Patent Publication Number: US-6670945-B1

Title: Volume integral type multi-directional input apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a multi-directional input apparatus for inputting various signals by operating an operating member which is operated in arbitrary circumferential direction 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A multi-directional input apparatus of this type called joystick comprises a case secured on a board, a set of upper and lower turning members having long holes each extending in a direction perpendicular to the turning direction, an operating member passing through the long holes of the set of upper and lower turning members for turning the turning members by operating the operating member in an arbitrary circumferential direction, a spring compressed and accommodated in the case for resiliently holding the operating member in its neutral position, and a set of signal output means for outputting a signal corresponding to the turning angle of each the turning member. 
     As the set of signal output means, a volume such as an electric sensor, a magnetic sensor, optical sensor or the like is used, and the volume is relatively commonly used in terms of costs and the like. Multi-directional input apparatuses using the volume as the set of signal output means are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. S61-198286, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. H6-43963, and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. H7-27608. 
     However, the conventional multi-directional input apparatus using the volume as the one set of signal output means has the following problems. 
     Although the volume is inexpensive as compared with other signal output means, the volume requires a large number of parts (usually five parts), a rate of cost occupied by the volume in the multi-directional input apparatus is still high. Further, since it is necessary to use solder between the multi-directional input apparatus and a board onto which the multi-directional input apparatus is mounted, this increases the manufacturing cost of equipment which uses the multi-directional input apparatus. 
     The present invention has been accomplished in view of these circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus in which the number of parts is small and a board can be mounted easily. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus comprising a case secured on a mounting board; a set of upper and lower turning members supported in the case such as to be directed in two crossing direction and each having a long hole extending in a direction perpendicular to a turning direction; an operating member passing through each of the long holes of the set of upper and lower turning members, the operating member turning each of the turning members when the operating member is operated in arbitrary direction there around; a holding mechanism for resiliently holding the operating member at a neutral position; and a set of signal output means for outputting signal corresponding to a turning angle of each of the turning members; wherein the set of signal output means comprise a pair of straight-ahead sliders mounted to the case such that the straight-ahead sliders move straightly along a side surface of the case above the mounting board, a pair of motion transmitting mechanisms for converting turning movements of the set of upper and lower turning members into straight movements and transmitting the straight movements to the pair of straight-ahead sliders, and a pair of contacts sliding on resistance circuits when the straight-ahead sliders move straightly, thereby constituting volumes. 
     According to the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the present invention, when the operating member is operated, the turning members are turned to move the straight-ahead sliders straightly along side surfaces of the case above the mounting board, the contacts slide on the resistance circuits, and a function as a volume is obtained. If the volume as signal output means is integrally formed on the multi-directional input apparatus in this manner, the number of parts is reduced. 
     In order to reduce the number of parts, it is preferable that the straight-ahead sliders are accommodated in slider accommodating portions integrally formed on a side surface of the case. That is, the accommodating portion for accommodating the straight-ahead slider maybe separately mounted to the case, but it is preferable to integrally form the accommodating portion on the side surface of the case to reduce the number of parts. 
     In order to reduce the number of parts, it is preferable that the motion transmitting mechanism is a so-called rack and pinion mechanism in which a gear provided on an end of the turning member meshes with a rack gear teeth formed on a surface of the straight-ahead slider 
     Each of the resistance circuits can be formed on a surface of the mounting board to which the case is secured. The resistance circuit can also be formed on a surface of the reserved board for forming the volume separately disposed along a moving surface of the straight-ahead slider. 
     When the resistance circuit is formed on the surface of the mounting board, the contact is mounted to the lower surface of the straight-ahead slider. In this case, the number of parts is reduced particularly and solder between the board and the circuit is unnecessary. 
     When the resistance circuit is formed on the surface of the reserved board, i.e., when the reserved board is separately used, the reserved board can be disposed below, above or sideway of the straight-ahead slider, but it is preferable to dispose the resistance circuit below the straight-ahead slider in terms of connection with the mounting board. When the reserved board is disposed below the straight-ahead slider, the contact is preferably mounted to the lower surface of the straight-ahead slider, and when the reserved board is disposed above the straight-ahead slider, the contact is preferably mounted to the upper surface of the straight-ahead slider. 
