JP2003123596A - Multidirectional control switch and multidirectional control device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multidirectional control switch of high performance being function by inclining and pressing operation of a control knob, and comprising three switch parts, and the control knob free from rattling and mounted with high accuracy for operating the switch parts. SOLUTION: The control knob 41 is supported at a central pressing part 42 so that the upward energizing force from a center switch 26 is added thereto, with respect to a case 21 wherein three switch parts 26-28 are linearly mounted, and corresponding hook parts 45-48 are mounted on projecting parts 22-25 as holding parts respectively mounted on opposite side faces of the case 21 two by two in a state of being vertically movable and inclinable within a predetermined range.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mainly relates to mobile communication devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, pagers, remote controllers,
The present invention relates to a multidirectional operation switch used for an input operation unit of various electronic equipment such as an audio device, a game device, a car navigation system, and an electronic camera, which functions by tilting and pressing an operation knob, and a multidirectional operation device using the same. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional multidirectional operation switch of this type will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional multidirectional operation switch, and FIG. 8 is a front view of the same.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 designates three independent switches 2 to 4 (central switch 2 and end switches 3 and 4).
Is a printed circuit board arranged and mounted in a substantially linear shape, and an operation knob 5 for operating the switches 2 to 4 is arranged above the printed circuit board.

The operating knob 5 has pressing portions 6 to 8 (central pressing portion 6 and end pressing portions 7 and 8) for operating the switch portions 2 to 4, respectively, on the lower surface thereof, and the end pressing portions thereof. 7 and 8 are the operation parts 3A and 4A of the corresponding end switches 3 and 4.
The central pressing portion 6 is abutted and supported by the corresponding operating portion 2A of the central switch 2 with a predetermined space 9 (see FIG. 8) therebetween.

Further, the operation knob 5 is held by a housing 10 of the apparatus used so as to be vertically movable within a predetermined range and tiltable about the lower end of the central pressing portion 6 as a fulcrum.

Between the housing 10 and the operating knob 5,
Although members for maintaining the operation knob 5 in the normal state shown in FIG. 8 are provided, illustration and description thereof are omitted.

The predetermined spacing 9 between the operating portions 3A and 4A with respect to the end pressing portions 7 and 8 is set so that the end switches 3 and 4 do not operate when the central switch 2 is operated.

Further, the operating load of the central switch 2 is set high so that the central switch 2 does not operate erroneously when the end switch 3 or 4 is actuated.

Next, the operation of the multidirectional operation switch will be described.

As shown by the solid line arrow in FIG. 8, when the end portion on the left side of the drawing is pressed against the operating knob 5, the operating knob 5 tilts in that direction with the central pressing portion 6 as a fulcrum, and the corresponding operation is performed. When the left end pressing portion 7 comes into contact with the operating portion 3A of the left end switch 3 and then is switched to the ON state and the pressing force is removed, all the switches shown in FIG.
It returns to the normal state which is the state of F.

When the right end position is pressed against the operating knob 5, the right end switch 4 is switched in the same manner.

Then, as shown by a dotted arrow in FIG. 8, when the central position of the operating knob 5 is pressed to move the operating knob 5 vertically downward, the central pressing portion 6 which is in contact with the operating portion 2A. Switches the central switch 2 to the ON state, and when the pressing force is removed, all the switches shown in FIG. 8 return to the normal state in which they are in the OFF state.

[0014]

However, in the recent demand for high performance of various electronic devices and improvement of mountability at the time of production, the conventional multi-directional operation switch is composed of three separate switches 2. 4 to 4 must be mounted on the printed circuit board 1, respectively.
Since the operation knobs 5 held by the above are configured in combination, there is a problem that the operation knobs 5 are easily rattled, and the operation feeling due to the eccentric push of the switches 2 to 4 is likely to deteriorate.

