One general aspect includes a device control switch for a panel assembly, including: a switch base mounted to the panel assembly; a switch button tiltably mounted to the switch base, the switch button configured to tilt away from a default position relative to a horizontal axis, the switch button including a nib; a flexibend sensor fixed to a portion of the switch base, the flexibend sensor in substantial contact with the nib via spring force; and where slight tilting of the switch button away from the default position will cause the flexibend sensor to deflect and remain in substantial contact with the nib as the nib moves with the switch button relative to the horizontal axis.

A wall-mountable interactive device for displaying messages with photos and personalized information is provided. The large size of the display of the interactive device as well as the prominently presented colored buttons facilitates in providing living assistance to individuals in need of assisted living yet live independently. Each colored button provides straight forward functionality for the individual to communicate with a remote caregiver by way of wireless local area networking.

The invention relates to an operating device for a motor vehicle, comprising an operating element, which can be lowered by application of force; a snap dome arranged below the operating element for applying haptic feedback to the operating element when the snap dome is deformed by means of the operating element lowering; a blocking body made of an electroactive polymer arranged below the operating element and next to the snap dome, the shape of which blocking body can be altered depending on an electrical voltage applied thereto such that lowering of the operating element is blocked or lowering of the operating element for deforming the snap dome is enabled; a detection apparatus for detecting a contact position of a finger on the operating element; a control apparatus which is set up to adjust a voltage at the blocking body depending on the detected contact position of the finger. The invention further relates to a method for operating an operating device and to a motor vehicle comprising an operating device of this kind.

The invention addresses the problem of providing a pushbutton switch which can give a clear operation feeling to a person who performs a push operation, and in which the sharpness, accuracy, and brightness of an image output from a display can be increased as compared with those in the related art. A button accepts a pressing operation. Lenses focus and project an image output from a display on a diffuser plate on the top surface of the button 1. A holding member holds the lenses. Further, the holding member is configured of a combination of a spacer having a rib fitted to a rib receiver of the lens arranged on the top surface side among the lenses 15a to 15d, a spacer having a rib receiver fitted to a part of the lens arranged on the external display side, and an aperture film sandwiched between the spacer and the spacer. As a result, the above problem is resolved.

The invention consists of a new technology of grid design applicable to data entry electronic membranes or electronic pads, said design comprised of touch-sensitive sections having augmented areas, such areas being considerably larger than what has been usual in the prior art; thus when an electronic pad employing this technology connects to a voting machine, it becomes a convenient data entry peripheral for entering voting selections, depicting the available electoral options which are pre-printed on a paper sheet or template overlaying the membranes, thus mimicking a traditional voting means based on a paper ballot, and where the sensitive areas are ample enough, easy to press upon with a finger; and when any one touch-sensitive area corresponding to a preferred candidate or option is pressed, an adjacent LED indicator unique per each option is turned on, confirming the selection just made and guaranteeing high accuracy.

When an occupant has performed a specific operation that is an operation different to an input operation on a state switching section while in a state in which a display section capable of displaying information related to an input section is not displaying the information, a processor causes the information to be displayed on the display section and places the input section in an input enabled state in which the input operation is receivable. Moreover, when the occupant has not performed the specific operation on the state switching section while in state in which the information is not being displayed on the display section, the processor does not cause the information to be displayed on the display section and places the input section in an input disabled state in which the input operation is not receivable.

A luminous keyboard with a gaming function includes a gaming program, plural keys, plural light-emitting elements and a control unit. When one of the plural keys is pressed down, a corresponding pressing signal is generated. When one of the plural light-emitting elements is turned on to emit a light beam, the corresponding key is illuminated. The control unit is connected with the plural keys, the plural light-emitting elements and the gaming program. The control unit turns on or turns off the plural light-emitting elements according to settings of the gaming program. Alternatively, the control unit turns off the light-emitting element corresponding to the illuminated key when the control unit receives the pressing signal corresponding to the illuminated key. In such way, the luminous keyboard can be used to play a game.

A steering wheel input device includes a first steering switch disposed on a front face of a steering wheel and a second steering switch disposed on a rear face of the steering wheel. When the second steering switch is operated, an icon corresponding to the second steering switch is displayed on the first steering switch. The steering wheel input device allows various operations to be implemented. Furthermore, an operator can intuitively operate the steering wheel input device.

A keyboard includes a base plate, a pressure sensing layer, plural key structures, a circuit board, a flexible layer and a controlling unit. The pressure sensing layer is disposed on the base plate and located under the circuit board. The flexible layer is disposed on the pressure sensing layer and located under the circuit board. While a key structure is depressed, a part of the key structure is penetrated through the circuit board to press the flexible layer, and a force is transmitted from the flexible layer to the pressure sensing layer. The controlling unit compares the force with a predetermined force value. According to the comparing result, the controlling unit generates a corresponding pressure sensing signal. Consequently, the use of a single key structure can achieve the functions of multiple keys.

A keyboard includes a base plate, a pressure sensing layer, plural key structures, a circuit board, a flexible layer and a controlling unit. The pressure sensing layer is disposed on the base plate and located under the circuit board. The flexible layer is disposed on the pressure sensing layer and located under the circuit board. While a key structure is depressed, a part of the key structure is penetrated through the circuit board to press the flexible layer, and a force is transmitted from the flexible layer to the pressure sensing layer. The controlling unit compares the force with a predetermined force value. According to the comparing result, the controlling unit generates a corresponding pressure sensing signal. Consequently, the use of a single key structure can achieve the functions of multiple keys.