Multi-directional input unit
AssigneeAlps Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorJunji Hashida
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a multi-directional input unit. A thin plate-type operating member having an elastic force is fixed to any one of first and second keytops, and the first and second keytops are elastically urged to a predetermined height whereby a reliable click is generated. A portion of an outer peripheral portion of an operating member is mounted on a fixing plate, a first operating portion or a second operating portion is fixed to either the first or second keytops, the first and second keytops are elastically urged to a predetermined height from the fixing plate, and when either of the first and second keytop are pressed down, either of the dome-shaped first and second keytops are inverted, whereby a switch portion is operated.
Claims16
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.