Input device

Abstract

Provided is an input device which enables a user to adjust the movable range of a trigger button. This input device comprises: a stopper member (620) movable between a first position where the motion of a trigger button (16) within a first range is permitted and a second position where the stopper member abuts against stopper counterparts (16a, 16b) of the trigger button to limit the movable range of the trigger button to a second range smaller than the first range; and an operation member (630) that is engaged with the stopper member and that is movable in a direction different from that of the stopper member. The operation member causes the stopper member to move between the first position and the second position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an input device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses an input device for inputting a user's instruction to a game device. The input device has a left grip and a right grip held by the user, and has a central portion between these left and right grips. Further, a plurality of operation buttons and direction keys operated by the user's thumb are respectively arranged on the left portion and the right portion located on the left and right of the central portion, and a plurality of operation buttons (trigger buttons) operated by the user's index finger or middle finger are respectively arranged.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The trigger button has a predetermined movable range, and the user can push in the trigger button within that movable range. The optimal movable range of the trigger button for the user varies depending on the type of game and the proficiency in operating the game. Therefore, by enabling the user to adjust the movable range of the trigger button, the user's interest in the game can be improved.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an input member that allows a user to adjust the movable range of a trigger button.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The input device according to the present disclosure includes a stopper portion, a trigger button that can move within a first range, a first position that allows the movement of the trigger button within the first range, and a second position that abuts against the stopper portion and restricts the movable range of the trigger button to a second range smaller than the first range. The input device also includes a stopper member that is movable between the first position and the second position, and an operation member that engages with the stopper member and can move in a direction different from that of the stopper member to move the stopper member between the first position and the second position. According to this, in the input device, the user can adjust the movable range of the trigger button.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the upper surface of an input device 1A according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the lower surface of the input device 1A. Further, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the side surface and the lower surface of the input device 1A. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the upper surface of the input device 1A, showing a state in which the upper covers 20 and the two stick units 30 described later are removed. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the input device 1A.

[0009] In the following description, in the X-axis (the direction in which the left and right grips 10BL and 10BR described later are arranged) shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the X1 direction and the X2 direction are defined as the right direction and the left direction, respectively. Also, in the Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis, the Y1 direction and the Y2 direction are defined as the front direction and the rear direction, respectively. Further, in the Z-axis (the extending direction of the operation stick 400 described later) perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the Z1 direction and the Z2 direction are defined as the upward direction and the downward direction, respectively. However, these directions and arrangement positions are defined for explaining the shape and relative positional relationship of the elements (parts, members, and portions) of the input device 1A, and do not limit the posture of the input device 1A.

[0010] [Overview of Input Device and Each Operating Member] The input device 1A is used as a game input device for an information processing device having an execution function of a game program. Note that the input device 1A may be used as an input device for an information processing device having a moving image playback function, a communication function through the Internet, or the like. The input device 1A can communicate with the information processing device by wire or wirelessly, and transmits a signal corresponding to an operation performed by the user on the input device 1A to the information processing device.

[0011] The input device 1A has a main body 10 (see FIG. 4) that constitutes the outer surface of the input device 1A. The main body 10 includes an internal structure such as an upper case 40 and a lower case 80 (see FIG. 5), and a main frame 50 (see FIG. 5) housed therein. An upper cover 20 (first exterior cover) and a lower cover 90 (second exterior cover) are attached to the main body 10. In the following description, the upper case 40 and the lower case 80 may be simply referred to as cases 40·80. Also, the upper cover 20 and the lower cover 90 may be simply referred to as covers 20·90. A part of the outer surface of the input device 1A is constituted by the cases 40·80, and another part is constituted by the covers 20·90.

[0012] The outer surface of the input device 1A includes an upper surface 1d (see FIG. 1) facing upward (the first direction), a front surface 1e (see FIG. 3) facing forward (the second direction orthogonal to the first direction), and a lower surface 1f (see FIG. 3) facing downward.

[0013] The upper surface 1 d is a surface formed by the upper case 40 and the upper cover 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 10 of the input device 1A has four operation buttons 11, a direction key 12, an operation pad 18, etc. that protrude upward from the upper surface 1d. Also, the input device 1A has an operation stick 400 that protrudes upward from the upper surface 1d. The lower surface 1f is a surface formed by the lower case 80 and the lower cover 90. The rear switch 19 and the rear button 17, which will be described later, are arranged on the lower surface 1f. The front surface 1e is a surface connecting the front side of the upper surface 1d and the front side of the lower surface 1f. As shown in FIG. 3, the main body 10 of the input device 1A has two operation buttons 15 and two trigger buttons 16 that protrude forward from the front surface 1e.

[0014] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the main body 10 of the input device 1A has a device front part 10F where a plurality of operation members are arranged. The device front part 10F has a right part 10R where four operation buttons 11, which are push buttons, are arranged, a left part 10L where the direction key 12 is arranged, and a central part 10M that is a part between the right part 10R and the left part 10L. Two operation buttons 15 are respectively arranged on the front surface of the right part 10R and the front surface of the left part 10L. As shown in FIG. 3, two trigger buttons 16 are respectively arranged below the two operation buttons 15.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 1A has a right grip 10BR extending rearward from the right part 10R of the front part 10F of the device and a left grip 10BL extending rearward from the left part 10L of the front part 10F of the device. The right grip 10BR and the left grip 10BL extend rearward of the trailing edge 10Ma of the central part 10M. The rear end of the right grip 10BR and the rear end of the left grip 10BL are located rearward of the trailing edge 10Ma of the central part 10M. The user can stably hold the input device 1A by supporting the right grip 10BR with the right hand and the left grip 10BL with the left hand. In this state, the user can operate the operation button 11 downward with the thumb of the right hand, press the direction key 12 with the thumb of the left hand, or press the operation button 15 and the trigger button 16 rearward with the index finger or the middle finger.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 10 of the input device 1A has a plate-shaped operation pad 18 in the central part 10M. The operation pad 18 has a touch sensor. The touch sensor is, for example, a capacitive sensor and outputs a signal according to the position of the finger touching the upper surface of the operation pad 18. The operation pad 18 may be supported so as to be vertically movable in response to the user's pressing operation.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 1A has operation sticks 400 behind the operation pad 18. In the present embodiment, the input device 1A has two operation sticks 400. The two operation sticks 400 are arranged at the rear part of the central part 10M behind the operation pad 18 and are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. One of the two operation sticks 400 is located on the left part of the central part 10M, and the other is located on the right part of the central part 10M. The user can tilt the operation stick 400 with respect to the center line of the operation stick 400 in the initial position and can also rotate the operation stick 400 around this center line. The operation stick 400 may be supported so as to be vertically movable so as to function as an operation button. An operation member (such as an operation button) different from the operation stick 400 may be arranged between the two operation sticks 400.

[0018] [Arrangement of Function Buttons] In the present embodiment, two function buttons 350 are respectively arranged behind the two operation sticks 400. The function button 350 can be used, for example, as a button for setting the game environment when the information processing device is executing a game (processing of a game program). In other words, an instruction to the operating system can be input by operating the function button 350. The user can set the game environment, for example, by operating another operation member (for example, the operation button 11 or the direction key 12) while pressing one of the two function buttons 350.

[0019] The "game environment" includes, for example, the volume of the game generated from the speaker, the volume in voice chat (the loudness of the other person's voice), the magnitude and presence or absence of vibration generated by the vibration motor 120 (see FIG. 5), the magnitude and presence or absence of resistance to the pressing of the trigger button 16, the sensitivity of the touch sensor of the operation pad 18, the sensitivity of the operation stick 400 (the amount of movement of the game screen, game objects, etc. with respect to the angle of the operation stick 400), and the like. In addition, the "game environment" also includes the assignment of functions in the game to operation members such as the operation button 11 and the operation button 15. The function button 350 can also function as a shift key button or a control key button that assigns another function to other operation members (such as the operation button 11) other than the function button 350.

[0020] The function button 350 protrudes rearward from the central portion 10M of the input device 1A and is arranged in a region A surrounded by the rear edge 10Ma of the central portion 10M, the right side surface 10La of the left grip, and the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip in the plan view shown in FIG. 1. By arranging the function button 350 in this way, for example, it does not interfere with the user's game play (operations on the operation button 11, the direction key 12, the operation stick 400, etc.), and the user can quickly operate the function button 350 as needed.

[0021] In the example of FIG. 1, the function button 350 is disposed behind the operation stick 400 that is operated by the user's thumb. More specifically, the left function button 350 is disposed behind the operation stick 400 located on the left part of the central portion 10M, and the right function button 350 is disposed behind the operation stick 400 located on the right part of the central portion 10M. Therefore, the user can easily operate the right function button 350 by shifting the position of the thumb operating the operation member (for example, the right operation stick 400) in the right part 10R backward. Also, the user can easily operate the left function button 350 by shifting the position of the thumb operating the operation member (for example, the left operation stick 400) in the left part 10L backward.

[0022] The function button 350 can be pushed downward. Other operation members (operation buttons 11 and direction keys 12) disposed on the upper surface 1d of the input device 1A are also members that can be pushed downward. That is, the operation direction of the function button 350 is the same as the operation direction of the other operation members. Thereby, the user can easily push the function button 350 with the thumb. Also, an uneven pattern may be formed on the upper surface of the function button 350. Thereby, slipping of the user's thumb on the upper surface of the function button 350 is suppressed, and operation of the function button 350 using the thumb becomes easy.

[0023] [Arrangement of Rear Buttons] As shown in FIG. 3, two holes H10 are provided in the lower surface 1f of the main body 10 of the input device 1A, and two rear buttons 17 (operated members) are respectively attached thereto. The two holes H10 are arranged in the left-right direction in the device front portion 10F, one being located in the left part of the main body 10 and the other being located in the right part of the main body 10. The two holes H10 are located in front of the left grip 10BL and the right grip 10BR, and are located between the left grip 10BL and the right grip 10BR in the left-right direction.

[0024] Further, as shown in FIG. 3, two holes H20 are provided in the lower surface 1f of the main body 10 of the input device 1A, through which a rear switch 19, which will be described later, is exposed. The two holes H20 are located in front of the two holes H10 in the front part 10F of the device and are arranged side by side in the left - right direction. The two holes H20 are located between the two trigger buttons 16 in the left - right direction.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rear buttons 17 attached to the respective holes H10 protrude downward from the lower surface 1f of the main body 10 and have an operation surface 17a that is pressed by the user's finger. The operation surface 17a of the rear button 17 attached to the left - hand hole H10 (the right - hand hole H10 in FIG. 2) among the two holes H10 faces in the diagonal direction of forward and right. The operation surface 17a of the rear button 17 attached to the right - hand hole H10 (the left - hand hole H10 in FIG. 2) faces in the diagonal direction of forward and left. The left - hand rear button 17 can be pushed down in the diagonal direction of left and rear, and the right - hand rear button 17 can be pushed down in the diagonal direction of right and rear. The user can, for example, use the middle finger to push down the rear button 17 while holding the left grip 10BL and the right grip 10BR. Since the user can push down the left - hand rear button 17 toward the left grip 10BL, it is possible to easily operate the rear button 17 using the middle finger of the left hand. Since the user can push down the right - hand rear button 17 toward the right grip 10BR, it is possible to easily operate the rear button 17 using the middle finger of the right hand.

[0026] As will be described later, the rear button 17 is attached to the hole H10 by magnetic force. The user can remove the rear button 17 attached to the main body 10 without using tools. For example, there are games executed on the information processing device that do not use the rear button 17. Therefore, by making it possible to remove the rear button 17, the user can arbitrarily select whether to attach the rear button 17 to the input device 1A according to the type of game executed on the information processing device.

[0027] The upper cover 20 is attached to the main body 10 of the input device 1A (more specifically, the upper case 40 described later shown in FIG. 5), covering the upper surface of the main body 10. The user can remove the upper cover 20 from the main body 10 without using tools such as a driver. The attachment structure of the rear button 17 will be described in detail later.

[0028] [Operation stick] As shown in FIG. 4, the main body 10 of the input device 1A has a housing recess U10 for housing the stick unit 30. The stick unit 30 is an operation member unit having an operation stick 400 and a circuit (a circuit mounted on the circuit board 320 shown in FIG. 16) for detecting the movement of the operation stick 400. The stick unit 30 is detachable from the housing recess U10 of the main body 10. The housing recess U10 is open upward (Z1 direction) and rearward (Y2 direction). That is, the housing recess U10 is open in the direction orthogonal to the circuit board 60 (see FIG. 5) described later, indicated by the arrow D1 in FIG. 4 (the protruding direction of the operation stick 400), and in the direction along the circuit board 60, indicated by the arrow D2 in the same figure.

[0029] The user can remove the upper cover 20 from the main body 10 and pull out the stick unit 30 attached to the main body 10 backward while pulling the stopper member 77 described later outward in the left - right direction. Thereby, the user can replace the stick unit 30 with another stick unit (for example, an unused stick unit, a stick unit with a different height of the operation stick 400, a stick unit with decoration, etc.). Since the housing recess U10 is open in two directions, upward (Z1 direction) and rearward (Y2 direction), the user can, for example, hold down the upper side of the stick unit 30 and pull out the stick unit 30 backward, facilitating the removal operation of the stick unit 30.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, the stick unit 30 is provided with an operation stick 400 and function buttons 350. Further, on the upper cover 20, holes (openings) H30 and H40 for exposing at least a part of the stick unit 30 are formed respectively. The operation stick 400 protruding upward from the stick unit 30 passes through the hole H30 of the upper cover 20, and the function button 350 protruding rearward from the stick unit 30 passes through the hole H40 of the upper cover 20. The attachment structure of the stick unit 30 will be described in detail later.

[0031] [Case and Internal Structure] As shown in FIG. 5, the input device 1A includes an upper cover 20, two stick units 30, an upper case 40, a main frame 50 (first frame), a circuit board 60, a reinforcing frame 70 (second frame), a lower case 80, and a lower cover 90. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the rear button 17 has been removed.

[0032] The upper case 40 and the lower case 80 are housings that accommodate the internal structure of the input device 1A and form the outer surface of the input device 1A. The upper case 40 forms a part of the outer surface of each of the device front portion 10F, the right grip 10BR, and the left grip 10BL. Similarly, the lower case 80 forms a part of the outer surface of each of the device front portion 10F, the right grip 10BR, and the left grip 10BL.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 5, the input device 1A includes, as its internal structure, a main frame 50, a circuit board 60, and a reinforcing frame 70. The main frame 50 and the reinforcing frame 70 are attached to each other in the vertical direction. The circuit board 60 has a processor (not shown) and is disposed at the central portion 10M (see FIG. 1) of the input device 1A. The circuit board 60 is disposed between the main frame 50 and the reinforcing frame 70. Also, a battery 110 is disposed between the reinforcing frame 70 and the lower case 80. In the following description, the main frame 50 and the reinforcing frame 70 may be simply referred to as frames 50·70.

