An operating device includes: an operating section that rotates about a predetermined axis; and a shaft part to move integrally with the operating section. The shaft part has a first end and a second end projected in directions opposite from each other along the axis. A guide regulates movement of the shaft part in a radial direction. A first regulation part specifies a position of the shaft part in a thrust direction by contacting the first end of the shaft part. A second regulation part is press-contacted to the second end, such that the first end of the shaft part is made to contact the first regulation part. A locking part is arranged integrally with the second regulation part, and restricts the shaft part from separating from the guide, by contacting the second end.

A user interface device for applying control signals to a communication system, comprising: at least one pressure-activated multidirectional tiltable/pushable plate with multiple pressureable areas, wherein each of said pressureable areas activates a corresponding pressure element that is located under said plate, wherein each activation of a specific pressure element defines an action which is respectively performed upon tilting-pressing of said plate towards the location of the respective pressure element.

A switch unit includes a switch body and a switch base. The switch body is subjected to a pull-up operation from a normal position to an operated position. The switch base supports the switch body such that the switch body is pivotable about an axis parallel to a first direction extending. The switch body includes an aesthetic wall disposed to extend along an opening, and an operation wall extending toward an inner side relative to the aesthetic surface from one side at an outer edge of the aesthetic wall, the one side extending in the first direction. The operation wall is located inward of an arc centered on the axis, the arc passing through the one side extending in the first direction. A shielding wall intersecting the first direction is provided at at least one of both side edges of the operation wall in the first direction.

In an operation input device, a supporting part supports an operation part to be displaceable with respect to the base part, and a reaction force generating part generates reaction force in an axial direction coaxial with the displacement direction in response to the displacement. The supporting part includes: a support member having: one end connected to the base part and another end protruded from the base part; and a plurality of plate springs respectively having a plate surface perpendicular to a center axis of the support member, arranged radially around the center axis, and a tip in a radial direction connected to the operation part. The reaction force generating part includes: an electromagnet generating magnetic force in an axial direction parallel to the center axis of the support member; and a magnetic member arranged opposite to the electromagnet to receive magnetic force to apply reaction force to the operation part.

An apparatus for interacting with a graphical user interface, including: a printed circuit board, a plurality of push detection elements disposed on or over the top surface of the printed circuit board, wherein four push detection elements are arranged orthogonally from each other in the cardinal directions, a flexible pad layer disposed on or over the plurality of push detection elements, a navigation key disposed over and covering the four push detection elements, wherein the bottom surface of the navigation key has an annular-shaped cavity, four plungers, each one of the four plungers disposed above a respective one of the four push detection elements and configured to actuate a respective push detection element when a corresponding plunger is actuated, and at least one post disposed in an angular region between two plungers of adjacent cardinal directions.

A momentary electrical push switch that can be configured for 2 or more activation positions. The switch has a top surface, or “key” top, which is pressed down upon in different areas to actuate the switch's different activation positions. The key top can be of various shapes, such as quadrangles, circle, hexagon, etc., or irregular shapes, to suit a particular application. The key top can be divided into multiple segments, or activation zones, each corresponding to a different activation position of the switch. The key allows free-form movement when pressing down upon it, without requiring the user to use specific or narrowly-defined motions to actuate the various activation positions.

A multidirectional input apparatus with a switch includes a strain generating body including at least a cylindrical portion and a first plate portion; a plurality of strain sensors; a wiring substrate; a contact rubber configuring the switch together with an electrode on the wiring substrate; and a button. The contact rubber includes a base portion, a movable portion, and a deformable portion. The movable portion is movable to a first position when the deformable portion is not deformed, and to a second position when the deformable portion is deformed. A center of a lower surface of the button contacts an upper surface of the movable portion when the movable portion is at the first and second positions. When the movable portion moves from the first position to the second position and contacts the electrode, a protruding portion on the lower surface of the button presses the wiring substrate.

A multifunction switch has a switching function for an electrical contact switch and a switching function for a mechanical element. The multifunction switch includes a swingable control body having a control pin, a movable contact coming into contact with the control pin, and a movable element having the control pin running therethrough and supported so as to be swingable. With the control pin being swung, the movable contact is pressed by the control pin to come into contact with a fixed contact and the movable element is swung by the control pin to implement mechanical switching for an additional element.

A first conductive pattern according to the present disclosure includes a first land electrode and a second land electrode, in which at least a portion of the first land electrode is arranged in an inner portion of a first circle defined by a center point and a first radius, the second land electrode is arranged on a second circle defined by the center point and a second radius that is larger than the first radius to surround the first land electrode, the second land electrode is not arranged in the inner portion of the first circle, the first land electrode is not arranged on the second circle, and the first land electrode and the second land electrode are arranged on a third circle defined by the center point and a third radius that is larger than the first radius and is smaller than the second radius.

This input system includes an input device, an electrostatic sensor, a conduction sensor, a controller, and a determiner. When a movable contact of the input device is pressed, electrostatic capacitance between a first electrode and a second electrode changes, and when the movable contact of the input device is further pressed after the electrostatic capacitance changes, a third electrode and a fourth electrode are electrically conductive to each other. The conduction sensor detects the conduction between the third electrode and the fourth electrode. The controller switches the sensing operation of the electrostatic sensor from the OFF state to the ON state after the conduction sensor detects the conduction between the third electrode and the fourth electrode. In the ON state, the electrostatic sensor outputs a detected value related to the electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode.