Patent ID: 6841743

Claim:
A multi-directional control switch comprising: a disc-shaped operating member; a ring-shaped resistive layer, with said operating member being movable relative to said resistive layer; a first ring-shaped conductive layer facing said resistive layer; and a second ring-shaped conductive layer insulated from said first conductive layer and facing said resistive layer, said second conductive layer surrounding and being concentric with said first conductive layer, wherein (i) a first switch contact is defined by said resistive layer and said first conductive layer, with said first switch contact being for outputting a first signal that continuously varies while a top surface of said operating member undergoes a sliding press along a locus in arc form, and (ii) a second switch contact is defined by said resistive layer and said second conductive layer, with said second switch contact being for outputting a second signal while the top surface of said operating member is pressed by a first force.