[0034] The upper case 40 covers the upper side of the internal structure (specifically, the main frame 50 and the reinforcing frame 70) of the input device 1A that includes the main frame 50 and the reinforcing frame 70, and is attached to the internal structure. The lower case 80 covers the lower side of the same internal structure and is attached to the internal structure in the same manner as the upper case 40. Thus, since the internal structure has the reinforcing frame 70 in addition to the main frame 50, the rigidity is improved. By attaching the upper case 40 and the lower case 80 to the internal structure having high rigidity, the rigidity of the upper case 40 and the rigidity of the lower case 80 can be ensured.

[0035] The upper case 40, the main frame 50, the reinforcing frame 70, and the lower case 80 are formed of, for example, resin. Thereby, the processing of the upper case 40, the main frame 50, the reinforcing frame 70, and the lower case 80 becomes easy, and the degree of freedom of the attachment positions (the positions of the attachment holes) of the screws for fixing them increases. However, the materials of the upper case 40, the main frame 50, the reinforcing frame 70, and the lower case 80 are not limited to resin and may be, for example, metal or the like.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 5, the upper case 40 has recesses U11 at positions where the two stick units 30 are respectively arranged. The recess U11 is formed at the rear edge of the upper case 40 and opens rearward. Similarly, the main frame 50 has recesses U12 at positions where the two stick units 30 are respectively arranged. The recess U12 is formed at the rear edge of the main frame 50 and opens rearward. The accommodating recess U10 (see FIG. 4) for accommodating the stick unit 30 is constituted by the recess U11 of the upper case 40 and the recess U12 of the main frame 50. The lower case 80 does not have recesses such as the upper case 40 and the main frame 50. Different from the example shown in the figure, in the upper case 40 and the main frame 50, instead of the recesses U11 and U12, recesses that open only upward for accommodating the stick unit 30 may be formed.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 5, on the upper surface of the main frame 50, a circuit board on which switches corresponding to the respective operation buttons 11 are mounted may be arranged. The switch may be, for example, a membrane switch. In this case, as the circuit board, a resin sheet on which the membrane switch is mounted may be used. Below the direction keys 12, switches corresponding to the respective directions indicated by the direction keys 12 may also be arranged.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the lower side of the main frame 50. In the main frame 50, two vibration motors 120 are respectively attached to portions arranged inside the right grip 10BR and the left grip 10BL. On the lower side of the main frame 50, two trigger units 130L and 130R having operation buttons 15 and trigger buttons 16 are attached. The two trigger units 130L and 130R are attached to the lower side of the main frame 50 by screws.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 6, the two trigger units 130L and 130R are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The trigger unit 130L is disposed at the left part of the input device 1A (the left part 10L of the front part 10F of the device), and the trigger unit 130R is disposed at the right part of the input device 1A (the right part 10R of the front part 10F of the device). Hereinafter, the two trigger units 130L and 130R may be simply referred to as the trigger unit 130.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 6, the main frame 50 has two mounting holes H51 (the first part and the second part) that are separated in the left-right direction. The two recesses U12 (the recesses in which the stick unit 30 is disposed) formed in the main frame 50 are formed at positions separated in the left-right direction. The two recesses U12 are formed between the two mounting holes H51 and H51. As will be described later, a reinforcing frame 70 is fixed to the mounting holes H51 and H51, whereby the rigidity of the main frame 50 can be strengthened around the recesses U12. In addition, the two mounting holes H51 and H51 are respectively disposed near the vibration motor 120. Therefore, by fixing the reinforcing frame 70 to the mounting holes H51 and H51, the rigidity of the main frame 50 can be strengthened around the vibration motor 120.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 5, a circuit board 60 is attached to the lower side of the main frame 50. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the circuit board 60 has a substantially T-shaped configuration and is shaped to avoid the two recesses U12 formed in the main frame 50. Specifically, the circuit board 60 has a rectangular front board part 61 located below the operation pad 18 and a rear board part 62 extending rearward from the lower end at the center of the front board part 61. Recesses U12 are secured behind the right and left parts of the front board part 61. The rear board part 62 is disposed between the two recesses U12. By shaping the circuit board 60 in this way, the surface area of the circuit board 60 can be increased compared to the case where the circuit board 60 has only the rectangular front board part 61, and a space for arranging wiring and mounting components on the circuit board 60 can be secured.

[0042] The reinforcing frame 70 is attached to the main frame 50 and is disposed below the main frame 50. The reinforcing frame 70 is formed of a material having, for example, higher rigidity than the main frame 50. By attaching the reinforcing frame 70 to the main frame 50, the rigidity of the entire internal structure including the main frame 50 and the circuit board 60 can be ensured. Further, the upper case 40 and the lower case 80 are fixed to the internal structure including the main frame 50 and the reinforcing frame 70 by screws (not shown). Thereby, the rigidity of the upper case 40 and the lower case 80 can be ensured, and the rigidity of the entire input device 1A is improved.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 5, the reinforcing frame 70 has a frame front portion 71 that supports the front board portion 61 of the circuit board 60 and a frame rear portion 72 that supports the rear board portion 62 of the circuit board 60. The frame front portion 71 and the frame rear portion 72 are, for example, rectangular. The frame rear portion 72 is connected to the trailing edge of the frame front portion 71 and is a rectangle that is longer in the left-right direction than the frame front portion 71. Two stages 73 (see FIG. 4) where two stick units 30 are respectively arranged are secured to the right and left portions of the frame rear portion 72. In the frame rear portion 72, the rear board portion 62 is disposed between the two stages 73.

[0044] FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing the lower side of the reinforcing frame 70 to which the rear button 17 is attached. FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing the lower side of the reinforcing frame 70, showing a state in which the rear button 17 and a retaining member 220 described later are removed. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7A, a box-shaped housing portion 71a for housing the battery 110 is formed in the frame front portion 71 of the reinforcing frame 70. Further, a recess 71b for housing a cable connected to the battery 110 is formed inside the housing portion 71a.

[0045] Also, as shown in FIG. 7A, a plurality of mounting holes H71, H72, H75, H76 are formed in the reinforcing frame 70. The plurality of mounting holes H71 and the plurality of mounting holes H72 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction at the trailing edge of the reinforcing frame 70. The plurality of mounting holes H76 are respectively located at the left edge and the right edge of the reinforcing frame 70, and are formed forward of the mounting hole H71. The mounting hole H75 (see FIG. 8) is located inside the accommodating portion 71a. The mounting hole H75 may be located between the mounting holes H76.

[0046] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting structure of the upper case 40, the main frame 50, the circuit board 60, the reinforcing frame 70, and the lower case 80. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the lower case 80 and the lower cover 90. As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of mounting holes H81, H82, H86, H88, H89 are formed in the lower case 80 as mounting portions to be attached to at least one of the upper case 40, the main frame 50, and the reinforcing frame 70. The plurality of mounting holes H81, H82 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction along the trailing edge of the case 80. The plurality of mounting holes H86 are located between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the case 80 and are formed apart from each other in the left-right direction. The two mounting holes H88 are formed at the rear ends of the left and right grips 10BR·10BL. The two mounting holes H89 are provided at the leading edge of the case 80. Specifically, they are formed at the edge of the opening where the operation button 15 is disposed inside.

[0047] The input device 1A has a plurality of screws. These screws fix the lower case 80 to at least one of the upper case 40, the main frame 50, and the reinforcing frame 70. Mounting holes (mounting portions) into which common screws are inserted are formed in each of the upper case 40, the main frame 50, the reinforcing frame 70, and the lower case 80.

[0048] For example, the screws inserted into the mounting holes H81 of the lower case 80 from below pass through the mounting holes H71 (see FIG. 7A) of the reinforcing frame 70 and the mounting holes H51 (see FIG. 6) of the main frame 50 along the straight lines L1·L4 and fit into the mounting holes (not shown) of the upper case 40. Thereby, the lower case 80, the reinforcing frame 70, the main frame 50, and the upper case 40 are mutually attached. As shown in FIG. 6, the strength can be increased by attaching the peripheral portions of the two recesses U12 formed between the mounting holes H51, H51 in the main frame 50 to the reinforcing frame 70 using the mounting holes H51, H51. Also, since the upper case 40, the main frame 50, the reinforcing frame 70, and the lower case 80 are fixed to each other with common screws, the work of attaching these members becomes easy.

[0049] Also, each screw inserted into the mounting holes H82 (see FIG. 9) of the lower case 80 passes along the straight lines L2, L3 (see FIG. 8) respectively through the mounting holes H72 (see FIG. 7A) of the reinforcing frame 70 and fits into the mounting holes (not shown) of the upper case 40. The mounting holes H72 of the reinforcing frame 70 are not fixed to the main frame 50, but between the mounting holes H72, the portion between the two recesses U12 of the main frame 50 fits inside the upper case 40. Thereby, rattling of the main frame 50 can be suppressed between the mounting holes H72, H72.

[0050] The screws inserted into the mounting holes H86 (see FIG. 9) of the lower case 80 from below fit into the mounting holes H76 of the reinforcing frame 70. Also, in the lower case 80, the screws inserted into the mounting holes H88, H88 located at the rear ends of the left and right grips 10BL, 10BR pass through the mounting holes H58, H58 of the main frame 50 along the straight lines L5, L6 and fit into the mounting holes (not shown) of the upper case 40. Thereby, rattling of the rear end portion (the portion behind the vibration motor 120) of the main frame 50 can be suppressed inside the input device 1A. Also, the screws inserted into the mounting holes H89 (see FIG. 9) formed at the front edge of the lower case 80 from below fit into the mounting holes of the upper case 40.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 8, the screws inserted into the mounting holes H75 of the reinforcing frame 70 pass through the mounting holes (not shown) of the circuit board 60 and the mounting holes H55 (see Fig. 6) of the main frame 50 along the straight line L7, and are fitted into the mounting holes (not shown) of the upper case 40. Thereby, the circuit board 60 is fixed between the main frame 50 and the reinforcing frame 70. The rear part 62 of the circuit board 60 (see Fig. 5) is fitted inside the upper case 40 between the mounting holes H72 (see Fig. 7A) of the reinforcing frame 70 in the same manner as the main frame 50. Thereby, the rattling of the rear part 62 of the substrate can also be suppressed.

[0052] In this way, by inserting a plurality of screws into the lower case 80 and attaching the lower case 80 to the upper case 40, the main frame 50, the circuit board 60, and the reinforcing frame 70, the rigidity of the input device 1A can be ensured. Since all the plurality of screws for fixing the upper case 40 or the reinforcing frame 70 to the lower case 80 are inserted from the lower side of the lower case 80, the working efficiency when assembling the input device 1A can be improved.

[0053] [Lower Cover] On the lower surface 82 of the lower case 80, a plurality of screws inserted into the lower case 80 are exposed. As shown in Fig. 9, the lower cover 90 is attached to the lower surface 82 of the lower case 80 and covers a plurality of mounting holes (for example, mounting holes H81, H82, H86, H88) formed in the lower case 80. As shown in Figs. 2 and 9, the lower cover 90 constitutes at least a part of the lower surface of the device front part 10F, the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip 10BR, and the right side surface 10La of the left grip 10BL. In this way, by covering the plurality of screws inserted into the lower case 80 with the lower cover 90, it is possible to increase the fixing strength of the cases 40 and 80 and the frames 50 and 70 while suppressing the influence on the good appearance of the input device 1A.

[0054] The plurality of screws inserted into the lower case 80 are inserted from the lower side of the lower case 80 toward the upper case 40. As shown in FIG. 4, with the upper cover 20 removed from the input device 1A for replacement of the stick unit 30, the screws are not exposed from the upper case 40. Therefore, even when the upper cover 20 is removed from the input device 1A, the appearance of the input device 1A can be made good, and the user can be prevented from accidentally removing the screws.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, the lower cover 90 constitutes the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip 10BR and the right side surface 10La of the left grip 10BL. The lower cover 90 exposes the lower case 80 at the right side surface 10Rb of the right grip 10BR and the left side surface 10Lb of the left grip 10BL. The surface (left side surface 10Ra) of the right portion 90R (see FIG. 9) of the lower cover 90 has a different surface form (the portion indicated by hatching in FIG. 9) from the right side surface 10Rb of the right grip 10BR. Further, the surface (right side surface 10La) of the left portion 90L (see FIG. 9) of the lower cover 90 has a different surface form from the left side surface 10Lb of the left grip 10BL.

[0056] Here, "having different surface forms" means that the tactile sensation (feel) when the user touches is different, for example, the surface shape or material (such as hardness) is different. For example, in the regions where hatching is applied in FIGS. 2 and 9, the surface forms are different from the right side surface 10Rb of the right grip 10BR and the left side surface 10Lb of the left grip 10BL. When the user is gripping the input device 1A, the finger of the user gripping the left grip 10BL hits the right side surface 10La of the left grip 10BL, and the finger of the user gripping the right grip 10BR hits the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip 10BR. The finger of the user contacts the surface facing the center of the input device 1A on the outer surfaces of the left and right grips 10BL and 10BR. Here, by providing a region with a different surface form in the portion of the lower cover 90 where the finger of the user touches, the user can select the lower cover 90 that gives a preferred tactile sensation to his or her finger.

[0057] In this embodiment, the surface of the lower cover 90 has an uneven pattern on the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip 10BR and the right side surface 10La of the left grip 10BL, which is a different surface form from the right side surface 10Rb of the right grip 10BR and the left side surface 10Lb of the left grip 10BL. In this way, by forming an uneven pattern on the part where the finger touches, the user can grip the input device 1A more stably. The lower cover 90 may be formed by two-color molding. That is, the material may be different between the part where the uneven pattern is formed and other parts. The part where the uneven pattern is formed may be formed of a resin having elasticity or rubber.

[0058] In this embodiment, no uneven pattern is formed on the right side surface 10Rb of the right grip 10BR and the left side surface 10Lb of the left grip 10BL. That is, no uneven pattern is formed on the right side surface 10Rb and the left side surface 10Lb that constitute the outside of the input device 1A in the left-right direction. Thereby, wear of the uneven pattern due to contact of the outside of the input device 1A in the left-right direction with other members (such as indoor walls and floors) is suppressed, and the quality of the input device 1A can be maintained over a long period.

