Input device

Abstract

To provide an input device which detects a transfer state of a movable body on the basis of a change in direction of a magnetic field and in which a sufficient SN ratio can be obtained in a magnetic sensor.SOLUTION: In one aspect of the present invention, the input device comprises: a fixed base; a housing located on an upper side being one side in a normal direction of the fixed base; a movable body supported by the housing so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the normal direction above the fixed base; magnetic field generation means which is attached to the movable body and generates a magnetic field directed to the lower side being the other side in the normal direction; and magnetic field direction detection means which is installed on the fixed base and in a position off from a virtual center line of the magnetic field with the movable body in a reference position and detects a direction of a magnetic field component along a virtual plane intersecting a vertical direction. The magnetic field generation means includes a permanent magnet having one pole directed downward and a magnetic part arranged outside and spaced from a virtual center line of the magnetic field.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an input device using a magnetic sensor. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a position sensor capable of stably detecting a two-dimensional position in a non-contact manner. This position sensor includes an operation unit that indicates a two-dimensional position by performing a tilt operation, a counter magnet that is provided in the operation unit and magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the tilt operation, a magnetic sensor that arranges half-bridge circuits consisting of first and second magnetic resistance elements whose magnetic sensing directions are orthogonal to each other as first to fourth half bridges at each vertex of a cross, and outputs a first output voltage from the opposing first and third half bridges and a second output voltage from the opposing second and fourth half bridges based on a change in the direction of the magnetic field based on the tilt operation, and a detection unit that detects the two-dimensional position indicated by the tilt operation based on the first and second output voltages output from the magnetic sensor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-139252 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In an input device that uses a magnetic sensor to detect the movement state of a movable body based on changes in the direction of a magnetic field, if the amount of magnetic field components along a virtual plane intersecting with the virtual center line of the magnetic field is small, the S / N ratio of the output signal from the magnetic sensor is small. Therefore, it is desirable to increase the amount of magnetic field components along a virtual plane intersecting with the virtual center line of the magnetic field so that the magnetic sensor can effectively detect the movement state of the movable body.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an input device that detects the moving state of a movable body based on a change in the direction of a magnetic field, and that is capable of obtaining a sufficient S / N ratio with a magnetic sensor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an input device comprising a fixed base, a housing located on one side of the fixed base in a normal direction, a movable body supported by the housing above the fixed base so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the normal direction, magnetic field generating means attached to the movable body and generating a magnetic field directed downward, the other normal direction, and magnetic field direction detecting means installed on the fixed base at a position avoiding the imaginary center line of the magnetic field when the movable body is in a reference position, and detecting the direction of the magnetic field component along a virtual plane intersecting the up-down direction, wherein the magnetic field generating means includes a permanent magnet with one pole facing downward, and a magnetic portion positioned outside the imaginary center line of the magnetic field through a space.

[0007] According to this configuration, in the permanent magnets and magnetic parts that constitute the magnetic field generating means, by arranging the magnetic parts outside the virtual center line of the magnetic field with a space therebetween, the amount of magnetic field components along the virtual plane that intersects with the virtual center line of the magnetic field is increased, and the S / N ratio of the magnetic field components detected by the magnetic field direction detection means is increased.

[0008] In the above input device, the magnetic field generating means may be configured to include a yoke member made of a disk-shaped top plate portion and an annular magnetic portion extending downward from the outer periphery of the disk-shaped top plate portion, and a permanent magnet attached to the underside of the disk-shaped top plate portion. In this way, leakage of the magnetic field on the opposite side of the detection area by the magnetic field direction detecting means is suppressed by the yoke member made of the annular magnetic portion, and the magnetic flux density in the detection area is increased.

[0009] In the input device, the annular magnetic portion may be formed to extend in a shape that flares outwardly toward the bottom. By configuring the annular magnetic portion to flare outwardly toward the bottom, i.e., the ring diameter flares outwardly toward the bottom, the annular magnetic portion can be easily manufactured.