     When the resistance circuit constituting the integral type volume is formed on the surface of the mounting board, it is necessary for a user of the multi-directional input apparatus to precisely print and form the resistance circuit. Therefore, the burden of the user is increased, but if the reserved board is used, although the number of parts is increased, it is unnecessary for the user of the multi-directional input apparatus to print and form the resistance circuit on the mounting board, and this reduces the burden of the user. 
     It is preferable that the reserved board is bent into an L-shape along two crossing side surfaces of the case, and is commonly used by the pair of volumes. With this structure, the increase in the number of parts caused by the reserved board is minimized. 
     In order to reduce the number of parts, it is preferable that the reserved board is accommodated together with the straight-ahead slider in a slider accommodating portion which is integrally formed on a side surface of the case. It is preferable that the reserved board is a flexible board in view of wiring with respect to the mounting board. 
     A fan-like member having an arc surface formed with teeth is preferable as the gear constituting the motion transmitting mechanism because the apparatus can be made small. It is preferable that it is integrally formed on the end of the turning member because the number of parts is reduced. 
     Structures of portions other than the volume are not limited. For example, the holding mechanism for resiliently holding the operating member at the neutral position may directly hold the operating member at the neutral position, or may indirectly hold the set of upper and lower operating members at the neutral position using spring, or may directly hold both the operating members at the neutral position. The spring may be disposed on either upper or lower one of the set of the upper and lower turning members. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along an arrow A—A in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along an arrow B—B in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along an arrow C—C in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the multi-directional input apparatus; 
     FIG. 6 is a pattern circuit diagram of a resistant circuit combined with the multi-directional input apparatus; 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a pattern circuit diagram of a resistant circuit combined with the multi-directional input apparatus; 
     FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional front view of a volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the multi-directional input apparatus; 
     FIG. 11 is a plan view of a volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the multi-directional input apparatus; 
     FIG. 13 is a left side view of the multi-directional input apparatus; 
     FIG. 14 is a right side view of the multi-directional input apparatus; 
     FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the multi-directional input apparatus; 
     FIG. 16 is a plan view of a volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the multi-directional input apparatus; 
     FIG. 18 is a left side view of the multi-directional input apparatus; 
     FIG. 19 is a right side view of the multi-directional input apparatus; 
     FIG. 20 is a bottom view of the multi-directional input apparatus; 
     FIG. 21 is a plan view of a volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 22 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the multi-directional input apparatus; and 
     FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the multi-directional input apparatus. 
    
    
     EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS 
       10  case 
       10   a  lower case 
       10   b  upper case 
       15  body 
       16  slider accommodating portion 
       20 A,  20 B volume section (signal output means) 
       30  operating member 
       40 A,  40 B turning member 
       41 A,  41 B turning shaft 
       42 A,  42 B arc portion 
       43 A,  43 B long hole 
       44 A,  44 B gear 
       45 A,  45 B teeth 
       50  hoisting and lowering slider 
       60  spring 
       70  hoisting and lowering member 
       80  straight-ahead slider 
       82  teeth 
       90  contact 
       100  mounting board 
       110  pushdown switch 
       120  resistance circuit 
       130  reserved board 
     EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings below. As shown in FIG. 1, in a volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of a first embodiment of the present invention, a case  10  is secured on a mounting board  100  (see FIG.  6 ), and the case  10  is integrally provided at its two side with a set of volume sections  20 A and  20 B as signal output means. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, accommodated in a body of the case  10  excluding the volume sections  20 A and  20 B are a rod-like operating member  30  inclingly operated in arbitrary cirumferential direction around its lower portion, a set of upper and lower turning members  40 A and  40 B, a hoisting and lowering slider  50  and a spring  60  for resiliently holding the operating member  30  at its neutral position, and a hoisting and lowering member  70  which is operated up and down by the operating member  30 . The volume sections  20 A and  20 B are provided therein with straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80 . 
