Multi-directional operating switch and multi-directional operating device using the same

• US 6,344,618 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2000
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIEDHOFER, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/591,936
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 200/4, 200/5.R, 200/6.A, 200/17.R, 200/18, 200/335, 200/339, 345/157, 345/161, 463/36-38
• US Class Current: 200/6.00A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2025/046 having a spherical bearing between operating member and housing or bezel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

A multi-directional operating switch includes: a case made of resin having a generally square opening on top, provided on a bottom surface thereof with a central stationary contact, an outer stationary contact and peripheral stationary contacts disposed at each corner of the opening; a dome-like circular movable contact disposed in a manner to stay in contact with the outer stationary contact; a manipulation body having a flange, an upper surface and a lower surface of which are electrically conductive, placed above the dome-like circular movable contact; and a cover for covering the opening and having a shaft of the manipulation body penetrating therethrough. Switching operation is made between the central stationary contact and the outer stationary contact when the shaft is depressed, and between any adjacent two of the peripheral stationary contact and the electrically conductive cover, covering the opening of the case, when the same shaft is tilted.

Claims

1. A multi-directional operating switch comprising:

a case having an opening on top, provided on a bottom surface thereof with a central contact, an outer contact disposed away from said central contact, and a plurality of peripheral contacts;

a dome-like circular movable contact having a central portion situated above said central contact, and a lower peripheral rim of said dome-like circular movable contact rests in contact with said outer contact;

an electrically conductive cover having a through hole concentric to said dome-like circular movable contact;

a manipulation body including a shaft protruding through the through hole in said cover, a flange formed integrally with or fixed to a lower portion of said shaft, provided with an upper surface and a lower surface thereof for conductively connecting therebetween, and a projection provided on said shaft;

wherein said flange is restricted from turning and said shaft is tiltable as well as vertically movable, and at least a periphery of said flange stays in contact with an underside surface of said cover with a thrusting force in an upward direction by said dome-like circular movable contact, and

said projection on said flange depresses and deforms said dome-like circular movable contact, thereby establishing an electrical continuity between said central contact and said outer contact, when said shaft is pushed downward, and said flange establishes an electrical continuity between said peripheral contacts and said cover when said shaft of said manipulation body is tilted.

2. The multi-directional operating switch according to claim 1, wherein the opening in said case has generally square shape, and said flange is formed in a shape generally similar to said opening.

3. The multi-directional operating switch according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of peripheral contacts are disposed on the bottom surface at each corner of the opening of said case.

4. The multi-directional operating switch according to claim 1, wherein the opening in said case and said flange of said manipulation body are generally rectangular in similar shape.

5. The multi-directional operating switch according to claim 1, wherein the opening in said case and said flange of said manipulation body are one of generally pentagonal, hexagonal and octagonal of similar shape.

6. The multi-directional operating switch according to claim 1, wherein the opening in said case is circular in shape, said plurality of peripheral contacts are disposed at equal distance and equal angular direction relative to a center of said case, and said flange of said manipulation body is formed into a circular shape of a size smaller than said opening.

7. The multi-directional operating switch according to claim 6, further comprising turn restricting means comprised of a through hole of non-circular shape in said cover and a non-circular shaft of said manipulation body.

8. The multi-directional operating switch according to claim 1, wherein said manipulation body is composed of an electrical conductive material.

9. The multi-directional operating switch according to claim 8, wherein said projection is provided on a lower end of said manipulation body and is composed of an insulation material.

10. The multi-directional operating switch according to claim 1, wherein said shaft and said projection are integrally composed of a rigid insulation material.

11. The multi-directional operating switch according to claim 10, wherein said flange is made of an electrically conductive material having resiliency, whereby establishing an electrical continuity first between said peripheral contacts and said cover, and another electrical continuity thereafter between said central contact and said outer contact, as said projection under said flange subsequently depresses said dome-like circular movable contact after said flange of said manipulation body distorts resiliently, when said shaft is tilted.

12. A multi-directional operating apparatus including a multi-directional operating switch according to claim 1, wherein:

said apparatus detects a closed circuit between adjacent two of said plurality of peripheral contacts and selects an item among a plurality of items displayed when the shaft of said manipulation body of said multi-directional operating switch is tilted; and

said apparatus detects a closed circuit between said central contact and said outer contact and determines said selected item when the shaft is depressed vertically downward.

13. The multi-directional operating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said apparatus detects a plurality of sequential continuity signals transmitted from said central contact and said outer contact produced when the shaft vertically is depressed continuously for a plurality of times within a predetermined period of time, and executes a plurality of predetermined commands corresponding to the signals in a sequential order.

14. The multi-directional operating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said apparatus executes two functions allocated in advance to each of tilting directions of the shaft, when said shaft is tilted in directions opposite to each other with respect to a center of said shaft.

15. The multi-directional operating apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said apparatus detects a signal transmitted from said central contact and said outer contact produced by the shaft depressed vertically downward, and switches a command pre-allocated to each of tilting directions of the shaft in a predetermined order in response to the detected signal.

16. A multi-directional operating apparatus including a multi-directional operating switch according to claim 1, wherein:

said apparatus detects a closed circuit between adjacent two of said plurality of peripheral contacts, selects one of a plurality of signals allocated in advance to directions of vector, and moves an object being displayed toward a direction of vector corresponding to the selected signal when said shaft of said manipulation body of said multi-directional operating switch is tilted; and

said apparatus detects a closed circuit between said central contact and said outer contact, and executes a command allocated in advance to the moved object when the shaft is depressed vertically downward.

17. The multi-directional operating apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said apparatus detects a plurality of sequential continuity signals transmitted from said central contact and said outer contact produced when the shaft vertically is depressed continuously for a plurality of times within a predetermined period of time, and executes a plurality of predetermined commands corresponding to the signals in a sequential order.

18. The multi-directional operating apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said apparatus executes two functions allocated in advance to each of tilting directions of the shaft, when said shaft is tilted in directions opposite to each other with respect to a center of said shaft.

19. The multi-directional operating apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said apparatus detects a signal transmitted from said central contact and said outer contact produced by the shaft depressed vertically downward, and switches a command pre-allocated to each of tilting directions of the shaft in a predetermined order in response to the detected signal.

20. The multi-directional operating apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said apparatus detects a signal transmitted from said central contact and said outer contact produced by the shaft depressed vertically downward, and switches a command pre-allocated to each of tilting directions of the shaft in a predetermined order in response to the detected signal.