The present invention is intended to solve such a conventional problem, and is a high-performance multi-directional device which is equipped with three switch parts, and the operation knobs for operating the switch parts are mounted accurately with little rattling. An object is to provide an operation switch and a multidirectional operation device using the operation switch.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a multidirectional operation switch comprising a case in which three switch parts are arranged at predetermined positions, and an operation knob for operating the switch parts of the case. The two switch parts are arranged in a substantially straight line on the case, and the operation knob is such that the end switch parts of the switch parts of the three switch parts on the case are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and the central switch is The central pressing portion is abutted and supported so that an upward biasing force is applied, and the engaging portions corresponding to the holding portions provided at two positions on the opposite side surfaces of the case are engaged with each other to a predetermined size. It is a multi-directional operation switch that is mounted so that it can be moved up and down and tilted in the range, and the operation knob is a three-sided view at three points due to the upward biasing force from the central switch applied to the central pressing part. Because it is lifting and supporting, rattling less, and it is possible to that combined with high precision to the switch unit, even if the operation state,
When the operation knob is moved vertically downward, the center switch is turned on.
It is possible to switch to the N state, and when pressing force is applied to the end of the operating knob, the operating knob is tilted with the position of the holding part provided at a position farther than the pressed end side as the tilt axis. And turn on the end switch corresponding to the pressing side.
It has an effect that it can be switched to the N state, and in particular, it has stable operability during tilting operation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the three switch portions are self-returning type switches, and the holding portion of the case and the engaging portion of the operation knob are provided. The engagement position is disposed at a position sandwiching the central switch of the three switch portions, and has an effect that the operating knob can be further independent and the stability when the operating knob is attached can be further increased.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first aspect, each of the three switch portions is provided with respect to a composite contact portion formed of a center fixed contact and an outer fixed contact fixed to a case. The lower end of the outer periphery is placed on the outer fixed contact so that the lower surface of the central apex of the dome-shaped movable contact is spaced apart from the central fixed contact by a predetermined distance. It has a function of being able to be simply and thinly configured, and also capable of easily disposing the three switch parts in the case with high accuracy.

In the invention according to claim 4 of the present invention, in the invention according to claim 1, the operation stroke required for switching the state of the central switch is longer than the operation stroke required for switching the state of the end switch. It is possible to reduce accidental switching of the state of the central switch when the operating knob is tilted, and for this purpose, there are two parts on each side that engage the case and the operating knob. It is also possible to widen the gap between the joint portions, and in this case, there is an effect that the amount of rise of the operating knob on the non-operating side can be reduced when tilting the operating knob.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the end pressing portion and the central pressing portion of the operating knob are formed of a material having elasticity, and the pressing force is applied to the operating knob. In addition to operating the predetermined switch section, or even when a large force is inadvertently applied to the operation knob, the switch section has an elastic end pressing section,
Since it is operated by the central pressing part, the switch part can be protected,
This has the effect of preventing damage to the switch contact portion and the like.

In the various multi-directional operating devices described in claims 6 to 9, there is an effect that various operations can be concentrated and simplified at the same time.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A multidirectional operation switch and a multidirectional operation device using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(First Embodiment) Using the first embodiment,
The invention of claims 1 to 3 will be described.

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a multi-directional operation switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 21 denotes a molded resin having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Each of the two side wall portions facing each other in the longitudinal direction is provided with two substantially cylindrical protrusions 22, 23 and 24, 25 as holding portions.

Protrusions 22 and 2 provided on the side walls
3 and 24 and 25 are arranged such that the virtual lines connecting the mutually facing projecting portions 22 and 24, and 23 and 25 are parallel to each other and are orthogonal to the longitudinal centerline of the case 21. It is provided.

The central switch 2 is provided on the upper surface of the case 21 so as to be aligned with the longitudinal centerline of the case 21.
6 and end switches 27 and 28 are provided.

In the following description, the central switch 26 and the end switches 27 and 28 are collectively referred to as three switch units 26 to 28.

The end switches 27 and 28 of the three switch parts 26 to 28 are provided at positions equidistant from the central switch 26, and the protrusions 22 to 24 and 23 are connected to each other. The imaginary line connecting the 25 also has a relationship in which they are spaced apart from the central switch 26 at equal intervals.

Each of the switch parts 26 to 28 is composed of composite contact parts 29 to 31 fixed to the upper surface of the case 21 in an exposed state, and circular dome-shaped movable contacts 32 to 34 serving as movable contacts. .

That is, each of the composite contact portions 29 to 31 is composed of the center fixed contacts 29A to 31A and the outer fixed contacts 29B to 31B arranged outside the center fixed contacts 29A to 31A at predetermined intervals. The circular dome-shaped movable contacts 32 to 34 are placed on the outer fixed contacts 29B to 31B, respectively, and the lower ends of the outer periphery thereof are placed in contact with the central fixed contacts 29A to 31A with a predetermined space therebetween. It has a thin structure.

