Patent ID: 8149656

Claim:
A switch device, comprising: an operation unit that is moved by an input operation; a movement condition detector that recognizes a moving speed of the operation unit as a movement condition of the operation unit and outputs an operation signal in accordance with the movement condition; and a restricting unit that conducts at least one of a restriction processing for restricting the movement of the operation unit and an assistance processing for assisting the movement of the operation unit based on the operation signal in accordance with the movement condition of the operation unit, wherein the movement condition detector includes a rack provided on the operation unit, a pinion engaged with the rack and rotated in accordance with the movement of the operation unit, and a rotation detector for detecting a rotary condition of the pinion, the movement condition of the operation unit being recognized based on the rotary condition of the pinion detected by the rotation detector, and wherein the restricting unit includes a restricting gear engaged with at least one of the rack and the pinion of the movement condition detector, a rotary drive unit for rotating the restricting gear, and a restriction controller that restricts the drive condition of the rotary drive unit so that relative difference between the moving speed of the operation unit and the rotary speed of the restricting gear increases and decreases in accordance with the movement condition of the operation unit by the input operation.