The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 07, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 07, 2001
Applicant:
Inventor:
Takashi Nakai, Fukushima-ken, JP;
Assignee:
Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01H 2/504 ; G06F 3/033 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01H 2/504 ; G06F 3/033 ;
Abstract
A multidirectional input device comprising a frame having an upper wall, a printed wiring board having a fixed electrode portion, and an operating shaft adapted to be tilted, wherein a movable electrode portion is attached to the operating shaft in an opposed relation to the fixed electrode portion, an opposition area between the movable electrode portion and the fixed electrode portion is changed by operation of the operating shaft, and a change in capacitance between the movable electrode portion and the fixed electrode portion is detected to obtain an operational direction of the operating shaft.