A switch device includes a panel housing a knob, the panel having a wall face around the knob. In at least one of outside faces of the knob, the outside faces opposing the wall face and another member adjacent to the knob, the outside face has a base part formed on an upper side thereof and a recess part formed in a lower side thereof. The recess part extends to a lower end of the outside face. The base part has an obliquely downwardly inclined parts formed on a lower edge part thereof. Accordingly, the device can ensure stable operation of the knob by discharging, from a gap between the panel and the knob, liquid that has entered the gap.

A multi-value selection switch that includes an engagement surface with an integrated touch sensor. The integrated touch sensor includes a plurality of detectable positions that correspond to, for instance, a range of absolute or relative target input values between a predefined minimum and maximum. The engagement surface further defines a switch that actuates/activates based on detecting a user-supplied force and/or based on a user momentarily holding a finger/pointer position. A user can select a target input value by bringing a finger or other pointer within operable proximity of an associated detectable position and actuating the switch and/or momentarily pausing. In response, the selection switch outputs a control signal to an associated device to cause the same to adjust operation.

A control device includes one operation knob which includes operation regions set so as to correspond to plural windows of a vehicle and on which a push-down operation and a pull-up operation can be performed, a contact detection unit to detect contact of a user with plural operation regions, an operation detection unit to detect the push-down operation and the pull-up operation performed on the operation knob, and a control unit that is configured, based on a predetermined operation performed on at least one of the plural operation regions and also based on the push-down operation or the pull-up operation performed on the operation knob, to determine plural windows to be opened or closed and control a power window device to drive the plural determined windows.

A vehicle safety device that prevents the activation of automatic or power switches in a vehicle. The vehicle safety device may have a protrusion that engages or obstructs the switch by filling the void adjacent the switch, the finger groove, thereby preventing access to the finger groove and/or not allowing the switch to be moved into an activation position. The protrusion may have a tab the further prevents the switch from moving from an inactivated state to an activated state. The protrusion is connected to an underside of a hard shell covering the entire switch area/panel, thereby preventing access to a plurality of switches and thus also preventing their inadvertent activation.

A vehicle window control system including a vehicle assembly and a control assembly is disclosed herein. The vehicle assembly includes a vehicle having a driver door having a driver window and passenger doors having passenger windows. The windows are each controlled by an electric motor preciously existing in the vehicle. The driver door further includes a control area having the control assembly mounted thereon. The control assembly includes a switch panel that allows a user to control the windows of the vehicle. The control assembly allows a user to automatically sync all of the windows of the vehicle from the control area of the driver door. Additionally, the vehicle window control system allows a user to have all of the windows of a vehicle to lower a predetermined amount when the vehicle is engaged.

A non-powered passive optomechanical position switch and an operational control system for controlling an apparatus using an optical fiber waveguide, the switch including an orientable structure supporting a plurality of reflective surfaces at the terminus of the optical fiber waveguide, wherein at least some of the reflective surfaces each uniquely manipulates one or more properties of light received from the optical fiber waveguide in reflecting light back through the optical fiber waveguide to an optocontrolling transceiver. Orienting the orientable structure relative to the terminus of the optical fiber determines which of the plurality of reflective surfaces is positioned at the terminus of the optical fiber waveguide, and thereby determines what properties of light are manipulated and reflected back to the optocontrolling transceiver, through the optical fiber waveguide thereby controlling an apparatus.

An operation device includes an operation knob that is operable by a pull-up operation and a push-down operation about a shaft and includes a front-end operation region on a front-end side far from the shaft and a rear-end operation region on a rear end side close to the shaft, a contact detection unit to detect contact of a user with the front-end operation region and the rear-end operation region, an operation detection unit to detect the pull-up operation and the push-down operation performed on the operation knob, and a determination unit that determines an operation performed by combining contact with the front-end operation region and the rear-end operation region detected by the contact detection unit and the pull-up operation and the push-down operation detected by the operation detection unit, and also determines that at least an operation performed on the rear-end operation region is invalid when the contact is detected.

A switch device includes: an operation unit including a first switch, a second switch, a first resistor, a second resistor, and a first terminal; and a control unit including a second terminal coupled to the first terminal. A series circuit of the first switch and the first resistor and a series circuit of the second switch and the second resistor are coupled between the first terminal and a ground. The control unit monitors a potential of the first terminal which changes in response to on/off of the first and second switches via the second terminal, and determines the operation state of each switch based on the potential. A contact of the first switch is configured of a contact in which a resistance value between contacts at the time of opening and closing changes more sharply as compared with a contact of the second switch.

A switch device includes a substrate including stationary contacts arranged side by side, a contact including linear parts having elasticity and movable contacts, a housing holding a base of the contact and including beams having elasticity each of which is disposed above the corresponding one of the linear parts, and a slider disposed above the housing. A first pressing part is formed on a lower face of each of the beams, and a pressed part is formed on an upper face thereof. Second pressing parts are formed on the slider. When the slider moves in the front-back direction in conjunction with the operation of an operation knob, the second pressing parts press the pressed parts to bend the beams downward, the first pressing parts press the linear parts to bend the linear parts downward, and the movable contacts come into contact with the stationary contacts.

A regulatory-compliant touch force detecting window lift switch for an automobile is described, in which a load cell, such as a strain gauge, a resistance bridge, or an amplifier, is used to detect a driver's or passenger's touch force, and software is used to assess whether to responsively send a control signal to a window lift motor controller to adjust the position of the automobile's windows.