Patent ID: 7800360

Claim:
A control for electronic equipment, comprising a magnetic encoder adapted to respond to magnetic input to provide a control output for electronic equipment, a connector member adapted to connect electrically with a further connector member, and wherein the magnetic encoder is in position with respect to the connector member to receive magnetic input representative of relative motion between the further connector member and the connector member to provide such control output, wherein said connector member comprises a housing and said at least one electrical terminal is exposed with respect to the housing and is adapted for electrical connection to a further electrical terminal of the further connector member inserted into the housing, wherein the magnetic encoder is located generally at a distal end of the interior of the housing relative to an entrance at which the further connector member may be inserted into the housing interior, wherein the housing interior has a generally linear axis and is configured to permit rotation about such axis of the further connector while in position in the housing interior, the magnetic encoder being oriented to respond to a rotating magnetic field from a magnet associated with the further connector member when it has been inserted into the interior of the housing and is being rotated, and wherein the connector member comprises an audio connector adapted to connect by electrical conduction with the further connector member that is an audio plug or audio jack inserted into the housing and having a magnet at an end thereof to apply a rotating magnetic field upon rotation within the interior of the housing.