Abstract: A multi-function controller, comprising a control element, a support element, at least a first light emitter and at least a first light receiver. A multi-function controller, comprising a control element, at least a first magnet and at least a first sensor. In some aspects, one or more occluders is provided. In some aspects, a control element is rotatable and/or tiltable, and/or the control element can be pushed or pulled, and movement of the control element is detected optically or by Hall effect sensors. In some aspects, an icon cap is not rotatable. A method comprising rotating and/or tilting a control element on a multi-function controller, and detecting a position of the control element.

Abstract: An encoder, comprising a first element, a second element, and a plurality of components, in which the first element is movable among a plurality of positions relative to the second element, each position is adjacent to at least one other position, each component generates a signal at each of said positions, and movement of the first element from any position to any adjacent position results in a change in a signal from only one of said components. Also, an encoder that comprises a multi-detector element which comprises two or more sub-detectors that generate sub-signals, the sub-detectors spaced from each other a distance (rotational and/or translational) that is smaller than a distance between two positions of a first element. Also, a method of detecting a position of a first element relative to a second element, comprising moving a first element relative to a second element from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: An encoder, comprising a first element, a second element, and a plurality of components, in which the first element is movable among a plurality of positions relative to the second element, each position is adjacent to at least one other position, each component generates a signal at each of said positions, and movement of the first element from any position to any adjacent position results in a change in a signal from only one of said components. Also, an encoder that comprises a multi-detector element which comprises two or more sub-detectors that generate sub-signals, the sub-detectors spaced from each other a distance (rotational and/or translational) that is smaller than a distance between two positions of a first element. Also, a method of detecting a position of a first element relative to a second element, comprising moving a first element relative to a second element from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: A multi-function controller, comprising a control element, a support element, at least a first light emitter and at least a first light receiver. A multi-function controller, comprising a control element, at least a first magnet and at least a first sensor. In some aspects, one or more occluders is provided. In some aspects, a control element is rotatable and/or tiltable, and/or the control element can be pushed or pulled, and movement of the control element is detected optically or by Hall effect sensors. In some aspects, an icon cap is not rotatable. A method comprising rotating and/or tilting a control element on a multi-function controller, and detecting a position of the control element.