JP2003151404A - Multidirectional input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure of a multidirectional input device capable of improving operatability by dealing with large operation force and displacement in operation, and capable of reducing the size of the device by simplifying wiring. SOLUTION: The movable contact point 10 provided on an outer surface of an operation member 9 slidably stored in a housing 1 equipped with a common fixed contact point 2 and an individual fixed contact point 3 is formed of a conductive elastic material and the operation member 9 is formed of an insulative elastic material having more elastic energizing force than the movable contact point 10. By conducting slide operation of the operation member 9 in a desirable direction, the operation member 9 and the movable contact point 10 are elastically deformed to make the movable contact point 10 to selectively contact the common fixed contact point 2 and the individual fixed contact point 3 in order to output a detection signal according to the operation direction and to return to the initial position by elastic energizing force of the operation member 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information input device for a computer, a portable information terminal device or the like, and more particularly to a multidirectional input device for generating a detection signal corresponding to a sliding direction by sliding an operating member. Concerning the structure of.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a structure of a conventional multidirectional input device,
There is one shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the multi-directional input device, FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an arrangement state of fixed contacts and movable contacts, and FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a modified example of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the circuit board 21 is
The circuit board 21 is made of an insulating resin substrate. On the front surface side of the circuit board 21, individual fixed contacts 22 formed in a columnar shape and made of a conductive metal material are arranged so as to face each other in the vertical and horizontal directions. There is. Insulating bosses 23, which are also made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin and formed in a cylindrical shape, are fixed between the individual fixed contacts 22 so as to face each other diagonally. .

The operating member 24 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and has a flat plate-like substrate portion, an operation knob portion 24a provided on the upper side of the substrate portion, and a portion protruding downward from the substrate portion. It is composed of an annular boss 24b provided. Further, a common contact 25 formed in a ring shape from an elastic conductive rubber or the like is attached to the outer periphery of the annular boss 24b.

The operating member 24 is the annular boss 24b.
Is placed inside the insulating boss 23 and is placed on the upper surface of the circuit board 21. In this case, the outer periphery of the common contact 25 engages with the plurality of insulating bosses 23. The positioning is performed so that the operation member 24 and the common contact 25 are held at the initial position. At this time, the insulating boss 23 holds the common contact 25 at a position separated from the individual fixed contact 22. (Switch off state)

From this state, when the operating member 24 is slid in a desired direction (longitudinal and lateral directions), the annular common contact 25 made of elastic conductive rubber or the like is
By being elastically deformed and bent to enter between the insulating bosses 23, the individual fixed contacts 22 and the common contacts 25 corresponding to the sliding direction are conducted to detect the operation direction. (Switch on state)

The common contact 25 also serves as an urging member (return spring) for returning the operating member 24 to the initial position (neutral position) after sliding the operating member 24. It has become a thing.

The case 26 is formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and has a window hole 26a formed at the center thereof through which the operation knob portion 24a of the operation member 24 is inserted to project outward. The case 26 is fixed to the upper surface side of the circuit board 21 with a screw 27 or the like to cover the upper surface side of the operation member, thereby preventing the operation member 24 from popping out.

FIG. 8 shows a structure in which the individual fixed contacts 22 are arranged on the circuit board 21 so as to face each other in the vertical and horizontal directions, and in addition, the individual fixed contacts 22 are also arranged so as to face each other diagonally. In this case, the insulating boss 23 is also formed and fixed between the individual fixed contacts 22 corresponding to the individual fixed contacts 22.

According to this structure, in addition to the slide operation in the vertical and horizontal directions, the operation direction corresponding to the slidable operation in the diagonal direction can be detected, and more directions can be detected.

[0011]

However, in the structure of the conventional multi-directional input device described above, the common contact 25 made of the annular conductive rubber is formed in the insulating boss 23.
Is held in the initial position which is the off state, and the operating member 24
Since the elastic restoring force of the conductive rubber of the common contact 25 is used to return the initial position of the
There was a problem that the operating force and movement amount during operation could not be increased.

