Mechanical switches for tft displays

Abstract

A switch comprises a dielectric panel having first and second sides and a knob assembly mounted on the first side of the panel. The knob assembly includes a housing having first and second ends, a knob rotatably and translationally mounted to the housing at the first end, a shaft attached to the knob at a first end, and a permanent magnet attached to a second end of the shaft such that rotation of and translation of the knob produces a corresponding motion of the magnet. The switch also includes a sensor assembly located on the second side of the panel including at least one hall-effect sensor adjacent the panel. The knob assembly is mounted to the panel such that the at least one hall-effect sensor is located inside the magnetic field created by the magnet.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.