Multi-directional input device

A multi-directional input device includes an operating shaft capable of rotating around a central axis thereof and tilting in multiple directions from the central axis; a rotating body rotating together with the operating shaft to sequentially connect or disconnect a slide contact and a fixed contact; and a plurality of horizontal push switches operable by tilting the operating shaft. The engaging surface between the operating shaft and the rotating body forms a curved surface having both arc element and noncircular element. The operating shaft and the rotating body are always in contact with each other in a large area. Thus, in both tilting and rotating operation, even an extended period of use causes less abrasion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a multi-directional input device for use in the input operation part or the like of various kinds of electronic equipment.

BACKGROUND ART

As recent development of multi-functionality of various kinds of electronic equipment, a multi-directional input device has been more frequently used for the input operation part disposed to operate the equipment. For such a multi-directional input device, rotating or pushing one control knob allows the corresponding input operation, and further tilting the one control knob allows the input operation in the direction in which the control knob is tilted.

Now, a description is provided of an example of a conventional multi-directional input device, with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG. 24is a sectional view of a conventional multi-directional input device.FIG. 25is an exploded perspective view thereof.FIG. 26is a top view thereof. With reference to these drawings, rotational encoder1including a push-on switch incorporates an incremental encoder element and a switch element in the space formed by a case member and a cover member thereof. When operating shaft2projecting upwardly from the center position of the cover member is rotated, two-phase pulse signals having a phase difference are supplied from the encoder element through terminals. When operating shaft2is pressed, the switch element is operated and electrical continuity is established between predetermined ones of the terminals.

Rotational encoder1is mounted on upper substrate5shaped into a regular octagon as seen from the top. Upper substrate5is supported by a pair of first support shafts9so as to be rockable about first rocking axis line M-M of frame7surrounding the upper substrate. Frame7is supported with respect to rocking supports11A provided on lower substrate11by a pair of second support shafts13so as to be rockable about second rocking axis line N-N. First rocking axis line M-M is orthogonal to second rocking axis line N-N. On lower substrate11, press switches15A,15B,15C, and15D are disposed equidistantly from operating shaft2in the center at a pitch of 90°. Pressing projections5A,5B,5C, and5D projecting from the bottom face of upper substrate5are faced to the operating buttons of the corresponding switches. In the positions between pressing projections5A,5B,5C, and5D on the bottom face of upper substrate5, control projections5E,5F,5G, and5H projecting downwardly are also provided.

The conventional multi-directional input device is structured as above. When the device is used, one control knob17is attached to operating shaft2of rotational encoder1to provide a mounting state.

Next, a description is provided of the operation in the mounting state. Rotating control knob17rotates operating shaft2of rotational encoder1and operates the encoder element, thereby providing incremental encoder output. Pressing control knob17in the perpendicularly downward direction moves operating shaft2downwardly via control knob17and operates the switch element. Tilting control knob17in the respective directions in which press switches15A through15D are disposed rocks upper substrate5in the corresponding directions. For example, as shown by the arrow inFIG. 24, control knob17is tilted in the direction in which press switch15A is disposed. Then, upper substrate5rocks so that the side of pressing projection5A lowers. Lowered pressing projection5A presses the operating button of press switch15A, thus switching the state of press switch15A. At this time, control projections5E and5H adjacent to pressing projection5A are brought into contact with lower substrate11, thus stopping the tilting of upper substrate5. Next, removing the tilting force allows press switch15A to self-restore to the original state thereof. The restoring force pushes pressing projection15A back to the inoperative state ofFIG. 24in which upper substrate5is positioned in a horizontal state. For example, Patent Document 1 is known as the information on related art of the present invention.

In order to allow the rocking operation of upper substrate5in the tilting operation of control knob17, the conventional multi-directional input device has the following structure. Upper substrate5is supported with respect to frame7by the pair of first support shafts9so as to be rockable, and frame7is supported with respect to lower substrate11by the pair of second support shafts13so as to be rockable. Further, rotational encoder1is mounted on upper substrate5. With this structure, the stress in the perpendicularly downward direction applied when control knob17is pressed is concentrated on the above small supporting portions. For this reason, an extended period of repeated pressing operations in the perpendicularly downward direction or repeated tilting operations can cause scraping or abrasion in the portions supporting the shafts, thus increasing the play and rattle in the above portions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes the following elements: an operating shaft capable of rotating around a central axis thereof and tilting in multiple directions from the central axis; and a rotating body rotating together with the operating shaft so that the rotation sequentially connects or disconnects a slide contact and a fixed contact. The present invention further includes a plurality of horizontal push switches that are disposed around the operating shaft with the central axis as the center thereof and are operable by tilting the operating shaft.

