Patent ID: 6659630
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: B60Q,H03K,Y10S

Abstract:
A switch for controlling operation of lamps of a vehicle, said switch comprising:a base having a sensor support surface; and a manually engageable assembly including a knob that is rotatable about an axis that extends perpendicular to said sensor support surface and relative to said base for controlling operation of the vehicle lamps; said assembly comprising a magnetic member that rotates with said knob about said axis; said base comprising at least one magnetic sensor mounted on said sensor support surface and control circuitry connecting said one magnetic sensor with the vehicle lamps; said magnetic member being rotatable about said axis into a plurality of different rotational positions relative to said one magnetic sensor to provide an output signal at said control circuitry that is indicative of the relative rotational position of said knob about said axis that extends perpendicular to said sensor support surface; said magnetic member being spaced apart from said one magnetic sensor to provide contactless operation of said switch.