The common contact 25 made of an annular conductive rubber provided on the outer periphery of the annular boss 24b of the movable operating member 24 is also used as a common contact (common fixed contact) other than the movable contact. Therefore, wiring is required between the movable operation member 24 side and the circuit board 21 on which the individual fixed contacts 22 are arranged, and the wiring becomes complicated, which makes it impossible to downsize the entire device. there were.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned problems can be solved, the operating force and the moving amount at the time of operation can be increased to improve the operability, and the wiring can be simplified and the device can be downsized. It is intended to provide a structure for a device.

[0014]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, as a first means, a storage unit is provided, and a common fixed contact and a plurality of individual fixed contacts are arranged on the inner surface of the storage unit. A housing provided therewith, an operating member slidably housed in the housing, and a movable contact provided on an outer surface of the operating member, wherein the movable contact is formed of a conductive elastic material. , The operating member is formed of an insulating elastic material rich in elastic biasing force than the movable contact,
By sliding the operating member in a desired direction, the operating member and the movable contact are elastically deformed to selectively contact the movable contact with the common fixed contact and the individual fixed contact, and the operating member In addition to outputting a detection signal corresponding to the operating direction, the operating member is returned to the initial position by the elastic biasing force of the operating member.

As a second means, the operating member has a leg portion which is positioned and fixed on the inner bottom surface of the housing portion of the housing, an operating projection portion which projects outward from the housing, and the operating projection portion. And a deformable connecting arm portion for connecting the portion and the leg portion.

As a third means, on the inner side surface of the housing portion of the housing, the individual fixed contacts are spaced apart on both sides of the common fixed contact, and the movable contact is made of a conductive material. The elastic member is formed in a non-linear shape having a bulge in the center, and by sliding the operating member in a desired direction, the central bulge of the movable contact and the common fixed contact come into contact with each other, Next, as the movable contact is deformed, the peripheral portion of the movable contact and the individual fixed contact are formed to be in contact with each other.

As a fourth means, the housing is formed in a rectangular shape, the movable contact is formed in an arc shape, and the common fixed contact and the individual fixed contact are within the four sides of the rectangular housing. Place on each side,
The arc-shaped movable contacts are arranged corresponding to the common fixed contacts and the individual fixed contacts, respectively.

As a fifth means, a fixed contact for a push button switch is arranged on the inner bottom surface of the housing portion of the housing, and a push button switch is mounted at the center of the lower surface of the operating member housed in the housing portion. It is characterized in that a pressing protrusion for pressing is formed.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention are shown below in FIGS. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the multidirectional input device, FIG.
Is a plan view with the operation knob and cover removed, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the housing, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the operating member, and FIG. 5 is a modification of the movable contact with the operating member housed in the housing. It is a top view.

1 to 4, the housing 1 is
It is formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin into a rectangular box shape having an open upper surface. The housing 1 is provided with a bottomed storage portion 1a, and common fixed contacts 2 made of a conductive metal material are disposed on the inner side surfaces of the four sides of the storage portion 1a. . Further, a pair of individual fixed contacts 3 made of the same conductive metal material are separately arranged on both sides facing each other with the common fixed contact 2 interposed therebetween.

The other end of the common fixed contact 2 and the individual fixed contact 3 is protruded outward from the outer surface of the housing 1 so that a circuit board of an electronic device or the like (not shown) is provided. Connection terminals 4 and 5 connected to a circuit pattern or the like are provided.

A projecting portion 1b protruding upward is formed at a square portion on a diagonal line of the housing portion 1a of the housing 1. The leg portion 9c of the operation member 9 described later is attached to the protrusion 1b.
Are engaged and positioned and fixed.

A fixed contact 6 for a push button switch made of a conductive metal material is arranged at the center of the storage portion 1a. The push button switch fixed contact 6 is composed of a central fixed contact 6a and a peripheral fixed contact 6b.

The other end of the push button switch fixed contact 6 is exposed outward from the bottom surface of the housing 1 and connected to a circuit pattern of a circuit board of an electronic device (not shown). Connection terminal 7 (7a, 7
b) is provided.