The surface on which the operating shaft and the rotating body engage with each other when the operating shaft is tilted has an arc shape in a section including the central axis, and a noncircular shape in a section perpendicular to the central axis. The noncircular sections include a polygonal section. The operating shaft is in contact with the rotating body by “clearance fit” having a small clearance. Because the engaging surface has such a section, when the operating shaft is rotated, the noncircular, i.e. polygonal, portion of the operating shaft securely engages the rotating body, and thus allows the rotating body to rotate together. When the operating shaft is tilted, the arc portions of the operating shaft smoothly slide on the rotating body. The structure of bearing the stress distributed in a wide area in both rotating and tilting operations produces no local friction and little abrasion. In other words, no rattle caused by an extended period of use can increase the life of the device.

REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1is a sectional view of a multi-directional input device in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a sectional view of the multi-directional input device in a disassembled state disassembled in the direction of central axis AX.FIG. 3is a bottom view thereof.FIG. 4is a top view thereof with a metal cover thereof removed.FIG. 5is a sectional view of a case part thereof.FIG. 6is a bottom view of the case part.FIG. 7is a top view of the case part. With reference to these drawings, case part21made of a molded resin includes, in the center position of a bottom thereof, contact substrate mounting part22in substantially a cubic recessed shape opened on the bottom side thereof. Above contact substrate mounting part22, cylindrical holder24connecting to contact substrate mounting part22and centered on center hole23is formed. In four upper circumferential positions equidistantly spaced from cylindrical holder24at a pitch of 90°, switch mounting parts25for horizontal push switches are formed. In the position on the bottom of each switch mounting part25, a pair of penetrating slots for terminal25A is provided. Theses elements are assembled with the centerline shown inFIG. 2, i.e. central axis AX, at the center. Detailed description of each drawing will be provided later.

FIG. 8shows a sectional view of horizontal push switch31of self-restoring type. Switch case31A of horizontal push switch31includes a recess opened on a lateral side thereof. On the inner bottom face of the recess, a pair of fixed contacts31B is disposed. In the recess, dome-shaped movable contact31C is housed. Pressing member31D disposed to press movable contact31C toward switch case31A is faced to switch case31A so as to be movable in the lateral direction of the drawing. Operating button31E of pressing member31D is protruded in the direction opposite to switch case31A. A pair of terminals31F extending from corresponding fixed contacts31B is linearly projected on the bottom side of switch case31A.

Horizontal push switches31of the above structure are positioned and held in case21as shown inFIG. 2in the following manner. While respective operating buttons31E are faced to the central side, i.e. the side of central axis AX, of case part21, the four horizontal push switches are fitted into switch mounting parts25in case part21from the upper direction thereof. Terminals31F of each horizontal push switch31are threaded through penetrating slots for terminal25A and projected downwardly of the bottom face position of case part21.

On the other hand, in contact substrate mounting part22of case part21, contact substrate41formed to have substantially a cubic external shape conforming to the recessed shape of the contact substrate mounting part is inserted and placed from the bottom face of case part21. As shown inFIG. 2, contact substrate41includes a recessed part having an open top face. Press switch part51is formed in the center position of the recessed part. On the bottom face of the recessed part in the peripheral position, fixed contact for rotation53is fixed to be exposed.

As shown inFIG. 1, in press switch part51, the outer peripheral bottom edge of dome-shaped movable contact51B made of a thin metal plate is placed on first fixed contact51A fixed in the peripheral position of the inner bottom face of contact substrate41so that the edge is always in contact with the fixed contact. In the structure of press switch part51, second fixed contact51D similarly fixed in the center position of the inner bottom face is faced to the inner surface of the dome part with a space provided therebetween. When dome-shaped movable contact51B is pressed via push plate51C disposed above and the dome part is resiliently inverted, second fixed contact51D in the center position is brought into contact with the inner surface of the dome part. In other words, this operation electrically connects first fixed contact51A and second fixed contact51D. Removing the above pressing force allows dome-shaped movable contact51B to self-restore to the original shape thereof and to push back push plate51C. In other words, fixed contacts51A and51D are electrically disconnected again.

