Toyo Denso Co., Ltd.

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Kazuteru Abe

Masahito Kobayashi

Hiroyuki Tanaka

Masahiko Shimada

A multifunctional selection operation switch apparatus includes: an operation member including multiple operated portions and capable of being rotationally operated, the operated portions being capable of selective contact operation; a rotational displacement detecting device capable of detecting rotational displacement of the operation member; an operation target detecting device capable of detecting on which of the operated portions contact operation is performed; and a controlling device outputting a command signal corresponding to the displacement and the one operated portion, based on detection results of the detecting devices. Accordingly, even if the operation member is a single member, multifunctional selection operation can be performed without difficulty by outputting, whenever necessary, a desired command from multiple operation commands. It is not necessary to mechanically and operatively connect the operation member and the operated portions by a structurally-complicated interlocking mechanism, thereby achieving reduction in the number of parts and cost.

Multifunctional selection operation switch apparatus

In a four-direction switch device, an outer peripheral surface of a disc-shaped switch knob is provided with first to fourth pivot projections arranged in phase with first to fourth switch operation parts and first to fourth movable stoppers arranged with a phase shift by 45&#xb0; from the projections, respectively, and a switch case is provided with first to fourth fixed stoppers facing lower surfaces of the movable stoppers, respectively. If the knob is pushed at a switch dead part, the knob swings about a straight line connecting a pair of the pivot projections located on an opposite side of the switch dead part, but the movable stopper and the fixed stopper both located below the pushed switch dead part come into contact with each other, thereby avoiding actuation of any switch.

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Tsurugashima, Japan

Kazuteru Abe