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.

An hand-operated safety switch with time delay (1) comprises a switching device (2) adapted to be anchored to a fixed part of the protection and provided with switching means (5) adapted to be connected to a plant to be controlled, an operating device (3) adapted to be anchored to a movable part of the protection for interacting with the switching means (5) upon the closing of the movable part. The switching device (2) comprises a locking mechanism (9) associated with the switching means (5) and adapted to selectively hold/release the operating device (3) and hand-operable unlocking means (10) operatively coupled with the locking mechanism (9) for unlocking the operating device (3) with a predetermined time delay with respect of the switching of the power supply circuit by the switching means (5). The switching device (2) has sensor means (13) operatively coupled with the switching means (5) for modifying their operative condition in function of an inlet signal. The operating device (3) also comprises a transmitter (14) adapted to send a proximity signal to be received as input by the sensor means (13) for controlling the switching means (5) when said transmitter (14) is place at a predetermined minimum distance from the sensor means (13). The locking mechanism (9) also comprises an inner passage (29) adapted to allow the passage of means for connecting the sensor means (13) with the switching means (5) avoiding the interference with the unlocking means (10).

An hand-operated safety switch with time delay (1) comprises a switching device (2) adapted to be anchored to a fixed part of the protection and provided with switching means (5) adapted to be connected to a plant to be controlled, an operating device (3) adapted to be anchored to a movable part of the protection for interacting with the switching means (5) upon the closing of the movable part. The switching device (2) comprises a locking mechanism (9) associated with the switching means (5) and adapted to selectively hold/release the operating device (3) and hand-operable unlocking means (10) operatively coupled with the locking mechanism (9) for unlocking the operating device (3) with a predetermined time delay with respect of the switching of the power supply circuit by the switching means (5). The switching device (2) has sensor means (13) operatively coupled with the switching means (5) for modifying their operative condition in function of an inlet signal. The operating device (3) also comprises a transmitter (14) adapted to send a proximity signal to be received as input by the sensor means (13) for controlling the switching means (5) when said transmitter (14) is place at a predetermined minimum distance from the sensor means (13). The locking mechanism (9) also comprises an inner passage (29) adapted to allow the passage of means for connecting the sensor means (13) with the switching means (5) avoiding the interference with the unlocking means (10).

A sensor device comprising at least a first substrate, a capacitive sensor for recording the approach of an object, a piezoelectric sensor for recording a pressure, wherein the capacitive sensor is arranged on a first side of the first substrate and the piezoelectric sensor is arranged on a second side of the first substrate, wherein the second side is opposite the first side, or wherein the capacitive sensor and the piezoelectric sensor are arranged on the same side of the substrate.

A control method for a user interface system may include receiving an input signal, receiving a temperature signal indicative of a temperature, generating a baseline signal based on at least one among the input signal and the temperature signal, calculating an error signal based on a difference of the input signal and the baseline signal, and modifying the baseline signal based on the error signal.

A control circuit controls a two-wire resistive touch panel. The two-wire resistive touch panel includes a first region and a second region which are adjacent to each other in a coordinate axis direction (X direction), and the first region has resistance per unit length lower than resistance per unit length of the second region. A measurement unit measures an electric signal having a correlation with impedance between two wires which are lead out from the resistive touch panel. A processing unit (i) determines that the first region is touched when the electric signal or the impedance obtained from the electric signal is included in a predetermined first range, (ii) determines that the second region is touched when the electric signal or the impedance obtained from the electric signal is included in a predetermined second range, and generates a touched coordinate.

The operating unit for a vehicle comprises a housing with an operating element on the front side, wherein the operating element has a display with a display surface and a cover plate, which defines an operating surface of the operating element, and has at least one projection region projecting laterally over the display, and is elastically laterally moveably mounted on and/or in the housing. An actuator is arranged below the cover plate, said actuator having a drive and a control element driven by the drive. The operating unit is also provided with an elastic actuation arm which protrudes from the cover plate and which is mechanically acted upon by the control element of the actuator at a force application point of the actuation arm. The actuation arm has a displacement portion, reaching between the cover plate and the force application point, for laterally shifting the cover plate, and is extended from the displacement portion thereof beyond the force application point, as well as being provided with an extension portion, within which the actuation arm is elastically and mechanically fixed.

The operating unit for a vehicle comprises a housing with an operating element on the front side, wherein the operating element has a display with a display surface and a cover plate, which defines an operating surface of the operating element, and has at least one projection region projecting laterally over the display, and is elastically laterally moveably mounted on and/or in the housing. An actuator is arranged below the cover plate, said actuator having a drive and a control element driven by the drive. The operating unit is also provided with an elastic actuation arm which protrudes from the cover plate and which is mechanically acted upon by the control element of the actuator at a force application point of the actuation arm. The actuation arm has a displacement portion, reaching between the cover plate and the force application point, for laterally shifting the cover plate, and is extended from the displacement portion thereof beyond the force application point, as well as being provided with an extension portion, within which the actuation arm is elastically and mechanically fixed.

Mounting an agent on a cover of on an enclosure of an electronic device such that changing a physical location of the cover changes a location of the agent. In response to a change in the physical location of the cover, detecting a change in location of the agent with a sensor. Reading a transmitted signal from the sensor by a controller and changing a status of the electronic device according to instructions from the controller, the instructions being configured according to the transmitted signal of the sensor.

A switch device includes an operating knob to receive switch operations for plural devices to be controlled, a detection unit attached to the operating knob to detect an operation position on the operating knob, a housing displaceably supporting the operating knob, and a control unit to control at least one of the plural devices to be controlled in response to the operation position detected by the detection unit. The control unit identifies the at least one device to be controlled in response to a displacement state of the operating knob.