FIG. 9shows a top view of contact substrate41. Fixed contact for rotation53is formed in the following manner. A metal plate is punched to have a contact pattern capable of providing incremental encoder output and the contact pattern is fixed onto the inner bottom face of contact substrate41so as to be exposed. Contact substrate41includes encoder terminals53A,53B, and53C lead from the contact pattern and switch terminals51E and51F extended from fixed contacts51A and51D, respectively.

As shown inFIG. 1, contact substrate41is housed and incorporated in contact substrate mounting part22of case part21so that the top end face of the contact substrate is in contact with the ceiling of the recess in contact substrate mounting part22. In this state, the bottom face positions of contact substrate41and case part21are flush with each other.

FIG. 10shows a sectional view of rotating body61and operating shaft71combined with each other.FIG. 11shows a plan view of slide contact55attached to rotating body61. In the recessed part of reference contact substrate41, rotating body61made of a molded resin is disposed. Rotating body61includes flange portion62that has slide contact55in sliding contact with fixed contact for rotation53, and upper circular portion63that upwardly projects in the center of flange portion62and has a cylindrical external shape. Rotating body61is formed into substantially an annular shape that has center through-hole65vertically penetrating in the center position thereof. As shown inFIG. 1, in order to allow rotating body61to rotate with respect to case part21, the outer periphery of the bottom face of flange portion62is placed on the step provided in the inner bottom face of contact substrate41, and upper circular portion63is inserted in cylindrical holder24of case part21from the bottom thereof and rotatably fitted in and held by the cylindrical holder. Asperity portion68is formed on the top face of flange portion62to provide a click feel in the rotating operation. Click spring70in resilient contact with the asperity portion is fixed onto the ceiling of contact substrate mounting part22by dowel-caulking or the like, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6.

With reference toFIG. 1, bar-shaped operating shaft71threaded through center through-hole65of rotating body61is disposed on central axis AX so that the bottom end of the operating shaft is brought into contact with the top face of push plate51C of press switch part51disposed in a lower position of center through-hole65. The upper portion of the operating shaft projecting from center through-hole65(seeFIG. 10) penetrates through center hole23of cylindrical holder24and noncircular center hole92of metal cover91and projects outwardly.

As shown inFIG. 10, the outer periphery of the lower portion of operating shaft71is engaged to the inner wall of center through-hole65of rotating body61so that the operating shaft can be moved vertically, rotated, and tilted. Now, a description is provided of the engaging portion.FIG. 12shows a side view of operating shaft71.FIG. 13shows a top view of the operating shaft. As understood fromFIGS. 12 and 13, the external shape of the outer periphery of the lower portion of operating shaft71is shaped into a regular hexagon as seen from the top, i.e. in a section perpendicular to central axis AX. As seen from a side, the upper side of the lower portion is formed into substantially a spherical shape. In other words, in a section including central axis AX, the upper side is formed into polygonal sphere portion73including arc portions. The spherical shape is not necessarily a real sphere.

For the shape of center through-hole65of rotating body61, engaging hole portion66is formed at an intermediate height thereof to include an inner wall having the same shape as polygonal sphere portion73. Center through-hole65in a position lower than this position is formed into a hole portion having a larger diameter. Push switch plate51C of press switch part51is disposed in the larger-diameter hole portion in the lower position. Press switch part51is thus disposed.

FIG. 14is a section taken on line X-X ofFIG. 10as seen from the top. As shown inFIG. 14, operating shaft71is inserted from the bottom of the engaging hole portion, and polygonal sphere portion73is engaged to engaging hole portion66. As described with reference toFIG. 1, the bottom end of the operating shaft is placed on push plate51C of press switch part51. In this placement state, an upward urging force from press switch part51is applied to operating shaft71. This urging force keeps the spherical wall of engaging hole portion66and the spherical wall of polygonal sphere portion73in contact with each other, and thus operating shaft71in a neutral position thereof. Further, operating shaft71can be moved vertically by pressing operation from the upward direction.

Operating shaft71disposed in the above engaging state engages the rotating body at the corners of the regular hexagon as seen from the top also in the rotation direction. Thus, when rotated, operating shaft71rotates around the bottom end thereof that is in contact with the top face of push plate51C. The engagement of the operating shaft and the rotating body at the respective corners thereof allows rotating body61to rotate together. To make the rotating body rotatable, the operating shaft need not have a section perpendicular to central axis AX shaped into a regular hexagon in this manner. For this purpose, simply a noncircular section is sufficient. However, when the stress to be applied from operating shaft71to rotating body61in the rotating operation is considered, a shape capable of distributing the stress as much as possible is preferable. This is because such a shape can prevent scraping and abrasion caused by the concentrated stress. The preferable sectional shapes include a regular hexagon as shown in this exemplary embodiment, and regular polygons each centered on central axis AX, such as a square and regular octagon, because these shapes uniformly and widely distribute the stress.

