Patent ID: 6653579
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: G05G,H01H

Abstract:
A multi-directional input device comprising:an electronic component for input comprising: an upper resistor layer on a bottom face of a flexible insulated substrate, formed like a circular ring having a predetermined width, and having two leads, one lead in electrical continuity with entire inner circumference and the other lead in electrical continuity with entire outer circumference of the circular ring; a lower conductor layer on a planar board, disposed like a circular ring so as to be opposed to said upper resistor layer with a predetermined insulation gap, and having a predetermined lead; a top cover coupled to the planar board and having a circular hole therethrough; and an elastic driver mounted on the flexible insulated substrate, said elastic driver having, on a bottom face thereof, a disk-like elastic pressing portion opposed to a backside of said upper resistor layer with a predetermined clearance, and said elastic driver having, on a top face thereof, a spherical portion rotatably engaged in the circular hole through said top cover and a driving knob portion in a center of the spherical portion; wherein, while said elastic driver tilts, the elastic pressing portion partially and downwardly warps the flexible insulated substrate, thereby bringing said upper resistor layer and said lower conductor layer in a tilt direction of said elastic driver into partial contact with each other; and a computing unit for recognizing the tilt direction of said elastic driver according to information from the leads of said upper resistor layer and said lower conductor layer while said elastic driver tilts and said upper resistor layer is in partial contact with said lower conductor layer, and for measuring and processing output voltage supplied at the lead of said lower conductor layer when a predetermined DC voltage is applied across the two leads of said upper resistor layer, thereby to recognize the tilt angle of said elastic driver.