# US 7,745,744 B2 · Multidirectional switch

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- Number: US 7,745,744 B2
- Document ID: US7745744B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/789,137
- Filed: 2007-04-24
- Published: 2007-10-25
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2006-04-24
- Assignees: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yu-Sho Nakase; Shi-Jie Tan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7745744B2

## CPC

- H01H 25/008: {Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement}
- H01H 19/58: having only axial contact pressure, e.g. disc switch, wafer switch
- H01H 2001/5888: {Terminals of surface mounted devices [SMD]}
- H01H 2025/043: {the operating member being rotatable around wobbling axis for additional switching functions}
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)

## Abstract

A multidirectional switch (1) comprises an insulative housing (2), a first fixed contact (31) and a third fixed contact (33), a first moveable contact (41) and a second moveable (42) contact disposed above the first fixed contact (31) and the third fixed contact (33), an operation member (5) mounted on the first moveable contact (41) and defining a second pressing portion (53). The second pressing portion (53) presses the second moveable contact (42) in order to make the second moveable contact (42) contact with or separate from the third fixed contact (33). The first moveable contact (41) always contacts with the first fixed contact (31). The second moveable contact (42) is integrated with the first moveable contact (41) and distributed around the first moveable contact (41).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A multidirectional switch comprising:
a set of fixed contacts located at a lower level and including:
a center fixed contact;
a first peripheral fixed contact and a plurality of second peripheral fixed contacts commonly located around said centre fixed contact;
a unitary moveable contact located at an upper level and defining a center portion and a plurality of deflectable peripheral portions extending from a fringe of said center portion; wherein
the fringe constantly mechanically and electrically engages the first peripheral fixed contact; wherein
said deflectable peripheral portions are configured to be capable of engaging the second peripheral fixed contacts respectively.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The multidirectional switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein an operation member is located above the movable contact either downwardly pressing the moveable contact to have the center portion electrically and mechanically engages the center fixed contact, or downwardly tilting the moveable contact to have the deflectable peripheral portions electrically and mechanically engage the peripheral fixed contacts, respectively.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The multidirectional switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fringe of the movable contact is essentially located between the center fixed contact and the peripherally fixed contacts in a top view.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The multidirectional switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fringe is round.

### Claim 5

A multidirectional switch comprising:
a set of fixed contacts located at a lower level and including:
a center fixed contact;
a first peripheral fixed contact and a plurality of second peripheral fixed contacts commonly located around said center fixed contact;
a unitary moveable contact located at an upper level and defining a center portion and a plurality of deflectable peripheral portions extending from a fringe of said center portion; wherein
the fringe constantly mechanically and electrically engages the first peripheral fixed contact; wherein
said deflectable peripheral portions are unitarily connected to the fringe.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The multidirectional switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fringe engages the first peripheral fixed contacts at two positions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The multidirectional switch as claimed in claim 6, wherein said two positions are arranged diametrically opposite to each other.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The multidirectional switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein said deflectable peripheral portions engage the corresponding second peripheral fixed contacts, respectively.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The multidirectional switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said second peripheral fixed contacts are engaged with two of said deflectable peripheral portions.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The multidirectional switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein said fringe is round.