The fixed contact 6 for the push button switch is provided with a pressing contact 8 made of a conductive disk-shaped metal plate, and the pressing contact 8 is formed in a dome shape having a bulged center. There is. The pressing contact 8 is the central fixed contact 6
a and the peripheral fixed contact 6b so as to cover the upper surface side, at this time, the peripheral portion of the pressing contact 8 is in constant contact with the peripheral fixed contact 6b, and the dome-shaped top is The central fixed contact 6a is opposed to the central fixed contact 6a with a constant space. In this state, the central fixed contact 6a and the peripheral fixed contact 6b are off.

The operating member 9 is formed of an insulating elastic material such as silicon rubber having a high elastic urging (restoring) force, and can be slid into the housing portion 1a of the housing 1 by bending. It is stored like this. The operating member 9 includes a base portion 9a having a substantially disk shape, a deformable connecting arm portion 9b formed by radially projecting from a diagonal outer peripheral portion of the base portion 9a, and the connecting arm portion 9a.
4 legs 9c provided at the tip of b and the base 9
An operating protrusion 9d is formed so as to protrude toward the upper surface of a, and a pressing protrusion 9e is formed so as to protrude toward the lower surface of the base portion 9a facing the operation protrusion 9d.

An engaging hole 9f is provided in the center of each leg 9c, and when the operating member 9 is housed in the housing 1a, the engaging hole 9f and the housing 1a are housed. The protrusion 1b provided is engaged and positioned.

As described above, the operation member 9 is formed with the leg portion 9c which is positioned and fixed to the inner bottom surface when the operation member 9 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 1a of the housing 1, and the operation protrusion 9d is formed. Since the deformable connecting arm portion 9b is formed between the leg portion 9c and the leg portion 9c, the operating member 9 can be easily pressed and deformed by the connecting arm portion 9b. It is possible to obtain a large actuating force.

Further, the engagement hole 9f provided in the leg portion 9c can be easily fixed by engaging with the projection portion 1b provided in the housing portion 1a of the housing 1, The leg 9c and the connecting arm 9b can easily hold the operation protrusion 9d at the initial position.

The pressing projection 9e is provided on the upper surface side of the fixed contact 6 for the push button switch, and the pressing contact 8 is provided.
The housing portion 1 of the housing 1 in a state of being in contact with the top portion of the
It is housed in a, and the pressing projection 9e presses the top of the pressing contact 8 in accordance with the pressing operation of the operating projection 9d, so that the central fixed contact 6a and the surroundings are connected via the pressing contact 8. The fixed contacts 6b are electrically connected to each other.

As described above, the housing portion 1 of the housing 1
The fixed contact 6 for the push button switch is arranged on the inner bottom surface of a, and the pressing projection 9e for pressing the push button switch is provided at the center of the lower surface of the operation member 9 housed in the housing 1a. Since it is formed, the push-direction operation can be performed in addition to the slide-direction operation in the vertical and horizontal directions and the oblique direction.

The operating member 9 includes the leg portion 9c.
A movable contact 10 made of a conductive elastic material such as conductive rubber is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 9a between the above. The movable contact 10 is formed in an arc shape along the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 9a, and is formed in a non-linear shape in which the central portion bulges with respect to both end portions thereof.

When the operating member 9 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 1a of the housing 1, the bulging portion at the center of the movable contact 10 and the common fixed contact 2 face each other, and the other than the center of the movable contact 10 is opposed. Both ends, which are peripheral portions, and the individual fixed contacts 3 are formed so as to face each other. Then, by sliding the operating member 9 in a desired direction, the central bulging portion of the movable contact 10 and the common fixed contact 2 first come into contact with each other, and then the sliding operation further causes the movable member 10 to move. As the contact 10 is deformed, the peripheral portion of the movable contact 10 and the individual fixed contact 3 come into contact with each other to electrically connect the common fixed contact 2 and the individual movable contact 3 via the movable contact 10. Has become.

