Disclosed is a multi-directional input device. The device includes: an upper case, defining an opening part in a center of a top part; a first operating member, protruding from the opening part and including a flange; a first sliding member, defining a first opening; an elastic piece, arranged on an outer periphery of the first sliding member and configured to push the first sliding member back to an origin position; a second and third sliding members sliding in X and Y directions, respectively; a first and second movable contacts provided on the second the third sliding members, respectively; a circuit board, including a first and second fixed contacts; a push member including a flat part in contact with the flange and a boss; a coil spring, pushing the push member upward; a first support, configured to hold the push member at an upper limit position; and a lower case.

A keypad device includes a circuit board having raised buttons disposed on a first surface of the circuit board, resilient switches disposed on a periphery of the first surface, and through-holes, wherein each of the raised buttons and switches, when actuated, closes a circuit on the circuit board and affects an input to the device. The keypad device includes a faceplate fastened to the circuit board, the faceplate having an array of openings configured to allow the buttons to pass through, bosses extending from a first surface of the faceplate toward the circuit board and positioned to pass through the through-holes on the circuit board, and plungers aligned above and in contact with the resilient switches such that when the plate is pressed toward the circuit board, in a region at or near a subject plunger, the subject plunger actuates the resilient switch that is in contact with the plunger.

A control key assembly including a button cover and a weight member is provided. The button cover has a first top surface, a bottom surface and a first assembling structure, wherein the first assembling structure is located on the bottom surface. The weight member has an arc surface and a second assembling structure, the arc surface and the second assembling structure are located on opposite sides of the weight member, wherein the second assembling structure is assembled with the first assembling structure, and the weight of the weight member is greater than the weight of the button cover.

The present invention provides, in some aspects, a rugged and inexpensive joystick assembly comprising a core configured to manipulate a series of switches and located by an elastomeric overlay. The elastomeric overlay can include a tactile surface for a user, a water-resistant coating for a switch panel and a flex-wall disposed between the tactile surface and switch panel coating. The elastomeric overlay can be configured to positively locate the joystick core relative to the switch panel and provide a water-tight seal. The thickness, width and hardness of the flex-wall can be tuned to provide adequate locating strength and resistance to wear.

A single hand controller including a front surface and a back surface, with a first and second side surface there between and an upper surface and bottom surface. The upper surface includes a joystick, and the front surface has a proportional plunger and one or more switches. The controller is grasped by placing a user's finger tips on the front surface, with user's index finger operating the proportional plunger and remaining fingers operating the switches. The thenar eminence group of muscles of the user's hand rests against the back surface, whereby the user's thumb is disposed so as to operate the joystick.

A four-way switch including a knob configured to be tilted in four directions to perform a switching operation in the four directions; a housing to which the knob is attached in a tiltable manner; a stopper formed on a surface of the housing so as to protrude by a predetermined height, the stopper being configured to limit a downward motion of the knob by contacting a portion of a lower surface of the knob while the knob is tilted; a guide protrusion formed on the lower surface of the knob so as to protrude by a predetermined length; and a guide groove portion formed on the surface of the housing so as to protrude by a predetermined height so as to face the guide protrusion, the guide groove portion including a recess portion having a structure that engages with the guide protrusion.

A controller includes a key top, a substrate, and an elastic member. The elastic member includes a pressed portion, a base, a skirt portion, and a pressing member. The substrate includes a contact. When viewed in the first direction, the pressing member is surrounded by an outer peripheral edge of a prescribed region. In the second direction, a distance between an end of the outer peripheral edge of the prescribed region on a side of a swing center of the key top and an end of a top surface on the side of the swing center is longer than a distance between an end of the outer peripheral edge of the prescribed region opposite to the swing center and an end of the top surface opposite to the swing center. In the second direction, the contact is located closer to the swing center than the top surface.

The present invention provides, in some aspects, a rugged and inexpensive joystick assembly comprising a core configured to manipulate a series of switches and located by an elastomeric overlay. The elastomeric overlay can include a tactile surface for a user, a water-resistant coating for a switch panel and a flex-wall disposed between the tactile surface and switch panel coating. The elastomeric overlay can be configured to positively locate the joystick core relative to the switch panel and provide a water-tight seal. The thickness, width and hardness of the flex-wall can be tuned to provide adequate locating strength and resistance to wear.

An input device, including: a base, an upper cover, a lever assembly, a reset assembly, an electrical assembly, a spring switch, and a terminal assembly. The upper cover is disposed on the base and includes a central cavity. The lever assembly is disposed in the central cavity formed by the upper cover and the base, and includes a lever, an upper shoulder, and a lower shoulder. The lever includes an upper end and a lower end. The reset assembly is disposed below the lever assembly. The electrical assembly is electrically connected to the lever assembly, and includes a first slider, a second slider, a first carbon-film conductive dome, a first carbon-film resistor, a second carbon-film conductive dome, a second carbon-film resistor, and a trigger. The spring switch is disposed in the base and positioned below the trigger.

A keypad device includes a circuit board having raised buttons disposed on a first surface of the circuit board, resilient switches disposed on a periphery of the first surface, and through-holes, wherein each of the raised buttons and switches, when actuated, closes a circuit on the circuit board and affects an input to the device. The keypad device includes a faceplate fastened to the circuit board, the faceplate having an array of openings configured to allow the buttons to pass through, bosses extending from a first surface of the faceplate toward the circuit board and positioned to pass through the through-holes on the circuit board, and plungers aligned above and in contact with the resilient switches such that when the plate is pressed toward the circuit board, in a region at or near a subject plunger, the subject plunger actuates the resilient switch that is in contact with the plunger.