Abstract: A touch sensor switch for easily taking out an output of a touch sensor with high reliability. Push-type switching elements 2A, 2B, and 2C are mounted on a printed circuit board 1, a rubber dome 3 is provided with expanded portions 30A, 30B, and 30C for housing the switching elements 2A, 2B, and 2C, the switching elements 2A, 2B, and 2C are provided with conductive films 41A, 41B, and 41C on an outer surface and a lower face, conductive parts 31A, 31B, and 31C are provided at a conductive part such as an upper surface of the expanded portions 30A, 30B, and 30C of the rubber dome 3, or a wiring pattern of the printed circuit board 1, and the conductive films 41A, 41B, and 41C contact with the conductive parts 31A, 31B, and 31C constantly by a biasing force of the switching elements 2A, 2B, and 2C regardless the operation of switch knobs 4A, 4B, and 4C.

Abstract: A switch device that adjusts tactile sensation of a switch knob without control delay. The switch device includes a knob operated to switch an actuation state of an apparatus. A click mechanism is connected to the knob and includes a recess and a projection. Engagement of the projection and the recess provides a tactile sensation to a person operating the knob when the knob is operated. An adjustment mechanism generates a magnetic field to adjust tactile sensation of the click mechanism.

Abstract: Magnetic attractive force of a magnet exerted on a movable contact in a sealing case through yokes changes as a result of movement of a magnetic shunt element induced by movement of a movable element located outside the sealing case. As a result, the movable contact can be brought into or out of contact with a stationary contact without involvement of entry of the movable element into the sealing case.

Abstract: A switch device including a switch operation shaft movable between a plurality of operation positions for setting a control amount for an apparatus. A follower is driven to follow the movement of the switch operation shaft. An attraction member generates magnetic force to attract the follower so that the follower becomes immovable and to hold the switch operation shaft at a single operation position.

Abstract: A touch input device for use with a display that shows a plurality of items. The touch input device is operated by a user to select an item shown on the display. The touch input device includes a sensor having an operation plane for touching by the user with a finger. The sensor generates a sensor signal indicating contact area of the finger with the operation plane. The operation plane is pressed by the finger when the user selects an item from the display. When an increase rate of the finger contact area over a predetermined time period becomes greater than an increase rate threshold, the touch input device determines that the operation plane of the sensor has been pressed by the user to select an item.

Abstract: A detent mechanism includes: a control member to be operated rotationally; a rotary member including a pair of magnetic poles adapted to rotate in conjunction with the control member; a plurality of electromagnets provided along a rotational path of the magnetic poles of the rotary member; and a detent controller that has a detent energization pattern in which a current energization direction and an energization amount are determined for the plurality of electromagnets. The detent controller gives a detent in operation of the control member by applying an electromagnetic force between at least one of the plurality of electromagnets and the rotary member by energization control for the plurality of electromagnets according to the detent energization pattern.

Abstract: A movable contact which is positioned inside a sealing case is moved by a magnetic shunt body which moves outside the sealing case. The movement of the movable contact by the movement of the magnetic shunt body is caused by a change of magnetic force of a magnet through a pair of yokes. The magnetic shunt body is assembled to a moving member, and elastically moves around the moving member resisting a first spring.

Abstract: An input apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus being used for operation input to various vehicular electronic devices, sets position input permission areas on a two-dimensional operation surface of an operation input device discretely by control of a main controller. In control modes of a reaction force, a guide input mode where position indication operations to the areas on the operation surface by the operation input device are guided along unique paths defined in the respective area and an arbitrary mode where the position indication operations are not guided but performed freely can be changed. The guide input mode is set at least during a vehicle travel.

Abstract: Magnetic attractive force of a magnet exerted on a movable contact in a sealing case through yokes changes as a result of movement of a magnetic shunt element induced by movement of a movable element located outside the sealing case. As a result, the movable contact can be brought into or out of contact with a stationary contact without involvement of entry of the movable element into the sealing case.

Abstract: A moving element, which is situated on an exterior of a closed case which accommodates therein a fixed contact, a movable contact and a magnetic material and is adapted to be activated in response to a depressing operation of a brake pedal of a vehicle, is provided relative to the closed case, and a magnet is integrated into this moving element, whereby the magnetic material is attracted from the outside of the closed case by the magnet moving together with the magnet, so as to cause the movable contact to move relative to the fixed contact.

Abstract: A touch sensor switch for easily taking out an output of a touch sensor with high reliability. Push-type switching elements 2A, 2B, and 2C are mounted on a printed circuit board 1, a rubber dome 3 is provided with expanded portions 30A, 30B, and 30C for housing the switching elements 2A, 2B, and 2C, the switching elements 2A, 2B, and 2C are provided with conductive films 41A, 41B, and 41C on an outer surface and a lower face, conductive parts 31A, 31B, and 31C are provided at a conductive part such as an upper surface of the expanded portions 30A, 30B, and 30C of the rubber dome 3, or a wiring pattern of the printed circuit board 1, and the conductive films 41A, 41B, and 41C contact with the conductive parts 31A, 31B, and 31C constantly by a biasing force of the switching elements 2A, 2B, and 2C regardless the operation of switch knobs 4A, 4B, and 4C.