Reference numerals 35 to 37 are flexible cover sheets each provided with an adhesive on the lower surface,
The corresponding movable contacts 32 to
It holds the top of the central apex of 34, is fixed to the upper surface of the case 21, and is arranged to hold the movable contacts 32 to 34 at predetermined positions.

As described above, the switch main body including the case 21 having the three switch portions 26 to 28 according to the present embodiment can have a simple shape and a small thickness, and each switch portion 26 to 28 can be formed. Is a self-returning type, and its arrangement position accuracy is high, and it can be integrated.

On the other hand, reference numeral 41 is an operation knob mounted on the switch main body having the above-mentioned structure, and on its lower surface, a central pressing portion 42 corresponding to the central switch 26 and an end switch 2 are provided.
It has end pressing portions 43 and 44 corresponding to 7 and 28.

The operation knob 41 is provided on the case 21.
Hooks 45, 46 and 47, 48 at the positions corresponding to the projections 22, 23 and 24, 25 provided on the respective side walls of
And the protrusions 22 to 25 in the oval holes 45A to 48A provided as the engaging portions in the hooks 45 to 48, respectively.
Are respectively inserted and attached.

In the mounted state of the operation knob 41, the lower end of the central pressing portion 42 abuts on the cover sheet 35 of the central switch 26, and the central knob 26 is attached to the operating knob 41 via the central pressing portion 42. A predetermined upward biasing force is applied by the above, and the lower ends of the protrusions 22 to 25 are in contact with the holes 45A to 48A.

Further, in the above state, the end pressing portions 43 and 44 of the operation knob 41 have the corresponding end switches 27 and 28.
On the other hand, it is maintained at a predetermined interval 49.

The interval 49 is set so that the end switches 27 and 28 do not operate when the central switch 26, which will be described later, operates.

As described above, the operation knob 41 is supported by the central pressing portion 42 by the upward urging force from the movable contact 32 of the central switch 26 via the central pressing portion 42, and is supported with respect to its supporting position. The hook portions 45 to 48 are located on both outer sides of the case 21 and the protrusion portions 22 to 25 of the case 21.
In the normal state shown in FIG. 1 in which no operation force is applied to the operation knob 41, the operation knob 41 is locked to the operation knob 41, that is, the operation knob 41 is held at three points having a triangular vertex positional relationship in a side view. There is very little rattling, and the neutral position accuracy can be kept high.

Further, since the operation knob 41 is attached to the switch body, the three switch parts 26 to 28 are provided.
And the corresponding pressing portions 42 to 44 can be combined with high accuracy and easily.

Next, the operation of the multidirectional operation switch according to this embodiment will be described.

First, in the normal state shown in FIG. 1 in which no operating force is applied to the operating knob 41, the operating knob 41 is kept in the neutral state, and all the switch parts 26 to 28 are in the OFF state. .

When the upper surface position on the left side of the operating knob 41 is pushed down as indicated by the solid arrow in the front sectional view of FIG. 3, the operating knob 41 is on the side opposite to the position where the pressing force is applied, that is, in the figure. Then, tilt to the left with a virtual line connecting the 23 and 25 (the protrusion 23 not shown) of the case 21 to which the right hooks 46 and 48 (hook 46 are not shown) are attached as the tilt axis. The left end pressing portion 43 is
The movable contact 33 is pressed through the cover sheet 36 of the corresponding end switch 27 to be reversed with a sense of moderation, and the lower surface of the movable contact 33 is the center fixed contact 30A of the composite contact portion 30.
By contacting the central and outer fixed contacts 30A
And 30B are electrically connected, and the left end switch 27 is O
The N state is set.

At this time, the central pressing portion 42 also moves slightly downward with the tilting of the operation knob 41, but the movable contact 32 of the central switch 26 does not reverse and the central switch 26 is in the OFF state with the amount of movement. Is maintained.

After that, when the pushing-down force applied to the operation knob 41 is removed, the movable contact 33 of the end switch 27 is restored to its original shape, the end switch 27 returns to the OFF state, and the restoring force is restored. In addition, the operation knob 41 is pushed up to the neutral state by the upward biasing force of the movable contact 32 at the central position applied to the central pressing portion 42, and returns to the normal state shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when the right upper surface position of the operation knob 41 is pushed down, the state of the right end switch 28 can be similarly switched.