     The box-like case  10  secured on the mounting board  100  (see FIG. 6) is of a two-piece structure comprising a lower case  10   a  forming a bottom plate of the case  10  and an upper case  10   b  placed on the lower case  10   a  from above. 
     The lower case  10   a  has a substantially quadrangle bottom plate  11 . The bottom plate  11  is provided at its four corners with pawls  12  which are upwardly projecting for securing the upper case  10   b  to the bottom plate  11 . A support  13  is projected from a central portion of sides of the bottom plate  11  for supporting the turning members  40 A and  40 B. The bottom plate  11  is provided at its central portion with a cylindrical guide  14  for vertically guiding a hoisting and lowering member  70 . 
     The upper case  10   b  includes a box-like body  15  which is to be put on the lower case  10   a  and whose bottom is opened. The upper case  10   b  also includes slider accommodating portions  16  and  16 . The body  15  is provided at its ceiling with and opening  17  through which the operating member  30  projects. The body  15  is provided at its side walls with notches into which the support  13  of the lower case  10   a  is fitted. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  4  and  5 , each of the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16  accommodating the straight-ahead slider  80  is a regular hexahedronal box expanded from the lower side surface sideway, and a lower surface of the slider accommodating portion  16  is entirely opened. Each of the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16  is provided at its upper surface with a slit-like opening  18  along a side surface of the body  15 . 
     When the upper case  10   b  is put on the lower case  10   a , the pawls  12  of the lower case  10   a  engage an inner surface of a side wall of body  15  of the upper case  10   b  so that the lower case  10   a  and the upper case  10   b  are secured to each other. When the support  13  of the lower case  10   a  is fitted to the notches of the body  15  of the upper case  10   b , each of the side surfaces of the body  15  is formed with a circle opening for supporting opposite end shafts of the turning members  40 A and  40 B. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the operating member  30  includes a rod  31  having a circular cross section, a turning shaft  32  continuously formed on a lower portion of the rod  31 , a large-diameter disc  33  continuously formed on a further lower portion of the turning shaft  32 , and a downwardly swelling semi-circular projection  34  formed on a central portion of a lower surface of the disc  33 . The disc  33  has an upwardly swelling semi-circular cross section, and is projecting in two directions perpendicular to the turning shaft  32 . An axial center of the turning shaft  32  crosses the center of the downwardly swelling semi-circular projection  34 . 
     The upper turning member  40 A has turning shafts  41 A and  41 A, and an upwardly swelling arc  43 A. The arc  43 A is provided with a long hole  43 A extending toward the turning center axis. 
     The long hole  43 A functions as a guide hole for the operating member  30 . A gear  44 A is integrally formed on a tip end surface of one of the turning shafts  41 A and  41 A. The gear  44 A projects sideway of the body  15 , and is located above the opening  18  of one of the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16 . The gear  44 A has a fan-like shape whose arc surface is directed downward, and the arc surface is formed with spur wheel teeth  45 A. 
     The lower turning member  40 B is combined with below the upper turning member  40 A perpendicularly. The turning member  40 B is provided at its opposite ends with turning shafts  41 B and  41  Beach having a circular cross section. The turning member  40 B is provided with an upwardly swelling semi-spherical arc  42 B formed between the turning shafts  41 B and  41 B. The semi-spherical arc  42 B is provided with a long hole  43 B extending toward the turning center axis. The long hole  43 A functions as a guide hole for the operating member  30 . 
     The semi-spherical arc  42 B is provided at its lower surface with a recess  46 B into which the disc  33  of the operating member  30  is fitted. The recess  46 B ensures the turning movement of the disc  33  when the operating member  30  is operated toward the long hole  43 B of the turning member  40 B. A pair of recessed bearings  47 B and  47 B are provided in an inner surface of the recess  46 B such as to sandwich the long hole  43 B. The turning shaft  32  of the operating member  30  is fitted to the bearings  47 B and  47 B. 
     A gear  44 B is integrally formed on a tip end surface of one of the turning shafts  41 B and  41 B. The gear  44 B projects sideway of the body  15 , and is located above the other one of the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16 . The gear  44 B has a fan-like shape whose arc surface is directed downward, and the arc surface is formed with spur wheel teeth  45 B. 