[0010] In the input device, the diameter of the disk-shaped top plate is preferably approximately equal to the diameter of the permanent magnet, which makes it easy to position the permanent magnet on the annular magnetic portion.

[0011] The input device further includes a restricting means for restricting a movable range of the movable body, and the movable range is preferably a range in which the magnetic field direction detecting means is located between the imaginary center line of the magnetic field and the magnetic part when viewed from above. Thereby, within the movable range of the movable body, the magnetic field direction detecting means is always located between the imaginary center line of the magnetic field and the magnetic part when viewed from above.

[0012] Another aspect of the present invention is an input device comprising a fixed base, a housing located on one side of the fixed base in a normal direction, a movable body supported by the housing above the fixed base so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the normal direction, magnetic field generating means attached to the movable body and generating a magnetic field directed downward, the other normal direction, and magnetic field direction detecting means installed on the fixed base at a position avoiding the imaginary center line of the magnetic field when the movable body is in a reference position, and detecting the direction of the magnetic field component along a virtual plane intersecting the up-down direction, wherein the magnetic field generating means includes a permanent magnet with one pole facing downward, and a magnetic portion attached to the tip of one of the poles so as to overlap with the imaginary center line of the magnetic field.

[0013] According to this configuration, in the permanent magnet and magnetic portion that constitute the magnetic field generating means, by arranging the magnetic portion at the tip of one pole of the permanent magnet so that it overlaps with the virtual center line of the magnetic field, the amount of magnetic field components along the virtual plane that intersects with the virtual center line of the magnetic field is increased, and the S / N ratio of the magnetic field components detected by the magnetic field direction detection means is improved.

[0014] In the above input device, the movable body may comprise a rocking lever supported so as to be rockable about a central axis in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, and a planar slider that slides along a plane intersecting the vertical direction in response to the movement of the rocking lever, and the permanent magnet may be attached to the planar slider. This allows the vertical distance between the magnetic field generating means and the magnetic field direction detecting means to remain unchanged even when the rocking operation is performed by the rocking lever, thereby improving the linearity of the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic field direction detecting means in response to the rocking operation. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an input device that detects the moving state of a movable body based on a change in the direction of a magnetic field, and that is capable of obtaining a sufficient S / N ratio with a magnetic sensor. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view illustrating an input device according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an input device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an example of the arrangement of magnetic sensors. [Figure 4A] 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating magnetic fields caused by permanent magnets. [Figure 4B] 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating magnetic fields generated by a magnetic field generating unit. [Figure 5A] 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating detection of a magnetic field direction by a magnetic sensor. [Figure 5B] 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating detection of a magnetic field direction by a magnetic sensor. [Figure 6A] 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating detection of a magnetic field direction by a magnetic sensor. [Figure 6B] 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating detection of a magnetic field direction by a magnetic sensor. [Figure 7] 5A to 5C are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of a yoke member. [Figure 8A] 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an input device according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8B]10A to 10C are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of the input device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] 13A and 13B are schematic diagrams illustrating magnetic fields generated by a magnetic field generating unit of an input device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10A] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the magnetic field generating means. [Figure 10B] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the magnetic field generating means. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same members are given the same reference numerals, and the description of members that have already been described will be omitted as appropriate.

[0018] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating an input device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the input device according to the first embodiment. The input device 1A according to the first embodiment is a device that detects a rotation operation of a rocking lever 31, which is an example of an operating member. The input device 1A includes a fixed base 10 and a housing 20 located on one side (Z2 side) of the normal direction (Z1-Z2 direction) of the fixed base 10. In this embodiment, the normal direction (Z1-Z2 direction) of the fixed base 10 is the up-down direction, the Z2 side which is one side of the Z1-Z2 direction is the upper side, and the Z1 side which is the other side of the Z1-Z2 direction is the lower side. In addition, one of the directions intersecting (for example, perpendicular) with the normal direction (Z1-Z2 direction) is the X1-X2 direction, and a direction intersecting (for example, perpendicular) with the Z1-Z2 direction and the X1-X2 direction is the Y1-Y2 direction.