As described above, the movable contact 10 is formed in an arc shape having a bulge in the center with a conductive elastic material such as conductive rubber, and the operating member 9 is slid in a desired direction. , The central bulging portion of the movable contact 10 is brought into contact with the common fixed contact 2, and then the peripheral portion of the movable contact 10 is brought into contact with the individual fixed contact 3 as the movable contact 10 is deformed. As a result, the operating direction of the operating member 9 is not limited to the four vertical and horizontal directions, but also in the oblique eight directions.
Since it is possible to detect in each operation direction, it is possible to easily detect in multiple directions.

Further, the movable contact 10 is formed in an arc shape, and the common fixed contact 2 and the individual fixed contact 3 are arranged on the inner surfaces of the four sides of the rectangular housing 1, respectively, and the common fixed contact is formed. Since the arcuate movable contacts 10 are arranged corresponding to the contacts 2 and the individual fixed contacts 3, respectively, the arcuate movable contacts 10 can be operated in the vertical and horizontal directions and in the oblique directions. Since the contact 10 is formed so as to be elastically deformed smoothly, the detection in the desired operation direction can be surely performed.

A cover 11 formed in a rectangular box shape by bending a flat metal plate is attached to the upper surface of the opened housing portion 1a of the housing 1. Further, at the center of the cover 11, there is provided a window hole 11a through which the operation projection 9d of the operation member 9 is slidably inserted. By covering the opening on the upper surface side of the housing 1 with the cover 11, the movable contact 10, the operating member 9, and the pressing contact 8 are prevented from popping out.

The operation knob portion 12 is formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin into a substantially circular or square plate shape, and the operation protrusion 9d of the operation member 9 is fitted in the center of the operation knob portion 12 so as to be vertically movable. A fitting hole 12a is formed. The operation knob portion 12 is fitted to the operation protrusion 9d of the operation member 9 and is slidably attached to the housing 1. By sliding the operation knob portion 12 in an arbitrary direction, The operation member 9 is configured to slide in the storage portion 1a of the housing 1.

When the operation protrusion 9d of the operation member 9 is pressed, the operation protrusion 9d is guided by the fitting hole 12a of the operation knob 12 and is pressed (downward).
The operation member 9 can be pushed in the pressing direction in addition to the sliding operation in the arbitrary sliding direction by the operation knob portion 12, and multi-directional input operation can be performed. There is.

Next, the operation of the multidirectional input device in the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, when pressing (pushing) the switch, as shown in FIG. 1, when the upper surface of the operation protrusion 9d of the operation member 9 is vertically pressed (downward in the drawing) with a finger or the like, the operation protrusion 9 is pressed.
When the elastic arm portion 9b bends, d moves vertically in the fitting hole 12a of the operation knob portion 12, and the pressing protrusion 9e moves the pressing contact 8 on the fixed contact 6 for the push button switch. Press on the top. At this time, since the dome-shaped bulging top portion of the pressing contact 8 is inverted and comes into contact with the central fixed contact 6a, the central fixed contact 6a and the peripheral fixed contact 6b are connected to each other by the pressing contact 8. The fixed contact 6 for the push button switch is turned on through the connection.

When the pressing force of the finger is removed from this state, the pressing contact portion 8 returns to the initial state by reversing itself and is turned off, so that the pressing protrusion 9d also moves to the elastic arm portion 9b. It will return to the initial position by its own elastic restoring force.

Next, the sliding operation of the switch will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the operation knob 12 is slid laterally (to the left in the drawing) with a finger or the like, the operation protrusion 9d of the operation member 9 follows the operation knob 12 to move in the lateral direction (to the left in the drawing). Slide to. At this time, the movable contact 10a fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 9a of the operation member 9 in the sliding direction has an arc-shaped central top portion,
When the elastic arm portion 9b bends, the elastic arm portion 9b comes into contact with the common fixed contact 2a arranged on the inner side surface of the housing portion 1a of the housing 1 in the lateral direction (left direction in the drawing). Next, with the deformation of the elastic arm portion 9b, the arc-shaped movable contact 1
0a is also deformed into a substantially linear state, and both end portions which are peripheral portions thereof are brought into contact with the individual fixed contacts 3a which are arranged on both sides of the common fixed contact 2a so as to be separated from the common fixed contact 2a. The individual fixed contacts 3a are the movable contacts 10
It conducts through a and is turned on.