     The hoisting and lowering slider  50  for resiliently holding the operating member  30  at the neutral position is annular in shape so that the hoisting and lowering slider  50  can vertically movably fitted in the body  15  of the case  10 . The hoisting and lowering slider  50  is disposed below the turning members  40 A and  40 B, and is biased upward by the spring  60  compressed and accommodated between the hoisting and lowering slider  50  and the bottom plate  11  of the case  10 . 
     The hoisting and lowering slider  50  is biased and resiliently brought into contact with flat a lower surface of the disc  33  of the operating member  30  and flat surfaces formed on the lower surfaces of the turning members  40 A and  40 B, thereby directly holding the operating member  30  and the turning members  40 A and  40 B at the neutral position. 
     The hoisting and lowering member  70  vertically moved by the operating member  30  is inserted into the cylindrical guide  14  formed at the central portion of the bottom plate  11  of the case  10 , and is biased upward by a pushdown switch  110  on the mounting board  100 . 
     The straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80  accommodated in the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16  of the case  10  are capable of moving horizontally along a side surface of the body  15 , and the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80  are prevented from being pulled out downward by means of the side edge of the bottom plate  11  of the lower case  10   a . Each of the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80  is provided at its upper portion with a projection  81  projecting upward of the slider accommodating portion  16  through the slit-like opening  18  formed in the upper surface of the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16 . The projection  81  is formed at its upper surface with rack gear teeth  82  in the moving direction of the straight-ahead slider  80 . The teeth  82  meshes with the teeth  45 A. and  45 B of the fan-like gears  44 A and  44 B formed on one ends of the turning members  40 A and  40 B, thereby constituting a motion transmitting mechanism. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, a contact  90  is mounted to a lower surface of each of the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80 . The contact  90  faces a surface of the mounting board  100  through the opening formed in the lower surface of the slider accommodating portion  16 , and is resiliently contacted with a resistance circuit  120  (see FIG. 6) formed on the surface of the mounting board  100 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the resistance circuits  120  are located below volume portions  20 A and  20 B, and formed on the surface of the mounting board  100 . Each of the resistance circuits  120  includes a carbon resistor  121  and conductive portion  122  arranged straightly at a distance therebetween. The contact  90  includes a pair of contacting portions  91  and  91  arranged straightly so that they come into contact with the carbon resistor  121  and the conductive portion  122 . The carbon resistor  121  and the conductive portion  122  are brought into conduction to constitute the volume. 
     Next, a function of the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained. 
     If the operating member  30  is inclined toward the long hole  43 B of the lower turning member  40 B, the upper turning member  40 A is turned. With this movement, the volume portion  20 A is operated, and a resistance value corresponding to the operation amount is obtained. That is, in the volume portion  20 A, the gear  44 A is turned by the turning movement of the turning member  40 A, thereby straightly moving the straight-ahead slider  80 , the contact  90  slides on the corresponding resistance circuit  120 , and a resistance value corresponding to the operation amount is obtained. 
     If the operating member  30  is inclined toward the long hole  44 A of the upper turning member  40 A, the lower turning member  40 B is turned. With this movement, the volume portion  20 B is operated, and a resistance value corresponding to the operation amount is obtained. That is, in the volume portion  20 B, the gear  44 B is turned by the turning movement of the turning member  40 B, thereby straightly moving the straight-ahead slider  80 , the contact  90  slides on the corresponding resistance circuit  120 , and a resistance value corresponding to the operation amount is obtained. 
     The operating member  30  is operated in an arbitrary direction by a combination of the above movements, and a signal in accordance with the operation direction and amount is input to electronic equipment which uses the multi-directional input apparatus. 
     If the operating member  30  is pushed down in the axial direction, the pushdown switch  110  on the mounting board  100  is operated. 
     The volume portions  20 A and  20 B comprise the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16  provided on the two perpendicular side surfaces of the case  10 , the fan-like gears  44 A and  44 B provided on one ends of the turning members  40 A and  40 B, and the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80  accommodated in the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16 , and the contacts  90  and  80  mounted to the lower surfaces of the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80 . Among these constituent parts, the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16  and the gears  44 A and  44 B are integrally formed together with the existing constituent elements of the multi-directional input apparatus. Therefore, the parts required for constitute the volume portions  20 A and  20 B are two parts, i.e., the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80  and the contacts  90  and  90 . 