[0059] No uneven pattern is formed also on the part 90M that constitutes the central part 10M of the lower cover 90. A rear button 17 is arranged on the lower surface of the central part 10M. Since no uneven pattern is formed on this part, the user can smoothly move a finger along the lower surface of the lower cover 90 for operating the rear button 17. Further, the left part 90L and the right part 90R of the lower cover 90 are connected by the part 90M. Therefore, compared with a structure in which the left part 90L and the right part 90R are two independent members, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembly of the input device 1A can be facilitated.

[0060] The lower cover 90 covers a portion behind the two holes H20 that expose the rear switch 19 at the front part 10F of the device. The front edge of the lower cover 90 is located behind the two holes H20. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the space inside the lower case 80 (the space where the internal structure including the frames 50 and 70 is arranged) from becoming smaller by only the thickness portion of the lower cover 90 around the two holes H20.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 9, two holes H11 arranged in the left - right direction are formed in the lower case 80. Two holes H12 arranged in the left - right direction are also formed in the lower cover 90. The holes H11 and H12 are in the same positions in the left - right direction and the front - rear direction, and constitute the hole H10 into which the rear button 17 is inserted.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of engaging portions 81 are formed in the lower case 80. The engaging portions 81 are, for example, holes or recesses. The cover 90 is formed with engaging portions 91 (see FIG. 5) that catch on the engaging portions 81. The engaging portions 91 are, for example, protrusions that fit into the engaging portions 81 which are holes or recesses, and claws are formed on the protrusions. By the engagement of the engaging portions 81 and 91, the lower cover 90 can be attached to the lower case 80.

[0063] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the upper cover 20 has an edge portion 24 at a part of its outer peripheral edge, and the lower cover 90 has an edge portion 92 adjacent to the edge portion 24 of the upper cover 20 at a part of its outer peripheral edge. In this way, since the upper cover 20 and the lower cover 90 have adjacent edge portions 24 and 92, the appearance of the input device 1 A can be improved. The upper cover 20 has a rear wall portion 23 that constitutes the rear edge at the central part of the upper cover 20, and has edge portions 24 on the right part and the left part located on opposite sides across the rear edge of the upper cover 20. Also, the lower cover 90 has edge portions 92 on its right part and left part respectively. The edge portions 24 (projecting edges) located on the right part and the left part of the upper cover 20 are located behind the rear edge (more specifically, the outer surface of the rear wall portion 23) located at the central part of the upper cover 20.

[0064] As described above, the lower cover 90 constitutes the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip 10BR and the right side surface 10La of the left grip 10BL. Here, the two edges 92 of the lower cover 90 are respectively arranged on the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip 10BR and the right side surface 10La of the left grip 10BL. Also, the two edges 24 of the upper cover 20 are respectively adjacent to the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip 10BR and the right side surface 10La of the left grip 10BL. The outer surface of the upper cover 20 and the outer surface of the lower cover 90 at the edge 24 are flush at the edge 24·92. By doing so, the appearance of the input device 1 A can be made better.

[0065] [Rear Button Mounting Structure] FIG. 10A is a view of the operating surface 17a of the rear button 17 facing from the front, and FIG. 10B is a side view of the rear button 17. In the present embodiment, the shapes of the two rear buttons 17 attached to the input device 1A are the same, but the two rear buttons 17 may have different shapes from each other. FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIA-XIA in FIG. 7A. FIGS. 11B, 11C, and 11D are views showing the movement of removing the rear button 17 in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 11A.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 7A, two rear buttons 17 can be attached to the reinforcement frame 70. More specifically, two support members 210 for respectively supporting the two rear buttons 17 are attached to the reinforcement frame 70, and the rear button 17 can be attached to the support member 210. The support member 210 and the rear button 17 can move integrally around the shaft portion 212 (see FIG. 7B) formed in the support member 210. Below the two support members 210 (in the Z2 direction in FIG. 7A), two retaining members 220 are respectively arranged. The retaining member 220 prevents the shaft portion 212 of the support member 210 from coming off. The retaining member 220 is respectively attached to the reinforcement frame 70. The retaining member 220 is fixed to the reinforcement frame 70 by, for example, screws.

[0067] The support member 210 and the retaining member 220 may be formed of metal. Thereby, the rigidity of the support member 210 and the retaining member 220 can be ensured. The materials of the support member 210 and the retaining member 220 are not limited to metal. The support member 210 and the retaining member 220 may be formed of resin or the like. Also, the support member 210 and the retaining member 220 may be formed of different materials respectively.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 7A, a leaf spring 230, which is an elastic member, is attached to the reinforcing frame 70. The leaf spring 230 biases the support member 210 to the initial position (the position shown in FIG. 11A). The leaf spring 230 is, for example, a metal plate extending in the left - right direction and is attached to the center of the reinforcing frame 70 by a screw 231. Both ends of the leaf spring 230 are respectively hooked on the tips of the two support members 210 (the ends of the extending portion 213 to be described later, see FIG. 7B), and bias the tips of the respective support members 210 upward (in the Z1 direction). By biasing the two support members 210 with one leaf spring 230 in this way, the number of parts can be reduced compared with the case where two elastic members for biasing the two support members 210 are provided. Note that the elastic member for biasing the support member 210 to the initial position does not necessarily have to be the leaf spring 230. Two coil springs may be respectively provided for the two support members 210, or two leaf springs may be respectively provided for the two support members 210.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 7B, the support member 210 attached to the reinforcement frame 70 has a base portion 211 in which a hole H17 is formed, and two shaft portions 212 protruding from the base portion 211 in opposite directions. The shaft portions 212 are cylindrical and fit inside grooves formed in the reinforcement frame 70. The support member 210 can move about the axis Ax1 of the two shaft portions 212. As shown in FIG. 7B, the axis Ax1 extends in an oblique direction with respect to both the left-right direction and the front-back direction so as to approach the center in the left-right direction of the input device 1A as it goes rearward (Y2 direction). The left rear button 17 attached to the support member 210 can be pushed down toward the left grip 10BL held by the user, and the right rear button 17 can be pushed down toward the right grip 10BR.

[0070] Note that the shaft portions 212 of the support member 210 are not limited to the example shown in FIG. 7B, and may be recesses or holes formed in two opposing side surfaces. In this case, the reinforcement frame 70 may be formed with protrusions that fit inside the shaft portions 212 which are recesses or holes. Also, the shaft portion 212 may be a single shaft as long as it does not interfere with the hole H17.

[0071] Also, as shown in FIG. 7B, the support member 210 has a first extension portion 213 that extends from the base portion 211 in a direction perpendicular to the axis Ax1 of the shaft portion 212 and is pushed upward (Z1 direction) by a leaf spring 230. The support member 210 has a second extension portion 214 that extends from the base portion 211 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first extension portion 213 extends (the direction indicated by the straight line Ax2 in FIG. 7B). The second extension portion 214 is provided on the opposite side of the first extension portion 213 with the shaft portion 212 interposed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 7A, the retaining member 220 regulates the removal of the shaft portion 212 from the groove formed in the reinforcement frame 70. The retaining member 220 has a substantially U-shaped configuration and covers the second extension portion 214 in addition to the two shaft portions 212.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 7B, the input device 1A has a sensor (switch) 240 that outputs a signal corresponding to the movement of the support member 210. The sensor substrate 240a on which the sensor 240 is mounted may be attached to, for example, the reinforcing frame 70. The sensor 240 is separated from the axis Ax1 in a direction orthogonal to the axis Ax1 (the direction indicated by the straight line Ax2 in FIG. 7B). The sensor 240 is disposed between the reinforcing frame 70 and the second extension 214 of the support member 210. The upper case 40 and the lower case 80, which are housings for accommodating the internal structure of the input device 1A, accommodate the support member 210, the retaining member 220, the leaf spring 230, and the sensor 240 together with the reinforcing frame 70.

[0073] The rear button 17 extends in a direction orthogonal to the axis Ax1 and intersecting the straight line Ax2. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2, 7A, and 7B, the rear button 17 extends downward (in the Z2 direction) from its position relative to the axis Ax1. The rear button 17 protrudes from the lower case 80 and the lower cover 90. The rear button 17 is attached to the support member 210 so as to move together with the support member 210. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the rear button 17 is attached inside a hole H17 formed in the base 211 of the support member 210. The rear button 17 has an insertion portion 172 that is inserted into the hole H17. The insertion portion 172 has a surface (the inclined surface 17g described later) that is in contact with the inside of the hole H17 in the operating direction of the rear button 17 (the rotational direction about the axis Ax1). Thus, due to this contact, the rear button 17 moves together with the support member 210.

[0074] The second extension 214 of the support member 210 is located below the sensor 240. When the operated surface 17a of the rear button 17 is pressed by the user and the support member 210 moves about the axis Ax1, the second extension 214 of the support member 210 moves slightly upward and presses the sensor 240. When the sensor 240 is pressed by the second extension 214, it outputs a corresponding signal. Thereby, it is possible to detect a pressing operation of the user on the rear button 17.

[0075] As shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 10A, and 10B, the rear button 17 has a protruding portion 171 that protrudes downward from the lower case 80 and the lower cover 90 in a state where the rear button 17 is attached to the input device 1A. Further, the rear button 17 has an insertion portion 172 that is inserted inside a hole H17 formed in the base portion 211 of the support member 210, and a supported portion 173 that covers the opening of the hole H17 in a state where the insertion portion 172 is inserted into the hole H17. The protruding portion 171 has an operation surface 17a that is operated by a user's finger.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 10A, the protruding portion 171, the supported portion 173, and the insertion portion 172 formed on the rear button 17 are arranged in this order in the vertical direction. In the direction of the axis Ax1 (the left - right direction in FIG. 10A), the width W173 of the supported portion 173 is larger than the width W172 of the insertion portion 172. In a state where the insertion portion 172 is inserted into the hole H17, the supported portion 173 may contact the lower surface 211b (see FIG. 7B) of the base portion 211 of the support member 210. Also, in the direction of the axis Ax1, the width W171 of the protruding portion 171 is larger than the width W173 of the supported portion 173. In the example shown in FIG. 10A, the width W171 of the protruding portion 171 is larger than twice (more specifically, three times the width W173) the width W173 of the supported portion 173. Thereby, the operation surface 17a in the protruding portion 171 can be widened, and the user's operation on the operation surface 17a can be facilitated.

[0077] In FIG. 10A, the protruding portion 171 (operated surface 17a) of the rear button 17 is formed in a substantially semicircular shape. Also, as shown in FIG. 10B, the operated surface 17a of the rear button 17 has a shape in which the central lower end in the direction of the axis Ax1 bulges. The insertion portion 172 of the rear button 17 extends upward (in the Z1 direction) from the supported portion 173, and then has a curved portion 17b that extends toward the first extension portion 213 (see FIG. 11A) of the support member 210. A recess 17c is formed by the curved portion 17b and the supported portion 173. Also, a convex portion 172a that protrudes upward is formed at the tip (end portion in the Z1 direction) of the insertion portion 172. The convex portion 172a has a magnetic force receiving surface 17d that faces in the direction of a magnet 250, which will be described later, when the rear button 17 is attached to the support member 210, and a stoppered surface 17e that faces in the direction opposite to the magnetic force receiving surface 17d. The stoppered surface 17e faces the direction in which the sensor 240 is located. Also, the insertion portion 172 has a convex portion 17f that protrudes from the curved portion 17b toward the sensor 240.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 7B, a recess (groove portion) 210a that is recessed narrowly in the direction of the sensor 240 is formed on the inner surface of the hole H17 formed in the base portion 211 of the support member 210. The convex portion 17f formed on the rear button 17 fits into this recess 210a. Thereby, the direction in which the rear button 17 faces the hole H17 can be restricted to only one direction. That is, the movement (rattling) of the rear button 17 in the direction along the axis Ax1 can be suppressed.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 11A, the support member 210 has a magnet 250. The rear button 17 is formed of a magnetic material such as iron. The rear button 17 is attached to the support member 210 by the magnetic force of the magnet 250. That is, the insertion portion 172 of the rear button 17 is held inside the hole H17 by receiving the magnetic force of the magnet 250. At this time, the magnetic force receiving surface 17d is pulled by the magnet 250, and the inner surface of the concave portion 210a of the support member 210 supports the convex portion 17f of the rear button 17. Note that the present invention is not limited to the example shown in the figure. For example, the rear button 17 may have a magnet and may be magnetically attached to the support member 210 by the magnetic force. In this case, the support member 21 0 may be formed of a magnetic material. Also, a part of the rear button 17 may be composed of a magnetic material (or a magnet). In this case, it is sufficient that the insertion portion 172 of the rear button 17 or the convex portion 172a at the tip thereof is a magnetic material (or a magnet).

[0080] As shown in FIGS. 7B and 11A, the magnet 250 is held by the first extension portion 213 of the support member 210 and is located between the first extension portion 213 and the reinforcing frame 70. The magnet 250 is disposed on the side opposite to the sensor 240 with respect to the axis Ax1 defined by the shaft portion 212 of the support member 210. In other words, the magnet 250 is disposed on the side opposite to the sensor 240 with respect to the base portion 211 (the position where the rear button 17 is attached) of the support member 210.

[0081] The rear button 17 can move about the shaft portion 212 between the initial position shown by the solid line in FIG. 11A and the first inclined posture shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11A. The rear button 17 can move between the initial position and the first inclined posture together with the support member 210. The first inclined posture is defined in the first rotation direction R1 (see FIG. 11A) about the axis Ax1 (see FIG. 7B) defined by the shaft portion 212 of the support member 210 with respect to the initial position. When the rear button 17 is in the first inclined posture, the rear button 17 presses the sensor 240 via the second extension portion 214 of the support member 210.

