A user interface for an electronic device, the interface comprising first
and second parts arranged for relative displacement, said first part
comprising a magnet and said second part comprising a first hall effect
sensor for sensing a displacement of said magnet along a first axis and a
second hall effect sensor for sensing a displacement of said magnet along
a second axis, wherein said magnet moves relative to said first and
second hall effect sensors in response to movement of said second part
relative to said first part; a plurality of switch settings, each of said
switch settings comprised of a unique combination of a magnet position
along said first axis and a magnet position along said second axis; and
control electronics coupled to said first and second hall effect sensors
for converting the combination of a current position of said magnet along
said first axis and a current position of said magnet along said second
axis into a selected one of said plurality of switch settings.