An ocular surgical apparatus is provided, including a surgical control device such as a foot pedal configured to be employed to control at least one ocular surgical parameter, and a controller configured to receive a series of values from the surgical control device and evaluate the series of values provided from the surgical control device, the series of values provided using a buffer comprising a detection area and an exclusion area. Presence of a desired value in the detection area and an absence of a contrary indication in the exclusion area is determined by the controller to indicate a switch associated with the surgical control device is requested by a user of the surgical control device.