Abstract:
A multi-directional switch includes switches, a wiring board having an electrode, a pressure-sensitive body disposed over the electrode, a detection pin disposed on the upper surface of the pressure-sensitive body, and an operating body configured to push the detection pin and the switches by being tilted. The degree of a pushing force exerted by the operating body onto the detection pin changes the contact resistance between the pressure-sensitive body and the electrode. The multi-directional switch enables an electronic apparatus connected thereto to perform diverse functions by reflecting changes in the contact resistance.

Description:
1. TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The technical field relates to a multi-directional switch used to operate various electronic apparatuses. 
       2. BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    In-car and portable electronic apparatuses such as car audio and car navigation systems and mobile phones are becoming more and more diverse in function in recent years. In line with this trend, multi-directional switches used to operate these apparatuses have been required to have high speed and easy-to-use features. 
         [0003]      FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of conventional multi-directional switch  10 .  FIG. 14  is a sectional view of multi-directional switch  10 . In these drawings, the dimension in the thickness direction is exaggerated for clarity. 
         [0004]    Multi-directional switch  10  includes wiring board  1 , two push switches  3 , two pins  4 , case  5 , and operating body  6 . 
         [0005]    Wiring board  1  has, on its upper surface, a wiring pattern and electrodes  2 . Electrodes  2  are substantially square shaped. 
         [0006]    Push switches  3  are fixed on electrodes  2  on the upper surface of wiring board  1  by soldering or other means. 
         [0007]    Pins  4 , which are made of resin, are disposed on the upper surfaces of push switches  3 . 
         [0008]    Case  5 , which is bottomless and made of resin, has two holes  5 A, two side walls  5 B, and two shafts  5 C. Holes  5 A are formed at the left and right sides of the upper surface of case  5 . Side walls  5 B are formed at the front and back on the upper surface of case  5 . Shafts  5 C project inside side walls  5 B. 
         [0009]    Case  5  covers pins  4  such that the upper ends of pins  4  project from holes  5 A. 
         [0010]    Operating body  6 , which is made of resin, has trunk  6 A, two pressure arms  6 B, two bearings  6 C, and operating part  6 D. Trunk  6 A is shaped like an arch. Pressure arms  6 B are formed at the left and right ends of trunk  6 A. Bearings  6 C, which are recesses, are formed in the side walls at the front and back ends of trunk  6 A. Operating part  6 D, which has a substantially T-shaped cross section, is disposed on the upper surface of trunk  6 A. 
         [0011]    Operating body  6  is disposed such that shafts  5 C are inserted into bearings  6 C, and that the bottom surfaces of pressure arms  6 B are located over pins  4 . 
         [0012]    When mounted on, for example, a car steering wheel, multi-directional switch  10  is covered with upper surface cover  11  made of resin. Upper surface cover  11  has oval hole  11 A from which operating part  6 D of switch  10  is exposed. In this case, multi-directional switch  10  is connected, for example, to a car audio or car navigation system via a cable or other means. 
         [0013]    When, for example, selecting a song using the audio system, the user tilts operating part  6 D as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0014]    When the user tilts operating part  6 D to the right, the right-side pressure arm  6 B pushes the right-side pin  4 , which then pushes the right-side push switch  3 . 
         [0015]    As a result, the front display shows some icons representing the corresponding songs. When the audio system detects that the right-side push switch  3  has been pushed, the selection moves to the icon on the right side of the currently selected icon. The user continues to tilt operating part  6 D until the selection moves to the icon representing the desired song. 
         [0016]    Thus, when the user tilts operating body  6  either to the left or right, pressure arm  6 B pushes push switch  3  via pin  4  in the tilt direction of operating part  6 D. Multi-directional switch  10  enables an electronic apparatus connected thereto to perform a function desired by the user according to the tilt direction of operating part  6 D. 
         [0017]    A multi-directional switch similar to conventional multi-directional switch  10  is shown in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2006-12695. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0018]    A multi-directional switch includes a plurality of switches, a wiring board having an electrode, a pressure-sensitive body disposed over the electrode, a detection pin disposed on the upper surface of the pressure-sensitive body, and an operating body configured to push the detection pin and the switches by being tilted. The degree of a pushing force exerted by the operating body onto the detection pin changes the contact resistance between the pressure-sensitive body and the electrode. 