During the tilting operation, the tilting axis of the operating knob 41 is the engaging portion between the case 21 and the operating knob 41, which is at the position opposite to the tilting side.
Protrusions 22 and 24 of the case 21 forming the tilt axis
The larger the disposition distance between the virtual line connecting the two and the virtual line connecting the protrusions 23 and 25, the smaller the amount of protrusion of the upper surface position of the operation knob 41 on the non-operation side can be reduced.

At this time, if the interval between the tilt axes is made too wide, the movable contact 32 of the central switch 26 may be inverted and the central switch 26 may be turned on during the tilting operation, but this state is avoided. In order to achieve this, it is essential to maintain the following positional relationship.

That is, when the left upper surface of the operating knob 41 is pressed to tilt it to the left, (R / P)> (S / Q) P; the movement amount Q of the tip of the end pressing portion 43 during tilting operation. A movement amount R of the tip of the central pressing portion 42 during a tilting operation; a distance S from a virtual line connecting the protrusions 23 and 25 of the case 21 to the tip of the end pressing portion 43; a virtual connecting the protrusions 23 and 25 of the case 21 The distance from the line to the tip of the central pressing portion 42 may be used, and also when tilting to the right, the dimensional relationship symmetrical to the above may be used.

Next, as shown by the solid arrow in the front sectional view of FIG. 4, when a vertical downward pressing force is applied to the central portion of the upper surface of the operating knob 41, the operating knob 41 moves vertically downward, and The central pressing portion 42 that moves downward along with the movable contact 3 of the central switch 26 via the cover sheet 35.
The lower surface of the movable contact 32 comes into contact with the central fixed contact 29A by pressing 2 to invert the central fixed contact 29A.
The electrical connection is established between A and the outer fixed contact 29B, and the central switch 26 is turned on.

When the pushing down force on the operation knob 41 is removed, the movable contact 32 of the central switch 26 is restored to its original shape, and the restoring force pushes up the operation knob 41 and the upward biasing force. Returns to the normal state shown in FIG.

When the central switch 26 is turned on, the end switches 27 and 28 are kept off.

That is, the interval 49 between the end pressing portions 43 and 44 and the cover sheets 36 and 37 in the normal state shown in FIG. 1 is set to be larger than the operation stroke of the central switch 26. Is.

As described above, in the multidirectional operation switch according to the present embodiment, the state of each end switch 27, 28 is switched by tilting the operation knob 41, and the operation knob 41 is pressed vertically downward. Since the state of the central switch 26 can be switched with, and a predetermined signal can be obtained by each of the above operations, in the electronic device used, for example, a signal obtained by tilting operation is displayed on the display unit of the electronic device. It is possible to easily move a cursor or the like to select a predetermined item, and to confirm it by a signal obtained by the pressing operation.

Furthermore, since the three composite contact points 29 to 31 and the movable contacts 32 to 34 are integrated in one case 21, the structure can be made compact, and the operation knob 41 and the four hook portions 45 can be attached to the case 21. Since it is attached to the protrusions 22 to 25 of the case 21 by snap-in with ~ 48, the operation knob 4 can be installed with high accuracy and with a small number of mounting steps.
1 can be attached.

In addition, the operation knob 41 and each switch section 26
Since they are combined with high positional accuracy with respect to .about.28, it is possible to realize a high-performance multidirectional operation switch that can reduce the eccentric pushing of the switch parts 26 to 28.

In the above description, the switch parts 26 to 28 are provided.
However, the composite contact portions 29 to 31 and the movable contacts 32 to 34 have been described as being combined, but a switch other than the above may be used.

(Second Embodiment) Using the second embodiment,
The invention of claim 4 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of a multidirectional operation switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the multidirectional operation switch according to the present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment. The configuration of the central switch 51 is different from that of FIG.

As shown in the figure, according to the present embodiment, the switch contact portion forming the central switch 51 arranged in the center of the case 52 is the same as the switch contact portion forming the end switches 27 and 28. Different, its configuration is Case 5
2 Center fixed contact 5 of composite contact portion 53 arranged in the center of the upper surface
4 and the outer fixed contact 55 are arranged in a recess deeper than those of the other switch contact portions, and a circular dome-shaped movable contact 56 corresponding to the depth of the recess has its outer peripheral lower end on the outer fixed contact 55. It has been placed.

