A rotary controller for a vehicle apparatus such as an infotainment system has at least two operating elements which are arranged at a spacing from one another in a direction of extent of an axis of rotation of the rotary controller. The rotary controller has a receptacle on which the operating elements are mounted along with a plurality of contact-sensitive sensor elements. Each sensor element associated with a respective operating element to detect a rotational movement about the axis of rotation when a user manually contacts the respective operating element.

An input detection system includes a plurality of electrodes arrayed in a detection region, and an input support device including an LC circuit, a first electrode coupled to one end side of the LC circuit, a second electrode coupled to another end side of the LC circuit, and a housing accommodating therein at least the LC circuit. The input support device is disposed overlapping with a plurality of the electrodes, the housing is a conductor, the LC circuit includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor coupled in series between the one end side and the other end side of the LC circuit, and a coupling portion between the first capacitor and the second capacitor is coupled to the housing.

A rotary knob having (inter alia, adjustable) a coupling electrode and capacitive coupling devices for placing on a touch screen is provided. Depending on the position of the rotary knob or of the coupling electrode, contact of a corresponding partial region of the touchscreen is detected. The rotary knob is designed detect and ignore disturbing influences such as drops of water.

A converter and a method of manufacturing a converter. The converter includes electrical components and a cover enclosing a first group of the electrical components of the converter, wherein a second group of the electrical components are printed electrical components which are embedded in the cover of the converter. The cover of the converter includes a user interface, and the user interface includes printed electrical components from the second group of electrical components.

An input apparatus includes a casing having an operation surface, an opposite surface, a side surface, and an inner space, a substrate disposed along the opposite surface in the inner space, a top-surface-operation detecting unit including a first electrode pattern on the upper surface of the substrate, the top-surface-operation detecting unit detecting a change in electrostatic capacitance of the first electrode pattern caused by capacitive coupling to an operating body that comes close to or into contact with the operation surface, a side-surface-operation detecting unit on the side surface of the substrate, below the top-surface-operation detecting unit, the side-surface-operation detecting unit detecting a change in electrostatic capacitance caused according to a side surface operation performed on the side surface of the casing by the operating body, and a control unit that outputs an operation signal based on detection results of the top-surface-operation detecting unit and the side-surface-operation detecting unit.

In a method for operating an operating device for a household appliance, an operating element of the operating device is actuated with a first actuation type from a first resting position to a first operating position to set a first function of the household appliance. A setting parameter of a second function of the household appliance is set by actuating the operating element with a second type of actuation different from the first type of actuation from a second resting position into at least one of a plurality of intermediate positions of the operating element. The first function of the household appliance is actuated in response to a sensing of a first capacitance value of the operating device, and a second capacitance value is sensed while taking into account a correction value in dependence on the sensed first capacitance value for determining the setting parameter of the second function.

Systems and methods associated for providing haptic feedback are provided. For instance, data indicative of a feedback scheme associated with an input mechanism can be accessed. The feedback scheme includes one or more feedback points associated with a position of a moveable portion of the input mechanism. The input mechanism is configured to change positions responsive to an actuation of the input mechanism by a user. One or more positions of the moveable portion of the input mechanism can be determined as the input mechanism is actuated by the user. Operation of one or more feedback motors can be controlled to provide feedback to the user in accordance with the feedback scheme based at least in part on the determined one or more positions of the input mechanism.

The present invention relates to a capacitive control system (1), in particular a steering wheel column integrated module of an automotive vehicle, comprising a support (6), at least one control element (3, 4, 5) disposed displaceably within the support (6), at least one first capacitive activating region (81a-81e) adjacent to a second capacitive activating region (71a-71e) and disposed beneath and cooperating with said control element (3, 4, 5) to change the distance and thus electrical capacitance between the first (81a-81e) and the second (71a-71e) capacitive activating regions. In order to increase robustness of the capacitive control system (1) said at least one first capacitive activating region (81a-81e) is disposed at a metal, deformable arm (83) haptically engaged with said control element (3, 4, 5), wherein said haptical engagement is provided by a shaped projection (82) or recess of the arm (83) cooperating with at least one internal recess (32, 42, 52) or projection of said control element (3, 4, 5), and the distance between the first (81a-81e) and the second (71a-71e) capacitive activating regions remains greater than zero.

A control system for a vehicle interior comprising a control element for a user to interact with is provided. The control element may comprise a sensing electrode configured to provide one or more electrical signals and a non-conductive cover material provided on or over the sensing electrode. The sensing electrode may be formed of or comprise a conductive plastic. The non-conductive cover material may be formed of or comprise a non-conductive plastic. The non-conductive cover material may be or comprise an outer layer, over-layer or skin of the control element. The non-conductive cover material may provide one or more touch interactive surfaces of the control element.

A sensor device which can be used, for example, for an operating device, for example of an electronic household appliance, in order to detect a movement and/or position of a first component relative to a second component. The first component can be moved about a or in the direction of an axis of movement along a movement path, includes a sensor electrode arrangement on the second component and a signal element on the first component opposite and at a distance to the sensor electrode arrangement. The signal element has electrically conductive sections and electrically non-conductive sections, as well as a sensor control system for inputting sensor signals and receiving measurement signals at/from the sensor electrode arrangement and an evaluation unit for determining a movement and/or position of the first component relative to the second component based on the measurement signals of the sensor control system.