         [0019]    The multi-directional switch enables an electronic apparatus connected thereto to perform diverse functions by reflecting changes in the contact resistance. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a multi-directional switch according to a first exemplary embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the multi-directional switch according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of an essential part of the multi-directional switch according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a state in which the multi-directional switch according to the first exemplary embodiment is in operation. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are sectional views in which the multi-directional switch according to the first exemplary embodiment is in operation. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are sectional views of an essential part in which the multi-directional switch according to the first exemplary embodiment is in operation. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  shows the display of an electronic apparatus using the multi-directional switch according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of a multi-directional switch according to a second exemplary embodiment. 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view of an essential part of the multi-directional switch according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the essential part of the multi-directional switch according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the essential part in which the multi-directional switch according to the second exemplary embodiment is in operation. 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is another sectional view of the essential part in which the multi-directional switch according to the second exemplary embodiment is in operation. 
           [0032]      FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of a conventional multi-directional switch. 
           [0033]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the conventional multi-directional switch. 
           [0034]      FIG. 15  is a sectional view in which the conventional multi-directional switch is in operation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0035]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of multi-directional switch  30  according to a first exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a sectional view of multi-directional switch  30 . In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the dimension in the thickness direction is exaggerated for clarity. The same or similar components depicted in different figures are denoted by the same reference numerals. 
         [0036]    Multi-directional switch  30  includes wiring board  21 , two push switches  3 , pressure-sensitive switch  25 , detection pin  26 , elastic body  27 , two pins  4 , case  5 , and operating body  28 . 
         [0037]    Wiring board  21  has, on its upper surface, a wiring pattern and a total of eight electrodes  22 . Four electrodes  22  are provided on each of the left and right sides of the upper surface. Wiring board  21  also has, at the substantial center of its upper surface, a pair of semicircular electrodes  23 A and  23 B spaced from each other by a predetermined distance. 
         [0038]    Push switches  3  are, for example, automatic return switches. Push switches  3  are fixed on electrodes  22  on the upper surface of wiring board  21  by soldering or other means. 
         [0039]    Pressure-sensitive switch  25  is formed of pressure-sensitive body  24 , and two electrodes  23 A and  23 B. Pressure-sensitive body  24  is disposed on the upper surfaces of electrodes  23 A and  23 B on wiring board  21 . 
         [0040]    Detection pin  26  has pressure part  26 A, columnar part  26 B, and projecting end  26 C. Pressure part  26 A has a substantially columnar shape and a flat lower surface. Columnar part  26 B, which is also substantially columnar, is disposed on the upper surface of pressure part  26 A. Projecting end  26 C has a round upper end. Detection pin  26  is made of polyacetal, nylon, or other resins. 
         [0041]    Elastic body  27 , which is shaped like a bottomless box, has a crisscross hole  27 A substantially at the center of its upper surface. Elastic body  27  is made of an elastic material such as, for example, silicone rubber, isoprene rubber, natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylic rubber, nitrile rubber, or ethylene-propylene-diene rubber. 
         [0042]    Detection pin  26  is disposed on the upper surface of pressure-sensitive body  24 , and is covered with elastic body  27 . 
         [0043]    As in conventional multi-directional switch  10 , pins  4  are made of resin such as polyacetal. Case  5  is bottomless and is made of resin such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer synthetic resin. 
         [0044]    Case  5  has two holes  5 A, two side walls  5 B, two shafts  5 C, and square hole  5 D. Holes  5 A are formed at the left and right sides of the upper surface of case  5 . Side walls  5 B are formed at the front and back on the upper surface of case  5 . Shafts  5 C roundly project inside side walls  5 B. Square hole  5 D is formed between side walls  5 B. 
         [0045]    Pins  4  are disposed at the positions of the upper surface of elastic body  27  that are just over left and right push switches  3 . Case  5  covers pins  4  such that the upper ends of pins  4  project from left and right holes  5 A of case  5 . 
         [0046]    Operating body  28 , which is made of resin, has trunk  28 A, two pressure arms  28 B, two bearings  28 C, operating part  28 D, and swing part  28 E. Trunk  28 A is shaped like an arch. Pressure arms  28 B are formed at the left and right ends of trunk  28 A. Bearings  28 C, which are recesses, are formed in the side walls at the front and back ends of trunk  28 A. Operating part  28 D, which has a substantially T-shaped cross section, is disposed on the upper surface of trunk  28 A. Swing part  28 E, which is bar-like, is located at the position of the lower surface of trunk  28 A that is under operating part  28 D. 
