A touch and force sensitive rocker switch or button array for a portable electronic device can include multiple dome switches or force sensors, as well as a capacitive sensing surface that can detect finger location and swipes. A cosmetic surface can cover the entire elongated switch/button and portions of device housing proximate the button, and can be configured to transfer each of multiple types of input there through to the button and also provide a seal to the device housing interior. The cosmetic surface can be a flexible polymer to allow local deformation, and/or the entire surface can tilt or bend to permit inputs to transfer there through. The elongated button/switch can be raised from a surface of the device, and can be located along a side of the device, with a front face of the device being a touchscreen, such as for a smart phone or watch.

An RFID tag is provided with an RFID chip and an antenna and interactive switch electrically coupled to the RFID chip. When a user physically interacts with the switch (such as by pressing the switch with a finger), the antenna transmits an input signal to an RFID reader of an RFID-based control system. The RFID reader, in turn, transmits a control signal to an electronic device for controlling the device. The RFID tag may be incorporated into any of a number of devices, such as a keyboard or article of clothing, and can function to operate a variety of electronic devices, including audio-visual devices and gaming systems.

Disclosed herein are optical stacks that are stable to light exposure by incorporating one or more UV-blocking layers.

A motor vehicle operating device (10) for an interior of a motor vehicle has an operating surface (26) which has a plurality of switching symbols (28) displayed thereon, each of which having a touch sensor (38) associated therewith. The touch sensors (38) are each configured to detect an approach to and/or a touch of the operating surface (26). The motor vehicle operating device (10) further comprises a plurality of pressure sensors (40) which are associated with the switching symbols (28), the number of pressure sensors (40) being smaller than the number of touch sensors (38).

The invention relates to a vehicle (2) comprising: a chassis (4) which is supported on wheels (6, 8) such that it can be driven in a direction of travel (5) for carrying a driver, a steering element (16) for the driver to specify the direction of travel (6), a reproduction element (48) which is arranged in the field of view of the driver in front of said driver when viewed in the direction of travel, and which is designed to display a menu (50) containing a number of menu elements (52) which are arranged to form a grid, and an input interface (36) comprising a pressure plate (40) which is arranged on the steering element (16) comprising a top side (42) and a bottom side which is situated opposite the top side (42), wherein a number of segments (44) which are arranged to form the grid (46) and can be detected in a haptic manner are formed on the top side (42) of the pressure plate (40), and wherein the number of the menu elements (52) corresponds to the number of segments (44) which can be detected in a haptic manner, so that one segment (44), which can be detected in a haptic manner, on the pressure plate (40) is assigned to each menu element (52) of the menu (50).

A trigger assembly, for use with a power tool having an electric motor, includes a trigger, a conductor coupled for movement with the trigger, and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has an inductive sensor thereon responsive to relative movement between the conductor and the inductive sensor caused by movement of the trigger. An output of the inductive sensor is used to activate the electric motor.

A multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor includes a sensor unit configured to detect whether each of plural optical axes formed between a projection unit and a light receiving unit is in a light shielding state, the sensor unit including the projection unit and the light receiving unit, the projection unit including plural projection elements, the light receiving unit including plural light receiving elements disposed opposite the plural projection elements. The multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor also includes a control unit that controls the light receiving unit, communication cables of plural signal wirings through which a signal is input to and output from the control unit, and a communicator that conducts communication between the control unit and an external device through a common wiring sharing one of the communication cables with a communication wiring.

A control device includes an exterior panel comprising multiple regions, including a groove region and a surrounding region that surrounds the groove region. The control device further includes a sensor layer comprising one or more sensors to detect touch inputs performed on the groove region and the surrounding region of the exterior panel. The control device further includes a control module configured to operate a plurality of devices. The control module is configured to detect a first touch input performed by a user on the groove region and a second touch input performed on the surrounding region. Based at least in part on the location of the touch inputs the control module operates respective devices of the plurality of devices.

A control device having an exterior panel and a control module, where the control module includes a sensor layer, and the exterior panel overlays the sensor layer. The control module is configured to determine one or more characteristics of a touch input, and to select a scene based at least in part on the one or more determined characteristics of the touch input. The control module further controls an operational aspect of each device of the set in accordance with the selected scene.

A trigger assembly, for use with a power tool having an electric motor, includes a trigger, a conductor coupled for movement with the trigger, and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has an inductive sensor thereon responsive to relative movement between the conductor and the inductive sensor caused by movement of the trigger. An output of the inductive sensor is used to activate the electric motor.