Up/down switch and switching signal generator

Abstract

A rotary switch is provided having a manually engageable control to which is attached an arm carrying a number of switch contact fingers for rotational motion with the control. A printed circuit board has concentric circular arrays of contact pads each of which are contacted by one of the finger contacts on the rotating arm. The outer array of contact pads are connected together and are located in a position counterclockwise from the center array of contact pads which are also connected together. The inner array of contact pads are also connected together and are located in a position clockwise from the array of center contact pads. An innermost continuous contact strip is provided for contact by one of the contact fingers. The contact fingers are electrically common and provide a repeated contact sequence for outer, center and inner contact pad sliding connections for a clockwise rotation of the manual control. The repeated sequence for counterclockwise rotation of the manual control is center, outer and inner contact pad sliding connection. A pair of latches are provided which are set when the contact fingers slide over the center and outer contact pads. The first latch set enables one gate and disables another gate. The second latch set triggers the one gate to provide an output therefrom indicative of the direction of rotation of the manual control. Continued rotation of the manual control in either direction resets both latches, thus repeated signals are provided for continuous turning of the manual control which are indicative of the direction of turning of the control and which may be used to provide an unlimited number of switching signals in either rotary direction. Means may be included for providing a detent for the manual control at each reset position to provide standard rotary switch feel.