     Therefore, the number of parts is largely reduced as compared with the conventional multi-directional input apparatus using the external volume, and the cost is also reduced. Further, the volume portions  20 A and  20 B do not require soldering between the resistance circuits  120  and  120  on the mounting board  100 . Therefore, the assembling cost of electronic equipment which uses the multi-directional input apparatus can be reduced. 
     A volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. 
     This apparatus is different from the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to  6  mainly in the structure of the contacts  90  and  90 . 
     That is, each of the contact  90  has contact portions  91  and  91  arranged in parallel. The resistance circuit  120  with which the contact portions  91  and  91  come into contact includes the carbon resistor  121  and the conductive portion  122  formed on the surface of the mounting board  100  in parallel. The contact  90  brings the pair of contact portions  91  and  91  into contact with the carbon resistor  121  and the conductive portion  122 , thereby bringing them into conduction to constitute the volume. 
     Other structure is substantially the same as that of the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the first embodiment and thus, explanation thereof is omitted. 
     As can be understood from the first and second embodiments, according to the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the present invention, shape of the resistance circuit  120  and the contact  90  may arbitrarily be selected. 
     A volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. 
     This apparatus is different from the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatuses of the first and second embodiment mainly in that the pushdown switch  110  is omitted. Since the pushdown switch  110  is omitted, the hoisting and lowering member  70  disposed below the operating member  30  is also omitted. The operating member  30  is instead supported from below by a boss  19  provided at a central portion of the bottom plate  11  of the case  10  such that the operating member  30  can be inclined. For supporting the operating member  30 , the boss  19  is provided at its upper surface with a downwardly swelling semi-circular recess into which the projection  34  of the operating member  30  is fitted. 
     Since other structure is substantially the same as that of the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatuses of the first and second embodiments, explanation thereof is omitted. 
     As can be understood from these embodiments, the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the present invention is combined with the pushdown switch  110  when necessary. 
     A volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 11 to  15 . 
     This apparatus is different from the above-described volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus mainly in that a resistance circuit constituting the integral type volume is formed on a surface of a reserved board  130 , i.e., the a reserved board  130  is used for the volume portions  20 A and  20 B, and axially intermediate portion of the set of upper and lower turning members  40 A and  40 B are projected downward, the operating member  30  is supported above the upper turning member  40 A so that the turning centers of the turning members  40 A and  40 B are located as high as possible to restrain the height of the apparatus. 
     That is, in the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the case  10  is of a two-piece structure comprising a combination of a box-like metal lower case  10   a  and a resin upper case  10   b  fitted to the lower case  10   a  from above. 
     A downwardly swelling spherical recess  11 ′ (which will be described later) for supporting the lower turning member  40 B is disposed on a central portion of the bottom plate  11  of the metal lower case  10   a . A plurality of projection pieces  11 ″ projecting sideway is formed at four corners of the bottom plate  11  for securing the bottom plate  11  to the mounting board. 
     Similar to the other volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus, the resin upper case  10   b  includes the box-like body  15  whose bottom is opened, and the pair of slider accommodating portions  16  and  16  integrally formed on the two crossing side surfaces of the body  15 . The body  15  is provided at its ceiling with and opening  17  through which the operating member  30  projects. On a lower surface of the ceiling, an upwardly swelling spherical recess  17 ′ is provided around the opening  17  for supporting the operating member  30 . The pair of slider accommodating portions  16  and  16  is integrally formed into an L-shape along the two crossing side surfaces of the body  15 . 
     As shown in FIG. 12, the operating member  30  includes a spherical support  35  continuously formed on a lower portion of the rod  31  having a circular cross section, and a rod-like operating portion  36  continuously formed on a lower portion of the support  35 . 
