Digital multidirectional control switch

A mobile station comprising at least a multidirectional control switch, which comprises at least

• a control means arranged to be movable,
• a base, and
• a first and a second contact means, and one of the contact means being a coupling means,
• wherein
• one of said contact means is a contact surface comprising several contact areas,
• the first contact means is arranged in connection with the control means, and the second contact means is arranged in connection with the base,
• at least one of said contact means is flexible,
• the coupling means is arranged to touch the contact surface in one or more contact areas to generate a control signal, wherein a contact area is arranged to be formed at the contact point between the base and the coupling means.

A method for generating a control signal by a multidirectional control switch, which control switch comprises at least

• a control means arranged to be movable,
• a base, and
• a first and a second contact means, and one of the contact means being a coupling means,
• wherein
• in addition, one of said contact means of the control switch is a contact surface comprising several contact areas,
• the first contact means of the control switch is arranged in connection with the control means, and the second contact means is arranged in connection with the base,
• at least one of the contact means of the control switch is flexible,
• the control signal is generated by touching the second contact means with the first contact means, wherein the coupling means touches the contact surface in one or more contact areas, wherein a contact area is formed at the contact point between said contact means.

A program comprising a set of program commands for processing control signals generated by a multidirectional control switch, which control switch comprises at least

• a control means arranged to be movable,
• a base, and
• a first and a second contact means, and one of the contact means being a coupling means,
• wherein
• in addition, one of said contact means of the control switch is a contact surface comprising several contact areas,
• the first contact means of the control switch is arranged in connection with the control means, and the second contact means is arranged in connection with the base,
• at least one of the contact means of the control switch is flexible,
• the control signal is generated by touching the second contact means with the first contact means, wherein the coupling means touches the contact surface in one or more contact areas, wherein a contact area is formed at the contact point between said contact means,
• wherein the program comprises program commands
• for detecting those contact areas which have been touched by the coupling means, and
• for determining direction data on the basis of the detected contact areas.