[0082] The support member 210 is biased toward the initial position by a leaf spring 230 (see FIG. 7B). The leaf spring 230 is disposed in a direction opposite to the sensor 240 with respect to the axis Ax1 of the support member 210. By doing so, interference between the leaf spring 230 and the sensor 240 can be easily avoided, and a sufficient size of the leaf spring 230 can be ensured.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 11A, a convex portion 210b is formed at the edge of the opening of a hole H17 formed in the support member 210. The convex portion 210b fits into a concave portion 17c formed in the insertion portion 172 of the rear button 17. The magnetic force receiving surface 17d of the insertion portion 172 is located above (in the Z1 direction) the convex portion 210b. Therefore, when the magnetic force receiving surface 17d is attracted by the magnet 250, a moment toward the first inclined posture acts on the rear button 17 in the initial position, and the convex portion 17f of the rear button 17 contacts the inner surface (inclined surface 210c) of the concave portion 210a formed on the inner surface of the hole H17 of the support member 210.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 10B, an inclined surface 17g is formed on the convex portion 17f of the rear button 17. Also, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 11A, an inclined surface 210c is formed in the concave portion 210a of the hole H17 formed in the support member 210. When the user moves the rear button 17 from the initial position in the first rotation direction R1 (the operation direction of the rear button 17) to the first inclined posture, the inclined surface 17g of the rear button 17 presses the inclined surface 210c of the support member 210. As a result, the rear button 17 moves together with the support member 210 toward the first inclined posture from the initial position. As described above, even when the rear button 17 is in the initial position, the inclined surface 17g of the rear button 17 is in contact with the inclined surface 210c of the support member 210. Thereby, rattling of the rear button 17 with respect to the support member 210 can be suppressed when the user operates the rear button 17.

[0085] The rear button 17 can move to the second inclined posture shown in FIG. 11B. The second inclined posture is defined in a second rotation direction R2 that is opposite to the first rotation direction R1 with respect to the initial position in FIG. 11A. As described above, the convex portion 210b (see FIG. 11A) formed on the support member 210 is fitted into the concave portion 17c formed on the rear button 17. The rear button 17 can move from the initial position toward the second inclined posture around the tip of the convex portion 210b as shown in FIG. 11B. When the rear button 17 moves from the initial position toward the second inclined posture, the movement of the support member 210 is restricted by the retaining member 220. The rear button 17 is allowed to move downward (in the Z2 direction, the protruding direction of the protruding portion 171) as shown in FIGS. 11C and 11D in the state of the second inclined posture. That is, the rear button 17 is allowed to move in a direction orthogonal to the axis Ax1. Thereby, the rear button 17 can be removed from the support member 210 by an operation of a user from the outside of the upper case 40 and the lower case 80 which are the housing. When removing the rear button 17, the user needs to perform a two-step operation of moving the rear button 17 in the second rotation direction R2 and then pulling it out in the vertical direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the rear button 17 from coming off the support member 210 unintentionally.

[0086] Also, as shown in FIG. 11B, when the rear button 17 is in the second inclined posture, the stopper surface 17e of the insertion portion 172 collides with the support member 210. Thereby, further movement in the second rotation direction R2 is restricted. Thereby, when the user intends to remove the rear button 17, it becomes possible to remove the rear button 17 with a simple operation.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 11C, the width W21 of the passage defined by the tip of the convex portion 210b and the lower end of the inclined surface 210c that supports the insertion portion 172 is larger than the width W17 of the convex portion 172a of the rear button 17. Therefore, when the posture of the rear button 17 (the posture of the convex portion 172a) coincides with the opening direction of the passage defined by the tip of the convex portion 210b and the lower end of the inclined surface 210c, the rear button 17 can be removed from the support member 210 in the same opening direction. In the convex portion 210b of the support member 210 that fits into the concave portion 17c of the rear button 17, the corner portion 210d (see FIG. 11C) that contacts the curved portion 17b of the rear button 17 is chamfered. By doing so, after the user moves the rear button 17 in the second rotation direction R2 and arranges it in the second inclined posture, as shown in FIG. 11C, the rear button 17 can be smoothly aligned with the opening direction of the passage defined by the tip of the convex portion 210b and the lower end of the inclined surface 210c.

[0088] [Mounting Structure of Stick Unit] A support structure for supporting the operation stick 400 (the support mechanism 330 of the operation stick 400 shown in FIG. 15 and the pedestal member 310 that is a support member of the operation stick 400) is detachably attached to the reinforcement frame 70. The support structure of the operation stick 400 is attached to the upper surface of the reinforcement frame 70. Also, as described above, the rear button 17 is detachably attached to the lower surface of the reinforcement frame 70. As shown in FIG. 4, two stages 73 are provided on the upper surface of the reinforcement frame 70. Two stick units 30 including the support structure of the operation stick 400 are detachably attached to the two stages 73, respectively. With the upper cover 20 and the two stick units 30 removed from the input device 1A, the two stages 73 are exposed from the accommodation recess U10.

[0089] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a circuit board 60, a reinforcing frame 70, and a stick unit 30. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the lower surface of the stick unit 30. FIG. 14 is a rear view showing the rear side of the reinforcing frame 70 with the stick unit 30 attached thereto. FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the stick unit 30. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in FIG. 14.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 12, the circuit board 60 is attached to the reinforcing frame 70. The circuit board 60 is arranged along the front-rear direction and the left-right direction in the main body 10 of the input device 1A. The stick unit 30 is detachable in the front-rear direction with respect to the accommodation recess U10 shown in FIG. 4. The circuit board 60 has a connector 63 (see FIG. 16) that opens rearward, and the stick unit 30 has a connector 31 (see FIG. 16) that opens forward. The connector 63 of the circuit board 60 and the connector 31 of the stick unit 30 are fitted in the front-rear direction. Thereby, the stick unit 30 is electrically connected to the main body 10 of the input device 1A. Further, the stick unit 30 can be pulled out rearward with respect to the circuit board 60.

[0091] The main body 10 of the input device 1A and the stick unit 30 have a guide that extends in the front-rear direction and restricts the movement of the stick unit 30 in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 12, for example, a guide convex portion 74 that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the reinforcing frame 70 is formed on the stage 73 of the reinforcing frame 70. The guide convex portion 74 has a rectangular front end portion 74a that protrudes on the stage 73 and an extension portion 74b that extends rearward from the front end portion 74a. The extension portion 74b is formed to be narrower than the front end portion 74a in the left-right direction.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 13, a guide recess 32 that opens downward and forward is formed in the lower surface 310a of the stick unit 30 (the lower surface of a pedestal member 310 described later). When the stick unit 30 is fitted into the accommodation recess U10, the guide projection 74 of the reinforcing frame 70 fits into the guide recess 32 of the stick unit 30. That is, the guide projection 74 and the guide recess 32 constitute a guide that restricts the movement of the stick unit 30 in the front-rear direction.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 13, the guide recess 32 has a first portion 32a that extends rearward from the front end of the lower surface 310a of the pedestal member 310, a second portion 32b that extends further rearward from the first portion 32a and whose width in the left-right direction gradually decreases, and a third portion 32c that extends further rearward from the second portion 32b. When the guide projection 74 of the reinforcing frame 70 is inserted into the opening at the front end of the guide recess 32, the front end portion 74a having a width in the left-right direction larger than that of the extending portion 74b of the guide projection 74 passes through the first portion 32a of the guide recess 32 and gets caught on the inner wall of the second portion 32b whose width in the left-right direction gradually decreases. Thereby, it is possible to suppress rattling of the stick unit 30 attached to the accommodation recess U10 in the left-right direction.

[0094] Also, as shown in FIG. 13, the guide recess 32 has a rear end portion 32d located behind the third portion 32c. Protrusions that protrude inside the guide recess 32 are formed at the boundary between the side surface of the third portion 32c and the side surface of the rear end portion 32d. The left and right protrusions formed at the boundary between the third portion 32c and the rear end portion 32d sandwich the extending portion 74b of the guide projection 74. Thereby, it is possible to suppress rattling of the stick unit 30 in the left-right direction in the accommodation recess U10.

[0095] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, on the left and right sides of the stage 73 in the reinforcing frame 70, guide walls 75L and 75R extending upward are respectively formed. A stick unit 30 is disposed between the left guide wall 75L and the right guide wall 75R. The left side surface of the stick unit 30 may contact the left guide wall 75L. Also, the right side surface of the stick unit 30 may contact the right guide wall 75R. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the stick unit 30 from rattling in the left - right direction.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 12, the main body 10 of the input device 1A has a stopper member 77. The stopper member 77 is attached to the reinforcing frame 70 that constitutes the main body 10 via a spring 78 which is an elastic member. The stopper member 77 can move between a lock position (first position) that restricts the movement of the stick unit 30 in the front - rear direction and an unlock position (second position) that allows the movement of the stick unit 30 in the front - rear direction. The stopper member 77 can move in the rotational direction R3 (see FIG. 14) about an axis Ax2 defined by a shaft portion to which the spring 78 is attached. As shown in FIG. 14, when the stopper member 77 is biased by the spring 78 and is in the initial lock position, the stopper member 77 interferes with the stick unit 30 in the front - rear direction and restricts the stick unit 30 from moving rearward. The user can pull out the stick unit 30 rearward by moving the stopper member 77 to the unlock position on the rotational direction R3 against the elastic force of the spring 78.

[0097] As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the pedestal member 310 that constitutes the lower surface 310a of the stick unit 30 has a protruding portion (guided portion) 310b protruding leftward at the lower left edge of the pedestal member 310 and a protruding portion (guided portion) 310b protruding rightward at the lower right edge of the pedestal member 310. Also, a groove portion (guide portion) 76L recessed leftward is formed between the left guide wall 75L and the stage 73. A groove portion (guide portion) 76R recessed rightward is also formed between the right guide wall 75R and the stage 73.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 14, with the stick unit 30 attached to the reinforcing frame 70, the left and right protruding portions 310b of the pedestal member 310 groove respectively enter the inside of the portions 76L and 76R. Here, the protruding portion 310b of the pedestal member 310 groove is clamped in the vertical direction by the inner surfaces of the portions 76L and 76R. Thereby, it is possible to suppress rattling of the stick unit 30 even in the vertical direction.

[0099] [Internal Structure of Stick Unit] As shown in FIG. 15, the stick unit 30 includes a pedestal member 310, a connector 31, a circuit board 320, a support mechanism 330, sensor components 340, function buttons 350, a support member 360, a cover member 380, and an operation stick 400. The support mechanism 330 is a support mechanism that supports the operation stick 400 and has a support convex portion 331 protruding upward. The support convex portion 331 can be tilted with respect to the center line along the vertical direction by the support mechanism 330 and is supported so as to be rotatable about the center line. The sensor component 340 has a contact 341 that detects the movement of the function button 350.

[0100] As shown in FIG. 16, a recess 424 that opens downward is formed in the operation stick 400 (more specifically, the column portion 422 of the base member 420 described later). The support convex portion 331 of the support mechanism 330 is inserted into the recess 424. Thereby, the operation stick 400 is supported by the support convex portion 331. The upper surface of the support convex portion 331 may be in contact with the lower surface 424a formed inside the recess 424.

[0101] As shown in FIG. 16, the circuit board 320 is disposed above the pedestal member 310 which is a supporting member, and is supported by the pedestal member 310. A circuit for detecting the movements of the operation stick 400 and the function buttons 350 is formed on the circuit board 320. Further, the above-described connector 31 for electrically connecting to the main body 10 of the input device 1A is mounted on the circuit board 320. A support mechanism 330 and sensor components 340 are also placed on the circuit board 320. The connector 31 is disposed at the front end of the circuit board 320, the support mechanism 330 is disposed behind the connector 31, and the sensor components 340 are disposed behind the support mechanism 330. The connector 31, the support mechanism 330, and the sensor components 340 are arranged in this order in the front-rear direction. By arranging the connector 31, the support mechanism 330, and the sensor components 340 on the same circuit board 320, a dedicated circuit board for providing connectors and sensors becomes unnecessary, and the number of components of the stick unit 30 can be reduced.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 16, the circuit board 320 of the stick unit 30 is disposed behind the circuit board 60 built in the main body 10 of the input device 1A. The circuit board 320 is arranged along the front-rear direction in the same manner as the circuit board 60. The circuit board 320 is disposed at the same position as the circuit board 60 in the vertical direction. That is, the circuit board 320 and the circuit board 60 are located substantially on the same plane. As described above, the guide convex portions 74 and groove portions 76L, 76R (see FIG. 14) of the reinforcing frame 70 extend in the direction along the circuit board 320. The stick unit 30 can be fitted to the main body 10 in the direction along the circuit board 320.

[0103] The circuit board 60 built in the main body 10 and the circuit board 320 built in the stick unit 30 are disposed at the central portion 10M of the input device 1A. The sensor components 340 for detecting the movements of the function buttons 350 are mounted on the circuit board 320. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, the function buttons 350 can be disposed behind the operation stick 400 and protruded rearward from the central portion 10M.

[0104] As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the cover member 380 is placed on the pedestal member 310 and covers at least a part of each of the pedestal member 310, the support mechanism 330, and the sensor component 340. The cover member 380 and the pedestal member 310 constitute a case for accommodating the connector 31, the circuit board 320, the support mechanism 330, and the sensor component 340.

[0105] As shown in FIG. 15, the cover member 380 has a dome-shaped upper wall portion 381 surrounding the support mechanism 330 and a lower wall portion 382 extending downward from the upper wall portion 381 to form the lower end of the cover member 380. A circular hole H40 is formed at the center of the upper wall portion 381. The operation stick 400 protrudes upward through the hole H40. As shown in FIG. 16, the operation stick 400 is formed with a disk-shaped top portion 411 and a dome-shaped cover portion 421, as will be described later. In a plan view, the size (diameter) of the hole H40 is smaller than the size (diameter) of the cover portion 421 of the operation stick 400. And the outer peripheral portion of the cover portion 421 overlaps the edge of the hole H40 in a plan view. For this reason, in a state where the stick unit 30 is removed from the main body 10, it is possible to prevent the inside of the cover member 380 (the inside of the stick unit 30) from being exposed to the outside. In particular, in the example shown in the figure, the size of the cover portion 421 is set such that the outer peripheral portion of the cover portion 421 and the edge of the hole H40 overlap even when the operation stick 400 is tilted until it hits the edge of the hole H40.

[0106] Further, as shown in FIG. 15, a protruding portion 383 protruding forward from the upper wall portion 381 is formed in front of the lower wall portion 382 of the cover member 380. The protruding portion 383 covers the upper surface and the left and right side surfaces of the connector 31. By covering the connector 31 with the protruding portion 383 in this way, it is possible to prevent the connector 31 from being damaged by an external impact.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 15, a notch U20 that opens rearward is formed in the lower wall portion 382, and the support member 360 is exposed rearward from this notch U20. The support member 360 has a cylindrical shaft portion 361 that extends in the left - right direction and is fixed inside the stick unit 30. As shown in FIG. 16, the support member 360 is disposed, for example, above the sensor component 340. A recess 351 is formed on the front surface of the function button 350, and the shaft portion 361 of the support member 360 is supported inside this recess 351. Specifically, the ends of the shaft portion 361 are supported by the left - and - right side surfaces of the recess 351. Thereby, the function button 350 is rotatably supported by the shaft portion 361 of the support member 360.

