functions. The interface can include a pressure switch, which can provide switching between on, off, and sleep modes. The pressure switch can also be positioned on the stem, and in some embodiments the rotary switch can also act as the pressure switch when pressed. In some embodiments the user interface can utilize a combination of rotary switch and pressure switch inputs.

A switch device (10) and method for generation of energy for operating the switch device (10), wherein the switch device (10) is provided with a drive unit (120) interacting with an actuation device operable by a user, and with a moving device (130) configured to be set in motion by the drive unit (120), and with an energy harvester (132, 140, 140a) for providing energy to the switch device (10) in dependence on a motion of the moving device (130), such that energy for commands or other operations is provided to the switch device (10). The moving device (130) is configured to be repeatedly repositioned in relation to a defined zero position, as long as it has kinetic energy, in order to provide kinetic energy which can be converted in electric energy by the energy harvester (132, 140, 140a). Such an electromechanical device for generating energy can ensure wireless operation of the switch device (10) without the need of batteries or any other kind of power supply.

A switch device (10) and method for generation of energy for operating the switch device (10), wherein the switch device (10) is provided with a drive unit (120) interacting with an actuation device operable by a user, and with a moving device (130) configured to be set in motion by the drive unit (120), and with an energy harvester (132, 140, 140a) for providing energy to the switch device (10) in dependence on a motion of the moving device (130), such that energy for commands or other operations is provided to the switch device (10). The moving device (130) is configured to be repeatedly repositioned in relation to a defined zero position, as long as it has kinetic energy, in order to provide kinetic energy which can be converted in electric energy by the energy harvester (132, 140, 140a). Such an electromechanical device for generating energy can ensure wireless operation of the switch device (10) without the need of batteries or any other kind of power supply.

An input device configured for enhancing the image formed on the vehicle may include a body; a light emitter provided on an upper side of the body; a light receiver provided at the upper side of the body to be spaced from the light emitter and configured to receive light irradiated from the light emitter to operate; a dial knob supported by the body and rotatable around a rotation axis of the dial knob in a response to a user's manipulation; a protruding portion protruding from a bottom portion of the dial knob between the light emitter and the light receiver to selectively transmit the light irradiated from the light emitter toward the light receiver according to a rotation of the dial knob; a motor connected to the dial knob and configured to rotate the dial knob; and a controller configured to control the motor based on whether the light receiver is operated.

A multifunctional selection operation switch apparatus includes: an operation member including multiple operated portions and capable of being rotationally operated, the operated portions being capable of selective contact operation; a rotational displacement detecting device capable of detecting rotational displacement of the operation member; an operation target detecting device capable of detecting on which of the operated portions contact operation is performed; and a controlling device outputting a command signal corresponding to the displacement and the one operated portion, based on detection results of the detecting devices. Accordingly, even if the operation member is a single member, multifunctional selection operation can be performed without difficulty by outputting, whenever necessary, a desired command from multiple operation commands. It is not necessary to mechanically and operatively connect the operation member and the operated portions by a structurally-complicated interlocking mechanism, thereby achieving reduction in the number of parts and cost.