[0019] The input device 1A includes a movable body 30 supported by the housing 20 on the upper side of the fixed base 10 so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the normal direction (Z1-Z2 direction), a magnetic field generating means 40 attached to the movable body 30 and generating a magnetic field directed downward (Z1 side in the Z1-Z2 direction), and a magnetic sensor 51 provided on the upper side of the fixed base 10. The movable body 30 has a swing lever 31 supported so as to be swingable about a direction intersecting the up-down direction as a central axis. In this embodiment, the swing lever 31 is supported so as to be swingable about a rotation axis AX1 parallel to the X1-X2 direction and a rotation axis AX2 parallel to the Y1-Y2 direction as central axes. The swing lever 31 is tiltable about each of the rotation axes AX1 and AX2 as central axes at the same time, and therefore tiltable in a direction of 360° with respect to the normal direction (Z1-Z2 direction) of the fixed base 10.

[0020] When not operated, the rocking lever 31 stands in the Z1-Z2 direction, which is the neutral position. When a force is applied to the rocking lever 31, the rocking lever 31 tilts around the central axis, and when the applied force is released, the rocking lever 31 returns to the neutral position. The neutral position of the rocking lever 31 is the reference position.

[0021] The rocking lever 31 may be supported so as to be movable (pushable) in the vertical direction. The downward movement of the rocking lever 31 is transmitted to a switch 60 provided on the fixed base 10 and detected by the switch 60.

[0022] The magnetic sensor 51 is an example of a magnetic field direction detection means. The magnetic sensor 51 is installed on the fixed base 10 at a position that avoids the imaginary center line P (see FIG. 3) of the magnetic field when the rocking lever 31 of the movable body 30 is in the reference position, and detects the direction of the magnetic field component along the imaginary plane F (see FIG. 4A) that intersects with the up-down direction.

[0023] In the input device 1A according to this embodiment, the magnetic field generating means 40 has a permanent magnet 41 and a first magnetic part 42. The permanent magnet 41 is arranged so that one pole (for example, the N pole) faces downward. The permanent magnet 41 is arranged, for example, on the lower end side in the extension direction of the rocking lever 31. The first magnetic part 42 is arranged outside the imaginary center line P of the magnetic field with a space therebetween. The first magnetic part 42 will be described in detail later.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an example of the arrangement of the magnetic sensors. FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of magnetic sensors 51 disposed on the fixed base 10. In this embodiment, the magnetic sensor 51 includes two magnetic sensors, a first magnetic sensor 51A and a second magnetic sensor 51B. For ease of explanation, the first magnetic sensor 51A and the second magnetic sensor 51B will be collectively referred to as the magnetic sensor 51 when there is no need to distinguish between them.

[0025] In this embodiment, the rocking lever 31 is supported so as to be rockable about a rotation axis AX1 parallel to the X1-X2 direction and a rotation axis AX2 parallel to the Y1-Y2 direction. Therefore, the first magnetic sensor 51A detects the direction of a magnetic field that changes with the tilt of the rocking lever 31 about the rotation axis AX1 (tilting toward the Y1 or Y2 side), and the second magnetic sensor 51B detects the direction of a magnetic field that changes with the tilt of the rocking lever 31 about the rotation axis AX2 (tilting toward the X1 or X2 side).

[0026] The rocking lever 31 can be tilted in a direction of 360° with respect to the normal direction (Z1-Z2 direction) of the fixed base 10. Therefore, in response to a change in the direction of the magnetic field that changes according to the tilt direction and tilt angle of the rocking lever 31, the first magnetic sensor 51A detects the change in the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the X1-X2 direction, and the second magnetic sensor 51B detects the change in the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the Y1-Y2 direction, and from these, the tilt direction and tilt angle of the rocking lever 31 are detected.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 3, in this embodiment, the first magnetic sensor 51A and the second magnetic sensor 51B are installed on the fixed base 10 at positions avoiding the imaginary center line P of the magnetic field when the rocking lever 31 is in the reference position. Furthermore, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 3, the first magnetic part 42 is arranged outside the imaginary center line P of the magnetic field with a space therebetween. The two-dot chain line in Fig. 3 indicates the outline of the first magnetic part 42 as seen in the Z1-Z2 direction. This arrangement increases the amount of magnetic field components along the imaginary plane F (see Fig. 4B) that intersects with the imaginary center line P of the magnetic field, and the S / N ratio of the magnetic field components detected by each of the first magnetic sensor 51A and the second magnetic sensor 51B can be increased.