[0108] As shown in FIG. 16, the contact 341 of the sensor component 340 is provided on the rear surface of the sensor component 340. Also, a convex portion 352 is formed on the front surface of the function button 350. The convex portion 352 of the function button 350 is formed below the recess 351 in which the shaft portion 361 of the support member 360 is received. When the function button 350 is pushed by the user and moves around the shaft portion 361, the convex portion 352 pushes the contact 341. Thereby, the sensor component 340 can detect the user's pressing operation on the function button 350.

[0109] In this embodiment, the contact 341 can move in the direction along the circuit board 320 (specifically, the front - rear direction). The function button 350 can move in the direction intersecting the circuit board 320 (specifically, the up - down direction). The function button 350 is centered on the axis Ax defined by the shaft portion 361 of the support member 360 2It can move in the rotational direction R4 (see Fig. 16) around []. In this way, by the shaft portion 361 of the support member 360, the moving direction of the function button 350 is changed from the vertical direction to the front-rear direction, so that the moving direction of the contact 341 with respect to the circuit board 320 can be made in the direction along the circuit board 320. Also, the pressing direction of the function button 350 becomes the same as the pressing direction (downward direction) of the operation button 11 or the like, making it easier for the user to operate the function button 350.

[0110] [Structure of the operation stick] Fig. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the operation stick 400. Figs. 18A and 18B are cross-sectional views of the operation stick 400. Figs. 18A and 18B show cross-sections obtained by two mutually perpendicular cutting planes. In the present disclosure, Fig. 18A is a cross-sectional view obtained by a cutting plane parallel to the Y-axis and the Z-axis, and Fig. 18B is a cross-sectional view obtained by a cutting plane parallel to the X-axis and the Z-axis. The rotational position of the operation stick 400 around the Z-axis is not limited to the examples shown in Figs. 18A and 18B. For example, Fig. 18B may be a cross-sectional view obtained by a cutting plane parallel to the Y-axis and the Z-axis, and Fig. 18A may be a cross-sectional view obtained by a cutting plane parallel to the X-axis and the Z-axis.

[0111] As shown in Fig. 17, the operation stick 400 has a top member 410 having an upper surface 410a that the user's finger touches, and a base member 420 to which the top member 410 is attached. The top member 410 has a disk-shaped top 411 including the upper surface 410a, and a cylindrical portion 412 extending downward from the top 411. Also, the cylindrical portion 412 of the top member 410 has a plurality of extending portions 413 that extend in the vertical direction and constitute the lower end of the cylindrical portion 412.

[0112] The top member 410 and the base member 420 may be formed of, for example, resin. The top portion 411 and the cylindrical portion 412 may be integrally formed, or each may be formed as a separate member. Further, when the top portion 411 and the cylindrical portion 412 are formed as separate members, the material of the top portion 411 may be different from the material of the cylindrical portion 412. For example, the top portion 411 may be formed of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer. As yet another example, the top member 410 may be formed by two-color molding. In this case, the upper surface 410a of the top portion 411 may be formed of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer.

[0113] The base member 420 has a dome-shaped cover portion 421 and a column portion 422 extending in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 18A, a recess 424 is formed on the lower surface of the column portion 422. By inserting a support projection 331 extending upward from the support mechanism 330 into this recess 424, the operation stick 400 including the column portion 422 is supported by the support projection 331 (see FIG. 16). The cover portion 421 extends radially from the lower end of the column portion 422. The column portion 422 is disposed at the center of the cover portion 421. In a state where the base member 420 is supported by the support projection 331 of the support mechanism 330, the cover portion 421 covers the upper side of the support mechanism 330.

[0114] As shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the column portion 422 of the base member 420 can be fitted inside the cylindrical portion 412 of the top member 410. Further, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18A, a plurality of holes H42 surrounding the base of the column portion 422 are formed on the upper surface of the cover portion 421. A plurality of extension portions 413 formed on the top member 410 can be respectively fitted into these plurality of holes H42.

[0115] As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18A, an elastic member 430 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the column portion 422 of the base member 420. The elastic member 430 is located inside the cylindrical portion 412 of the top member 410 and catches on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 412. Thereby, the elastic member 430 restricts the upward movement of the top member 410. That is, the elastic member 430 regulates the top member 410 from coming off the base member 420. The elastic member 430 is, for example, in a C shape or an arc shape formed of metal and is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical column portion 422. Not limited to this, the elastic member 430 may have a rectangular frame shape. Also, the column portion 422 may be prismatic.

[0116] As shown in FIG. 17, the elastic member 430 is elastically deformable such that two end portions 431a and 431b are close to each other. Also, as shown in FIG. 18A, the elastic member 430 has an inclined surface 432 facing obliquely downward. The cylindrical portion 412 of the top member 410 has, on its inner surface, an engaging convex portion 412a that engages with the inclined surface 432 of the elastic member 430. The engaging convex portion 412a protrudes from the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 412 and has an upper surface 412c facing obliquely upward with respect to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 412 and a lower surface 412b facing obliquely downward with respect to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 412. When the column portion 422 of the base member 420 is fitted inside the cylindrical portion 412, the lower surface 412b of the engaging convex portion 412a overrides the elastic member 430, and the upper surface 412c of the engaging convex portion 412a catches on the inclined surface 432 of the elastic member 430.

[0117] In this way, by restricting the upward movement of the top member 410 by the elastic member 430 attached to the column portion 422 of the base member 420, it is possible to regulate the top member 410 from coming off the base member 420. Also, when the user pulls the top member 410 attached to the base member 420 upward, the elastic member 430 is pushed by the engaging convex portion 412a formed inside the cylindrical portion 412 and bends. Thereby, the user can pull out the top member 410 from the base member 420 and can replace the top member 410 with another operated member (for example, one having a different height from the lower end to the top 411).

[0118] As shown in FIG. 17, a groove portion 423 to which an elastic member 430 is attached is formed on the outer surface of the column portion 422 of the base member 420. When the elastic member 430 is hooked inside this groove portion 423, the elastic member 430 is attached to the base member 420. Further, a convex portion 433 that protrudes upward is formed on the elastic member 430. A concave portion 423a is formed in the groove portion 423, and as shown in FIG. 18B, the convex portion 433 enters inside this concave portion 423a. By the convex portion 433 hitting the inner surface of the concave portion 423a, rotation of the elastic member 430 about the axis of the column portion 422 along the vertical direction can be restricted. Further, the groove portion 423 extends to the two end portions 431a and 431b of the elastic member 430. No groove portion 423 is formed between the two end portions 431a and 431b. Rotation of the elastic member 430 around the column portion 422 can also be restricted by the end portions 431a and 431b hitting the inner surface of the groove portion 423 (the end surface in the circumferential direction centered on the axis of the column portion 422).

[0119] As shown in FIG. 18A, the thickness D1 of the column portion 422 in the Y-axis direction at the location where the groove portion 423 is formed is smaller than the diameter D2 of the circle defined by the inner peripheral surface of the elastic member 430 which is C-shaped or arc-shaped. For this reason, a gap is formed between the elastic member 430 and the column portion 422 in a direction orthogonal to the Z-axis direction. Due to this gap, the elastic member 430 can be pushed by the engaging convex portion 412a and elastically deformed.

[0120] Further, in the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 18B, the thickness D3 of the column portion 422 at the location where the groove portion 423 is formed is larger than the thickness D1 of the column portion 422 in the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 18A and the diameter D2 of the circle defined by the elastic member 430. For this reason, at the location where the convex portion 433 (FIG. 17) of the elastic member 430 is formed, no gap is formed between the elastic member 430 and the column portion 422. Thereby, the convex portion 433 of the elastic member 430 is caught by the concave portion 423a of the groove portion 423 formed in the column portion 422, and it is possible to suppress the elastic member 430 from coming off the column portion 422 or the elastic member 430 from rotating relative to the column portion 422.

[0121] As shown in FIG. 18A, the base member 420 has a contact surface 421b (first surface) that contacts the top member 410 in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the operation stick 400 along the vertical direction, at a position lower than the position where the elastic member 430 is attached. By this contact, displacement between the top member 410 and the base member 420 in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the operation stick 400 can be restricted. In the example shown in the figure, as described above, the top member 410 has a plurality of extension portions 413 that protrude downward from the cylindrical portion 412 and surround the column portion 422. On the other hand, the base member 420 has a plurality of holes H42 that surround the base of the column portion 422. The plurality of extension portions 413 are inserted inside the plurality of holes H42. And the outer surface of the extension portion 413 (the surface facing the outer side in the radial direction of the operation stick 400) is in contact with the inner surface of the hole H42 (the surface facing the inner side in the radial direction of the operation stick 400). That is, the inner surface of the hole H42 functions as the contact surface 421b. Thereby, displacement between the top member 410 and the base member 420 in the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction can be restricted. Also in the circumferential direction of the operation stick 400, the extension portion 413 abuts against the inner surface of the hole H42. Thereby, displacement between the top member 410 and the base member 420 in the circumferential direction of the operation stick 400 can be restricted.

[0122] Note that, different from the example shown in the figure, the inner surface of the extension portion 413 (the surface facing the inner side in the radial direction of the operation stick 400) may be in contact with the inner surface 422b of the hole H42 (the surface facing the outer side in the radial direction of the operation stick 400). Also by this contact, displacement between the top member 410 and the base member 420 in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the operation stick 400 can be restricted.

[0123] Further, the column portion 422 of the base member 420 has a contact surface (second surface) 422c that contacts the top member 410 at a position higher than the position where the elastic member 430 is attached. The contact surface 422c restricts the displacement between the top member 410 and the base member 420 in the direction orthogonal to the column portion 422. As shown in FIG. 17, the column portion 422 has a first fitting portion 425 that is a recess at its upper end. Further, as shown in FIG. 18A, the top member 410 has a second fitting portion 415 that is a protrusion on its lower surface. The first fitting portion 425 and the second fitting portion 415 are fitted in the vertical direction. And, the outer peripheral surface of the second fitting portion 415 contacts the inner surface of the first fitting portion 425. That is, the inner surface of the first fitting portion 425 functions as the contact surface 422c described above. By doing so, the displacement between the top member 410 and the base member 420 in the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction orthogonal to the vertical direction in which the column portion 422 extends can be restricted.

[0124] Note that, contrary to the example shown in the figure, the first fitting portion 425 may be a protrusion. In this case, the second fitting portion 415 may be a recess into which the first fitting portion 425, which is a protrusion, fits. By doing so as well, the displacement between the top member 410 and the base member 420 in the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction can be restricted.

[0125] [Internal Structure of Trigger Unit] FIGS. 19A and 19B are perspective views of a trigger unit 130 attached to the main frame 50. FIG. 19A shows the trigger unit 13 0It is a view looking at the left side from diagonally below. FIG. 19B is a view looking at the left side of the trigger unit 130 from diagonally above. FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the trigger unit 130. FIGS. 21A to 21D are views showing a part of the members constituting the trigger unit 130, and show the positions of the trigger button 16, the stopper member 620, and the operation member 630. FIGS. 21A to 21C show the lower sides of the trigger button 16, the stopper member 620, and the operation member 630, and FIG. 21D shows the left side surface of the trigger button 16, the stopper member 620, and the operation member 630 in the state of FIG. 21C (a view looking at the trigger button 16 etc. in the direction of arrow XXId in FIG. 21C). Note that FIGS. 19A and 19B show the trigger unit 130L attached to the left side of the main frame 50, but the trigger unit 130R attached to the right side of the main frame 50 also has the same configuration as the left trigger unit 130L.

[0126] As shown in FIG. 19A, the trigger unit 130 has an operation button 15, a trigger button 16, and a rear switch 19. As shown in FIG. 20, the trigger unit 130 has a core unit 500 to which the operation button 15 and the trigger button 16 are attached, and a stopper unit 600 attached to the core unit 500 to limit the movable range of the trigger button 16. The core unit 500 has a circuit board 510 and a motor 520. The circuit board 510 is attached to the side surface of the core unit 500. The motor 520 is attached to the rear end of the core unit 500, and the rotation axis of the motor 520 is disposed inside the core unit 500.

[0127] The trigger button 16 has a supported portion H16 (see FIG. 21D) at its base. The supported portion H16 is a hole, and a rod-shaped shaft member 501 (see FIG. 20) is fitted inside this hole H16. The trigger button 16 can move in a rotation direction R5 (see FIG. 21D) centered on an axis Ax5 along the left-right direction defined by the shaft member 501.

[0128] The stopper unit 600 has a guide frame 610, a stopper member 620 attached to the guide frame 610, and an operation member 630. As shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the guide frame 610 is fixed to the core unit 500 by screws 641 and 642.

[0129] The stopper member 620 is housed inside the upper case 40 and the lower case 80, which are exterior members of the input device 1A. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, a rear switch 19, which is a part of the operation member 630, is exposed outside (lower side) of the lower case 80 through a hole H20 (see FIG. 3). The rear switch 19 is integrally formed with the operation member 630 and protrudes downward from the operation member 630.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 20, the lower surface 16d of the trigger button 16 is curved so as to surround the center line Ax16 of the trigger button 16 along the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 3, an opening 80a for exposing the trigger button 16 to the front side is formed in the lower case 80. The edge of the opening 80a is curved along the lower surface 16d of the trigger button 16. And, on the lower surface 82 of the lower case 80, a portion 82a located around the edge of the opening 80a is also curved in accordance with the lower surface 16d of the trigger button 16 (hereinafter, this portion 82a is referred to as a curved portion). The stopper member 620 moves along the curved portion 82a inside the curved portion 82a of the lower surface 82. That is, the stopper member 620 moves along a curve inside the curved portion 82a. As shown in FIG. 20, a guide convex portion 611 is formed on the guide frame 610. The guide convex portion 611 is curved along the curved portion 82a. The stopper member 620 has a guided portion 621. A concave portion (groove portion) into which the guide convex portion 611 fits is formed in the guided portion 621. The guided portion 621 is curved along the curved portion 82a, similar to the guide convex portion 611. The stopper member 620 can move along the guide convex portion 611.