From this state, the lateral direction of the finger (left direction in the drawing)
When the movable contact 10a returns to the arc-shaped initial state due to its own elasticity and turns off when the pressing force is removed, the operating projection 9d also moves by the elastic restoring force of the elastic arm 9b. It will return to the initial position. still,
The operation of sliding in the lateral direction can be performed in either the left or right direction. Since the operation at this time is performed in the same manner as above, the description in the right direction in the drawing is omitted.

Next, when the operation knob portion 12 is slid vertically (upward in the drawing) with a finger or the like, the operation protrusion 9d of the operation member 9 follows the operation knob portion 12 in the vertical direction ( Slide (upward in the figure). At this time, the movable contact 10c fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 9a of the operation member 9 in the sliding direction has an arc-shaped central apex in the vertical direction (upward direction in the drawing) due to bending of the elastic arm portion 9b. It comes into contact with the common fixed contact 2c arranged on the inner surface of the housing portion 1a of the housing 1. Next, with the deformation of the elastic arm portion 9b, the arcuate movable contact 10c is also deformed into a substantially straight line state, and both end portions which are the peripheral portions thereof are arranged separately on both sides of the common fixed contact 2c. By making contact with the individual fixed contact 3c, the common fixed contact 2c and the individual fixed contact 3c are brought into conduction via the movable contact 10c and turned on.

From this state, the vertical direction of the finger (upward direction in the drawing)
When the pressing force is removed, the movable contact 10c returns to the arc-shaped initial state by the elasticity of itself and becomes the off state, and the operation projection 9d is also elastically restored by the elastic arm 9b. It will return to the initial position. still,
The operation of sliding in the vertical direction can be performed in either of the up and down directions. Since the operation at this time is performed in the same manner as above, the description in the downward direction in the drawing is omitted.

Next, when the operation knob portion 12 is slid in a diagonal direction (upper left direction in the drawing) with a finger or the like, the operation projection 9d of the operation member 9 follows the operation knob portion 12 in the oblique direction ( Slide (upper left direction in the figure). At this time, the movable contacts 10a and 10 fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the base 9a of the operation member 9 on both sides in the sliding direction.
c is the accommodating portion 1 of the housing 1 in which the arc-shaped central apex is leftward and upward as the elastic arm portion 9b is bent.
a common fixed contacts 2a and 2c arranged on the inner surface of a
At the same time, it comes into contact.

Next, as the elastic arm portion 9b is deformed, the arc-shaped movable contacts 10a and 10c are also deformed. In this case, one movable contact 10a located on the left side is deformed.
Is formed so that only the upper side in the drawing is deformed into a substantially linear state with the arc-shaped central apex as a boundary, and only the individual fixed contact 3a on the upper side in the drawing is contacted. Is formed so that only the left side in the drawing is deformed into a substantially straight line with the arc-shaped central top as a boundary, and only the individual fixed contact 3c on the left side in the drawing comes into contact.

As described above, in the operation of the operation knob portion 12 in the oblique direction (upper left direction in the drawing), the common fixed contacts 2a and 2c arranged on both sides of the operation direction and the common fixed contacts 2a arranged on both sides of the operation direction are arranged. The pair of individual fixed contacts 3 provided
Of a and 3c, only the individual fixed contacts that are closer to the operation direction are formed to contact each other, so that the operation direction can be easily detected.

From this state, when the pressure of the finger in the oblique direction (upper left direction in the drawing) is removed, the movable contacts 10a and 1
When 0c returns to the arc-shaped initial state due to its own elasticity and is turned off, the operating projection 9d also returns to the initial position due to its own elastic restoring force of the elastic arm 9b. In addition, the operation to slide in the diagonal direction is
The operation can be performed in any of the upper left, lower left, upper right, and lower right directions. Since the operation at this time is performed in the same manner as described above, description of other diagonal directions will be omitted.