Further, when a tilting force is applied to operating shaft71in the above engaging state, polygonal sphere portion73can rotate with respect to engaging hole portion66, and operating shaft71can tilt. At this time, operating shaft71and rotating body61are in contact with each other in the respective arc portions in a large area, and thus the contact is smooth and less abrasive. The opening of center through-hole65of rotating body61in the top end position is shaped so that the desired tilting angle of operating shaft71can be ensured. The multi-directional input device may be structured so that the tilting angle is controlled in the top end position of center through-hole65.

As shown inFIG. 1, operating shaft71includes cylindrical portion75having a circular section in the intermediate portion above polygonal sphere portion73. Cylindrical portion75goes through the center positions between corresponding operating buttons31E of four horizontal push switches31and projects upwardly on central axis AX. On cylindrical portion75, driver81made of a molded resin is disposed to press operating buttons31E of horizontal push switches31.FIG. 15shows a side view of driver81.FIG. 16shows a top view thereof. The driver includes a skirt part that is formed from the top end position of a central cylindrical part having a circular center hole downwardly around the center hole into a cylindrical shape, and pressing part82that is formed around the center hole in the lower position of the skirt part and has a circular ring shape as seen from the top. Cylindrical portion75of operating shaft71is threaded through the center hole of the central cylindrical part and fitted thereto with a small clearance provided therebetween. The corresponding portions in the edge of pressing part82are brought into slight pressure contact with operating buttons31E. The edge of pressing part82has a predetermined round shape in the vertical direction thereof. Forming driver81into the above non-directional shape, i.e. a shape having a circular section, can provide excellent assembling workability, and thus is preferable.

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, metal cover91is disposed in the top end position of case part21, and top face part93of the metal cover formed like a flat plate controls the position of the top end faces of horizontal push switches31. From noncircular center hole92provided in the center of top face part93, the upper portion of operating shaft71is projected. A structure in which operating shaft71is guided along the edge of noncircular center hole92in the tilting operation of operating shaft71is preferable because this structure can provide an excellent operability. However, the shape of noncircular hole92is not specifically limited.

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, coil spring85is disposed on cylindrical holder24of case part21so that the upper portion thereof is housed between the central cylindrical part and the skirt part of driver81. In a normal state, the spring is placed in a compressed state and thus urges driver81upwardly. The urging force brings the top portion of driver81shaped into a gentle sphere into contact with the position of top face part93near noncircular center hole92of metal cover91correspondingly shaped into a gentle sphere, and holds these portions together. Coil spring85is disposed mainly in order to reduce the rattle or the like of driver81. For the above-described structure in which the urging force is applied from coil spring85to driver81in addition to the urging force to pressing part82, the clearance between the intermediate portion of operating shaft71and the fitting portion of driver81can be set at a predetermined magnitude. This structure can prevent inadvertent rotation of driver81together with operating shaft71in the rotating operation thereof.

Metal cover91is a member also working as a coupling means for keeping case part21and contact substrate41coupled with each other.FIG. 17is a top view of the metal cover.FIG. 18is a right side view of the metal cover. As understood fromFIGS. 17 and 18, four first legs95projecting downwardly are provided on top face part93of metal cover91. First legs95are threaded through four coupling through-holes29A penetrating through intermediate wall27of case part21from the top face to the bottom face (seeFIGS. 4,6, and7). The tip of each first leg is bent-caulked onto the bottom side of contact substrate41as shown inFIG. 3so that case part21and contact substrate41are coupled. Forming coupling through-holes29A in the position of intermediate wall27between switch mounting parts25allows effective use of the positions between switch mounting parts25, thus preventing an increase in outside dimension. Further, fixation in the above manner requires no dedicated coupling members, and thus provides a coupling means without increasing the number of components in the area of case part21as seen from the top. For these reasons, the above fixing method is preferable. Further, the above fixing method can extremely stabilize the coupling state. In the above structure, preferably, the portions on the bottom side of contact substrate41clamp-caulked by first legs95are formed into recesses having a depth corresponding to the thickness of respective first legs95.