[0028] FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating a magnetic field caused by a permanent magnet. FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating means. As shown in Fig. 4A, the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 41, which is the magnetic field generating means 40, is generated such that the magnetic field lines draw an arc from the north pole to the south pole. When the magnetic sensor 51 is disposed at a position away from the imaginary center line P of the magnetic field relative to this permanent magnet 41, the magnetic field lines passing through the magnetic sensor 51 are obliquely downward (see arrow D1 in Fig. 4A). Therefore, the strength of the magnetic force along the imaginary plane F perpendicular to the imaginary center line P that can be detected by the magnetic sensor 51 is the strength of the component along the imaginary plane F of the oblique magnetic field lines passing through the magnetic sensor 51 (see arrow D1x in Fig. 4A).

[0029] 4B, in the magnetic field generating means 40 according to this embodiment, the first magnetic part 42 is disposed outside the imaginary center line P of the magnetic field with a space therebetween. For example, the first magnetic part 42 is a yoke member 420 including a plate-shaped top plate part 421 and an annular magnetic part 422 circularly formed downward from the outer periphery of the plate-shaped top plate part 421.

[0030] By providing such a yoke member 420, the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 41, which is the magnetic field generating means 40, has a high magnetic flux density of the magnetic field lines from the end of the N pole to the end of the yoke member 420. Moreover, the plate-shaped top plate portion 421 of the yoke member 420 suppresses leakage of the magnetic field on the opposite side (Z2 side in the Z1-Z2 direction) of the detection area by the magnetic sensor 51. Therefore, the magnetic flux density of the component along the imaginary plane F in the magnetic field is further increased. When the magnetic sensor 51 is disposed at a position away from the imaginary center line P of the magnetic field with respect to this magnetic field generating means 40, the magnetic force along the imaginary plane F becomes stronger (see arrow D2 in FIG. 4B) compared to the case shown in FIG. 4A where the yoke member 420 is not provided, and the S / N ratio of the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensor 51 becomes higher.

[0031] The annular magnetic portion 422 does not necessarily have to be continuous in the circumferential direction. For example, the annular magnetic portion 422 may be in the shape of a C-ring or a half ring with a portion cut out in the circumferential direction.

[0032] Fig. 5A to Fig. 6B are schematic diagrams for explaining detection of the magnetic field direction by the magnetic sensor. Fig. 5A shows a schematic cross-sectional view when the rocking lever 31 is in the reference position (neutral position), and Fig. 5B shows the positional relationship of the magnetic sensor 51, the permanent magnet 41, and the yoke member 420 viewed from the Z1-Z2 direction when the rocking lever 31 is in the reference position (neutral position). Fig. 6A shows a schematic cross-sectional view when the rocking lever 31 is tilted in one direction, and Fig. 6B shows the positional relationship of the magnetic sensor 51, the permanent magnet 41, and the yoke member 420 viewed from the Z1-Z2 direction when the rocking lever 31 is tilted in one direction.

[0033] Each of the first magnetic sensor 51A and the second magnetic sensor 51B is disposed in a position avoiding the imaginary center line P of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating means 40 and inside the outer shape of the yoke member 420 when viewed in the Z1-Z2 direction.