         [0047]    Operating body  28  is disposed such that shafts  5 C are inserted into bearings  28 C, and that the bottom surfaces of pressure arms  28 B are located over pins  4 . Swing part  28 E is inserted into case  5  through square hole  5 D. The lower end of swing part  28 E is in contact with the upper end of detection pin  26 . 
         [0048]    Swing part  28 E, detection pin  26 , and pressure-sensitive switch  25  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0049]    Pressure-sensitive body  24  of pressure-sensitive switch  25  has low resistive layer  31 A, high resistive layer  31 B, and spacer  32 . Low resistive layer  31 A is made of synthetic resin with carbon powder dispersed therein, and has a sheet resistance of 0.5 kΩ/sq. to 30 kΩ/sq. Low resistive layer  31 A is printed on the lower surface of a film. High resistive layer  31 B has minute asperities on its entire lower surface, and has a sheet resistance of 50 kΩ/sq. to 5 MΩ/sq. High resistive layer  31 B is printed on the lower surface of low resistive layer  31 A. Spacer  32  formed of an insulating film having holes at predetermined positions is pasted on the lower surface of high resistive layer  31 B. 
         [0050]    Pressure-sensitive body  24  is disposed on the upper surfaces of electrodes  23 A and  23 B such that the holes of spacer  32  are located over electrodes  23 A and  23 B. In other words, high resistive layer  31 B can be attached and detached to/from electrodes  23 A and  23 B. 
         [0051]    As a result, the higher the compressive force applied to pressure-sensitive body  24 , the larger the contact area between high resistive layer  31 B and electrodes  23 A,  23 B becomes. This reduces the contact resistance between electrodes  23 A and  23 B via high resistive layer  31 B. 
         [0052]    Detection pin  26  is disposed on the upper surface of pressure-sensitive body  24  such that the flat lower surface of pressure part  26 A can push the upper surface of pressure-sensitive body  24 . In this case, projecting end  26 C of detection pin  26  is in contact with swing part  28 E. Swing part  28 E has two gentle hollows  28 F at the positions where the lower end of swing part  28 E comes into contact with projecting end  26 C. When swing part  28 E swings, projecting end  26 C slides inside hollows  28 F. 
         [0053]    When mounted on, for example, car steering wheel  41  as shown in  FIG. 4 , multi-directional switch  30  is covered with upper surface cover  11  made of resin. Upper surface cover  11  has oval hole  11 A from which operating part  28 D of switch  30  is exposed. In this case, multi-directional switch  30  is connected, for example, to display  42  at the front center, or display panel  43  behind steering wheel  41  of a car audio or car navigation system via a cable or other means. 
         [0054]    When the user tilts operating part  28 D of operating body  28  of multi-directional switch  30 , while watching display  42  or display panel  43 , the electronic apparatus mounted with multi-directional switch  30  performs a function desired by the user. 
         [0055]    The operation of multi-directional switch  30  in this case will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  6 A and  6 B. 
         [0056]    Assume that the user tilts operating part  28 D of operating body  28  to the right with a finger as shown in  FIG. 5A . In this case, operating body  28  tilts to the right around shafts  5 C. 
         [0057]    Then, the bottom surface of pressure arm  28 B pushes pin  4  from above. The bottom surface of pin  4  pushes push switch  3  via elastic body  27 . As a result, push switch  3  is placed into the “on” state. 
         [0058]    The material of elastic body  27  and the characteristics of push switches  3  are selected such that the returning force of push switches  3  are smaller than the force required to compressively deform elastic body  27 . This allows push switch  3  to be held in the “on” state. 
         [0059]    Thus, push switch  3  provides a tactile feel to the user via operating part  28 D. The user can recognize the time when push switch  3  is turned on. 
         [0060]    When the user tilts operating body  28  to the right, swing part  28 E swings to the left. As shown in  FIG. 6A , the upper end of projecting end  26 C slides inside hollows  28 F at the lower end of swing part  28 E. 
         [0061]    Hollows  28 F slightly reduce the downward motion of detection pin  26 . Therefore, the upper surface of pressure-sensitive body  24  is only slightly dented by the reduced compressive force of pressure part  26 A. 
         [0062]    At this moment, high resistive layer  31 B is in loose contact with electrodes  23 A and  23 B. The contact resistance between electrodes  23 A and  23 B is slightly lower than in the case shown in  FIG. 3 , but is higher than in the case shown in  FIG. 6B , which will be described later. 