Metal cover91further includes a plurality of second legs97that project downwardly from top face part93. In a similar manner, the second legs are threaded through through-holes for auxiliary legs29B formed through intermediate wall27of case part21in the positions of intermediate wall27between switch mounting parts25(seeFIGS. 4,6, and7), and the tips of the second legs are projected downwardly of case part21. Second legs97are disposed to increase soldering strength.

The multi-directional input device of the present invention is structured as described above. Next, a description is provided of the operation thereof. First, when operating shaft71is rotated, operating shaft71rotates with the bottom end thereof in contact with the top face of push plate51. As operating shaft71rotates, rotating body61that receives polygonal sphere portion73engaged to engaging hole portion66thereof rotates together with operating shaft71. Thus, slide contact55attached to the bottom face of flange portion62slides on fixed contact for rotation53and the contacts are sequentially and electrically connected or disconnected. This operation provides predetermined incremental encoder output from encoder terminals53A through53C. At that time, the dowel portion of click spring70fixed to the ceiling of contact substrate mounting part22makes resilient contact with asperity portion68provided on the top face of flange62. Thus, a click feel can be provided at the same time. When the state of driver81fitted to the intermediate position of operating shaft71is adjusted to prevent inadvertent rotation thereof, an excellent operating feel can be provided. Thus, such a structure is preferable.

Next, a description is provided of the operation when operating shaft71is pressed downwardly.FIG. 19is a sectional view of the multi-directional input device in pressing operation. Pressing operating shaft71downwardly along central axis AX as shown by the arrow in the drawing does not move driver81and only moves operating shaft71downwardly. Thus, the pressing force is applied to press switch part51via push plate51C. When the force exceeds a predetermined magnitude, the dome part of dome-shaped movable contact51B is resiliently inverted as shown inFIG. 19. This inversion electrically connects first fixed contact51A and second fixed contact51D of contact substrate41, thus establishing electrical continuity between switch terminals51E and51F. Removing the above operating force thereafter allows dome-shaped movable contact51B to self-restore to the original upwardly convex shape and to push up push plate51C and operating shaft71. Thus, the multi-directional input device returns to the normal state ofFIG. 1in which switch terminals51E and51F are electrically disconnected. The position in which operating shaft71returns upwardly is controlled by the contact of polygonal sphere portion73of operating shaft71with the inner wall of engaging hole portion66.

Next, a description is provided of the operation when operating shaft71is tilted.FIG. 20is a sectional view of the multi-directional input device in tilting operation. The drawing shows the multi-directional input device when the operating shaft is tilted in the left direction as shown by the arrow in the drawing. When a tilting force is applied to operating shaft71, polygonal sphere portion73provided in the lower portion thereof rotates while sliding on engaging hole portion66, and operating shaft71tilts. At this time, a slight pressing force is also applied to press switch part51provided under operating shaft71. However, when press switch part51is formed of dome-shaped movable contact51B that has an inverting operation force inoperable by the slight pressing force, the failure caused by the force can be prevented. Further, when the edge of the portion at the lowermost end of operating shaft71in contact with press switch part51is formed into a curved, rounded surface, the pressing force to the press switch is further reduced. Such a structure is preferable.

Simultaneously with the tilting operation of operating shaft71, driver81flexes coil spring85in the direction in which the coil spring is to be bent, while the driver is tilting in that direction. With the movement of driver81, operating button31E of one of horizontal push switches31disposed in the tilting direction is pressed by the corresponding portion of pressing part82formed of a circular ring shape. Thus, the multi-directional input device is brought into the tiling state ofFIG. 20. Preferably, the angle at which operating shaft71is tilted is controlled by the structure in which the contact of operating shaft71with the end face of noncircular center hole92through metal cover91stops operating shaft71. In the above tilting state of operating shaft71, fixed contacts31B of horizontal push switch31disposed in the tilting direction are electrically connected via movable contact31C. Thus, electrical continuity is established between the pair of terminals31F. When the above tilting force is removed thereafter, movable contact31C self-restores to return horizontal push switch31to the original off-state and to push back pressing part82of driver81. Further, the restoring force of coil spring85added to the above restoring force returns driver81and operating shaft71to the neutral state ofFIG. 1.