[0034] 5A and 5B, when the rocking lever 31 is in the reference position (neutral position), the first magnetic sensor 51A is located on a line that is parallel to the X1-X2 direction and passes through the center of the permanent magnet 41, and the second magnetic sensor 51B is located on a line that is parallel to the Y1-Y2 direction and passes through the center of the permanent magnet 41. Therefore, the angle of the magnetic field lines G1 passing through the first magnetic sensor 51A is parallel to the X1-X2 direction, and the angle of the magnetic field lines G2 passing through the second magnetic sensor 51B is parallel to the Y1-Y2 direction.

[0035] As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, when the upper side of the rocking lever 31 is tilted toward the X2 side in the X1-X2 direction, the permanent magnet 41 and the yoke member 420 arranged on the lower side of the rocking lever 31 move toward the X1 side in the X1-X2 direction. At this time, the angle of the magnetic field lines G1 passing through the first magnetic sensor 51A remains parallel to the X1-X2 direction, but the angle of the magnetic field lines G2 passing through the second magnetic sensor 51B becomes oblique by a predetermined angle with respect to the Y1-Y2 direction. By detecting the angle change of the magnetic field detected by this second magnetic sensor 51B (the angle change with respect to the angle of the magnetic field detected at the reference position shown in Figures 5A and 5B), the tilt angle of the rocking lever 31 in the X1-X2 direction can be detected.

[0036] Although not shown, when the upper side of the rocking lever 31 is tilted in the Y1-Y2 direction, the angle of the magnetic field lines G2 passing through the second magnetic sensor 51B remains parallel to the Y1-Y2 direction, but the angle of the magnetic field lines G1 passing through the first magnetic sensor 51A becomes oblique by a predetermined angle with respect to the X1-X2 direction. By detecting the angle change of the magnetic field detected by this first magnetic sensor 51A (the angle change with respect to the angle of the magnetic field detected at the reference position shown in Figures 5A and 5B), the tilt angle of the rocking lever 31 in the Y1-Y2 direction can be detected.

[0037] When the upper side of the rocking lever 31 is tilted obliquely (in a direction other than the X1-X2 and Y1-Y2 directions) as viewed in the Z1-Z2 direction, an angle change in the magnetic field occurs in each of the first magnetic sensor 51A and the second magnetic sensor 51B. The tilt angle of the rocking lever 31 can be detected by performing a calculation based on the amount of the angle change in the magnetic field detected by each of the first magnetic sensor 51A and the second magnetic sensor 51B.

[0038] Here, it is preferable to provide a restricting means for restricting the movable range of the rocking lever 31 so that the magnetic sensor 51 is located between the imaginary center line P of the magnetic field and the first magnetic portion 42 no matter where the rocking lever 31 is located within the movable range when viewed in the Z1-Z2 direction. As a result, within the movable range of the rocking lever 31, the magnetic sensor 51 is always located between the imaginary center line P of the magnetic field and the first magnetic portion 42 when viewed from above, and the S / N ratio of the magnetic field components detected by the magnetic sensor 51 can be increased no matter what tilt angle the rocking lever 31 is at.

[0039] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a yoke member. The yoke component 420 has a plate-shaped top plate portion 421 disposed above the permanent magnet 41, and an annular magnetic portion 422 extending downward from the outer periphery of the plate-shaped top plate portion 421. The annular magnetic portion 422 may be extended downward in a shape that diverges toward the bottom. The annular magnetic portion 422 is configured to diverge downward, i.e., the ring diameter diverges downward, which makes it easier to manufacture the annular magnetic portion 422. In other words, when the yoke component 420 is formed from a metal material, it is not necessary to form the annular magnetic portion 422 having a diverging shape by deep drawing, and it can be formed by simple pressing.

[0040] In addition, in yoke member 420, it is preferable to set diameter φ1 of plate-shaped top plate portion 421 to be approximately equal to diameter φ2 of permanent magnet 41. By making diameter φ1 of plate-shaped top plate portion 421 approximately equal to diameter φ2 of permanent magnet 41, permanent magnet 41 is aligned with plate-shaped top plate portion 421, which is a recess in yoke member 420, and positioning of permanent magnet 41 with respect to yoke member 420 becomes easy.