The movable contact 56 is such that the operation amount required for the reversing operation is a reversing operation with respect to the movable contacts 33, 34 constituting the end switches 27, 28 with a large operation amount. .

In this arrangement, the lower surface of the central apex of the movable contact 56 maintains a predetermined distance from the central fixed contact 54, and the upper surface of the movable contact 56 is an adhesive agent on the lower surface of the cover tape 35 attached to the upper surface of the case 52. It is the same as that according to the first embodiment that it is positioned and held by.

With the above structure, the central switch 51 of the multidirectional operation switch according to the present embodiment.
The state is switched by a larger operation amount (operation stroke) than the end switches 27, 28.

The other components such as the configuration of the engaging portion between the operation knob 41 and the case 52 are the same as those in the first embodiment.
Since it is the same as the one described above, only the same reference numerals are given in the figure and the description thereof is omitted.

The multidirectional operation switch according to this embodiment is constructed as described above, and its operation is as follows.
Although the description is omitted because it is almost the same as that according to the first embodiment, as described above, since the central switch 51 operates with a large operation stroke, the size of the central pressing portion 42 of the operating knob 41 is Form a little larger,
In the normal state shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to apply a larger force to the central pressing portion 42 from the central switch 51 in the upward direction than in the first embodiment.
The rattling of the operation knob 41 can be further reduced to maintain a more stable neutral state.

Further, since the operation stroke required for operating the central switch 51 is long, the influence on the central switch 51 during the tilting operation of the operating knob 41 is also reduced, and as a result, the tilt axis line Can be easily realized, and in this case,
The end switch 27 that has pressed the end of the operation knob 41.
Alternatively, the amount of rise of the upper surface of the operation knob 41, which is the non-operation side when 28 is operated, can be further reduced.

(Third Embodiment) Using the third embodiment,
The invention of claim 5 will be described.

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of a multidirectional operation switch according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The multidirectional operation switch according to the present embodiment is different from that according to the first embodiment in the configuration of the operation knob 61, as shown in FIG.

The operation knob 61 has pressing portions 62 to 64 (a central pressing portion 62 and end pressing portions 63 and 64) corresponding to the three switch portions 26 to 28 arranged on the case 21.
However, it is made of an elastic body.

The other components such as the configuration of the engaging portion between the operation knob 61 and the case 21 are the same as those in the first embodiment.
Since it is the same as the one described above, only the same reference numerals are given in the figure and the description thereof is omitted.

Regarding the operation, the first embodiment
Since it is almost the same as that according to the present embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, according to the present embodiment, since each pressing portion 62 to 64 is made of an elastic body as described above, a predetermined operation is performed. Alternatively, the operating knob 61 has an inadvertently excessive operating force.
When the switch is connected to the
Excessive operating force applied to 28 can be absorbed by the pressing portions 62 to 64, and damage to the switch contact portions of the switch portions 26 to 28 can be prevented.

(Embodiment 4) The present embodiment relates to a multi-directional operation device using a multi-directional operation switch according to the present invention, and a mobile communication device is used as an example for the contents of claims 6 and 7. For example, in a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone, a PDA or a pager equipped with the multi-directional operation switch according to the present invention, the operation knob is tilted and a signal obtained from the end switch is used. Moves the cursor displayed on the display such as the liquid crystal screen, scrolls and searches menus, characters, etc.,
The operation knob is pressed to confirm the menu by the signal obtained from the central switch (contents of claim 6, only the claim number is described in parentheses), and the signal is obtained from the central switch again by pressing. Can be sent by (Claim 7).

(Embodiment 5) This embodiment relates to a multi-directional operating device using a multi-directional operating switch according to the present invention, and various remote controllers and audio equipments according to claims 7 to 9 are described. In the case where the remote control or the audio equipment is equipped with the multidirectional operation switch according to the present invention, the power can be turned on / off, and the reproduction / stop can be sequentially switched by repeatedly pressing the operation knob. It is possible (Claim 7) to be obtained by tilting the operation knob by assigning a proper combination of commands for tuning, selecting songs, volume up / down, fast forward / rewind, etc. to the operation of tilting the operation knob. Pre-assigned instructions can be executed with signals from the end switches (claim 8).

By pressing the operation knob, it is possible to switch the commands that function during the tilting operation in a predetermined order (claim 9).

