Patent ID: 7442886

Claim:
A multi-directional input unit comprising: a first keytop held at a predetermined height; a ring-shaped second keytop held at the same height as the first keytop so as to surround an outside portion of the first keytop; an operating member elastically urging the first and second keytops to the predetermined height; and a membrane switch having a plurality of switch portions operated by the operating member on a side opposite the first and second keytops, wherein a first operating portion elastically urging the first keytop is formed in the operating member, and a plurality of second operating portions elastically urging the second keytop are integrally formed in an outer peripheral side of the first operating portion, wherein portions of an outer peripheral portion of the operating member are mounted on a fixing plate, the first or second operating portions fixed on either the first or second keytops, the first and second keytops are elastically urged to the predetermined height from the fixing plate, and either the dome-shaped first and second operating portions are inverted, whereby the switch portion is operated when the first or the second keytops are pressed down, wherein a plurality of elastically deformable connecting portions, which connect the first and second operating portions, are formed in the operating member, and the first and second keytops are elastically urged by the first and second operating portions so as to be to the predetermined height.