In the above tilting operation and operation of returning therefrom, both top portion of driver81and top face part93of metal cover91in contact with the top portion are shaped into a gentle sphere, and brought into contact with each other. This structure provides a smooth operating state. Metal cover91forms a fixed exterior for controlling the position of driver81. The contact between this fixed exterior and the moving driver made on both spherical surfaces prevents concentration of the stress and makes the movement smooth and less abrasive. The contact in the engaging portion between operating shaft71and rotating body61made on both curved surfaces including smooth arcs also contributes to the above smooth operating state.

As described above, a multi-directional input device of this exemplary embodiment can be implemented as a device in which operating shaft71can be rotated, pressed downwardly, and tilted.FIG. 21is a sectional view of the multi-directional input device with a control knob attached thereto. When the multi-directional input device is used, one control knob99is attached to operating shaft71as shown inFIG. 21. Then, the multi-directional input device can be mounted on actual equipment so that each of the above operations can be performed via control knob99.

For the multi-directional input device structured as above, contact substrate41is incorporated in the bottom position of case part21. Thus, the multi-directional input device can be mounted on the wiring board of the above equipment with the bottom face of contact substrate41brought directly into contact with the top face of the wiring board, and the pressing force can be born by the wiring board during the pressing operation of operating shaft71. With this structure, even repeated pressing operations cause no place to have large play. Thus, unlike the conventional device, an excellent operating state can be maintained.

Further, in the normal state, operating shaft71is urged upwardly by the urging force of press switch part51so that polygonal sphere portion73is engaged to the inner wall of engaging hole portion66. Thus, even when repeated tilting operations cause abrasion in the engaging portion between polygonal sphere portion73and the inner wall of engaging hole portion66, the above urging force can prevent the rattle of operating shaft71. As a result, an excellent titling state can be maintained for an extended period of time, also in the tilting operation.

For case part21, a molded article integrating cylindrical holder24therein is used. This structure can eliminate the number of components. Further, switch mounting parts25are also integrated into case part21so that the respective components operable by rotating, pressing, and tilting operation can be accurately positioned and housed in the area defined by case part21and metal cover91. Thus, in production, the above respective components are simply incorporated into case part21from the vertical direction thereof. With this structure, the production man-hours can be reduced, and respective components can be positioned and combined at high dimensional accuracy.

Further, the conventional structure requires a space in which upper substrate5rocks and moves upwardly in the tilting operation. However, the structure of the present invention does not require such a space and only the area defined by case part21and metal cover91need be ensured. Also at this point, the structure of the present invention is more convenient for the equipment.

As described above, the multi-directional input device of the present invention can provide predetermined output according to each of the rotating, pressing, tilting operations of one control knob99. Further, in the multi-directional input device of the present invention, even an extended period of each operation causes little play or rattle and an excellent operating state can be maintained.

In the above description, driver81includes pressing part82having a circular ring shape as seen from the top, in the lower position of the skirt part. However, another shape can be used.FIG. 22is a side view of a driver formed into another shape.FIG. 23is a top view thereof. For example, the tip of each pressing part101of driver100may have a pressing surface made of a flat surface in surface contact with the front surface of operating button31E of corresponding horizontal push switch31. A structure in which pressing part101is brought into surface contact with the tip surface of operating button31E of corresponding horizontal push switch31can further stabilize the operating state of horizontal push switch31in the tilting operation of operating shaft71.

Further, the use of driver100can securely prevent inadvertent rotation of driver100and frictional contact thereof with operating buttons31E of horizontal push switches31in the rotating operation of operating shaft71. Thus, an excellent rotating feel can be provided. Driver100is directional, and the mounting direction is determined as described above. For this reason, as shown inFIG. 22, slits can be formed in the skirt part from the bottom side thereof to provide an arm shape having a certain resilience, and pressing parts101can be provided to protrude in the lateral direction in the lower position of the arm shape. This structure can provide a tilting angle including the deflection of the above arm-shaped portions.

In this exemplary embodiment, coil spring85is used to urge driver81upwardly. However, any resilient body can serve the same function.

In the exemplary embodiment, a description is provided of a structure in which the rotational encoder is operable by the rotating operation of operating shaft71. However, the present invention is not limited to the above structure including the rotational encoder. A structure in which a variable resistor or rotary switch in place of the rotational encoder is operable by the rotating operation can be used. Further, the structures of press switch part51and horizontal push switch31are not limited to the above.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A multi-directional input device of the present invention is characterized in that even an extended period of each operation causes little play or rattle and an excellent operating state can be maintained. Thus, the multi-directional input device is useful in forming an input operation part or the like in various kinds of electronic equipment.