Idec Thumbwheel Switches & Pushwheel Switches
Thumbwheel switches are tactile switches in which a user turns a wheel to set the device. Thumbwheel switches essentially work like a potentiometer, where an internal mechanism translates the rotational motion of the wheel into a series of electrical states. The rotational direction of the wheel determines the count of states generated within the device.
Pushwheel switches are also tactile switches which require the user to press a wheel to set the device. The wheel is usually constructed of plastic or rubber and when pressed, it generates a low voltage pulse to the device. They are often used in applications such as doorbells, music systems, and for other manual control applications.