Patent Publication Number: US-8975542-B2

Title: Pressing-type input device

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-026578 filed on Feb. 9, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a pressing-type input device in which a push button unit having a plurality of push buttons that press switching members is movably supported, and more specifically, it relates to a pressing-type input device in which push buttons that differ in the distance from the operating surface to the pressing end portion are provided in the same push button unit. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-42612 discloses an operating body supported by a panel. The operating body has four push buttons arranged in a cross shape and connected by a connecting body. 
     The connecting body is located at the center of the four push buttons, and the inner surface of the panel and the connecting body are in contact with each other. When any one of the push buttons is pressed, the operating body rotates about a pivot point that is a contact portion between the inner surface of the panel and the connecting body, and a switch member located under the pressed push button is switched. 
     Rotating the operating body about a pivot point that is a contact portion located at the center of the operating body prevents switch members other than the switch member located under the pressed push button from being switched. 
     In the operating device described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-42612, all of the four push buttons are the same size in the pressing direction. Therefore, all of the four push buttons are equal in stroke, and the four push buttons can be pressed with the same operational sensation. 
     However, in electronic devices in which the operating device is mounted, because of design considerations or the arrangement of other members, sometimes a supporting substrate supporting a plurality of switching members needs to be disposed at an angle with respect to the surface of the panel. When the supporting substrate is attached at an angle, the size in the pressing direction of any one of the push buttons needs to be made longer than that of the other push buttons according to the inclination angle of the supporting substrate. 
     However, when a mechanism that rotates an operating body having push buttons that differ in size in the pressing direction about a connecting body as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-42612 is used, the stroke varies depending on the size of the push button, and the operational sensation varies depending on the push button being operated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides such a pressing-type input device that when a push button unit including push buttons that differ in size in the pressing direction and that are connected to each other is used, the difference in stroke and operational sensation between the push buttons can be made as small as possible. 
     In an aspect of the present invention, a pressing-type input device includes a case, a first push button and a second push button disposed on the surface of the case, a first switching portion pressed by the first push button, and a second switching portion pressed by the second push button, wherein a push button unit including at least the first push button and the second push button connected by a connecting portion is provided, the first push button has a first operating surface receiving pressing operating force and a first pressing end portion pressing the first switching portion, the second push button has a second operating surface receiving pressing operating force and a second pressing end portion pressing the second switching portion, and the distance from the first operating surface to the first pressing end portion is longer than the distance from the second operating surface to the second pressing end portion, wherein between the push button unit and the case or a fixed portion other than the case, a first contact portion serving as a pivot point for the push button unit when the first operating surface is pressed is provided on the second push button side of a center line passing between the first push button and the second push button, and a second contact portion serving as a pivot point for the push button unit when the second operating surface is pressed is provided on the first push button side of the center line, and wherein the distance from the first operating surface to the second contact portion is longer than the distance from the second operating surface to the second contact portion. 
     A switching substrate supporting the first switching portion and the second switching portion may be provided inside the case, the switching substrate may be attached at an angle with respect to the surface of the case, and the distance from the surface of the case to the first switching portion may be longer than the distance from the surface of the case to the second switching portion. 
     In the pressing-type input device of the present invention, although the first push button is longer than the second push button in the pressing direction, the difference between the distance from the first contact portion to the first pressing end portion and the distance from the second contact portion to the second pressing end portion can be reduced. In addition, the difference between the distance from the first contact portion to the switching substrate and the distance from the second contact portion to the switching substrate can also be reduced. As a result, the difference between the stroke in the pressing direction when the first push button is pressed to operate the first switching portion and the stroke in the pressing direction when the second push button is pressed to operate the second switching portion can be reduced, and the difference between the operational sensation when the first push button is pressed and the operational sensation when the second push button is pressed can be reduced. 
