An input device includes a fixed electrode, first and second movable electrodes, a first elastic member having a portion and being configured to deform so as to displace the portion of the first elastic member in accordance with a movement of the first movable electrode, a second elastic member having a portion and being configured to deform so as to displace the portion of the second elastic member in accordance with a movement of the second movable electrode, and a terminal configured to output a signal corresponding to a change in a capacitance between the first and second movable electrodes. The input device is responsible to various manipulations while not preventing a click feeling from being generated.

There is provided audio equipment that enables power supply and signal connection to a rotary operation unit in a non-contact manner. The audio equipment includes: the rotary operation unit rotatably supported in relation to an equipment body; an operation detecting section provided for the rotary operation unit and in which an electric load changes in response to a pressing operation; a power supplying section provided for the equipment body and configured to supply power to the operation detecting section in a non-contact manner; and a monitoring section configured to monitor the power supplied by the power supplying section to detect the user's operation from a change in the power.

An input device includes an operation unit to receive an operation, the operation unit including a magnetic member having a magnetic property, at least one load detection unit to detect a load on the operation unit and detect the load according to capacitance between a pair of conductors, a substrate on which an electrode as one of the pair of conductors of the load detection unit is arranged, and a drive unit including a coil to generate a magnetic field for driving the magnetic member. The coil is arranged on the substrate.

An example of a beverage dispenser includes a nozzle and a valve coupled upstream of the nozzle. A sensor is operable to detect an object within a detection zone and provide a signal representative of a distance between the object and the sensor. A controller is configured to receive the signal from the sensor. The controller is configured to determine a sub-zone from a plurality of sub-zones within the detection zone in which the object is located. The valve is controlled between an open condition to dispense the substance through the nozzle and a closed condition based upon the determined sub-zone.

An input device is an input device provided for a table including a placement surface on which an object can be placed, and includes: a sensor that includes a touch sensor of a capacitive type for receiving a touch input on the placement surface; and a controller that determines, based on a detection result from the sensor, whether to enable or disable the touch input received by the touch sensor.

A sensor apparatus for connection to a storage rack, the sensor comprising a body which defines a housing; a power source located within the housing; one or more impact and/or proximity sensors located within the housing and electrically connected to the power source; a processor located within the housing and electrically connected to the power source and the or each sensor; and a signal emitter located within the housing and electrically connected to the power source and the processor, wherein the signal emitter emits a signal in response to an activation signal from the processor.

A device with touch sensing includes a bracket, a pad disposed above one side of the bracket, the pad having a capacitance that varies as a touch is applied proximate to the device, and a sensing coil disposed below another side of the bracket that opposes the one side, with at least a portion of the sensing coil overlapping the pad.

An operator for controlling electrically adjustable furniture includes a housing and an actuation panel movably supported in the housing to form a cover body. A circuit board is provided in the housing, and a main control unit for detecting an actuation signal is provided on the circuit board. A first switch for generating a first actuation signal and a second switch for generating a second actuation signal are provided between the actuation panel and the main control unit, and a third switch for generating a third actuation signal is provided between a bottom wall of the housing and the main control unit. The main control unit issues a first command when simultaneously detecting the first actuation signal and the second actuation signal, and the main control unit issues a second command when simultaneously detecting the first actuation signal, the second actuation signal, and the third actuation signal.

A device for closing or opening two or more main switches of corresponding electrical power supply circuits of related electrical devices includes a plate having at least two capacitive touch contact areas , and a control circuit configured to control two or more additional switches so that, in the event that only one of the contact areas is touched, only the corresponding main switch is opened or closed, while in the event of a combined touching of at least two of the contact areas, one of the additional switches is opened or closed.

Switch having a first part and a second part. The switch is configured to activate in response to a switch sequence including activation of the first part followed by activation of the second part. One of the first and second parts includes a touch sensor and is configured to activate in response to a first switching method in which a user moves a digit along a predetermined digit path over the touch sensor. The other of the first and second parts is activatable in response to a second switching method different from the first switching method.