(Embodiment 6) This embodiment relates to a multi-directional operating device using a multi-directional operating switch according to the present invention, and the contents described in claims 6 and 7 will be described by taking an electronic camera as an example. In the electronic camera equipped with the multi-directional operation switch according to the present invention, the operation knob is tilted to set the shutter speed, the aperture value, etc., and then the operation knob is pressed. By confirming the set contents (Claim 6) and tilting the operation knob to set the focus target position in the viewfinder, and then pressing the operation knob, the focus is adjusted for a fixed time. By pressing the inside again, the operation of releasing the shutter can be performed (Claim 7).

(Embodiment 7) The present embodiment relates to a multi-directional operating device using a multi-directional operating switch according to the present invention, and the contents described in claim 4 will be explained by taking a computer device as an example. In the case where the computer device is equipped with the multidirectional operation switch according to the present invention, the operation knob is tilted to move the cursor on the display or select the menu, and the pressing operation is performed to confirm or execute the menu. It is possible (Claim 6).

[0078]

As described above, according to the present invention, three switch portions are provided, and the operation knobs for operating the switch portions are accurately mounted with little rattling, and the eccentric pushing to the switch portions and the like can be performed. An advantageous effect that a high-performance multidirectional operation switch that can be suppressed can be provided is obtained.

Further, in the multi-directional operating device using the multi-directional operating switch of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the effect that concentration and simplification of various operations can be achieved at the same time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a multidirectional operation switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing the tilting operation state.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view showing a vertically downward pushing operation state.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of a multidirectional operation switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of a multidirectional operation switch according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional multidirectional operation switch.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

21, 52 cases 22, 23, 24, 25 Projection 26, 51 Central switch 27, 28 end switch 29-31, 53 Composite contact part 29A-31A, 54 Center fixed contact 29B-31B, 55 Outside fixed contact 32-34, 56 movable contact 35-37 cover sheet 41, 61 Operation knob 42, 62 Central pressing part 43, 44, 63, 64 End pressing part 45, 46, 47, 48 Hook part 45A to 48A hole

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Jun Sato             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A multi-directional operation switch comprising a case in which three switch parts are arranged at predetermined positions and an operation knob for operating the switch parts of the case, wherein the three switch parts are substantially on the case. Arranged in a straight line,
The operation knob is such that the end pressing portions are spaced from the end switches of the three switch portions on the case at predetermined intervals, and the central pressing portion abuts so that an upward biasing force is applied from the central switch. A multi-directional operation switch which is supported and is provided with engaging portions corresponding to holding portions provided at two positions on opposite side surfaces of the case so as to be engaged with each other so as to be vertically movable and tiltable within a predetermined range. 2. The three switch parts are self-reset type switches, and the engaging positions of the holding part of the case and the engaging part of the operating knob are arranged at positions sandwiching the central switch of the three switch parts. The multi-directional operation switch according to claim 1, which is provided. 3. The lower surface of the central apex of the dome-shaped movable contact is spaced a predetermined distance from the central fixed contact with respect to the composite contact portion in which each of the three switch portions is fixed to the case and includes a central fixed contact and an outer fixed contact. The lower end of the outer periphery is placed on the outer fixed contact so as to leave a space.
Multidirectional operation switch described. 4. The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1, wherein the operation stroke required for switching the state of the central switch is longer than the operation stroke required for switching the state of the end switch. 5. The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1, wherein the end pressing portion and the central pressing portion of the operation knob are made of a material having elasticity. 6. The multi-direction operation switch according to claim 1, wherein the operation knob of the multi-direction operation switch is tilted to detect an ON signal of one end switch and any one of a plurality of display items is selected. Select the item and then turn on the center switch by pressing the operation knob vertically.
A multidirectional operation device configured to detect a signal and confirm the selected item. 7. The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1, wherein a continuous ON signal of a central switch obtained by continuously pressing the operation knob downward a plurality of times within a fixed time is detected, and A multidirectional operation device configured to sequentially switch or execute a plurality of command signals predetermined by signals. 8. The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1, wherein an ON signal of a predetermined end switch, which is obtained by tilting the operation knob in a predetermined direction, is detected, and depending on each direction in which the switch is tilted in advance. A multi-directional operation device that performs up and down adjustments of the functions assigned to each. 9. The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1, wherein an ON signal of a central switch obtained by pressing the operation knob downward is detected, and the signal is applied to each direction in which the operation knob is tilted. A multi-directional operating device adapted to switch the commands assigned in accordance with a predetermined order.