Patent ID: 9722716
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: G05G,G06F,H01H,H04H

Claim:
1. A touch-sensitive rotary control device with an illumination function, the control device comprising: a rotary encoder having a conductive outer casing and a rotatable shaft extending therefrom defining an axis of rotation, which shaft is configured to operate as a light guide for a light source located in the rotary encoder; and a conductive sleeve mechanically coupled to and arranged to surround a side of the shaft, and electrically coupled to the conductive outer casing of the rotary encoder, to provide touch-sensitivity whilst allowing light to exit the shaft, the rotary encoder including a switch manipulated by movement of the shaft in a direction parallel to its axis of rotation, and the control device further comprises a conductive spring positioned between the conductive sleeve and the outer casing of the rotary encoder to maintain electrical conductance therebetween.