An optical dial device includes a base and a drum. In the base, optical sensing elements are disposed at a predetermined height along the circumference of the side surface of the base. The drum covers the base in a manner that is movable and rotatable relative to the base. The drum includes an opening and a reflective structure disposed along the circumference of the inner wall surface of the drum and located a first distance away from the opening. There is a spiral structure disposed along the circumference of the inner wall surface of the drum and located a second distance away from the opening. The spiral structure causes the distance between the inner wall surface of the drum and the side surface of the base to vary continuously along the circumference.

The present invention provides a push-type rotary switch having display function, comprising: a bearing seat having a signal producing unit and an IR interruption sensing signal producing unit, and a first signal being produced when pressing the signal producing unit, when a space between the IR reception end and the IR emission end is not interrupted, the circuit base emits a second signal; a rotating seat rotatably setting on the bearing seat, the signal producing unit being optionally pressed on the rotating seat; a key cap covering with the rotating seat, when the key cap is pushed, the key cap further presses the rotating seat, when the key cap is forced to rotate, the rotating seat correspondingly rotates, and the space between the IR reception end and the IR emission end is optionally interrupted when the key cap rotates; and a display being correspondingly set under the transparent wall.

An optical dial device includes a base and a drum. In the base, optical sensing elements are disposed at a predetermined height along the circumference of the side surface of the base. The drum covers the base in a manner that is movable and rotatable relative to the base. The drum includes an opening and a reflective structure disposed along the circumference of the inner wall surface of the drum and located a first distance away from the opening. There is a spiral structure disposed along the circumference of the inner wall surface of the drum and located a second distance away from the opening. The spiral structure causes the distance between the inner wall surface of the drum and the side surface of the base to vary continuously along the circumference.

A method and apparatus for ranging finding of signal transmitting devices is provided. The method of signal reception is digitally based only and does not require receivers that are analog measurement devices. Ranging can be achieved using a single pulse emitting device operating in range spaced relation with a minimum of a single signal transmitter and a single digital receiver and processing circuitry. In general a plurality of transmitting pulsed emitters may be ranged and positioned virtually simultaneously in 3-dimensions (XYZ coordinates) using a configuration of a plurality of digital receivers arranged in any fixed 3-dimensional configuration. Applications may involve at least one single transmitter to receiver design to determine range, or at least one transmitted reflecting signal off from an object to determine range.

An operator control device has a control panel with a user side facing a user and an inner side facing away from the user. The control panel has an operator control element region. A rotary knob is positioned on the user side of the control panel in the region of the operator control element region and can be rotated about a rotational axis. The rotary knob is detachably attached to the control panel and has an encoder block with a code section which is at a distance, changing along the circumferential direction, from a lower end side, facing the control panel, of the rotary knob. An optical sensor is arranged on the inner side of the control panel in the region of the operator control element region and is configured to sense a distance between the optical sensor and the code section of the encoder block by electromagnetic radiation.

A method and apparatus for ranging finding of signal transmitting devices is provided. The method of signal reception is digitally based only and does not require receivers that are analog measurement devices. Ranging can be achieved using a single pulse emitting device operating in range spaced relation with a minimum of a single signal transmitter and a single digital receiver and processing circuitry. In general a plurality of transmitting pulsed emitters may be ranged and positioned virtually simultaneously in 3-dimensions (XYZ coordinates) using a configuration of a plurality of digital receivers arranged in any fixed 3-dimensional configuration. Applications may involve at least one single transmitter to receiver design to determine range, or at least one transmitted reflecting signal off from an object to determine range.

A non-contact button assembly for a powered surgical instrument includes a light emitter, a rocker switch, and a button shaft. The rocker switch defines a through passage about a longitudinal axis of the button assembly. The button shaft is disposed within the through passage. The button shaft includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a flange positioned therebetween. The button shaft has a deactivated position such that the button shaft is configured to prevent light from the light emitter from illuminating a light detector and the button shaft has an activated position such that the button shaft is configured to permit light emitted from the light emitter to illuminate the light detector.

A no-contact switch is provided that is configured to change the state of a power converter in a photovoltaic system. The no-contact switch has a mechanical section that is movable from a first position to a second position and which may include a rotary dial or a sliding tab. The mechanical section may be mounted to and penetrate an enclosure. Each of the first and second positions may please a different area of the tab or dial in proximity to a sensor. The sensor may be placed in an interior of the enclosure, and may be configured to sense the change of position of the mechanical section. A controller may be configured to read the signal that the sensor outputs and, according to the signal, determine an electrical state of the power converter and/or change the state.

A method and apparatus for ranging finding of signal transmitting devices is provided. The method of signal reception is digitally based only and does not require receivers that are analog measurement devices. Ranging can be achieved using a single pulse emitting device operating in range spaced relation with a minimum of a single signal transmitter and a single digital receiver and processing circuitry. In general a plurality of transmitting pulsed emitters may be ranged and positioned virtually simultaneously in 3-dimensions (XYZ coordinates) using a configuration of a plurality of digital receivers arranged in any fixed 3-dimensional configuration. Applications may involve at least one single transmitter to receiver design to determine range, or at least one transmitted reflecting signal off from an object to determine range.

A digital camera is provided that includes a rotation operation member unit having a circumferential surface, a sheet fixed to the circumferential surface of the rotation operation member unit, and a photo reflector provided at a position facing the sheet that applies light to the sheet and detects the light reflected from the sheet. In the sheet, regions that reflect light to a level at which a photo reflector can detect the reflected light and regions that do not reflect the light are alternately formed. Additionally, a convex portion that is formed in the sheet in the rotation axis direction of the rotation operation member unit, and a concave portion that is formed in the rotation axis direction of the rotation operation member unit are engaged.