     The distance from the first contact portion to the switching substrate is preferably shorter than the distance from the first contact portion to the second operating surface, and the distance from the second contact portion to the switching substrate is preferably shorter than the distance from the second contact portion to the first operating surface. The first contact portion is preferably closer to the switching substrate than the second pressing end portion, and the second contact portion is preferably closer to the switching substrate than the first pressing end portion. 
     In the above configuration, the first switching portion can be pressed with the first pressing end portion without extreme inclination when the first push button is pressed, and the second switching portion can be pressed with the second pressing end portion without extreme inclination when the second push button is pressed. As a result, the switching of the first switching portion and the second switching portion can be reliably performed. 
     The push button unit may include a third push button and a fourth push button arranged in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the first push button and the second push button are arranged, a third switching member pressed by a third pressing end portion of the third push button and a fourth switching member pressed by a fourth pressing end portion of the fourth push button may be provided, and the first contact portion and the second contact portion may be provided between the third push button and the case or the fixed portion and between the fourth push button and the case or the fixed portion. 
     A third contact portion serving as a pivot point for the push button unit when the third push button is pressed and a fourth contact portion serving as a pivot point for the push button unit when the fourth push button is pressed may be provided between the first push button and the case or the fixed portion and between the second push button and the case or the fixed portion. 
     Since, in the above configuration, the first contact portion and the second contact portion are provided in the third push button and the fourth push button and the third contact portion and the fourth contact portion are provided in the first push button and the second push button, the first to fourth contact portions can be set just by placing the push button unit into the case, and the mechanism can be simply configured. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a pressing-type input device includes a case, a first push button, a second push button, a third push button, and a fourth push button disposed on the surface of the case, a first switching portion pressed by the first push button, a second switching portion pressed by the second push button, a third switching portion pressed by the third push button, and a fourth switching portion pressed by the fourth push button, wherein a push button unit including the first push button, the second push button, the third push button, and the fourth push button connected by a connecting portion is provided, and the direction in which the first push button and the second push button are arranged intersects the direction in which the third push button and the fourth push button are arranged, wherein the first push button has a first operating surface receiving pressing operating force and a first pressing end portion pressing the first switching portion, the second push button has a second operating surface receiving pressing operating force and a second pressing end portion pressing the second switching portion, and the distance from the first operating surface to the first pressing end portion is longer than the distance from the second operating surface to the second pressing end portion, wherein between the third push button and the case or a fixed portion other than the case and between the fourth push button and the case or the fixed portion, a first contact portion serving as a pivot point for the push button unit when the first operating surface is pressed is provided on the second push button side of a center line passing between the first push button and the second push button, and a second contact portion serving as a pivot point for the push button unit when the second operating surface is pressed is provided on the first push button side of the center line, and wherein the distance from the first operating surface to the second contact portion is longer than the distance from the second operating surface to the second contact portion. 
     In the above pressing-type input device, a third contact portion serving as a pivot point for the push button unit when the third push button is pressed and a fourth contact portion serving as a pivot point for the push button unit when the fourth push button is pressed may be provided between the first push button and the case or the fixed portion and between the second push button and the case or the fixed portion. 
     Since, in the present invention, a substrate on which switching portions are mounted can be attached at an angle with respect to an operating surface on the surface of a case, the degree of freedom of design of a pressing-type input device can be improved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the appearance of a pressing-type input device of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the pressing-type input device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a case and a push button unit of the pressing-type input device viewed from the inside of the case; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line V-V of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are explanatory views showing the inclination of the push button unit in the same section as that shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are explanatory views showing the inclination of the push button unit in the same section as that shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are explanatory views showing the inclination of a push button unit in a pressing-type input device of a comparative example; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged explanatory view showing the operation of the push button unit of the pressing-type input device of the embodiment; and 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged explanatory view showing the operation of the push button unit of the pressing-type input device of the comparative example. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A pressing-type input device  1  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  has a case  2  whose surface is an operating surface  2   a  and a switching substrate  3  placed inside the case  2  or at the back of the case  2 . A switching sheet  20  is placed on the switching substrate  3 , and a push button unit  30  is provided between the inner surface of the case  2  and the switching sheet  20 . 