         [0063]    As described above, when the user tilts operating part  28 D down, push switch  3  is placed into the “on” state to provide the user with a tactile feel. High resistive layer  31 B is in loose contact with electrodes  23 A and  23 B. Therefore, the contact resistance between electrodes  23 A and  23 B is slightly lower than in the case shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0064]    Next, when the user tilts operating part  28 D further to the right so as to change its state from  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5B , the bottom surface of pressure arm  28 B pushes elastic body  27  down via pin  4 . 
         [0065]    Since push switch  3  is already in the “on” state, the upper surface of push switch  3  is not lowered. Instead, elastic body  27  is compressed between the upper surface of push switch  3  and the bottom surface of pin  4 . 
         [0066]    As a result, operating body  28  is further tilted around shafts  5 C, thereby swinging swing part  28 E. As shown in  FIG. 6B , projecting end  26 C slides inside hollows  28 F. 
         [0067]    The upper end of projecting end  26 C slides inside hollows  28 F to move from the most dented point of hollows  28 F shown in  FIG. 6A  to the most projecting point of the lower end of swing part  28 E shown in  FIG. 6B . Detection pin  26  can push pressure-sensitive body  24  strongly or softly with respect to the angle at which swing part  28 E swings, that is, to the tilt angle of operating part  28 D. 
         [0068]    The downward motion of detection pin  26  pushes the asperities of the lower surface of high resistive layer  31 B against electrodes  23 A and  23 B. The lower the detection pin  26  moves, the larger the contact area between high resistive layer  31 B and electrodes  23 A,  23 B becomes. This reduces the contact resistance between electrodes  23 A and  23 B. 
         [0069]    Thus, when push switch  3  is in the “on” state and the user tilts operating body  28 , operating body  28  pushes detection pin  26 . As a result, detection pin  26  pushes the upper surface of pressure-sensitive body  24 . In this case, the degree of pushing force of detection pin  26  changes the contact resistance between pressure-sensitive body  24  and electrodes  23 A,  23 B, that is, between electrodes  23 A and  23 B. 
         [0070]    As described above, swing part  28 E has hollows  28 F at its lower end. Changing the shape of hollows  28 F can control the distance of detection pin  26  moving downward with respect to the tilt angle of operating body  28 . This can change the contact resistance between electrodes  23 A and  23 B with respect to the tilt angle of operating body  28 . 
         [0071]    When the user&#39;s force is released, operating part  28 D of operating body  28  returns to the neutral position as shown in  FIG. 2  due to the returning force of push switch  3  and the elastic returning force of elastic body  27 . 
         [0072]    The elastic returning force of elastic body  27  is larger than the returning force of push switch  3 . This allows elastic body  27  to return from the compressed state while push switch  3  is held in the “on” state. Then, push switch  3  returns to the “off” state. 
         [0073]    The user has tilted operating part  28 D to the right in the above description, but multi-directional switch  30  operates in the same manner when the user tilts operating part  28 D to the left. 
         [0074]    Such operation of operating part  28 D can be performed to select songs in the audio system shown in  FIG. 7 . Display  42  shows arc-shaped rotating wheel  51  having thereon circular icons  52  with musical notes. Icon  52 A, which is slightly larger than the other icons  52 , shows the song that is currently selected. 
         [0075]    Display  42  has title display part  53  showing the title and singer of the song corresponding to icon  52 A. 
         [0076]    When the user tilts operating part  28 D to the right so as to turn on push switch  3 , rotating wheel  51  rotates to the right. As a result, the selection sequentially moves to icons  52  on the left side of icon  52 A. 
         [0077]    The display on display  42  is controlled by, for example, a microcomputer of the audio system. The speed of rotating wheel  51 , that is, the speed at which the selection moves from one icon  52  to the next increases with decreasing contact resistance between electrodes  23 A and  23 B. 
         [0078]    When the user tilts operating part  28 D to the left, rotating wheel  51  rotates to the left. The selection sequentially moves to the right-side icons  52 . The speed at which the selection moves from one icon  52  to the next changes according to the tilt angle of operating part  28 D. 
         [0079]    As described above, changing the tilt angle of operating body  28  can change the speed at which the selection moves from one icon  52  to the next. When a desired icon  52  is far away, the user can increase the tilt angle in order to increase the speed at which the selection moves. When the desired icon  52  comes close, the user can increase or decrease the speed at which the selection moves by increasing or decreasing the tilt angle. Thus, multi-directional switch  30  can perform diverse functions according to the desire of the user. 