According to the above construction, the movable contact 10 in which the conductive portion of the switch is made of a conductive elastic material such as conductive rubber is used.
In addition, since the operating force at the time of operation is secured on the side of the operating member 9 where the elastic urging (restoring) force made of silicon rubber or the like is larger than that of the movable contact, the operating force at the time of operation and the amount of movement are The setting can be made large and the operability can be improved.

The housing 1 on the side of the fixed member
In addition, since the common fixed contact 2 and the individual fixed contact 3 are both formed, the wiring between them can be simplified and the device can be downsized.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of another embodiment of the movable contact 10 fixed to the operating member 9, and is a plan view of the operating member 9 housed in the housing portion 1a of the housing 1. As shown in FIG. Incidentally, regarding the same parts described in FIGS. 1 to 4,
The same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

In this case, the difference from the first embodiment is that the structure of the movable contact fixed to the operating member 9 is slightly different. That is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the movable contact 13 arranged so as to face the common fixed contact 2 and the individual fixed contact 3 is not arcuate, but has a bulged portion protruding in the center, The protruding bulging portion is a common contact portion 13a that contacts the common fixed contact 2, and both sides of the common contact portion 13a are slightly more than the common contact portion 13a that contacts the individual fixed contacts 3 and 3. It has a configuration in which a pair of individual contact portions 13b, 13b formed of low protruding portions are formed.

In this case, as compared with the first embodiment, each contact portion of the movable contact 13 arranged so as to face the common fixed contact 2 and the individual fixed contacts 3 and 3 has the above-mentioned structure. Since the fixed contacts are arranged horizontally with respect to the common fixed contact 2 and the individual fixed contacts 3, when the operating member 9 is slid, each contact portion is reliably connected to each fixed contact as the movable contact 13 is deformed. Since they come into contact with each other, the contact is good and the contact reliability is improved. Of course, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained in the above embodiment.

[0054]

As described above, the structure of the multidirectional input device of the present invention has the accommodating portion, and the common fixed contact and the plurality of individual fixed contacts are arranged on the inner side surface of the accommodating portion. The housing includes a housing, an operation member slidably housed in the housing, and a movable contact provided on an outer surface of the operation member. The movable contact is formed of a conductive elastic material, and the operation member is movable. It is made of an insulating elastic material that is more elastic than the contacts, and the operating members and movable contacts are elastically deformed by sliding the operating members in the desired direction, and the movable contacts are individually fixed with the common fixed contact. The actuating force is large because the contact point is selectively contacted, the detection signal corresponding to the operating direction of the operating member is output, and the elastic biasing force of the operating member returns the operating member to the initial position. Secured in work member, since the structure obtained by the movable contact comprising a conductive portion of a conductive elastic material, can increase the actuating force or movement amount at the time of operation, the operability is improved.
Further, since the common fixed contact and the individual fixed contact are both formed on the housing on the fixing member side, the wiring can be simplified and the device can be downsized.

Further, the operation member includes a leg portion which is brought into contact with the inner surface of the housing portion of the housing to be positioned and fixed, an operation knob portion which projects to the outside of the housing, and the operation knob portion and the leg portion. Since the deformable connecting arm portion that connects the portions is formed, the connecting arm portion can easily perform the pressing deformation, and a large actuating force can be obtained. Further, by fixing the leg portion to the housing, the operation knob portion can be easily held at the initial position by the leg portion and the connecting arm portion.

Further, on the inner side surface of the housing containing portion,
Individual fixed contacts are arranged on both sides of the common fixed contact with a space between them.The movable contact is made of conductive elastic material and has a non-linear shape with a bulge in the center, and the operating member slides in the desired direction. The swelling part at the center of the movable contact and the common fixed contact are brought into contact with each other by operating, and the peripheral portion of the movable contact is brought into contact with the individual fixed contact as the movable contact is deformed. Therefore, the operation direction of the operation member can be detected not only in the vertical and horizontal directions but also in the oblique direction, so that the detection in multiple directions can be easily performed.