     The case  2  and the switching substrate  3  of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are small, and only one push button unit  30  is provided as an operating member. However, a pressing-type input device  1  of the present invention may have a larger case  2  and a larger switching substrate  3 , and in addition to a push button unit  30 , one or more sets of operating members. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the case  2  has a first hole  10   a , a second hole  10   b , a third hole  10   c , and a fourth hole  10   d  that open on the operating surface  2   a . The first hole  10   a  and the second hole  10   b  are arranged in the vertical direction (Y direction), and the third hole  10   c  and the fourth hole  10   d  are arranged in the horizontal direction (X direction). The holes  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c , and  10   d  are separated by a separating portion  11  that forms a part of the operating surface  2   a  of the case  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , inside the case  2 , there are provided a first guide portion  12  extending integrally inward from the edge of the first hole  10   a , a second guide portion  13  extending integrally inward from the edge of the second hole  10   b , a third guide portion  14  extending integrally inward from the edge of the third hole  10   c , and a fourth guide portion  15  extending integrally inward from the edge of the fourth hole  10   d.    
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first guide portion  12  includes an outer wall portion  12   a  on the Y 1  side, a side wall portion  12   b  on the X 1  side, and a side wall portion  12   c  on the X 2  side. The second guide portion  13  includes an outer wall portion  13   a  on the Y 2  side, a side wall portion  13   b  on the X 1  side, and a side wall portion  13   c  on the X 2  side. The third guide portion  14  includes an outer wall portion  14   a  on the X 1  side, a side wall portion  14   b  on the Y 1  side, and a side wall portion  14   c  on the Y 2  side. The fourth guide portion  15  includes an outer wall portion  15   a  on the X 2  side, a side wall portion  15   b  on the Y 1  side, and a side wall portion  15   c  on the Y 2  side. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the push button unit  30  is made of a synthetic resin, and includes a first push button  31   a , a second push button  31   b , a third push button  31   c , and a fourth push button  31   d  that are integrally formed. The first push button  31   a  and the second push button  31   b  face each other with a space therebetween in the vertical direction (Y direction), and the third push button  31   c  and the fourth push button  31   d  face each other with a space therebetween in the horizontal direction (X direction). 
     The push buttons  31   a ,  31   b ,  31   c , and  31   d  are connected by a connecting portion  32 . As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the upper surface of the first push button  31   a  is a first operating surface  33   a , the upper surface of the second push button  31   b  is a second operating surface  33   b , the upper surface of the third push button  31   c  is a third operating surface  33   c , and the upper surface of the fourth push button  31   d  is a fourth operating surface  33   d . As shown in  FIG. 3 , in the push button unit  30 , a first pressing end portion  34   a  is provided in the lower part of the first push button  31   a . Similarly, a second pressing end portion  34   b  is provided in the lower part of the second push button  31   b , a third pressing end portion  34   c  is provided in the lower part of the third push button  31   c , and a fourth pressing end portion  34   d  is provided in the lower part of the fourth push button  31   d . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a supporting protrusion  35  protruding downward (in the Z 2  direction) is integrally formed at the center of the four pressing end portions  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c , and  34   d.    
     The upper parts of the push buttons  31   a ,  31   b ,  31   c , and  31   d  are protruding upward (in the Z 1  direction) above the connecting portion  32 . On the upper surfaces of these upper parts, the operating surfaces  33   a ,  33   b ,  33   c , and  33   d  are formed. 