[0041] Second embodiment 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views illustrating an input device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8A shows a cross-sectional view of an input device 1B according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8B shows a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the input device 1B according to the second embodiment. In the input device 1B according to the second embodiment, the magnetic field generating means 40 includes a permanent magnet 41 with one pole facing downward, and a second magnetic part 43 attached to the tip of one pole of the permanent magnet 41 so as to overlap with the imaginary center line P of the magnetic field.

[0042] The movable body 30 in the input device 1B has a rocking lever 31 and a planar slider 32 that slides along a plane (e.g., an XY plane) intersecting the up-down direction in response to the movement of the rocking lever 31. The permanent magnet 41 and the second magnetic part 43 are attached to the planar slider 32.

[0043] The magnetic sensor 51 is similar to that of the input device 1A according to the first embodiment, and has a first magnetic sensor 51A and a second magnetic sensor 51B. As shown in Fig. 8B, when the upper side of the rocking lever 31 is tilted, for example, toward the X2 side in the X1-X2 direction, the lower side of the rocking lever 31 moves toward the X1 side in the X1-X2 direction. The movement of the lower side of the rocking lever 31 pushes the planar slider 32 toward the X1 side in the X1-X2 direction. The planar slider 32 moves parallel to the surface of the slide plate 33 toward the X1 side in the X1-X2 direction.

[0044] Since the permanent magnet 41 and the second magnetic part 43 are attached to the planar slider 32, the translation of the planar slider 32 also translates the permanent magnet 41 and the second magnetic part 43 toward the X1 side in the X1-X2 direction. Due to this operation, in the input device 1B, even if a rocking operation is performed with the rocking lever 31, the vertical distance between the magnetic field generating means 40 and the magnetic sensor 51 does not change, and the linearity of the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensor 51 with respect to the rocking operation is improved.

[0045] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generating unit of an input device according to the second embodiment. 9, the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 41, which is the magnetic field generating means 40, is generated such that the magnetic field lines draw an arc from the N pole to the S pole. By providing the second magnetic part 43 below the permanent magnet 41 at a position overlapping in the vertical direction with the imaginary center line P of the magnetic field, the N pole of the permanent magnet 41 is induced on the side surface of the second magnetic part 43, and the magnetic field lines directed toward the S pole have a greater amount of components along the imaginary plane F that intersects with the imaginary center line P from the side surface of the second magnetic part 43. This increases the S / N ratio of the magnetic field components detected by the magnetic sensor 51 compared to when the second magnetic part 43 is not provided.

[0046] (Another Example of Magnetic Field Generating Means) 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams showing other examples of the magnetic field generating means. The magnetic field generating means 40 shown in FIG. 10A has a permanent magnet 41, a first magnetic part 42, and a second magnetic part 43. That is, the first magnetic part 42 is provided above the permanent magnet 41, and the second magnetic part 43 is provided below the permanent magnet 41. The first magnetic part 42 is a yoke member 420 consisting of a plate-shaped top plate part 421 and an annular magnetic part 422 circularly formed downward from the outer periphery of the plate-shaped top plate part 421. By providing both the first magnetic part 42 and the second magnetic part 43 in the magnetic field generating means 40, the magnetic force along the virtual plane F becomes stronger (see arrow D3 in FIG. 10A) compared to the case where only one of them is provided, and the S / N ratio of the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensor 51 becomes higher.

[0047] The magnetic field generating means 40 shown in FIG. 10B has a permanent magnet 41 and a third magnetic part 44. The third magnetic part 44 is provided in a ring shape so as to surround the lower pole (for example, the N pole) of the permanent magnet 41. The ring shape of the third magnetic part 44 does not necessarily need to be continuous in the circumferential direction. For example, the third magnetic part 44 may be a C-ring shape or a half-ring shape with a part cut out in the circumferential direction. By providing such a third magnetic part 44, the magnetic field lines from the end (lower end) of the N pole toward the S pole are induced by the third magnetic part 44 and directed toward the S pole. As a result, the magnetic force along the virtual plane F becomes stronger (see arrow D4 in FIG. 10B) compared to when the third magnetic part 44 is not provided (see FIG. 4A), and the S / N ratio of the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensor 51 becomes higher.

