Patent ID: 7791504

Claim:
A rotary encoder comprising: a case made of insulating resin and having a surface; an operation shaft which is rotatable; a slidable brush fixed to the operation shaft, the slidable brush being conductive, the slidable brush having a contacting section slidable on the surface of the case on a predetermined circumference according to a rotation of the operation shaft; and a signal contact embedded in the surface of the case; wherein the signal contact has an upper surface flush with the surface of the case, a first side surface connected to the upper surface at a first corner having a right angle, the first side surface being positioned on the predetermined circumference, a second side surface connected to the upper surface at a second corner having a right angle, the second side surface being opposite to the first side surface, the second side surface being positioned on the predetermined circumference, and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, the lower surface having a width smaller than a width of the upper surface.