[0131] FIG. 21A shows the state where the stopper member 620 is in the initial position (the first position), FIG. 21C shows the state where the stopper member 620 is in the final position (the second position), and FIG. 21B shows the state where the stopper member 620 is in the intermediate position (the third position) between the initial position and the final position. The stopper member 620 is movable between the initial position shown in FIG. 21A and the final position shown in FIG. 21C. In the example shown in the figure, the stopper unit 600 is arranged on the left side of the trigger button 16. As shown in FIGS. 21A to 21C, the trailing edge (lower edge) of the trigger button 16 has a trailing edge 16b that protrudes further rearward than the trailing edge 16a on the left part thereof (the trailing edge on the side of the stopper unit 600). The stopper member 620 has a top portion 622 at the tip of the guided portion 621, which is a stopper portion protruding in the direction of the trigger button 16. The top portion 622 of the stopper member 620 hits the trailing edges 16a and 16b, which are the stopper portions of the trigger button 16, thereby restricting the movable range of the trigger button 16.

[0132] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 21A, when the stopper member 620 is in the initial position, the top portion 622 of the stopper member 620 is located outside the region through which the trailing edges 16a and 16b pass when the trigger button 16 moves around the axis Ax5. In the example shown in the figure, the top portion 622 of the stopper member 620 is located to the left of the region through which the trailing edges 16a and 16b pass. Therefore, when the trigger button 16 moves around the axis Ax5, no interference occurs between the top portion 622 and the trailing edges 16a and 16b. Accordingly, the trigger button 16 can move within the range of a distance ΔR1, which is the maximum movable range (the first range). In other words, in the state where the stopper member 620 is located in the initial position, the movement of the trigger button 16 within the range of the distance ΔR1 is allowed.

[0133] As shown in FIG. 21C, when the stopper member 620 is in the final position, the top 622 of the stopper member 620 is located on the way of the region through which the trailing edge 16b (the portion protruding rearward) passes when the trigger button 16 moves about the axis Ax5. Therefore, when the trigger button 16 moves about the axis Ax5, the trailing edge 16b hits the top 622 of the stopper member 620, and the movable range of the trigger button 16 becomes within the range of a distance ΔR3 which is the minimum movable range. In other words, in the state where the stopper member 620 is located at the final position, the movable range of the trigger button 16 is restricted to a range of a distance ΔR3 which is smaller than the range of the distance ΔR1.

[0134] As shown in FIG. 21B, when the stopper member 620 is in the intermediate position, the top 622 of the stopper member 620 is located on the way of the region through which the trailing edge 16a (the edge located more forward than the trailing edge 16b) passes when the trigger button 16 moves about the axis Ax5. Therefore, when the trigger button 16 moves about the axis Ax5, the trailing edge 16a abuts against the top 622 of the stopper member 620, and the movable range of the trigger button 16 becomes within the range of a distance ΔR2 which is the intermediate movable range. In other words, in the state where the stopper member 620 is located at the intermediate position, the movable range of the trigger button 16 is restricted to a range of a distance ΔR2 which is between the range of the distance ΔR1 and the range of the distance ΔR3.

[0135] Note that the shape of the stopper member 620 is not limited to the example shown in the figure. For example, the stopper member 620 may not have the top 622 protruding toward the trigger button 16. In this case, the guided portion 621 of the stopper member 620 may hit the edges 16a·16b of the trigger button 16.

[0136] The operation member 630 is engaged with the stopper member 620 and moves together with the stopper member 620. As shown in FIGS. 19B and 21C, a convex portion 623 that protrudes leftward (in the X2 direction) from the end portion (specifically, the front end portion) of the guided portion 621 is formed on the stopper member 620. A hole H63 (see FIG. 19B) that opens in the left-right direction is formed in the operation member 630. By fitting the convex portion 623 of the stopper member 620 inside this hole H63, the movement of the operation member 630 is transmitted to the stopper member 620 via the convex portion 623. Note that instead of the hole H63, a concave portion such as a notch or groove into which the convex portion 623 of the stopper member 620 fits may be formed in the operation member 630. Further, a concave portion may be formed in the stopper member 620, or a convex portion that fits into the concave portion of the stopper member 620 may be formed in the operation member 630.

[0137] The operation member 630 moves the stopper member 620 between the initial position shown in FIG. 21A and the final position shown in FIG. 21C. When the rear switch 19 is in the most forward position, the stopper member 620 is disposed at the initial position (see FIG. 21A). When the rear switch 19 is in the rearmost position, the stopper member 620 is disposed at the final position (see FIG. 21C). When the rear switch 19 is at a position (intermediate position) between the most forward position and the rearmost position, the stopper member 620 is disposed at the intermediate position (see FIG. 21B). By the user operating the rear switch 19, the operation member 630 moves, and the stopper member 620 moves between the initial position and the final position with respect to the guide frame 610. Then, due to the movement of the stopper member 620, the movable range of the trigger button 16 changes within the range of the above-described distance ΔR1 to distance ΔR3 (see FIGS. 21A to 21C). Accordingly, the user can set the movable range of the trigger button 16 to any range from the distance ΔR1 to the distance ΔR3 by operating the rear switch 19, and the movable range of the trigger button 16 can be adjusted.

[0138] The operating member 630 can move in a direction different from that of the stopper member 620. Specifically, the operating member 630 can move along a straight line. The operating member 630 can move in a direction orthogonal to the rotational direction R5 in which the trigger button 16 moves. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 21A to 21C, the stopper member 620 moves in the left - right direction in a bottom - view of the trigger button 16. As described above, in the present embodiment, the stopper member 620 can move along the curved portion 82a of the lower case 80 (in other words, along the lower surface 16d of the trigger button 16). In this way, since the moving direction of the operating member 630 is different from the moving direction of the stopper member 620, the moving direction of the operating member 630 (rear switch 19) can be set in a direction that is easy for the user to operate.

[0139] In the present embodiment, the operating member 630 can linearly move in the front - rear direction (Y - axis direction in FIG. 19A), which is the pushing direction of the trigger button 16, along the lower surface of the guide frame 610. The user can move the rear switch 19 provided on the operating member 630 along the pushing direction of the trigger button 16. Thereby, it can be made easier for the user to intuitively grasp that the rear switch 19 can set the movable range of the trigger button 16.

[0140] The user can move the rear switch 19 exposed from the hole H20 in the front - rear direction. When the rear switch 19 is moved, the entire operating member 630 including the rear switch 19 moves in the front - rear direction with respect to the guide frame 610. An uneven pattern is formed on the lower surface of the rear switch 19. This facilitates the user's operation on the rear switch 19. Note that the direction in which the operating member 630 and the rear switch 19 can move is not limited to the front - rear direction, and for example, they may be able to move in the left - right direction.

[0141] As shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the opening of the hole H63 formed in the operation member 630 extends in the vertical direction. The hole H63 restricts the relative movement in the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction) between the operation member 630 and the stopper member 620, but allows their relative movement in the vertical direction. Thus, the operation member 630 can move in a direction different from that of the stopper member 620.

[0142] The operation member 630 has a first plate portion 631 (see FIG. 21A) having the lower surface of the operation member 630 and a second plate portion 632 (see FIG. 19B) in which the hole H63 is formed. The second plate portion 632 is connected to the first plate portion 631 and extends upward (in the Z1 direction in FIG. 19B) from the first plate portion 631. Further, a guide hole H61 (see FIG. 19B) that opens in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) is formed in the guide frame 610 to which the operation member 630 is attached. The second plate portion 632 of the operation member 630 is passed through the inside of the guide hole H61.

[0143] As shown in FIG. 21B, the first plate portion 631 having the lower surface of the operation member 630 has a first recess 631a and a second recess 631b on the side surface on the trigger button 16 side. The guide frame 610 has an engaging member 612 (see FIG. 20) protruding from the side surface of the first plate portion 631 attached thereto. In a state where the operation member 630 is in the initial position shown in FIG. 21A (the foremost position where the stopper member 620 is disposed in the initial position), the tip of the engaging member 612 is caught by the rear end of the first plate portion 631, restricting the backward movement of the operation member 630. In a state where the operation member 630 is in the intermediate position shown in FIG. 21B (the position where the stopper member 620 is installed in the intermediate position), the tip of the engaging member 612 is caught by the first recess 631a. As a result, the engaging member 612 holds the operation member 630 in the intermediate position. In a state where the operation member 630 is in the final position shown in FIG. 21C (the rearmost position where the stopper member 620 is installed in the final position), the engaging member 612 is caught by the second recess 631b that is in front of the first recess 631a, restricting the backward movement of the operation member 630. In this way, the operation member 630 is held at predetermined positions of the initial position, the intermediate position, and the final position shown in FIGS. 21A to 21C, respectively, by engagement with the engaging member 612, and the movable range of the trigger button 16 is set to any one of a plurality of stages (three stages in this embodiment).

[0144] As shown in FIG. 20, a torsion spring 644 is attached to the guide frame 610. One end of the torsion spring 644 is caught by the guide frame 610, and the other end is caught by the engaging member 612. As a result, the torsion spring 644 biases the engaging member 612 toward the side surface of the operation member 630 (the surface on which the recesses 631a and 631b are formed). The operation member 630 can move to the above-described three positions by resisting the elastic force of the torsion spring 644.

[0145] FIG. 22 is a view showing a stopper member 620 and a circuit board 510 (see FIG. 20) attached to the core unit 500. As shown in FIG. 22, the stopper member 620 has a convex portion 624 protruding from a guided portion 621. The convex portion 624 protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the convex portion 623 protrudes. The convex portion 624 protrudes obliquely upward (Z1 direction) and rearward (Y2 direction) from the stopper member 620. An elastic member 650 is attached to the tip of the convex portion 624. The elastic member 650 is, for example, a sheet metal and is fixed to the tip of the convex portion 624 by a screw 643.

[0146] As shown in FIG. 19B, with the stopper member 620 attached to the guide frame 610, the convex portion 624 of the stopper member 620 protrudes obliquely upward (Z1 direction) through a hole formed in the guide frame 610. The elastic member 650 attached to the convex portion 624 presses the stopper member 620 against the guide frame 610 by hitting a guide slope 610a formed in the guide frame 610. By doing so, when the trigger button 16 collides with the stopper member 620, it is possible to suppress the stopper member 620 from colliding with the guide frame 610 and generating an impact sound.

[0147] As shown in FIG. 22, a first sensor 511, a second sensor 512, and a processor (not shown) are mounted on the circuit board 510 attached to the core unit 500. The first sensor 511 is for detecting the position of the stopper member 620 and has a movable convex portion 511a protruding toward the stopper member 620. The stopper member 620 has two wall portions 625a, 625b protruding toward the first sensor 511, and the movable convex portion 511a of the first sensor 511 is disposed between the two wall portions 625a, 625b. As the stopper member 620 moves between the initial position and the final position, the movable convex portion 511a of the first sensor 511 is pushed by one of the two wall portions 625a, 625b and moves about the axis Ax51 of the sensor 511 perpendicular to the circuit board 510. Based on the position of this movable convex portion 511a, the first sensor 511 can detect the position of the stopper member 620.

[0148] The first sensor 511 may be for detecting the position of the operation member 630. In this case, the first sensor 511 may protrude in the direction of the operation member 630 and have a movable convex portion that is pushed and moved by the operation member 630. By doing so, the position of the stopper member 620 can be indirectly detected based on the output of the first sensor 511. Also, the first sensor 511 may be a non-contact type sensor such as an optical sensor. The first sensor 511 may be any sensor that detects the position of the stopper member 620 or the operation member 630.

[0149] The core unit 500 may have a sensor (not shown) for detecting the amount of depression of the trigger button 16. The processor mounted on the circuit board 510, or / and the processor mounted on the circuit board 60 attached to the main frame 50, may transmit the ratio of the amount of depression of the trigger button 16 to the movable range of the trigger button 16 to the information processing apparatus executing the game program. The processor may maintain a certain resolution regarding the position of the trigger button 16 without depending on the position of the stopper member 620. Since the movable range of the trigger button 16 is determined by the positions of the operation member 630 and the stopper member 620, the movable range of the trigger button 16 can be detected based on the output from the first sensor 511.

[0150] The second sensor 512 is for detecting the position of an actuator 550 (see FIG. 23) described later, and is arranged behind the first sensor 511. By mounting the first and second sensors 511, 512 on the same circuit board 510, the number of components of the trigger unit 130 can be reduced as compared with the case where each sensor is mounted on two circuit boards respectively.

[0151] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the core unit 500, and shows a state in which a cover attached to a side surface of the core unit 500 (the side surface opposite to the side surface to which the circuit board 510 is attached) is removed. As shown in FIG. 23, the rotating shaft of the motor 520 attached to the core unit 500 is inserted into a first gear 530 which is, for example, a worm gear. Further, inside the core unit 500, a second gear 540 and an actuator 550 are arranged. The actuator 550 has a gear portion 551 that constitutes a part of a gear and a convex portion 552 that protrudes in the direction of the trigger button 16. The second gear 540 meshes with the first gear 530 and the gear portion 551 of the actuator 550. The actuator 550 is attached to the shaft member 501, and can move in the rotational direction R5 about the axis Ax5 defined by the shaft member 501, similar to the trigger button 16.

[0152] In the example shown in FIG. 23, the second gear 540 is a two-stage spur gear, the first gear 530 meshes with the large-diameter gear, and the gear portion 551 of the actuator 550 meshes with the small-diameter gear. However, the internal structure of the core unit 500 is not limited to this. For example, the second gear 540 may not be a two-stage spur gear, and the first gear 530 may not be a worm gear. Further, the core unit 500 may not have the second gear 540, and the gear portion 551 of the actuator 550 may directly mesh with the first gear 530.

[0153] The convex portion 552 formed on the actuator 550 hits the trailing edge 16c of the trigger button 16. The trailing edge 16c is the edge on the side opposite to the stopper member 620, sandwiching the trailing edge 16a protruding rearward shown in FIG. 21A. When the trigger button 16 is pressed by the user, the convex portion 552 hits the trailing edge 16c of the trigger button 16, causing a force in the direction opposite to the direction in which the trigger button 16 is pressed to act on the user's finger. Here, the processor mounted on the circuit board 510 (or / and the processor mounted on the circuit board 60 attached to the main frame 50) and the motor 520 attached to the trigger unit 130 function as a control device for driving the actuator 550. When a force in the opposite direction acts on the user's finger when the trigger button 16 is pressed, the control device realized by the processor and the motor 520, for example, moves the actuator 550 to a position where the convex portion 552 of the actuator 550 contacts the trailing edge 16c of the trigger button 16, as shown in FIG. 23. Also, when no force in the opposite direction acts when the trigger button 16 is pressed, the control device moves the actuator 550 to a position where the convex portion 552 of the actuator 550 does not interfere with the trailing edge 16c of the trigger button 16. Whether a force in the opposite direction acts when the trigger button 16 is pressed (that is, the target position where the convex portion 552 of the actuator 550 is arranged) may be set according to the environment and situation of the game executed by the information processing device.