     The upper turning member  40 A includes a downwardly swelling arc  42 A between the turning shafts  41 A and  41 A on the opposite ends. The arc  42 A is provided with a long hole  43 A extending turning center axis of the turning member  40 A as a guide hole of the operating member  30 . An inner surface of the arc  42 A, i.e., an upper surface thereof is formed into a downwardly swelling spherical recess surface into which the spherical support  35  of the operating member  30  is fitted. An outer surface of the arc  42 A, i.e., a lower surface thereof is formed into an upwardly swelling spherical projecting surface. 
     The lower turning member  40 B which is combined with the lower portion of the upper turning member  40 A perpendicularly includes a downwardly swelling arc  42 B between the turning shafts  41 B and  41 B on the opposite ends. The arc  42 B is provided with a long hole  43 B extending turning center axis of the turning member  40 B as a guide hole of the operating member  30 . An inner surface of the arc  42 B, i.e., an upper surface thereof is formed into a downwardly swelling spherical recess surface into which the arc  42 A of the upper turning member  40 A is fitted. An outer surface of the arc  42 B, i.e., a lower surface thereof is formed into an upwardly swelling spherical projecting surface which corresponds to the downwardly swelling spherical recess  11 ′. 
     The support  35  is grasped between the ceiling of the case  10  and the arc  42 A of the upper turning member  40 A, thereby rotatably supporting the above-described operating member  30 . The operating portion  36  of the operating member  30  is inserted into the long holes  43 A and  43 B formed in the arcs  42 A and  42 B of the turning members  40 A and  40 B. 
     Similar to the other volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus, the hoisting and lowering slider  50  for resiliently holding the operating member  30  at the neutral position is disposed below the turning members  40 A and  40 B, and is biased upward by the spring  60  compressed and accommodated between the hoisting and lowering slider  50  and the bottom plate  11  of the case  10 . The hoisting and lowering slider  50  is biased and resiliently brought into contact with flat surfaces formed on the lower surfaces of the turning members  40 A and  40 B, thereby holding the operating member  30  and the turning members  40 A and  40 B at the neutral position. 
     The straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80  are accommodated in the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16  of the case  10 , and an L-shaped reservedboard  130  is accommodated astride the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16 . The straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80  can move horizontally along the two crossing side surfaces of the body  15  of the case  10 . A rack gear teeth  82  is formed on an upper surface of each the straight-ahead slider  80 . Downwardly directed fan-like gears  44 A and  44 B formed on one ends of the turning members  40 A and  40 B are meshed with the rack gear teeth  82  and  82 . 
     The L-shaped reserved board  130  is a flexible board, and disposed in the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16  below the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80 . A pair of resistance circuits corresponding to the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80  are printed on the reserved board  130 . Contacts mounted on the lower surfaces of the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80  are in contact with the pair of resistance circuits resiliently. The opposite ends of the reserved board  130  are projected outward from the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16  as connecting portions  131  and  131  with respect to the mounting board. 
     Similar to the other volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus, in the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the turning members  40 A and  40 B are turned when the operating member  30  is inclined. With this movement, the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80  are straightly moved in the volume portions  20 A and  20 B, the contacts slide on the pair of resistance circuits of the reserved board  130 , and a signal corresponding to the direction and the amount of operation of the operating member  30  is input to the electronic equipment which uses the multi-directional input apparatus. 
     The reserved board  130  is used in the volume sections  20 A and  20 B and thus, the number of parts is slightly increased, but it is unnecessary to form the resistance circuits constituting the volume sections  20 A and  20 B on the surface of the board. Therefore, burden of a user using this multi-directional input apparatus is lightened. Further, the reserved board  130  is bent into the L-shape along the two crossing side surface of the body  15  of the case  10 , and the reserved board  130  is commonly used by the volume sections  20 A and  20 B. Therefore, the increase in the number of parts caused by the reserved board  130  is minimized. 
     Further, the arcs  42 A and  42 B of the turning members  40 A and  40 B are projected downward, the support  35  of the operating member  30  is supported by the ceiling of the case  10  and the upper arc  42 A, and the turning center is located above the case  10  and thus, space for accommodating the hoisting and lowering slider  50  and the spring  60  is secured below the turning members  40 A and  40 B, and the entire height of the case  10  is restricted. 
     A volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 16 to  20 . 