Abstract: An in-vehicle equipment control device includes a force sense imparting type input device mounted on a steering of a vehicle, for remotely operating an in-vehicle equipment mounted on the vehicle according to a predetermined operation route while imparting a force sense, a storage unit for storing an operation route data to conduct an input operation of the force sense imparting type input device with a predetermined operation route, and a control unit for conducting an arithmetic process to transform the predetermined operation route of the force sense imparting type input device based on a rotation angle detection signal which is output in accordance with the rotation of the steering of the vehicle and the operation route data stored in the storage unit, to impart the force sense to the force sense imparting type input device based on a result of the arithmetic process.

Abstract: A small click generating member is mounted on a yoke, and a large click generating member is rotatably mounted on an operating shaft. A plunger case is relatively rotatably mounted on the operating shaft, and large and small click peaces are mounted on the plunger case. An electromagnet is mounted on the yoke, and a plunger magnetic body attractable to the electromagnet is mounted on the plunger case. A magnet is mounted to cover the yoke. By changing over the supply of electricity to the electromagnet among a non-electricity-supply state, a backward connection electricity supply state and a forward connection electricity supply state, a generated coil magnetic field and a magnetic field of the magnet are applied in a cooperative manner, a magnetic circuit generated in the yoke can be changed over, and clicks are changed over among large click feeling, small click feeling and a fixed state.

Abstract: A shaft of an operating member is provided with a rotation detention receiving member having a substantially V-shaped concave portion. A detention giving unit includes a coil spring of a steel wire and a pressing member and presses the pressing member against the concave portion of the rotation detention receiving member to give rotation detention thereto. An electromagnet is arranged on a device base. A rotary encoder is attached to the shaft. Of the rotation detention receiving member and the detention giving unit, as regards the rotation detention receiving member is rotatable integrally to the operating member; and as regards the detention giving unit, while the electromagnet is de-energized, it is rotated integrally to the operating member whereas while the electromagnet is de-energized, it is attracted by the electromagnet so that it is fixed in a non-rotating state.

Abstract: A display type input system is installed in a vehicle as an input machine. The display type input system displays various button selection determination screens of a menu screen, a destination setting screen, an audio setting screen, etc., on a display in the vehicle and allows the user to move a button focus on the display with a remote input device distant from the display to select and determine any desired item button, thereby causing the vehicle to execute the vehicle-installed function responsive to the button. A determination button operated by the user to determine the selected item button is laid out for the screens.

Abstract: A power line communication apparatus includes a power feeding unit, a power information detection unit, a storage unit and a power line communication unit. The power feeding unit feeds power from a power line to an external apparatus. The power information detection unit detects power information regarding the external apparatus fed by the power feeding unit. The storage unit stores information regarding the external apparatus fed by the power feeding unit. The power line communication unit communicates via the power line the power information detected by the power information detection unit and the information stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: A power feeding system includes a power feeding apparatus and a power line communication unit. The power feeding apparatus feeds power from a power line to an external apparatus. The power line communication unit communicates via the power line, which is a communication medium. The power feeding apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a restriction unit and a determination unit. The acquisition unit acquires restriction information used to restrict the feeding of the power to the external apparatus. The restriction unit restricts the feeding of the power to the external apparatus to which the power feeding apparatus is to feed the power. The determination unit determines as to whether or not the restriction unit has to restrict the feeding of the power, based on the restriction information acquired by the acquisition unit.

Abstract: A switch device that adjusts tactile sensation of a switch knob without control delay. The switch device includes a knob operated to switch an actuation state of an apparatus. A click mechanism is connected to the knob and includes a recess and a projection. Engagement of the projection and the recess provides a tactile sensation to a person operating the knob when the knob is operated. An adjustment mechanism generates a magnetic field to adjust tactile sensation of the click mechanism.

Abstract: A switch device including a switch operation shaft movable between a plurality of operation positions for setting a control amount for an apparatus. A follower is driven to follow the movement of the switch operation shaft. An attraction member generates magnetic force to attract the follower so that the follower becomes immovable and to hold the switch operation shaft at a single operation position.

Abstract: A detent mechanism includes: a control member to be operated rotationally; a rotary member including a pair of magnetic poles adapted to rotate in conjunction with the control member; a plurality of electromagnets provided along a rotational path of the magnetic poles of the rotary member; and a detent controller that has a detent energization pattern in which a current energization direction and an energization amount are determined for the plurality of electromagnets. The detent controller gives a detent in operation of the control member by applying an electromagnetic force between at least one of the plurality of electromagnets and the rotary member by energization control for the plurality of electromagnets according to the detent energization pattern.