     The push button unit  30  is attached so as to face upward (in the Z 1  direction) from the inside of the case  2 . The first push button  31   a  is inserted into the inside of the first guide portion  12 , and the second push button  31   b , the third push button  31   c , and the fourth push button  31   d  are inserted into the insides of the second guide portion  13 , the third guide portion  14 , and the fourth guide portion  15 , respectively. When the push button unit  30  is inserted until the connecting portion  32  comes into contact with the inner surface of the separating portion  11  of the case  2 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , the upper part of the first push button  31   a  protrudes upward (in the Z 1  direction) from the first hole  10   a  of the case  2 , and the upper part of the second push button  31   b , the upper part of the third push button  31   c , and the upper part of the fourth push button  31   d  protrude upward from the second hole  10   b , the third hole  10   c , and the fourth hole  10   d , respectively. 
     In  FIG. 2 , a center line O passing through the center of the connecting portion  32  of the push button unit  30  is shown. As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the center line O is parallel to the axial direction of each of the push buttons  31   a ,  31   b ,  31   c , and  31   d . When the push button unit  30  is attached to the case  2  without inclining, the center line O is parallel to the surfaces of the outer wall portions  12   a ,  13   a ,  14   a , and  15   a  and the side wall portions  12   b ,  12   c ,  13   b ,  13   c ,  14   b ,  14   c ,  15   b , and  15   c  of the guide portions  12 ,  13 ,  14 , and  15 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , after the push button unit  30  is attached to the case  2 , the switching substrate  3  is placed on the underside (on the Z 2  side) of the case  2 , and the switching substrate  3  is fixed to the case  2  with screws or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a first switching portion  4   a , a second switching portion  4   b , a third switching portion  4   c , and a fourth switching portion  4   d  are provided on the top of the switching substrate  3 . The first switching portion  4   a  and the second switching portion  4   b  are arranged in the vertical direction (Y direction), and the third switching portion  4   c  and the fourth switching portion  4   d  are arranged in the horizontal direction (X direction) perpendicular to the vertical direction. 
     The first to fourth switching portions  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c , and  4   d  are all pressing-type switch portions. The switching sheet  20  is formed of an elastic material such as synthetic rubber. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first switching portion  4   a  has a pressing portion  21   a  formed by a part of the switching sheet  20 , and a tapered elastic supporting portion  22   a  that moves the pressing portion  21   a  up and down. Similarly, the second switching portion  4   b , the third switching portion  4   c , and the fourth switching portion  4   d  have pressing portions  21   b ,  21   c , and  21   d , and elastic supporting portions  22   b ,  22   c , and  22   d  integral therewith. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first switching portion  4   a  has a switching protrusion  23   a  provided under the pressing portion  21   a  integrally therewith. A pair of electrodes are provided on the surface of the switching substrate  3 , and a conductive portion is provided on the underside of the switching protrusion  23   a . When the first switching portion  4   a  is pressed, and the conductive portion of the switching protrusion  23   a  comes into contact with the pair of electrodes, the first switching portion  4   a  operates as a switch portion. 
     Alternatively, a pair of electrodes and a resistive layer formed between the pair of electrodes are provided on the surface of the switching substrate  3 , an elastically deformable switching protrusion  23   a  is formed of a conductive resin, and the conductive resin has a specific resistance lower than that of the resistive layer. In this first switching portion  4   a , if, after the pressing portion  21   a  is pressed and the conductive resin comes into contact with the resistive layer, the pressing force imparted to the pressing portion  21   a  changes, the contact area between the low-resistance conductive resin and the resistive layer changes in accordance with the pressing force, and the resistance between the electrodes changes. Therefore, the detection whether or not the pressing portion  21   a  is pressed, and the switching output according to the change of the pressing force imparted to the pressing portion  21   a  can be obtained. 
     Similarly, the second switching portion  4   b , the third switching portion  4   c , and the fourth switching portion  4   d  are provided with switching protrusions  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  and electrodes and others. In  FIG. 4 , the switching protrusion  23   c  of the third switching portion  4   c  is shown. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a hole  25  is formed at the center of the four switching portions  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c , and  4   d , through the switching substrate  3  and the switching sheet  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , a supporting body  26  is placed inside the hole  25 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the switching substrate  3  is attached so as to be inclined with respect to the operating surface  2   a , the front surface of the case  2 , downwardly in the Y 1  direction. On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the switching substrate  3  is attached without inclining in the X 1 -X 2  direction. That is to say, the switching substrate  3  is attached to the case  2  such that a perpendicular extending from the surface of the switching substrate  3  is leaning with respect to the center line O only in the Y 1  direction and is not leaning in the X 1 -X 2  direction. 