         [0080]    Low and high resistive layers  31 A and  31 B may be replaced by a pressure-sensitive conductive layer formed of a base made of, for example, silicone rubber, and conductive particles such as carbon powder dispersed in the base. Pressure-sensitive body  24  may be formed of any material as long as it can either increase or decrease the contact resistance between electrodes  23 A and  23 B along with an increase in the compressive force. 
         [0081]    Push switches  3  may be replaced by slide switches which can be slid by operating body  28 . 
         [0082]    As described above, multi-directional switch  30  of the present exemplary embodiment includes switches such as push switches  3 , wiring board  21  having electrodes  22  thereon, pressure-sensitive body  24  disposed over electrodes  22 , detection pin  26  disposed on the upper surface of pressure-sensitive body  24 , and operating body  28  for pushing detection pin  26  and push switches  3  when tilted by the user. 
         [0000]    The contact resistance between pressure-sensitive body  24  and electrodes  22  is changed by changing the degree of pushing force of detection pin  26 . The electronic apparatus connected to multi-directional switch  30  can perform a display which reflects the changes in the contact resistance of switch  30 . Thus, multi-directional switch  30  easily performs diverse functions which reflect the tilt angle of operating body  28 . 
         [0083]    Multi-directional switch  30  further includes elastic body  27  between the switches and operating body  28 . Operating body  28  pushes the switches via elastic body  27 . The elastic returning force of elastic body  27  is designed to be larger than the returning force of the switches. This allows pressure-sensitive body  24  to be pushed while a switch is in the “on” state. Thus, multi-directional switch  30  can easily adjust the stroke to push pressure-sensitive body  24 . 
         [0084]    Operating body  28  of multi-directional switch  30  has swing part  28 E which swings according to the tilt angle of operating part  28 D. Swing part  28 E pushes detection pin  26 . Swing part  28 E has hollows  28 F on its surface that come into contact with detection pin  26 . Providing hollows  28 F and changing their shapes can control the distance of detection pin  26  moving downward with respect to the tilt angle of operating body  28 . Multi-directional switch  30 , which can freely change the contact resistance with respect to the tilt angle of operating body  28 , is applicable to various electronic apparatuses. 
       Second Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0085]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of multi-directional switch  80  according to a second exemplary embodiment.  FIGS. 9 and 10  are a sectional view and a perspective view, respectively, of an essential part of switch  80 . 
         [0086]    Multi-directional switch  80  mainly differs from multi-directional switch  30  of the first exemplary embodiment in the following two aspects. Operating body  79  can be tilted not only left and right but also back and forth, and operating body  79  can be pushed down to turn on push switch  63 E. 
         [0087]    Multi-directional switch  80  includes wiring board  61 , push switches  63 A- 63 E, pressure-sensitive switch  65 , elastic body  67 , support body  68 , tilting body  69 , movable body  70 , lower case  71 , upper case  72 , upper surface cover  78 , and operating body  79 . 
         [0088]    Wiring board  61  has, on its upper surface, a wiring pattern, push switches  63 A- 63 E, and pressure-sensitive switch  65 . Push switches  63 A- 63 D are arranged on the front, back, left, and right sides of the upper surface of wiring board  61 . Push switch  63 E is located between push switches  63 A and  63 B. Pressure-sensitive switch  65  is surrounded by push switches  63 A- 63 D, which are another example of the switches. 
         [0089]    Similar to pressure-sensitive switch  25  of the first exemplary embodiment, pressure-sensitive switch  65  is formed of electrodes disposed on the upper surface of wiring board  61 , and the pressure-sensitive body disposed over these electrodes. The pressure-sensitive body is pushed by the compressive force applied to the upper surface of pressure-sensitive switch  65 , thereby reducing the contact resistance between the electrodes. Elastic body  67  is disposed on the upper surface of pressure-sensitive switch  65 . Elastic body  67  is preferably made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber, isoprene rubber, natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylic rubber, nitrile rubber, or ethylene-propylene-diene rubber. 
         [0090]    Support body  68  is substantially cylindrical and has projection  68 A projecting in the outer diameter direction. Projection  68 A has, on its upper surface, substantially semicircular depression  68 B. 
