Patent ID: 7310084

Claim:
An input device comprising: a multi-way operation switch including a case, an operation unit mounted to said case so as to be rotatable relative to said case, a rotation-detection arrangement, including a rotation-detection switch contact, configured to detect rotation of said operation unit relative to said case, a lateral-movement-detection arrangement including a plurality of lateral-movement-detection switch contacts mounted to said case, wherein said operation unit comprises an operating portion, and a working member including a rotation shaft having a rotation axis, said working member further including a switch-contact-pressing part fixed with said rotation shaft and protruding laterally away from said rotation shaft, wherein said operation unit is mounted in said case in a rockable manner so that said rotation shaft and said switch-contact-pressing part are pivotally tilted relative to said case upon application of a lateral force to said operating portion, and wherein said switch-contact-pressing part is arranged so as to selectively operate one of said lateral-movement-detection switch contacts when said rotation shaft and said switch-contact-pressing part are pivotally tilted relative to said case due to application of the lateral force to said operating portion of said operation unit in a selected direction; and a controller operably coupled to said rotation-detection arrangement and said lateral-movement-detection arrangement and configured to select an electronic apparatus corresponding to the one of said lateral-movement-detection switch contacts selectively operated by said switch-contact-pressing part, and to control the selected electronic apparatus based on the rotation of said operation unit relative to said case as detected by said rotation-detection arrangement.