     This apparatus is different from the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the fourth embodiment of the present invention mainly in that the arcs  42 A and  42 B of the turning members  40 A and  40 B are projected upward, space for accommodating the hoisting and lowering slider  50  and the spring  60  is secured above the arcs  42 A and  42 B, and in connection with this, the reserved board  130  is disposed above the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80 . 
     That is, according to the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the case  10  comprises the resin lower case  10   a  forming the bottom plate, and a metal upper case  10   b  to be put on the lower case  10   a  from above. The slider accommodating portions  16  and  16  for accommodating the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80  are integrally and continuously formed on the resin lower case  10   a.    
     The turning members  40 A and  40 B includes upwardly swelling arcs  42 A and  42 B between the opposite end turning shafts. Unlike the other volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus, the hoisting and lowering slider  50  is disposed above the turning members  40 A and  40 B, and is biased downward by the spring  60  compressed and accommodated between the hoisting and lowering slider  50  and the ceiling of the case  10 . The hoisting and lowering slider  50  is biased and resiliently brought into contact with flat surfaces formed on the lower surfaces of the turning members,  40 A and  40 B, there by holding the operating member  30  and the turning members  40 A and  40 B at the neutral position. 
     The operating member  30  includes an upwardly swelling semi-spherical first support  37  below the shaft  31 , and a downwardly swelling semi-spherical second support  38  below the first support  37 . The first support  37  is fitted into the arc  42 B of the lower turning member  40 B from below, and the second support  38  is supported on the bottom plate  11  of the case  10 . 
     The straight-ahead slider  80  is accommodated in the slider accommodating portion  16 , and the reserved board  130  is accommodated in the slider accommodating portion  16  above the straight-ahead slider  80 . The straight-ahead slider  80  is provided at its lower surface with the rack gear teeth  82 . Upwardly directed fan-like gears  44 A and  44 B are formed on one ends of the turning members  40 A and  40 B are meshed with the teeth  82 . The contact is mounted to the upper surface of the straight-ahead slider  80 . The contact is in resilient contact with the resistance circuit formed on the lower surface of the reserved board  130 . 
     Other structure is the same as that of the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the fourth embodiment. 
     The reserved board  130  is used in the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the fifth embodiment of the present invention and thus, the number of parts is slightly increased, but it is unnecessary to form the resistance circuits constituting the volume sections  20 A and  20 B on the surface of the board. Therefore, burden of a user using this multi-directional input apparatus is lightened. Further, the reserved board  130  is bent into the L-shape along the two crossing side surface of the body  15  of the case  10 , and the reserved board  130  is commonly used by the volume sections  20 A and  20 B. Therefore, the increase in the number of parts caused by the reserved board  130  is minimized. 
     Further, the arcs  42 A and  42 B of the turning members  40 A and  40 B are projected upward, the supports  37  and  38  of the operating member  30  is supported between the lower arc  42 B and the bottom plate  11  of the case  10 , and the turning centers thereof are located as low as possible in the case  10  and thus, space for accommodating the hoisting and lowering slider  50  and the spring  60  is secured above the turning members  40 A and  40 B, and the entire height of the case  10  is restricted. 
     As can be understood from the fourth and fifth embodiments, the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the present invention can use the reserved board  130  for forming the resistance circuit. The reserved board  130  may be disposed either above or below the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80 . 
     A volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 21 to  23 . 
     This apparatus is different from the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the fifth embodiment of the present invention mainly in that the lower pushdown switch  110 . is operated by the operating member  30 , and the reserved board  130  is disposed in the volume sections  20 A and  20 B below the straight-ahead slider  80 . 
     That is, according to the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the sixth embodiment of the present invention, in order to allow the operating member  30  to move in the axial direction, the bottom plate  11  of the case  10  is formed with an opening  14 ′ below the operating member  30 . Further, in order to bias the operating member  30  upward, a snap plate  111  is mounted to a lower surface of the bottom plate  11 . The snap plate  111  includes a frame-like support  111 ′ secured to the lower surface of the bottom plate  11  and a circular operating portion  11 ″ supported by radial arms in the snap plate  111 ′. The snap plate  111  is accommodated in a shallow recess provided in the lower surface of the bottom plate  11 , the second support  38  of the operating member  30  is resiliently pushed from above through an opening formed in the bottom plate  11 , which constitutes the pushdown switch  110  together with the contact formed on the surface of the mounting board. 
