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:
Oct. 25, 2005
Filed:
Feb. 12, 2003
Takeshi Sekine, Yokohama, JP;
Shingo Kume, Yokohama, JP;
Taichi Tabata, Yokohama, JP;
Akinori Oohira, Yokohama, JP;
Takeshi Sekine, Yokohama, JP;
Shingo Kume, Yokohama, JP;
Taichi Tabata, Yokohama, JP;
Akinori Oohira, Yokohama, JP;
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A navigation switch apparatus with simple construction is capable of operating in eight directions including longitudinal, lateral and diagonal directions. The apparatus has a printed circuit board having four conductors provided thereon with small spaces between each conductor. Together the conductors are shaped like a doughnut. A cap-shaped body arranged opposite the printed circuit board is provided with short-circuiters for making contact with the respective four conductors when a navigation lever is operated in the eight directions. Each conductor includes two opposing comb-shaped conductive layers. The central portion of one conductive layer has a diametrically directed comparatively-coarse comb shape. Both of the end portions of the other conductive layer have a circumferentially directed comparatively-fine comb shape, and the cap-shaped body has a thin-walled portion on its outer periphery. Thick-walled portions extending in the eight directions, and together forming a substantially regular octagon are formed in the vicinity of the thin-walled portion.