     When the switching substrate  3  is attached at an angle, the distance from the first hole  10   a  opening on the operating surface  2   a  of the case  2  to the first switching portion  4   a  is longer than the distance from the second hole  10   b  to the second switching portion  4   b . However, the distance from the third hole  10   c  to the third switching portion  4   c  is equal to the distance from the fourth hole  10   d  to the fourth switching portion  4   d.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , in the push button unit  30 , the distance from the first operating surface  33   a  of the first push button  31   a  to the first pressing end portion  34   a  is longer than the distance from the second operating surface  33   b  of the second push button  31   b  to the second pressing end portion  34   b , the first pressing end portion  34   a  is located at a position where it can press the first switching portion  4   a , and the second pressing end portion  34   b  is located at a position where it can press the second switching portion  4   b.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the distance from the third operating surface  33   c  of the third push button  31   c  to the third pressing end portion  34   c  is substantially equal to the distance from the fourth operating surface  33   d  of the fourth push button  31   d  to the fourth pressing end portion  34   d , the third pressing end portion  34   c  is located at a position where it can press the third switching portion  4   c , and the fourth pressing end portion  34   d  is located at a position where it can press the fourth switching portion  4   d.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  and  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the push button unit  30  is housed between the case  2  and the switching substrate  3 , the connecting portion  32  faces the inner surface of the separating portion  11  of the case  2 , the downwardly protruding supporting protrusion  35  faces the supporting body  26  placed in the hole  25  of the switching substrate  3 , and the push button unit  30  is supported so as to be able to lean in the Y 1  direction, the Y 2  direction, the X 1  direction, and the X 2  direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , at the lower end of the third push button  31   c , a first contact protrusion  36   a  is integrally formed on the Y 2  side, and a second contact protrusion  36   b  is integrally formed on the Y 1  side. At the lower end of the fourth push button  31   d , a first contact protrusion  37   a  is integrally formed on the Y 2  side, and a second contact protrusion  37   b  is integrally formed on the Y 1  side. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the push button unit  30  is attached to the case  2 , the lower end of the first contact protrusion  36   a  of the third push button  31   c  faces the side wall portion  14   c  on the Y 2  side of the third guide portion  14  of the case  2 , and the lower end of the second contact protrusion  36   b  of the third push button  31   c  faces the side wall portion  14   b  on the Y 1  side of the third guide portion  14 . Similarly, the lower end of the first contact protrusion  37   a  of the fourth push button  31   d  faces the side wall portion  15   c  on the Y 2  side of the fourth guide portion  15 , and the lower end of the second contact protrusion  37   b  of the fourth push button  31   d  faces the side wall portion  15   b  on the Y 1  side of the fourth guide portion  15 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6A , when the first operating surface  33   a  of the first push button  31   a  is pressed by a pressing force Fl toward the Z 2  direction, the push button unit  30  rotates in the α 1  direction about a first pivot point that is a first contact portion  51  including two contact points: the contact point between the lower end of the first contact protrusion  36   a  and the side wall portion  14   c , and the contact point between the lower end of the first contact protrusion  37   a  and the side wall portion  15   c , and the first switching portion  4   a  is pressed by the first pressing end portion  34   a  of the first push button  31   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6B , when the second operating surface  33   b  of the second push button  31   b  is pressed by a pressing force F 2  toward the Z 2  direction, the push button unit  30  rotates in the α 2  direction about a second pivot point that is a second contact portion S 2  including two contact points: the contact point between the lower end of the second contact protrusion  36   b  and the side wall portion  14   b , and the contact point between the lower end of the second contact protrusion  37   b  and the side wall portion  15   b , and the second switching portion  4   b  is pressed by the second pressing end portion  34   b  of the second push button  31   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , at the lower end of the first push button  31   a , a third contact protrusion  38   a  is integrally formed on the X 2  side, and a fourth contact protrusion  38   b  is integrally formed on the X 1  side. At the lower end of the second push button  31   b , a third contact protrusion  39   a  is integrally formed on the X 2  side, and a fourth contact protrusion  39   b  is integrally formed on the X 1  side. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the push button unit  30  is attached to the case  2 , the lower end of the third contact protrusion  38   a  of the first push button  31   a  faces the side wall portion  12   c  on the X 2  side of the first guide portion  12  of the case  2 , and the lower end of the fourth contact protrusion  38   b  of the first push button  31   a  faces the side wall portion  12   b  on the X 1  side of the first guide portion  12 . Similarly, the lower end of the third contact protrusion  39   a  of the second push button  31   b  faces the side wall portion  13   c  on the X 2  side of the second guide portion  13 , and the lower end of the fourth contact protrusion  39   b  of the second push button  31   b  faces the side wall portion  13   b  on the X 1  side of the second guide portion  13 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7A , when the third operating surface  33   c  of the third push button  31   c  is pressed by a pressing force F 3  toward the Z 2  direction, the push button unit  30  rotates in the α 3  direction about a third pivot point that is a third contact portion S 3  including two contact points: the contact point between the lower end of the third contact protrusion  38   a  and the side wall portion  12   c , and the contact point between the lower end of the third contact protrusion  39   a  and the side wall portion  13   c , and the third switching portion  4   c  is pressed by the third pressing end portion  34   c  of the third push button  31   c.    
     As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7B , when the fourth operating surface  33   d  of the fourth push button  31   d  is pressed by a pressing force F 4  toward the Z 2  direction, the push button unit  30  rotates in the a 4  direction about a fourth pivot point that is a fourth contact portion S 4  including two contact points: the contact point between the lower end of the fourth contact protrusion  38   b  and the side wall portion  12   b , and the contact point between the lower end of the fourth contact protrusion  39   b  and the side wall portion  13   b , and the fourth switching portion  4   d  is pressed by the fourth pressing end portion  34   d  of the fourth push button  31   d.    
     Next, the operation when, in the pressing-type input device  1  of the embodiment of the present invention, the first push button  31   a  and the second push button  31   b  are operated will be described in contrast with a comparative example. 
     A pressing-type input device  101  of a comparative example shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  rotates about a pivot point that is a contact portion between a connecting portion  32  of a push button unit  30  and the inner surface of a separating portion  11  of a case  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8A , in the comparative example, when a first operating surface  33   a  of a first push button  31   a  is pressed by a pressing force F 1 , the push button unit  30  rotates in the ( 31  direction about a pivot point that is a first contact portion Sa between the connecting portion  32  and the separating portion  11 , and a first switching portion  4   a  is pressed by a first pressing end portion  34   a . As shown in  FIG. 8B , when a second operating surface  33   b  of a second push button  3   b  is pressed by a pressing force F 2 , the push button unit  30  rotates in the  132  direction about a pivot point that is a second contact portion Sb between the connecting portion  32  and the separating portion  11 , and a second switching portion  4   b  is pressed by a second pressing end portion  34   b.    
     In the pressing-type input device  101  of the comparative example shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the height distance in the Z direction from the first contact portion Sa to the second operating surface  33   b  is substantially equal to the height distance from the second contact portion Sb to the first operating surface  33   a . On the other hand, the height distance from the first operating surface  33   a  of the first push button  31   a  to the first pressing end portion  34   a  is longer than the height distance from the second operating surface  33   b  of the second push button  3   b  to the second pressing end portion  34   b . Therefore, the distance La from the first contact portion Sa to the center of the first pressing end portion  34   a  is longer than the distance Lb from the second contact portion Sb to the center of the second pressing end portion  34   b.    
