Multi-function controller and method of using same

1. A multi-function controller, comprising:

a control element,

a support element,

a plurality of light emitters, comprising at least a first light emitter, a second light emitter and a third light emitter,

a plurality of light receivers comprising at least a first light receiver, a second light receiver and a third light receiver, and

at least a first occluder and a second occluder,

the control element comprising a control element first surface,

the support element comprising a support element first surface,

the control element first surface facing the support element first surface,

the control element is rotatable relative to the support element about a first axis to at least five different rotational positions, including a first rotational position, a second rotational position, a third rotational position, a fourth rotational position and a fifth rotational position,

the plurality of light emitters and the plurality of light receivers are on the support element first surface, the first occluder is on the control element first surface,

a light emitting surface of the first light emitter facing a light receiving surface of the first light receiver,

a light emitting surface of the second light emitter facing a light receiving surface of the second light receiver,

the first light emitter, the first light receiver and the first occluder are configured and positioned such that:

with the control element in the first rotational position and the first light emitter emitting light of a first brightness, the first light receiver receives a first percentage of the light emitted by the first light emitter,

with the control element in the second rotational position and the first light emitter emitting light of the first brightness, the first light receiver receives a second percentage of the light emitted by the first light emitter, the second percentage of light different from the first percentage of light,

with the control element in the first rotational position, no portion of the first occluder is between the first light emitter and the first light receiver, and

with the control element in the second rotational position, at least a portion of the first occluder is between the first light emitter and the first light receiver,

the first, second and third light emitters, the first, second and third light receivers and the first and second occluders are positioned relative to one another in an arrangement, the arrangement is non-symmetrical, such that by virtue of the arrangement of the first, second and third light emitters, the first, second and third light receivers and the first and second occluders:

at least one light receiver that does not receive light of a brightness above a threshold brightness in the first rotational position receives light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the second rotational position;

at least one light receiver that does not receive light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the first rotational position receives light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the third rotational position;

at least one light receiver that does not receive light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the first rotational position receives light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the fourth rotational position;

at least one light receiver that does not receive light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the first rotational position receives light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the fifth rotational position;

at least one light receiver that does not receive light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the second rotational position receives light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the third rotational position;

at least one light receiver that does not receive light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the second rotational position receives light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the fourth rotational position;

at least one light receiver that does not receive light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the second rotational position receives light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the fifth rotational position;

at least one light receiver that does not receive light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the third rotational position receives light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the fourth rotational position;

at least one light receiver that does not receive light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the third rotational position receives light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the fifth rotational position; and

at least one light receiver that does not receive light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the fourth rotational position receives light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the fifth rotational position.

2. A multi-function controller, comprising:

a control element,

a support element,

a plurality of light emitters, comprising at least a first light emitter, a second light emitter and a third light emitter,

a plurality of light receivers comprising at least a first light receiver, a second light receiver and a third light receiver, and

at least a first occluder,

the control element comprising a control element first surface,

the support element comprising a support element first surface,

the control element first surface facing the support element first surface,

the control element is rotatable relative to the support element about a first axis to at least a first rotational position, a second rotational position and a third rotational position,

the plurality of light emitters and the plurality of light receivers are on the support element first surface, the first occluder is on the control element first surface,

a light emitting surface of the first light emitter facing a light receiving surface of the first light receiver,

a light emitting surface of the second light emitter facing a light receiving surface of the second light receiver,

the first light emitter, the first light receiver and the first occluder are configured and

positioned such that:

with the control element in the first rotational position and the first light emitter emitting light of a first brightness, the first light receiver receives a first percentage of the light emitted by the first light emitter,

with the control element in the second rotational position and the first light emitter emitting light of the first brightness, the first light receiver receives a second percentage of the light emitted by the first light emitter, the second percentage of light different from the first percentage of light,

with the control element in the first rotational position, no portion of the first occluder is between the first light emitter and the first light receiver, and

with the control element in the second rotational position, at least a portion of the first occluder is between the first light emitter and the first light receiver,

the second rotational position is rotationally adjacent to the first rotational position,

rotating the control element clockwise from the first rotational position to a next adjacent clockwise rotational position moves the control element to the second rotational position,

rotating the control element counter-clockwise from the first rotational position to a next adjacent counter-clockwise rotational position moves the control element to the third rotational position,

the first, second and third light emitters, the first, second and third light receivers and the first and second occluders are positioned relative to one another in an arrangement, the arrangement is non-symmetrical, such that by virtue of the arrangement of the first, second and third light emitters, the first, second and third light receivers and the first and second occluders:

at least one light receiver that does not receive light of a brightness above a threshold brightness in the first rotational position receives light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the second rotational position, and/or at least one light receiver that receives light of a brightness above a threshold brightness in the first rotational position does not receive light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the second rotational position;

at least one light receiver that does not receive light of a brightness above a threshold brightness in the first rotational position receives light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the third rotational position, and/or at least one light receiver that receives light of a brightness above a threshold brightness in the first rotational position does not receive light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the third rotational position; and

at least one light receiver that does not receive light of a brightness above a threshold brightness in the second rotational position receives light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the third rotational position, and/or at least one light receiver that receives light of a brightness above a threshold brightness in the third rotational position does not receive light of a brightness above the threshold brightness in the second rotational position.

3. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the multi-function controller further comprises a handle element, an icon cap and a plurality of gears, and

the plurality of gears is configured such that rotation of the handle element relative to the

first axis causes the control element to rotate and does not cause the icon cap to rotate.

4. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the first light emitter is substantially aligned with the first light receiver,

the second light emitter is substantially aligned with the second light receiver, and

the third light emitter is substantially aligned with the third light receiver.

5. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

with the control element in the second rotational position, the first light occluder

substantially blocks light emitted by the first light emitter from reaching the first light receiver.

6. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the control element is movable along the first axis among at least first and second axial positions, and

a sensor detects whether the control element is in the second axial position.

7. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the controller further comprises at least a first sensor,

the control element is movable along the first axis among at least first and second axial positions, and

the first sensor detects whether the control element is in the second axial position.

8. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 7 , wherein:

the multi-function controller further comprises a second sensor, and

the second sensor detects whether the control element is in the second axial position.

9. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the multi-function controller further comprises at least a first magnet and at least a first sensor,

the control element is tiltable relative to the first axis among at least two tilt orientations,

one of the first magnet and the first sensor is connected to the control element,

the other of the first magnet and the first sensor not connected to the control element, and

the first sensor is configured to detect a tilt orientation of the control element.

10. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 9 , wherein the first sensor is a three-dimensional Hall effect sensor.

11. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 9 , wherein:

the first magnet is connected to the control element, and

the first sensor is not connected to the control element.

12. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 11 , wherein:

the multi-function controller further comprises a housing,

the control element is rotatable relative to the housing and tiltable relative to the housing, and

the first sensor is connected to the housing.

13. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 9 , wherein:

the first magnet is not connected to the control element, and

the first sensor is connected to the control element.

14. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 13 , wherein:

the multi-function controller further comprises a housing,

the control element is rotatable relative to the housing and tiltable relative to the housing, and the first magnet is connected to the housing.

15. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 9 , wherein:

the control element is movable along the first axis among at least first and second axial positions, and

the first sensor detects whether the control element is in the second axial position.

16. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 2 , wherein:

the multi-function controller further comprises a handle element, an icon cap and a plurality of gears, and

the plurality of gears is configured such that rotation of the handle element relative to the first axis causes the control element to rotate and does not cause the icon cap to rotate.

17. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 2 , wherein:

with the control element in the second rotational position, the first light occlude substantially blocks light emitted by the first light emitter from reaching the first light receiver.

18. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 2 , wherein:

the control element is movable along the first axis among at least first and second axial positions, and

a sensor detects whether the control element is in the second axial position.

19. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 2 , wherein:

the controller further comprises at least a first sensor,

the control element is movable along the first axis among at least first and second axial positions, and

the first sensor detects whether the control element is in the second axial position.

20. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 19 , wherein:

the multi-function controller further comprises a second sensor, and

the second sensor detects whether the control element is in the second axial position.

21. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 2 , wherein:

the multi-function controller further comprises at least a first magnet and at least a first sensor,

the control element is tiltable relative to the first axis among at least two tilt orientations,

one of the first magnet and the first sensor is connected to the control element, the other of the first magnet and the first sensor not connected to the control element, and

the first sensor is configured to detect a tilt orientation of the control element.

22. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 21 , wherein the first sensor is a three-dimensional Hall effect sensor.

23. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 21 , wherein:

the first magnet is connected to the control element, and

the first sensor is not connected to the control element.

24. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 23 , wherein:

the multi-function controller further comprises a housing,

the control element is rotatable relative to the housing and tiltable relative to the housing, and

the first sensor is connected to the housing.

25. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 21 , wherein:

the first magnet is not connected to the control element, and

the first sensor is connected to the control element.

26. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 25 , wherein:

the multi-function controller further comprises a housing,

the control element is rotatable relative to the housing and tiltable relative to the housing, and

the first magnet is connected to the housing.

27. A multi-function controller as recited in claim 21 , wherein:

the control element is movable along the first axis among at least first and second axial positions, and

the first sensor detects whether the control element is in the second axial position.