In addition, the housing is formed in a rectangular shape, the movable contact is formed in an arc shape, and the common fixed contact and the individual fixed contacts are arranged on the inner surfaces of the four sides of the rectangular housing, respectively. Since the arc-shaped movable contacts are arranged corresponding to the individual fixed contacts and the individual fixed contacts, the arc-shaped movable contacts are elastically deformed smoothly in response to the operation of the operation member in the vertical and horizontal directions and in the oblique direction. Detection can be done reliably.

Further, since the fixed contact for the push button is arranged on the inner bottom surface of the housing portion of the housing, and the pressing protrusion for pressing the push button switch is formed at the center of the lower surface of the operation member housed in the housing portion. In addition to the operation in the vertical and horizontal directions and the slidable direction in the diagonal direction, the operation in the push direction is also possible, so that the multi-directional combined operation becomes possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a multidirectional input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the multi-directional input device of the present invention with the operation knob and the cover removed.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the same housing of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the same operating member of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which an operating member showing a modified example of the movable contact of the present invention is housed in a housing.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a conventional multidirectional input device.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an arrangement state of fixed contacts and movable contacts of a conventional multi-directional input device.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modified example of a conventional fixed contact and movable contact.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 housing 1a Storage section 1b protrusion 2 Common fixed contact 3 Individual fixed contacts 4 connection terminals 5 connection terminals 6 Fixed contact for push button switch 6a Central fixed contact 6b Peripheral fixed contact 7 connection terminals 8 pressure contact 9 Operation member 9a Base part 9b Connection arm 9c leg 9d Operation protrusion 9e Pressing protrusion 9f engagement hole 10 movable contacts 11 cover 11a window hole 12 Operation knob 12a fitting hole 13 movable contacts 13a Common contact section 13b Individual contact part

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A housing having a storage part, in which a common fixed contact and a plurality of individual fixed contacts are arranged on an inner surface of the storage part, and an operation member slidably stored in the storage part. A movable contact provided on an outer side surface of the operating member, the movable contact being formed of a conductive elastic material, and the operating member having an insulating elasticity richer in elastic biasing force than the movable contact. Made of a material and slidingly operating the operating member in a desired direction to elastically deform the operating member and the movable contact to selectively contact the movable contact with the common fixed contact and the individual fixed contact. The multidirectional input device is configured to output a detection signal corresponding to the operating direction of the operating member and return the operating member to the initial position by the elastic biasing force of the operating member. 2. The operating member includes a leg portion that is positioned and fixed to an inner bottom surface of a housing portion of the housing, an operation protrusion portion that protrudes outward of the housing, the operation protrusion portion and the leg portion. The multi-directional input device according to claim 1, wherein a deformable connecting arm portion for connecting the two is formed. 3. The inner surface of the housing portion of the housing,
The individual fixed contacts are spaced apart on both sides of the common fixed contact, and the movable contact is formed of a conductive elastic material in a non-linear shape having a bulge in the center. By sliding in the direction of the contact, the central bulging portion of the movable contact comes into contact with the common fixed contact, and as the movable contact is deformed, the peripheral portion of the movable contact and the individual fixed contact. The multi-directional input device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the multi-directional input device is formed so as to contact with. 4. The housing is formed in a rectangular shape, the movable contact is formed in an arc shape, and the common fixed contact and the individual fixed contact are respectively disposed on inner surfaces of four sides of the rectangular housing. 4. The multi-directional input device according to claim 3, wherein the arcuate movable contacts are arranged corresponding to the common fixed contact and the individual fixed contact, respectively. 5. A fixed contact for a push button switch is provided on the inner bottom surface of the housing portion of the housing, and a pressing protrusion for pressing the push button switch is provided at the center of the lower surface of the operation member housed in the housing portion. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein the multidirectional input device is formed.