[0048] According to this embodiment, in the input devices 1A and 1B that detect the moving state of the movable body 30 based on a change in the direction of the magnetic field, it is possible to obtain a sufficient S / N ratio in the magnetic sensor 51.

[0049] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to these examples. For example, in the present embodiment, the rocking lever 31 is provided so as to be tiltable around each of the rotation axes AX1 and AX2 as a central axis, but the rocking lever 31 may be provided so as to be tiltable around one axis as a central axis. In addition, the planar slider 32 applied to the input device 1B according to the second embodiment may be applied to the input device 1A according to the first embodiment. In this case, the planar slider 32 may also be used as the yoke member 420. In addition, those in which a person skilled in the art appropriately adds, deletes, or modifies components of each of the above-mentioned embodiments, or those in which the features of the configuration examples of each embodiment are appropriately combined, are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they include the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1A, 1B...Input device 10…Fixed base 20…Housing 30...Movable body 31...Oscillating lever 32...Flat slider 33...Slide plate 40...Magnetic field generating means 41...Permanent magnet 42...First magnetic part 43…Second magnetic part 44...Third magnetic part 51...Magnetic sensor 51A…First magnetic sensor 51B...Second magnetic sensor 60…Switch 420…Yoke member 421…Disk-shaped top plate part 422…Circular magnetic part D1, D1x, D2, D3, D4...Arrows F...Virtual plane G1,G2…Magnetic field lines AX1, AX2...Rotation axis P…Virtual center line Diameter…φ1,φ2

Claims

1. A fixed base; a housing located on an upper side of the fixed base in a normal direction; a movable body supported by the housing on an upper side of the fixed base so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the normal direction; a magnetic field generating means attached to the movable body and configured to generate a magnetic field directed downward, which is the other of the normal directions; a magnetic field direction detection means that is installed on the fixed base at a position avoiding a virtual center line of the magnetic field when the movable body is in a reference position, and detects a direction of a magnetic field component along a virtual plane that intersects with a vertical direction; 11. An input device according to claim 10, wherein said magnetic field generating means includes a permanent magnet having one pole facing downward, and a magnetic portion disposed outside an imaginary center line of said magnetic field with a space therebetween.

2. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generating means comprises a yoke member consisting of a plate-shaped top plate portion and an annular magnetic portion extending downward from an outer periphery of the plate-shaped top plate portion, and the permanent magnet attached to the underside of the plate-shaped top plate portion.

3. The input device according to claim 2 , wherein the annular magnetic portion is formed so as to extend downward in a manner that flares outward.

4. 3. The input device according to claim 2, wherein a diameter of the plate-shaped top plate is substantially equal to a diameter of the permanent magnet.

5. The movable body further includes a restricting means for restricting a movable range of the movable body, 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the movable range is a range in which the magnetic field direction detection means is located between an imaginary center line of the magnetic field and the magnetic portion when viewed from above.

6. A fixed base; a housing located on an upper side of the fixed base in a normal direction; a movable body supported by the housing on an upper side of the fixed base so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the normal direction; a magnetic field generating means attached to the movable body and configured to generate a magnetic field directed downward, which is the other of the normal directions; a magnetic field direction detection means that is installed on the fixed base at a position avoiding a virtual center line of the magnetic field when the movable body is in a reference position, and detects a direction of a magnetic field component along a virtual plane that intersects with a vertical direction; An input device characterized in that the magnetic field generating means includes a permanent magnet with one pole facing downward, and a magnetic portion attached to the tip of the one pole so as to overlap with an imaginary center line of the magnetic field.

7. the movable body includes a swing lever supported to be swingable about a central axis in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, and a planar slider that slides along a plane intersecting the vertical direction in response to the movement of the swing lever, 7. The input device of claim 6, wherein the permanent magnet is attached to the planar slider.

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