[0154] The second sensor 512 is for detecting the position of the actuator 550, and in this embodiment, is an encoder that outputs a signal according to the rotational position of the motor 520. The end of the shaft portion of the second gear 540 is fitted to the second sensor 512. Based on the output of the second sensor 512, the position of the actuator 550 that changes according to the rotation angle of the second gear 540 can be detected. Then, the control device drives the actuator 550 based on the output from the second sensor 512. For example, when the position of the convex portion 552 shown in the output from the second sensor 512 is different from the target position, the control device drives the actuator 550 so that the position of the convex portion 552 is arranged at the target position.

[0155] As shown in FIGS. 21A to 21C, the movable range of the trigger button 16 changes according to the positions of the stopper member 620 and the operation member 630. For this reason, the control device realized by the processor, the motor 520, etc. drives the actuator 550 based on the position of the stopper member 620 or the position of the operation member 630. For example, when the stopper member 620 and the operation member 630 are in the initial positions shown in FIG. 21A and the trigger button 16 can move within a range of distance ΔR1, the control device drives the actuator 550 so as to dispose the convex portion 552 of the actuator 550 within the range of distance ΔR1. Further, when the stopper member 620 and the operation member 630 are in the intermediate positions shown in FIG. 21B and the trigger button 16 can move within a range of distance ΔR2, the control device drives the actuator 550 so as to dispose the convex portion 552 within the range of distance ΔR2. Similarly, when the stopper member 620 and the operation member 630 are in the final positions shown in FIG. 21C and the trigger button 16 can move within a range of distance ΔR3, the control device drives the actuator 550 so as to dispose the convex portion 552 within the range of distance ΔR3.

[0156] In the present embodiment, the position of the stopper member 620 is detected by the first sensor 511, and the control device drives the actuator 550 based on the output from the first sensor 511 indicating the position of the stopper member 620. Not limited to this, the first sensor 511 may detect the position of the operation member 630, and the control device may drive the actuator 550 based on the output from the first sensor 511 indicating the position of the operation member 630.

[0157] Also, the timing at which the force in the opposite direction by the actuator 550 acts on the user's finger may be when the user starts pressing the trigger button 16, or may be while the user is pressing the trigger button 16. For example, when the trigger button 16 can move within a range of distance ΔR1, by arranging the actuator 550 at the middle position within the range of distance ΔR1, a force in the opposite direction can be applied while the user is pressing the trigger button 16. Also, when the trigger button 16 can move within a range of distance ΔR2, for example, the actuator 550 is arranged at the middle position within the range of distance ΔR2. When the trigger button 16 can move within a range of distance ΔR3, for example, the actuator 550 is arranged at the middle position within the range of distance ΔR3. By doing so, even when the movable range of the trigger button 16 is smaller than the range of distance ΔR1 which is the maximum range, a force in the opposite direction can be applied while the user is pressing the trigger button 16.

[0158] [Summary] (1) As described above, the input device 1A has a function button 350 that protrudes rearward from the central portion 10M of the input device 1A and is arranged in the region A surrounded by the rear edge 10Ma of the central portion 10M, the right side surface 10La of the left grip, and the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip in the plan view shown in FIG. 1. By doing so, it does not interfere with the operations on the operation button 11, the direction key 12, the operation stick 400, etc. by the user, and the user can promptly operate the function button 350 as needed.

[0159] (2) Also, as shown in FIG. 4 etc., the input device 1A has a main body 10 in which a housing recess U10 that opens upward and rearward is formed, and a stick unit 30 having an operation stick 400 is detachable with respect to this housing recess U10. By doing so, the user can replace the stick unit 30 with another stick unit (such as an unused stick unit). At this time, the user can easily remove the stick unit 30 by pulling the stick unit 30 backward while pressing the upper part of the stick unit 30. Thereby, the user can easily replace the part where the operation stick 400 is provided.

[0160] (3) Also, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B etc., the input device 1A has a reinforcing frame 70 that houses a support member 210 that supports a rear button 17 and a sensor 240. The support member 210 has a shaft portion 212, and can move around an axis Ax1 defined by this shaft portion 212. The rear button 17 protrudes from the lower case 80 and the lower cover 90 in a state of being attached to the support member 210 so as to move together with the support member 210, and is detachable from the support member 210 by an operation on the rear button 17 from the outside of the lower case 80 and the lower cover 90 by the user. By doing so, depending on the type of game executed by the information processing device, the user can arbitrarily select the presence or absence of the rear button 17 with the input device 1A.

[0161] (4) Also, as shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the internal structure of the input device 1A includes a main frame 50 and a reinforcing frame 70. The reinforcing frame 70 is formed of a material having higher rigidity than the main frame 50 and is attached to the main frame 50. Then, an upper case 40 that covers the upper side of the internal structure of the input device 1A and a lower case 80 that covers the lower side of the internal structure are attached to the internal structure. In this way, by attaching the upper case 40 and the lower case 80 to the internal structure including the reinforcing frame 70 formed of a material having high rigidity, the rigidity of the upper case 40 and the rigidity of the lower case 80 can be ensured, and the rigidity of the entire input device 1A can be ensured.

[0162] (5) Also, the input device 1A has a plurality of screws for fixing the lower case 80 to at least one of the upper case 40, the main frame 50, and the reinforcing frame 70. Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, the input device 1A has a lower cover 90 that is attached to the lower surface 82 of the lower case 80 and covers a plurality of mounting holes formed in the lower case 80. The lower cover 90 constitutes at least a part of each of the lower surface of the device front portion 10F, the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip 10BR, and the right side surface 10La of the left grip 10BL. In this way, by covering the plurality of screws inserted into the lower case 80 with the lower cover 90 and forming at least a part of the input device 1A with the lower cover 90, while suppressing the influence on the appearance of the input device 1A, the fixing strength of the cases 40 and 80 and the frames 50 and 70 can be increased, and the rigidity of the input device 1A can be increased.

[0163] (6) Also, as shown in FIG. 15, the input device 1A has an operation stick 400. As shown in FIG. 17, a top member 410 including an upper surface 410a touched by a user's finger in the operation stick 400 has a cylindrical portion 412 extending downward. A base member 420 to which the top member 410 is attached has a column portion 422 that can be fitted inside the cylindrical portion 412. And, as shown in FIG. 18A, an elastic member 430 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the column portion 422. The elastic member 430 is located inside the cylindrical portion 412 and restricts the upward movement of the top member 410 by catching on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 412. When the user biases the top member 410 in the attached state to the base member 420 upward, the elastic member 430 bends. Thereby, the user can pull out the top member 410 from the base member 420. By replacing the top member 410 with another one, the user can easily change the height, size, shape, texture, etc. of the operation stick 400.

[0164] (7) Also, as shown in FIGS. 19A and 20, the trigger unit 130 of the input device 1A has a stopper member 620 that abuts against the rear edges 16a, 16b of the trigger buttons to limit the movable range of the trigger button 16. As shown in FIGS. 21A and 21C, the stopper member 620 is movable between an initial position that allows the movement of the trigger button within a range of distance ΔR1 and a final position that restricts the movement of the trigger button within a range of distance ΔR3 that is smaller than the range of distance ΔR1. The operation member 630 engages with the stopper member 620 and can move in a direction different from that of the stopper member 620, moving the stopper member 620 between the initial position and the final position. By operating the operation member 630, the user can move the stopper member 620 between the initial position and the final position, enabling adjustment of the movable range of the trigger button 16.

[0165] [Modification Example] The present invention is not limited to the input device 1A described above, and various modifications may be made. For example, the arrangement of the operation members (such as the operation button 11) in the input device 1A is not limited to the example of FIG. 1. The number of operation buttons 11 may be one, or may be a plurality other than four. Further, the positions of the plurality of operation buttons 11 and the position of the direction key 12 may be interchanged.

[0166] Also, in the example of FIG. 1, the function button 350 protrudes rearward from the central portion 10M, but the function button 350 may protrude rightward from the left grip 10BL or may protrude rightward from the right grip 10BR. By doing so, the operation of the operation button 11, the direction key 12, the operation stick 400, etc. by the user is not hindered, and the user can quickly operate the function button 350 as needed. Note that the arrangement of the operation stick 400 and the function button 350 in the input device 1A is not limited to the example of FIG. 1. For example, the number of operation sticks 400 and function buttons 350 in the input device 1A may be one, or may be a plurality of three or more. Further, the number of operation sticks 400 and the number of function buttons 350 do not have to match.

[0167] Also, in the example of FIG. 8, both the upper case 40 that covers the upper side of the internal structure including the main frame 50 and the reinforcing frame 70 and the lower case 80 that covers the lower side of the internal structure are attached to the internal structure by screws, but the upper case 40 may be attached only to the lower case 80 or may be attached to both the internal structure and the lower case 80. By ensuring the rigidity of the lower case 80 by the internal structure including the reinforcing frame 70, the rigidity of the upper case 40 can be ensured even when the upper case 40 is attached only to the lower case 80. Further, when the upper case 40 is attached to the internal structure, the lower case 80 may be attached only to the upper case 40. By doing so, it is also possible to ensure the rigidity of the upper case 40 and the lower case 80.

[0168] Hereinafter, the input device 1B according to a modified example (another example of the embodiment) of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 24 shows the bottom surface of the upper cover 2 0 and a perspective exploded view of the main body 10 of the input device 1B. FIG. 25 is a bottom view showing the bottom surface of the input device 1B. FIG. 26 is a view showing a part of the bottom surface of the input device 1B with the lower cover 90 removed. The input device 1B has a cover locking member 700 described later, and is different from the input device 1A in that the upper cover 20 can be removed by operating the cover locking member 700. Further, the input device 1B has an operation lever 800 described later, and is different from the input device 1A in that the stick unit 30 can be attached and detached by operating the operation lever 800.

[0169] [Attachment Structure of Upper Cover] Similar to the input device 1A, an upper cover 20 (first exterior cover) is attached to the main body 10 of the input device 1B. As shown in FIG. 24, the accommodation recess U10 formed in the main body 10 of the input device 1B opens in two directions, upward (in the Z1 direction, the direction indicated by the arrow D1 in FIG. 24) and rearward (in the Y2 direction, the direction indicated by the arrow D2 in FIG. 24). And the operation stick 400 and the stick unit 30 including the support mechanism 330 of the operation stick 400 can be attached to and detached from the accommodation recess U10 in the front-rear direction. The upper cover 20 covers at least a part of the opening of the accommodation recess U10 by being attached to the main body 10. The main body 10 of the input device 1B has an upper case 40 and a lower case 80 that are combined in the vertical direction, and the operation stick 400, which is at least a part of the stick unit 30, protrudes upward from the upper case 40. The upper cover 20 covers the outer surface of the upper case 40 by being attached to the main body 10. Thereby, the upper cover 20, together with the upper case 40, constitutes at least a part of the upper surface 1d of the input device 1B.

[0170] As shown in FIG. 24, the upper cover 20 has an engaging portion 21 (first engaging portion) that catches on the main body 10 of the input device 1B. The engaging portion 21 is formed at the rear edge (first edge) of the upper cover 20. More specifically, the upper cover 20 has a rear wall portion 23 that constitutes the rear edge at the central portion of the upper cover 20. The engaging portion 21 is formed at the lower end of the rear wall portion 23. The upper cover 20 has two engaging portions 21 spaced apart in the left-right direction. Two recesses U40 in which two function buttons 350 are respectively disposed are formed in the rear wall portion 23, and in the left-right direction, the two engaging portions 21 are located between the two recesses U40. The two engaging portions 21 catch on an engaging portion 701 of a cover lock member 700, which will be described later, attached to the main body 10 of the input device 1B.

[0171] As shown in FIG. 26, the main body 10 of the input device 1B has a cover lock member 700. The cover lock member 700 extends along the left-right direction and is attached to a lower case 80 that constitutes the main body 10 of the input device 1B. The cover lock member 700 is attached to the rear edge of the lower case 80.

[0172] FIG. 27 is a view showing a part of the upper cover 20 and a part of the cover lock member 700. FIG. 27 shows the cover lock member 700 and the front side (inner side) of the upper cover 20 attached to the cover lock member 700. As shown in FIG. 27, the cover lock member 700 has an engaging portion 701 (second engaging portion) for catching on the engaging portion 21 of the upper cover 20. The engaging portion 21 has a claw portion 21a protruding to one side in the left-right direction (the right side (X2 direction) in the example of FIG. 27), and the engaging portion 701 has a claw portion 701a protruding to the other side in the left-right direction (the left side (X1 direction) in the example of FIG. 27). When the upper surface of the claw portion 21a contacts the lower surface of the convex portion 701, the claw portion 701a of the engaging portion 701 catches on the claw portion 21a of the engaging portion 21. The upper cover 20 has two engaging portions 21. The claw portions 21a of the two engaging portions 21 all protrude in the same direction. Also, the cover lock member 700 also has two engaging portions 701, and the claw portions 701a of the two engaging portions 701 all protrude in the same direction.

[0173] As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, the cover lock member 700 can move relative to the main body 10 of the input device 1B. The cover lock member 700 can move along the left - right direction with respect to the lower case 80 that constitutes the main body 10, and between a lock position where the engaging portion 701 of the cover lock member 700 engages with the engaging portion 21 of the upper cover 20, shown by the solid line in FIGS. 26 and 27, and an unlock position where the engagement between the engaging portion 701 of the cover lock member 700 and the engaging portion 21 of the upper cover 20 is released, shown by the two - dotted chain line in FIGS. 26 and 27. As shown in FIG. 27, the lock position of the cover lock member 700 is defined in the direction in which the claw portion 701a of the engaging portion 701 protrudes with respect to the unlock position. In other words, the unlock position of the cover lock member 700 is defined in the direction in which the claw portion 21a of the engaging portion 21 protrudes with respect to the lock position. When the cover lock member 700 moves to the unlock position, the lower surface of the convex portion 701 of the engaging portion 701 separates from the upper surface of the claw portion 21a of the engaging portion 21, and the engagement (engagement) of the engaging portion 701 with respect to the engaging portion 21 is released. That is, the lock of the upper cover 20 with respect to the main body 10 is released.

[0174] As shown in FIG. 26, the cover lock member 700 is biased to the lock position, which is the initial position, by the elastic member 710. The elastic member 710 is, for example, a tension spring, and biases the cover lock member 700 to the lock position by pulling the cover lock member 700 with both ends of the elastic member 710 attached to the cover lock member 700 and the lower case 80. The elastic member 710 is attached to the left side or the right side of the cover lock member 700 (the left side in the example shown in FIG. 26). The cover lock member 700 has an attachment portion 702 to which one end of the elastic member 710 is attached, and the lower case 80 has an attachment portion 84 to which the other end of the elastic member 710 is attached.

