A control element is used for a display unit, a system includes a control element and a display unit, a method of using the control element and a method for operating a display unit in conjunction with the control element are described.

Provided is a multi-operating switch device for a vehicle, including: a housing unit; a substrate; a switch shaft unit; a rotary switch unit; a directional switch unit; and a push switch unit. The directional switch unit includes: a directional slide part within the housing unit; a directional switch disposed on the substrate, and configured to be operated by a change in the position of the directional slide part to generate a signal indicating the change in the position of the directional slide part; and a directional return part. The directional switch includes: a directional switch housing; and a directional switch knob partially exposed to the outside from one surface of the directional switch housing to contact with the directional slide part so that when the directional switch knob is pressedly rotated pivotally about an axis parallel with the substrate, it is received in the directional switch housing.

Disclosed is a multi-directional input device, including: a first casing provided with a first containing space with a first opening; an operating body, wherein one end of the operating body is provided with a tiltable operating portion penetrating through the first opening, and another end of the operating body extends into the first containing space and is provided with a clamping joint; a hemisphere provided with an installation hole for inserting the clamping joint; a positioning piece provided on an inner wall of the installation hole, wherein the positioning piece is elastically abutted against the clamping joint so that the clamping joint is fixed in the installation hole; a reset mechanism for returning the operating body to a neutral position; a switch mechanism for pressing and operating the switch mechanism through the operating body to realize electrical action.

Provided is a multi-operating switch device for a vehicle, including: a housing unit; a substrate; a switch shaft unit; a rotary switch unit; a directional switch unit; and a push switch unit. The directional switch unit includes: a directional slide part within the housing unit; a directional switch disposed on the substrate, and configured to be operated by a change in the position of the directional slide part to generate a signal indicating the change in the position of the directional slide part; and a directional return part. The directional switch includes: a directional switch housing; and a directional switch knob partially exposed to the outside from one surface of the directional switch housing to contact with the directional slide part so that when the directional switch knob is pressedly rotated pivotally about an axis parallel with the substrate, it is received in the directional switch housing.

A rotatable-swingable input device that has high reliability at low cost and that improves operability. Optical sensors, an elastically deformable holder, and switches are disposed on a wiring board. A shading member has a plurality of shading parts that are arranged in a circumferential direction and pass a space between a light projecting section and a light receiving section of the optical sensor when an operation member is rotated. A click spring contacts with a concavo-convex part of the operation member to generate click feeling. The holder has an inner annular part holding the operation member and shading member, and an outer annular part having pressure parts each of which deforms and pushes one of the switches when the operation member is swingingly operated. The optical sensors are arranged between the inner annular part and outer annular part without overlapping with the click spring to interpose one of the switches.

A multidirectional operating device includes an operational knob including a knob body and plural ribs, and a bezel portion disposed around a rotational axis of the operational knob. The bezel portion includes plural limiting portions formed standing from a top surface side so as to limit the inclination operation of the operational knob by being opposite to a contact surface of the ribs when the operational knob is located at a neutral position, and plural permitting portions arranged between the limiting portions so as to permit the inclination operation of the operational knob while avoiding a contact with the contact surface of the ribs when the operational knob is located at an operational position that allows the inclination operation by being rotated from the neutral position to a right or left position.

A rotatable-swingable input device that has high reliability at low cost and that improves operability. Optical sensors, an elastically deformable holder, and switches are disposed on a wiring board. A shading member has a plurality of shading parts that are arranged in a circumferential direction and pass a space between a light projecting section and a light receiving section of the optical sensor when an operation member is rotated. A click spring contacts with a concavo-convex part of the operation member to generate click feeling. The holder has an inner annular part holding the operation member and shading member, and an outer annular part having pressure parts each of which deforms and pushes one of the switches when the operation member is swingingly operated. The optical sensors are arranged between the inner annular part and outer annular part without overlapping with the click spring to interpose one of the switches.

A rotatable-swingable input device that has high reliability at low cost and that improves operability. Optical sensors, an elastically deformable holder, and switches are disposed on a wiring board. A shading member has a plurality of shading parts that are arranged in a circumferential direction and pass a space between a light projecting section and a light receiving section of the optical sensor when an operation member is rotated. A click spring contacts with a concavo-convex part of the operation member to generate click feeling. The holder has an inner annular part holding the operation member and shading member, and an outer annular part having pressure parts each of which deforms and pushes one of the switches when the operation member is swingingly operated. The optical sensors are arranged between the inner annular part and outer annular part without overlapping with the click spring to interpose one of the switches.

The acoustic device includes: an operator; a state switching mechanism that performs switching of operation modes of the operator in response to a switching operation; and an operational-feeling switching mechanism that performs switching of operational feelings of the operator in response to the switching operation, along with the switching of the operation modes performed by the state switching mechanism.

An operating device has an operating shaft, engagement protrusions, and a movable body. The movable body can rotate relative to the operating shaft. The movable body engages with the engagement protrusions at positions separate from its rotation center. The movable body rotates relative to the operating shaft through the engagement with the engagement protrusions according to the translation of the operating shaft. A base abuts against the movable body in the rotational direction of this movable body and receives a force due to the movement of the operating shaft from the movable body. Sensors detect the force acting on the base. According to this, an operating device having a novel structure allowing detection of the translation of the operating shaft is implemented.