A seat belt fastened/unfastened state detection switch includes: a printed substrate that includes a circuit for detecting a fastened/unfastened state of a seat belt; a rotor that is rotatably attached to the printed substrate, includes a contact portion, the contact portion coming into contact with a tongue of the seat belt, and rotates in a forward direction in accordance with pushing of the tongue into a buckle; a spring that makes the rotor, the rotor being in a rotated state in the forward direction, rotate in a reverse direction in accordance with pulling of the tongue from the buckle; and an electric brush that is attached to a surface of the rotor, the surface facing the printed substrate, and includes a leg portion whose contact/non-contact state with respect to a conductive part of the circuit changes depending on a rotation state of the rotor.

A knob assembly includes a front panel, a knob located at a front side of the front panel and configured to rotate based on operation by a user, a knob shaft that is coupled to the knob and that extends through the front panel, a supporting pipe that receives the knob shaft and that supports the knob shaft, the supporting pipe being configured to maintain a position relative to the front panel, a valve configured to control supply of gas to the appliance, a valve shaft connected to the valve and configured to control the valve to adjust a flow rate of gas based on rotation of the valve shaft, and a joint that couples the knob shaft to the valve shaft and that is configured to transfer at least one of a rotational motion or a linear motion of the knob shaft to the valve shaft.

A knob assembly includes a front panel, a knob located at a front side of the front panel and configured to rotate based on operation by a user, a knob shaft that is coupled to the knob and that extends through the front panel, a supporting pipe that receives the knob shaft and that supports the knob shaft, the supporting pipe being configured to maintain a position relative to the front panel, a valve configured to control supply of gas to the appliance, a valve shaft connected to the valve and configured to control the valve to adjust a flow rate of gas based on rotation of the valve shaft, and a joint that couples the knob shaft to the valve shaft and that is configured to transfer at least one of a rotational motion or a linear motion of the knob shaft to the valve shaft.

A seat belt fastened/unfastened state detection switch includes: a printed substrate that includes a circuit for detecting a fastened/unfastened state of a seat belt; a rotor that is rotatably attached to the printed substrate, includes a contact portion, the contact portion coming into contact with a tongue of the seat belt, and rotates in a forward direction in accordance with pushing of the tongue into a buckle; a spring that makes the rotor, the rotor being in a rotated state in the forward direction, rotate in a reverse direction in accordance with pulling of the tongue from the buckle; and an electric brush that is attached to a surface of the rotor, the surface facing the printed substrate, and includes a leg portion whose contact/non-contact state with respect to a conductive part of the circuit changes depending on a rotation state of the rotor.

A knob assembly includes a front panel, a knob located at a front side of the front panel and configured to rotate based on operation by a user, a knob shaft that is coupled to the knob and that extends through the front panel, a supporting pipe that receives the knob shaft and that supports the knob shaft, the supporting pipe being configured to maintain a position relative to the front panel, a valve configured to control supply of gas to the appliance, a valve shaft connected to the valve and configured to control the valve to adjust a flow rate of gas based on rotation of the valve shaft, and a joint that couples the knob shaft to the valve shaft and that is configured to transfer at least one of a rotational motion or a linear motion of the knob shaft to the valve shaft.

An apparatus and method for restricting the rotation of a dial control knob on the high setting of an electric cooking range using one of three methods. The first method adds a detent stop internally to the switch. The second method adds a detent stop externally attaching to the control panel behind the top burner knob. Both of the aforementioned methods are designed to prevent rotation of the control knob to a maximum of 227° rotation. A third limits the on/off cycling of the top element switch while in operation to reduce the overall output of the switch.

An apparatus and method for restricting the rotation of a dial control knob on the high setting of an electric cooking range using one of three methods. The first method adds a detent stop internally to the switch. The second method adds a detent stop externally attaching to the control panel behind the top burner knob. Both of the aforementioned methods are designed to prevent rotation of the control knob to a maximum of 227° rotation. A third limits the on/off cycling of the top element switch while in operation to reduce the overall output of the switch.

A switch assembly for engaging a switch of an electronic device includes a rotatable knob having an axis of rotation, a pin mechanism engaged with the rotatable knob, and a slider body. The pin mechanism includes a pin, the pin being offset from the axis of rotation of the rotatable knob. The slider body is shaped to include a slot in which the pin of the pin mechanism is positioned and a switch recess shaped to receive and selectively contact the switch of the electronic device. Rotation of the rotatable knob in a first direction causes the slider body toward contact with a first portion of the switch to urge the switch into a first position, and rotation of the rotatable knob in a second direction causes the slider body toward contact with a second portion of the switch to urge the switch into a second position.

Keyboards, input devices, and related systems include key mechanisms with keycaps and actuators that provide adjustable feedback in response to user input. The actuators are controllable to provide variable tactile force or audible feedback that is dependent upon the user input. Encoders are able to transduce a location or relative position of a keycap as it is being pressed over time, and a signal is provided to actuators to cause them to provide feedback corresponding to the position of the keycap as it moves. The feedback can change the feel or sound of the keycap based on the keycap positions, time of operation, velocity, user identity, and other factors. Thus, the feel or sound of a keyboard or related input device can be adjusted electronically for efficient testing and increased user customization and feedback modes.

A switch assembly for engaging a switch of an electronic device includes a rotatable knob having an axis of rotation, a pin mechanism engaged with the rotatable knob, and a slider body. The pin mechanism includes a pin, the pin being offset from the axis of rotation of the rotatable knob. The slider body is shaped to include a slot in which the pin of the pin mechanism is positioned and a switch recess shaped to receive and selectively contact the switch of the electronic device. Rotation of the rotatable knob in a first direction causes the slider body toward contact with a first portion of the switch to urge the switch into a first position, and rotation of the rotatable knob in a second direction causes the slider body toward contact with a second portion of the switch to urge the switch into a second position.