     Opposite sides of the first support  37  of the operating member  30  are removed for preventing the operating member  30  from rotating around its axis. 
     The straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80  are accommodated in the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16  of the case  10 , and the reserved board  130  is accommodated in the slider accommodating portions  16  and  16  below the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80 . An inner surface of each the straight-ahead slider  80  is provided with a recess  83  which is opened downward. The gears  44 A and  44 B of the turning members  40 A and  40 B are inserted into the recess  83 . A ceiling of the recess  83  is provided with the rack gear teeth  82  meshing with the upwardly directed gears  44 A and  44 B. A contact  90  is mounted to the lower surface of each the straight-ahead slider  80 , and the contact  90  resiliently comes into contact from above with the resistance circuit formed on the upper surface of the lower reserved board  130 . 
     Other structure is substantially the same as that of the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the fifth embodiment, the same elements are designated with the same numbers, and detailed explanation thereof is omitted. 
     According to the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the sixth embodiment, by pushing down the operating member  30  against the biasing force of the snap plate  111 , the snap plate  111  is deformed downward, and the connected portion formed on the surface of the mounting board is short-circuited by this deformed portion. With this, the function of the pushdown switch  110  is obtained. 
     When the snap plate  111  is mounted to the mounting board, the positional precision between the operating member  30  and the snap plate  111  is lowered, the feel of the pushing down operation of the operating member  30  is not stabilized, but with the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the sixth embodiment, since the snap plate  111  is mounted on the side of the multi-directional input apparatus, the feeling is stabilized. 
     In addition, according to the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the sixth embodiment, although the gears  44 A and  44 B of the turning members  40 A and  40 B are meshed with the teeth  82  of the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80 , the reserved board  130  is disposed below the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80 , and the reserved board  130  approaches the mounting board. Therefore, the reserved board  130  can easily be connected to the mounting board. 
     As can be found from this point, it is preferable to dispose the reserved board  130  below the straight-ahead sliders  80  and  80  in terms of connection with respect to the mounting board. Especially in the sixth embodiment, the height of each of the volume sections  20 A and  20 B is restrained, and it is possible to rationally design the case  10  whose height is limited. 
     As described above, according to the volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the present invention, the volume is integrally formed together with the input apparatus as the signal output means which outputs a signal corresponding to the turning angle of the turning member. Therefore, it is possible to largely reduce the number of parts relating the volume, and to reduce the manufacturing cost thereof. 
     According to another volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the present invention, since the straight-ahead slider constituting the volume is accommodated in the slider accommodating portion integrally formed on the side surface of the case, especially the number of parts is reduced. 
     According to another volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the present invention, since the motion transmitting mechanism used in the volume is a rack and pinion mechanism, especially the number of parts is reduced. 
     According to another volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the present invention, since the resistance circuit constituting the volume is formed on the surface of the mounting board to which the case is secured, especially the number of parts is reduced. Further, solder between the mounting board and the case is unnecessary. 
     According to another volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the present invention, since the resistance circuit is formed on the upper or lower surface of the reserved board for constituting the volume disposed below or above the straight-ahead slider, it is unnecessary to form a resistance circuit on the mounting board, burden of a user using this multi-directional input apparatus is lightened. 
     According to another volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the present invention, since the reserved board is bent into the L-shape along the two crossing side surfaces, and the reserved board is commonly used by the pair of volumes, especially the number of parts is reduced. 
     According to another volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the present invention, since the reserved board  130  is accommodated together with the straight-ahead slider in the slider accommodating portion  16  integrally formed on the side surface of the case, especially the number of parts is reduced. 
     According to another volume-integral type multi-directional input apparatus of the present invention, since the reserved board is the flexible board, the mounting board can easily be connect to the reserved board. 
     Industrial Applicability 
     The present invention can be utilized as an input device of a personal computer, a game machine and the like.