     In the first switching portion  4   a  and the second switching portion  4   b , input signals are switched by pressing a pressing portion  21   a  and a pressing portion  21   b  against a switching substrate  3 . Since La&gt;Lb, in order to make the amount of pressing deformation of the first switching portion  4   a  equal to the amount of pressing deformation of the second switching portion  4   b , the operation angle in the β 2  direction when the second operating surface  33   b  is pressed needs to be made larger than the operation angle in the β 1  direction when the first operating surface  33   a  is pressed. 
     Therefore, the operational sensation when the first operating surface  33   a  is pressed to operate the first switching portion  4   a  differs from the operational sensation when the second operating surface  33   b  is pressed to operate the second switching portion  4   b.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , in the pressing-type input device  1  of the embodiment of the present invention, the first contact portion  51  about which the push button unit  30  rotates when the first operating surface  33   a  is pressed exists on the second push button  3   b  side of the center line O, and the second contact portion S 2  about which the push button unit  30  rotates when the second operating surface  33   b  is pressed exists on the first push button  31   a  side of the center line O. 
     The height distance in the Z direction from the first operating surface  33   a  to the second contact portion S 2  is longer than the height distance from the second operating surface  33   b  to the first contact portion S 1 . That is to say, the difference between the distance h 1  from the surface  3   a  of the switching substrate  3  to the first contact portion S 1  shown in  FIG. 6A  and the distance h 2  from the surface  3   a  of the switching substrate  3  to the second contact portion S 2  shown in  FIG. 6B  is small, and preferably, the distance h 1  is substantially equal to the distance h 2 . 
     Therefore, the difference between the distance L 1  from the first contact portion S 1  to the center of the first pressing end portion  34   a  and the distance L 2  from the second contact portion S 2  to the center of the second pressing end portion  34   b  is small. That is to say, the absolute value of L 1 −L 2  in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  is smaller than the absolute value of La−Lb in the comparative example shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . 
     Therefore, in the embodiment, when the rotation angle in the α 1  direction of the push button unit  30  when the first operating surface  33   a  is pressed is made substantially equal to the rotation angle in the α 2  direction of the push button unit  30  when the second operating surface  33   b  is pressed, the amount of pressing deformation of the first switching portion  4   a  can be made equal to the amount of deformation of the second switching portion  4   b . Therefore, when the switching substrate  3  is inclined with respect to the operating surface  2   a  that is the surface of the case  2 , or when the length in the pressing direction of the first push button  31   a  differs from that of the second push button  31   b , the operational sensation when the first operating surface  33   a  is pressed to operate the first switching portion  4   a  can be made equal to the operational sensation when the second operating surface  33   b  is pressed to operate the second switching portion  4   b.    
       FIG. 9  shows scaled-up details of the rotation of the push button unit  30  in the pressing-type input device  1  of the embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 10  shows scaled-up details of the rotation of the push button unit  30  in the pressing-type input device  101  of the comparative example. 
     In  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the surface  3   a  of the switching substrate  3  is horizontal. In  FIG. 9  is shown a pressing reference line H 1  at a height h 1  in the vertical direction from the surface  3   a . In  FIG. 10  is shown a pressing reference line Ha at a height ha in the vertical direction from the surface  3   a.    
     In the pressing-type input device  1  of the comparative example shown in  FIG. 10 , the rotation angle θb of the push button unit  30  necessary to lower the center of the second pressing end portion  34   b  to the pressing reference line Ha by pressing the second operating surface  33   b  is extremely larger than the rotation angle θa of the push button unit  30  necessary to lower the center of the first pressing end portion  34   a  to the pressing reference line Ha by pressing the first operating surface  33   a.    
