It is enabled to facilitate fine adjustment of power as well as reduction of the amount of movement required to maximize the power. An actuator 13 is moved by operation of a user. A pressure sensitive sensor 15 detects applied pressing force. A pressing member 14 presses the pressure sensitive sensor 15. When the amount of movement of the actuator 13 is smaller than a predetermined amount, the pressing member 14 presses the pressure sensitive sensor 15 to apply force corresponding to the amount of movement of the actuator 13. When the amount of movement of the actuator 13 is not smaller than the predetermined amount, the pressing member 14 presses the pressure sensitive sensor 15 to apply force corresponding to pressing force applied to the actuator 13 by the user.

A control switch (110) is provided to facilitate a primary user interface for a control top surface (106) of a non-orthogonal control top (102) of a portable communication device (100). The control switch (110) comprises a thumb button actuator (112), a rotary lever (220) having a lever arm (222) extending therefrom, a transfer arm (202) coupled between the thumb button actuator and the lever arm of the rotary lever, and an electrical rotary switch (204) with a switch shaft (224) providing a primary axis of orthogonal rotation. Actuation of the thumb button actuator (112) results in linear, non-orthogonal motion of the transfer arm (202) being translated into rotary motion of the switch shaft (224) about the primary axis of orthogonal rotation (205).

A control switch (110) is provided to facilitate a primary user interface for a control top surface (106) of a non-orthogonal control top (102) of a portable communication device (100). The control switch (110) comprises a thumb button actuator (112), a rotary lever (220) having a lever arm (222) extending therefrom, a transfer arm (202) coupled between the thumb button actuator and the lever arm of the rotary lever, and an electrical rotary switch (204) with a switch shaft (224) providing a primary axis of orthogonal rotation. Actuation of the thumb button actuator (112) results in linear, non-orthogonal motion of the transfer arm (202) being translated into rotary motion of the switch shaft (224) about the primary axis of orthogonal rotation (205).

A lever input device includes: a lever which is tiltable in a first direction orthogonal to an axis of the lever about the axis due to an operation by a user; a swing arm which engages with the lever and swings along with the tilting of the lever in the first direction and amplifies a displacement amount of the lever at the time of tilting; and a magnet body mounted on the swing arm, wherein the swing arm is elongated along a second direction which is a direction along the axis, is configured such that distance (D13) between a swing fulcrum and a mounting portion of the magnet body becomes larger than distance (D12) between the swing fulcrum of the swing arm and an engaging portion of the swing arm with the lever.

A lever input device includes: a lever which is tiltable in a first direction orthogonal to an axis of the lever about the axis due to an operation by a user; a swing arm which engages with the lever and swings along with the tilting of the lever in the first direction and amplifies a displacement amount of the lever at the time of tilting; and a magnet body mounted on the swing arm, wherein the swing arm is elongated along a second direction which is a direction along the axis, is configured such that distance (D13) between a swing fulcrum and a mounting portion of the magnet body becomes larger than distance (D12) between the swing fulcrum of the swing arm and an engaging portion of the swing arm with the lever.

A linear-travel mechanical switch for use in a headphone device comprises a user button attached to a plunger. The plunger extends into a body of the headphone device. A travel pathway extends in a first linear direction from the plunger and in a second, opposite linear direction from the plunger. At least one bias device is integrated into the linear-travel mechanical switch. The at least one bias device biasing the plunger to a middle position along the travel pathway. A plunger button is located such that depressing the user button engages the plunger button. A first button is located such that a movement of the user button along the travel pathway in the first linear direction engages the first button. A second button is located such that a movement of the user button long the travel pathway in the second, opposite linear direction engages the second button.

A lighting control console for controlling a lighting system includes digital adjusting commands being generated in the lighting control console that are transmitted to the lighting system via data links. The lighting control console includes at least one slide control for inputting operating commands via linear displacement of a control knob protruding from the upper side of the console housing. The upper side of the console housing includes a slit for each slide control. The control knob is connected to the slide control via the slit. A tactile sensor system provided at the slide control can detect when the user touches the control knob.

A lighting control console for controlling a lighting system includes digital adjusting commands being generated in the lighting control console that are transmitted to the lighting system via data links. The lighting control console includes at least one slide control for inputting operating commands via linear displacement of a control knob protruding from the upper side of the console housing. The upper side of the console housing includes a slit for each slide control. The control knob is connected to the slide control via the slit. A tactile sensor system provided at the slide control can detect when the user touches the control knob.

It is enabled to facilitate fine adjustment of power as well as reduction of the amount of movement required to maximize the power. An actuator 13 is moved by operation of a user. A pressure sensitive sensor 15 detects applied pressing force. A pressing member 14 presses the pressure sensitive sensor 15. When the amount of movement of the actuator 13 is smaller than a predetermined amount, the pressing member 14 presses the pressure sensitive sensor 15 to apply force corresponding to the amount of movement of the actuator 13. When the amount of movement of the actuator 13 is not smaller than the predetermined amount, the pressing member 14 presses the pressure sensitive sensor 15 to apply force corresponding to pressing force applied to the actuator 13 by the user.

It is enabled to facilitate fine adjustment of power as well as reduction of the amount of movement required to maximize the power. An actuator 13 is moved by operation of a user. A pressure sensitive sensor 15 detects applied pressing force. A pressing member 14 presses the pressure sensitive sensor 15. When the amount of movement of the actuator 13 is smaller than a predetermined amount, the pressing member 14 presses the pressure sensitive sensor 15 to apply force corresponding to the amount of movement of the actuator 13. When the amount of movement of the actuator 13 is not smaller than the predetermined amount, the pressing member 14 presses the pressure sensitive sensor 15 to apply force corresponding to pressing force applied to the actuator 13 by the user.