Patent ID: 7852321

Claim:
A direction detecting switch comprising: a determining key arranged in a center portion; a ring key arranged so as to surround said determining key; a movable electrode arranged so as to be operative in accordance with an operation of the ring key; a fixed electrode arranged so as to face to said movable electrode; and a click operation body arranged in correspondence to said determining key, wherein a key top of said determining key and a ring key top of the ring key are arranged so as to be fixed onto a sheet-like rubber elastic member made of a silicone rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer, wherein said click operation body is pressed in accordance with an operation of the determining key so as to open and close the contact point and is formed as a structure generating a click feeling, and wherein said click operation body is formed as a structure which detects a change of an electrostatic capacity generated between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode and converts the change into an electric signal so as to output, at a time of the pressing operation of the ring key in an optional direction of 360 degree, and a click feeling is always obtainable by pressing said click operation body, characterized in that an inclined portion is provided in the said sheet-like rubber elastic member in a position corresponding to the ring key top on a surface opposite to a position where the ring key top is fixed, wherein said movable electrode is provided in ring-shaped form in the inclined portion of the sheet-like rubber elastic member and said movable electrode forms with said ring key top, a cross section having, two lines which are tapered relative to one another.