         [0091]    Tilting body  69 , which is bar-shaped, has cylindrical fulcrum  69 A at its one end. Fulcrum  69 A is fitted into depression  68 B, so that tilting body  69  can tilt on support body  68 . The other end of tilting body  69  is located over push switch  63 E. Push switch  63 E is pushed by the tilt of tilting body  69 . 
         [0092]    Movable body  70  has hole part  70 A, four pressure parts  70 B, and four tilting parts  70 C. Hole part  70 A is formed in the upper surface of movable body  70 . Pressure parts  70 B project downward from the lower surface of movable body  70 . Tilting parts  70 C, which are planar, project from the dome-shaped bottom surface of movable body  70  in the front, back, left, and right directions, respectively. 
         [0093]    Movable body  70  is combined with support body  68  via tilting body  69 . When movable body  70  moves on support body  68 , tilting part  70 C in the tilt direction pushes push switches  63 A- 63 D. Then, pressure part  70 B in the tilt direction pushes pressure-sensitive switch  65  via elastic body  67 . 
         [0094]    Support body  68 , tilting body  69 , and movable body  70  are preferably made of a resin such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer synthetic resin, polyacetal, nylon, or polycarbonate. 
         [0095]    Elastic body  67 , support body  68 , tilting body  69 , and movable body  70  are combined on wiring board  61  between lower case  71  and upper case  72 . Upper case  72  has hole part  72 A from which the upper surface of movable body  70  is exposed. 
         [0096]    Upper surface cover  78  is shaped like a curved plate, and operating body  79  is in the form of a pin. Upper surface cover  78  covers upper case  72 . The lower end of operating body  79  is inserted into hole part  70 A of movable body  70 . 
         [0097]    Lower case  71 , upper case  72 , upper surface cover  78 , and operating body  79  are preferably made of a resin such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer synthetic resin, polyacetal, nylon, or polycarbonate. 
         [0098]    Thus, when the user tilts operating body  79 , one of the four push switches  63 A- 63 D that is in the tilt direction is pushed and turned on. At the same time, pressure-sensitive switch  65  is also pushed. 
         [0099]    When the user pushes operating body  79  down, on the other hand, tilting body  69  is tilted to push and turn on push switch  63 E. 
         [0100]    The operation when the user tilts or pushes operating body  79  will be described as follows with reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
         [0101]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the essential part when the user tilts operating body  79  to the right. Movable body  70  connected to operating body  79  rotates to the right, allowing push switch  63 B to be pushed by tilting part  70 C. As a result, push switch  63 B is turned on. At this moment, pressure part  70 B pushes the upper surface of elastic body  67  by a very low compressive force. 
         [0102]    When the user tilts operating body  79  further to the right, the larger the tilt angle, the higher the compressive force generated by the pressure part  70 B. Pressure-sensitive switch  65  detects the compressive force applied to the pressure-sensitive body. 
         [0103]    When the user tilts operating body  79  in one of the four directions: front, back, left, and right, one of push switches  63 A- 63 D that corresponds to the tilt direction is turned on. When the user tilts operating body  79  in a direction between two of the front, back, left, and right directions, two of push switches  63 A- 63 D that sandwich the tilt direction are turned on. Thus, multi-directional switch  80  can be operated in the eight directions. 
         [0104]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the essential part when the user pushes operating body  79  down. In this case, movable body  70  connected to operating body  79  also moves downward so as to push and tilt tilting body  69 . Tilting body  69  then pushes and turns on push switch  63 E. 
         [0105]    Such operation of operating body  79  is performed, for example, to move the pointer for setting a destination on the map display screen of the car navigation system. In this case, the microcomputer of the car navigation system detects that one or two of push switches  63 A- 63 D of multi-directional switch  80  have been turned on. The microcomputer also detects the magnitude of the compressive force applied to pressure-sensitive switch  65 . 
         [0106]    Then, the microcomputer of the car navigation system displays the pointer on the map display screen. The pointer moves in the direction in which the user operates operating body  79  and at the speed according to the tilt angle of operating body  79 . When the user pushes operating body  79  down, push switch  63 E is turned on to determine the destination. 
         [0107]    Thus in the present exemplary embodiment, wiring board  61  has thereon at least four switches such as push switches  63 A- 63 D. Pressure-sensitive switch  65  has a pressure-sensitive body. When the user further tilts operating body  79  after one of the switches is pushed, a higher compressive force is applied to the pressure-sensitive body. Multi-directional switch  80  designed to operate in four or more directions needs only one pressure-sensitive body, thereby performing diverse functions in a simple structure.