Control device for an industrial truck

A control device for controlling a function of an industrial truck, the control device comprising:

• a circuit element configured to generate an electrical control signal for controlling a function of an industrial truck, the circuit element including:
• a circuit board having a plurality of contact points, wherein the contact points are connected by at least one resistor;
• a contact area located on the circuit board and spaced from the plurality of contact points;
• at least one contact membrane having an electrically conducting layer connectable with at least one of the plurality of contact points and the contact area, the contact membrane spaced from the circuit board with the electrically conducting layer facing the contact points and contact area;
• a first slider movable along the contact membrane adjacent the contact points;
• a second slider movable along the contact membrane adjacent the contact area, wherein the first and second sliders arc configured to exert a pressure on the contact membrane to electrically connect at least one of the contact points adjacent the first slider with the contact area adjacent the second slider through the electrically conducting layer;
• and
• means for pressing the first and second sliders against the contact membrane such that the magnitude of the pressure forces exerted on the contact membrane by the first and second sliders is independent of the position of the sliders on the contact membrane.

A control device for controlling a function of an industrial truck, the control device comprising:

• a circuit element configured to generate a multi-stag electrical control signal for controlling a function of an industrial truck, the circuit element including:
• a circuit board having a plurality of spaced contact points, wherein the contact points are connected by at least one resistor;
• a contact area located on the circuit board and spaced from the plurality of contact points;
• a deformable contact member having a first side and a second side, with an electrically conducting layer located on the second side, the contact layer spaced from the circuit board facing the contact points and the contact area;
• a first slider movable along the first side of the contact membrane and configured to exert a pressure force to press a portion of the contact layer against at least one contact point;
• a second slider connected to the first slider and movable along the first side of the contact membrane and configured to exert a pressure force to press a portion of the contact layer against the contact area to electrically connect the at least one contact point adjacent the first slider with the contact area adjacent the second slider through the electrically conducting layer such that an overall electrical resistance of the circuit element changes stepwise with movement of the sliders over the contact membrane;
• and
• means for pressing the first and second sliders against the contact membrane such that the magnitude of the pressure forces exerted on the contact membrane by the first and second sliders is independent of the position of the sliders on the contact membrane.