Patent ID: 9534933
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: G01D,G05B

Claim:
1. A method of operating a human machine interface, comprising the steps of: providing a face plate including an exposed exterior side and an unexposed interior side; providing a capacitive sensor on the interior side of the face plate; attaching a fixed knob housing to the exterior side of the face plate; rotatably coupling a control device to the knob housing, the control device including in at least one electrically conductive element, the control device being rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the face plate such that the at least one electrically conductive element follows the rotation of the control device; using the capacitive sensor to sense a rotational position of the at least one electrically conductive element, wherein the capacitive sensor comprises a first capacitive sensor, and the at least one electrically conductive element comprises a first electrically conductive element; providing a second capacitive sensor on the interior side of the face plate; slidably coupling a pushbutton to the fixed knob housing, the pushbutton including a second electrically conductive element, the pushbutton being slidable along the axis substantially perpendicular to the face plate such that the second electrically conductive element follows the sliding of the pushbutton; and using the second capacitive sensor to sense actuation of the pushbutton in axial directions toward and away from the face plate such that the second electrically conductive element follows the movement toward and away from the face plate, the second capacitive sensor sensing a position of the second electrically conductive element in the directions toward and away from the face plate.