     In addition, since the first contact portion Sa and the second contact portion Sb are upwardly distant from the surface of the switching substrate  3 , a vector Va in which the center of the first pressing end portion  34   a  moves toward the surface  3   a  when the first operating surface  33   a  is pressed and a vector Vb in which the center of the second pressing end portion  34   b  moves toward the surface  3   a  when the second operating surface  33   b  is pressed are at acute angles with respect to the surface  3   a . Therefore, the pressing portion  21   a  of the first switching portion  4   a  cannot be pressed perpendicularly to the surface  3   a  with the first pressing end portion  34   a , the pressing portion  21   b  of the second switching portion  4   b  cannot be pressed perpendicularly to the surface  3   a  with the second pressing end portion  34   b , and the pressing operational sensation is bad. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , in the pressing-type input device  1  of the embodiment of the present invention, the first contact portion Si and the second contact portion S 2  are at substantially the same height from the surface  3   a  of the switching substrate  3 . Therefore, the rotation angle θ 1  of the push button unit  30  necessary to lower the first pressing end portion  34   a  to the pressing reference line H 1  by pressing the first operating surface  33   a  is substantially equal to the rotation angle θ 2  of the push button unit  30  necessary to lower the second pressing end portion  34   b  to the pressing reference line H 1  by pressing the second operating surface  33   b.    
     In addition, the distance from the first contact portion Si to the surface  3   a  of the switching substrate  3  is shorter than the distance from the first contact portion Si to the second operating surface  33   b , and the distance from the second contact portion S 2  to the surface  3   a  of the switching substrate  3  is shorter than the distance from the second contact portion S 2  to the first operating surface  33   a . In addition, in this embodiment, when the push button unit  30  is not being operated, the first contact portion S 1  is closer to the surface  3   a  than the second pressing end portion  34   b , and the second contact portion S 2  is closer to the surface  3   a  than the first pressing end portion  34   a.    
     Therefore, a vector V 1  in which the first pressing end portion  34   a  moves toward the surface  3   a  when the first operating surface  33   a  is pressed and a vector V 2  in which the second pressing end portion  34   b  moves toward the surface  3   a  when the second operating surface  33   b  is pressed are at obtuse angles close to a right angle with respect to the surface  3   a . Therefore, the first switching portion  4   a  can be pressed substantially perpendicularly to the surface  3   a  with the first pressing end portion  34   a , the second switching portion  4   b  can be pressed substantially perpendicularly to the surface  3   a  with the second pressing end portion  34   b , and the pressing operational sensation is improved. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 9 , in the pressing-type input device  1  of this embodiment, an inner part  41   a  of the first pressing end portion  34   a  close to the center line O is protruding toward the surface  3   a , and an inner part  41   b  of the second pressing end portion  34   b  close to the center line O is protruding toward the surface  3   a . Therefore, when the push button unit  30  has rotated by θ 1  in the α 1  direction, the outer end  34   a   1  of the first pressing end portion  34   a  and the outer end  41   a   1  of the inner part  41   a  reach the pressing reference line H 1  at substantially the same time. Similarly, when the push button unit  30  has rotated by θ 2  in the α 2  direction, the outer end  34   b   1  of the second pressing end portion  34   b  and the outer end  41   b   1  of the inner part  41   b  reach the pressing reference line H 1  at substantially the same time. 
     Owing to this configuration, the pressing portion  21   a  of the first switching portion  4   a  and the pressing portion  21   b  of the second switching portion  4   b  can be pressed toward the surface  3   a  of the switching substrate  3  perpendicularly, and the pressing operational sensation is further improved. 
     Although, in the above embodiment, the first contact portion S 1  and the second contact portion S 2  are formed in contact portions between the third push button  31   c  and the case  2  and contact portions between the fourth push button  31   d  and the case  2 , the first contact portion S 1  and the second contact portion S 2  may be formed in contact portions between the third push button  31   c  and a fixed portion other than the case  2  provided in the case  2  and contact portions between the fourth push button  31   d  and the fixed portion. The same goes for the third contact portion S 3  and the fourth contact portion S 4 .