Omnidirectional input device

Claim 1

An omnidirectional input device comprising: a circuit board; eight directional switches having an open and closed position arranged in an octagonal directional pattern, each switch comprising first and second conductive interleaved circuit segments mounted on said circuit board, a pad having a conductive surface arranged adjacent to and generally coextensive with said circuit segments and operably connectable to said conductive circuit segments to operably connect said first conductive segment to said second conductive segment to place said switch in said closed position, and a nonconductive layer intermediate said conductive surface and said conductive circuit segments to normally maintain said circuit segments and said conductive surface in a spaced apart relationship and to normally maintain said switch in said open position; four directional output signal lines coupled to said circuit board; a diode decoding matrix connected intermediate each of said eight switches and said four directional output signal lines for determining which of said directional switches is in said closed position and for coupling said directional switches in said closed position to one or more of said four directional output signal lines; eight light emitting diodes each capable of being illuminated and respectively coupled to one of said eight switches and illuminated when said respectively coupled switch is in said closed position.