[0175] FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXVIII-XXVIII of FIG. 25. As shown in FIGS. 26 and 28, the cover lock member 700 has an operation portion 703 that protrudes downward from the lower surface 700f of the cover lock member 700 and is operated by a user. The operation portion 703 of the cover lock member 700 is located below the lower case 80. More specifically, the entire cover lock member 700 is located below the lower case 80. The lower case 80 has a recess 83 at its trailing edge. The recess 83 opens downward and rearward. The cover lock member 700 is attached inside the recess 83. The lower surface 700f of the cover lock member 700 is flush with the lower surface 82 of the lower case 80.

[0176] As shown in FIG. 28, the distance between the upper surface 1d and the lower surface 1f of the input device 1B gradually approaches rearward. Here, as shown in FIG. 24, the upper cover 20 that constitutes at least a part of the upper surface 1d of the input device 1B has an engaging portion 21 at its trailing edge. In this way, by providing the engaging portion 21 at a position where the distance between the upper surface 1d and the lower surface 1f becomes closer, and the engaging portion 21 engages with the engaging portion 701 of the cover lock member 700, the length of the engaging portions 21·701 in the vertical direction can be reduced. Thereby, the strength of the engaging portions 21·701 can be ensured. Further, as shown in FIG. 24, the engaging portion 701 of the cover lock member 700 is located at the trailing edge of the lower case 80. By doing so, the length of the engaging portions 21·701 in the vertical direction can also be reduced, and the strength of the engaging portions 21·701 can be ensured.

[0177] As shown in FIG. 25, the operation portion 703 of the cover lock member 700 is exposed on the lower surface 1f of the input device 1B. In other words, the operation portion 703 of the cover lock member 700 is located below the lower case 80 and is exposed on the outer surface of the input device 1B. As shown in FIG. 28, the lower cover 90 (second exterior cover) attached to the lower side of the input device 1B covers at least a part of the lower surface 82 of the lower case 80 and at least a part of the lower surface 700f of the cover lock member 700, and exposes the operation portion 703 of the cover lock member 700. The lower cover 90 has a hole H21 that exposes the operation portion 703 of the cover lock member 700. In the left - right direction in which the movement of the cover lock member 700 is permitted, the hole H21 is wider than the operation portion 703. For this reason, the user can move the operation portion 703 exposed from the hole H21 in the left - right direction. When the operation portion 703 is moved, the entire cover lock member 700 including the operation portion 703 moves in the left - right direction with respect to the lower case 80. Thereby, the cover lock member 700 can move between the lock position shown by the solid line in FIGS. 26 and 27 and the unlock position shown by the two - dotted chain line in the same figure.

[0178] As shown in FIG. 24, the upper cover 20 has an engaging portion 22 (third engaging portion) that engages with the main body 10 of the input device 1B at the front edge (second edge) of the upper cover 20. By providing the engaging portion 22 and the engaging portion 21 at the front edge and the rear edge of the upper cover 20 respectively, the user can, for example, perform the operation of engaging the engaging portion 21 at the rear edge of the upper cover 20 with the main body 10 after engaging the engaging portion 22 at the front edge of the upper cover 20 with the main body 10. That is, the attachment work of the upper cover 20 becomes easier. The upper cover 20 has two engaging portions 22 arranged at intervals in the left - right direction at the front edge of the upper cover 20. The two engaging portions 22 are respectively fitted into two recesses U13 arranged at the same interval in the left - right direction in the main body 10 of the input device 1B. Each engaging portion 22 extends downward from the front end of the edge of the hole H30 through which the operation stick 400 passes, and has a shape that protrudes forward at its lower end.

[0179] The recess U13 into which the engaging portion 22 of the upper cover 20 fits is formed in the upper case 40. The upper case 40 is open at the rear and has two recesses U13 into which the two engaging portions 22 respectively fit. The upper case 40 has a recess U11 that opens upward and rearward at the position of the receiving recess U10 where the stick unit 30 is disposed. At the front end of the rear surface 41 that curves along this recess U11, a recess U13 that opens rearward is formed.

[0180] As shown in FIG. 28, the main body 10 of the input device 1B has an elastic member 750 that biases the upper cover 20 in a direction away from the main body 10. In the example shown in FIG. 28, the elastic member 750 is a coil spring, but as long as it can be elastically deformed, it may be, for example, a metal leaf spring, rubber, resin, or the like. In this way, by biasing the upper cover 20 in a direction away from the main body 10 with the elastic member 750, rattling of the upper cover 20 against the main body 10 can be suppressed when the vibration motor 120 provided in the main body 10 vibrates.

[0181] As shown in FIG. 24, the upper cover 20 has a hole H30 (opening), and the stick unit 30 attached to the main body 10 of the input device 1B has an operation stick 400 that extends in a direction passing through the hole H30 of the upper cover 20. Here, the elastic member 750 biases the upper cover 20 upward, which is the direction in which the operation stick 400 extends. By doing so, when the user moves the cover lock member 70 0 to the unlock position to release the engagement of the engaging portion 701 of the cover lock member 700 with the engaging portion 21 of the upper cover 20, it becomes easier to remove the upper cover 20 above the main body 10.

[0182] As shown in FIGS. 24 and 28, the main body 10 has a recess U14 that opens upward. The elastic member 750 is accommodated inside this recess U14. As shown in FIG. 28, the recess U14 is composed of a hole that penetrates the upper case 40 in the vertical direction and the upper surface 50d of the main frame 50.

[0183] As shown in FIGS. 24 and 28, the upper cover 20 has a convex portion 25 that fits into the concave portion U14. The convex portion 25 is formed on the lower surface (back surface) 20f of the upper cover 20 and protrudes downward from the lower surface 20f of the upper cover 20. By the elastic member 750 pushing the convex portion 25 of the upper cover 20 upward, rattling of the upper cover 20 with respect to the main body 10 of the input device 1B can be suppressed, and the upper cover 20 can be easily removed from the main body 10.

[0184] As shown in FIG. 24, the main body 10 of the input device 1B has two accommodation recesses U10 that respectively accommodate two stick units 30. Further, two holes H30 formed in the upper cover 20 attached to the main body 10 expose at least a part (such as the operation stick 400) of one of the two stick units 30 and at least a part (such as the operation stick 400) of the other of the two stick units 30. Here, the convex portion 25 of the upper cover 20 is located between the two holes H30. By doing so, it is possible to suppress the upper cover 20 from being biased in an upward and rightward (or leftward) diagonal direction, and more effectively suppress the rattling of the upper cover 20 with respect to the main body 10. Also, when removing the upper cover 20 from the main body 10, since the upper cover 20 moves away from the main body 10 in the protruding direction of the operation stick 400, it is possible to prevent the operation stick 400 or the like from getting caught on the edge of the hole H30.

[0185] Also, as shown in FIG. 24, the convex portion 25 is located behind the front edge of the hole H30 and in front of the rear edge of the hole H30. By doing so as well, when removing the upper cover 20 from the main body 10, since the upper cover 20 moves away from the main body 10 in the protruding direction of the operation stick 400, it is possible to prevent the operation stick 400 or the like from getting caught on the edge of the hole H30.

[0186] As shown in FIG. 24, the upper cover 20 has two convex portions 25. Further, the main body 10 of the input device 1B has two concave portions U14, and two elastic members 750 are respectively accommodated inside the two concave portions U14. The two convex portions 25 of the upper cover 20 are respectively fitted into the two concave portions U14 of the main body 10. Therefore, the distance between the two convex portions 25 is equal to the distance between the two concave portions U14. In this way, by providing the two convex portions 25 on the upper cover 20 and pressing the two convex portions 25 with the two elastic members 750, the rattling of the upper cover 20 with respect to the vibration of the main body 10 can be more effectively suppressed, and the removal of the upper cover 20 from the main body 10 can be made easier. The two convex portions 25 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and both of the two convex portions are located between the two holes H30 and are located between the front end and the rear end of the edge of the hole H30 in the front-rear direction. The distance between one of the two convex portions 25 and one of the two holes H30 is equal to the distance between the other of the two convex portions 25 and the other of the two holes H30. Also, the main body 10 has an operation button 13 protruding upward at the central portion 10M, and a hole H31 for exposing the operation button 13 upward is formed at the central portion of the upper cover 20. The distance between the hole H31 and one of the two convex portions 25 is equal to the distance between the hole H31 and the other of the two convex portions 25.

[0187] Similar to the example of the input device 1A, the upper cover 20 has an edge portion 24 at a part of its outer peripheral edge, and the lower cover 90 covering the lower case 80 and the cover lock member 700 has an edge portion 92 adjacent to the edge portion 24 of the upper cover 20 at a part of its outer peripheral edge. In this way, by having the upper cover 20 and the lower cover 90 have adjacent edge portions 24 and 92, the appearance of the input device 1B can be improved.

[0188] The upper cover 20 has edge portions 24 on the right and left sides respectively, which are located on opposite sides of each other with a rear wall portion 23 that constitutes the trailing edge of the upper cover 20 interposed therebetween. Also, the lower cover 90 has edge portions 92 on its right and left sides respectively. Further, the two edge portions 92 of the lower cover 90 are respectively disposed on the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip 10BR and the right side surface 10La of the left grip 10BL. Moreover, the two edge portions 24 of the upper cover 20 are respectively adjacent to the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip 10BR and the right side surface 10La of the left grip 10BL. The outer surfaces of the upper cover 20 and the lower cover 90 are flush at the edge portions 24 and 92. By doing so, the appearance of the input device 1B can be made better.

[0189] A part of the accommodation recess U15 for accommodating the operation lever 800 is formed on the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip 10BR and the right side surface 10La of the left grip 10BL as will be described later. The edge portion 24 (projecting edge) of the upper cover 20 is located behind the trailing edge (outer surface of the rear wall portion 23) of the upper cover 20 and is positioned on the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip 10BR and the right side surface 10La of the left grip 10BL. By doing so, the accommodation recess U15 and the operation lever 800 can be enlarged in the extending direction of the grips BL and BR, and the operation of the user on the operation lever 800 can be facilitated.

[0190] [Attachment Structure of the Stick Unit by the Operation Lever] As shown in FIG. 24, the main body 10 of the input device 1B has operation levers (stopper members) 800L and 800R in the housing recess U10. The main body 10 has two housing recesses U10 spaced apart in the left-right direction at the front part 10F of the device. An operation lever 800L is attached to the housing recess U10 located in the left part of the input device 1B (the left part 10L of the front part 10F of the device), and an operation lever 800R is attached to the housing recess U10 located in the right part of the input device 1B (the right part 10R of the front part 10F of the device). The operation lever 800L is attached to the left side of the housing recess U10, and the operation lever 800R is attached to the right side of the housing recess U10. In the following description, the two operation levers 800L and 800R may also be simply referred to as the operation lever 800.

[0191] FIGS. 29A and 29B are plan views of the input device 1B with the upper cover 20 (see FIG. 24) removed. FIGS. 30A to 30C are views showing the side surfaces of the stick unit 30 and the operation lever 800 (more specifically, the operation lever 800L). FIGS. 29A and 30A show a state where the operation lever 800L is in the locked position (the first position), and FIGS. 29B and 30C show a state where the operation lever 800L is in the unlocked position (the second position). FIG. 30B shows a state where the operation lever 800L is in an intermediate position between the locked position and the unlocked position.

[0192] The operation lever 800L can move between the lock position shown in FIGS. 29A and 30A and the unlock position shown in FIGS. 29B and 30C. In the example of the input device 1B, the operation lever 800L has a shaft portion 810 (see FIG. 30A) with an axis Ax8L defined along a direction intersecting the front-rear direction (the attachment / detachment direction of the stick unit 30 with respect to the main body 10 of the input device 1B), and is rotatable about the axis Ax8L. Also, the operation lever 800R also has a shaft portion 810 with an axis Ax8R defined along a direction intersecting the front-rear direction, and is rotatable about the axis Ax8R between the lock position and the unlock position. In the examples shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B, the axis Ax8L and the axis Ax8R are on the same straight line along the left-right direction (a direction perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction of the stick unit 30). However, this is not the only case, and the axis Ax8L and the axis Ax8R may be along a direction oblique to the left-right direction or may not be on the same straight line. In the following description, the axis Ax8L and the axis Ax8R may also be simply referred to as the axis Ax8.

[0193] As shown in FIG. 30A, the operation lever 800 has an operation portion 820 extending from the shaft portion 810. The user can move the operation lever 800 in the rotational direction R8-1 (the direction from the lock position of the operation lever 800 to the unlock position) or in the rotational direction R8-2 (the direction from the unlock position to the lock position), which is the reverse direction of the rotational direction R8-1, by operating the operation portion 820.

[0194] As shown in FIG. 24, the accommodation recess U10 formed in the main body 10 of the input device 1B is open in two directions, upward (in the Z1 direction, the direction indicated by the arrow D1 in FIG. 24) and rearward (in the Y2 direction, the direction indicated by the arrow D2 in FIG. 24), and the stick unit 30 can be attached to and detached from the main body 10 in the front-rear direction. Here, as will be described later, when the operation lever 800 is in the lock position, it restricts the movement of the stick unit 30 in the front-rear direction. Also, when the operation lever 800 is in the unlock position, it allows the movement of the stick unit 30 in the front-rear direction.

[0195] FIG. 31 is a rear view showing the rear surface of the stick unit. As shown in FIG. 31, the stick unit 30 has a convex portion 385 that protrudes leftward or rightward from the side surface 30d of the stick unit 30. In the example shown in FIG. 30, the stick unit 30 has two convex portions 385 disposed on the left and right sides of the stick unit 30, respectively. By doing so, the same stick unit 30 (the stick unit 30 having the same structure and shape, etc.) can be used as the stick unit 30 accommodated in the accommodation recess U10 in the left part of the input device 1B and the stick unit 30 accommodated in the accommodation recess U10 in the right part of the input device 1B. The convex portion 385 is located below the dome-shaped upper wall portion 381 that constitutes the outer surface of the stick unit 30. The convex portion 385 located on the left side of the stick unit 30 protrudes leftward from the left end of the upper wall portion 381. The convex portion 385 located on the right side of the stick unit 30 protrudes rightward from the right end of the upper wall portion 381.

[0196] As shown in FIG. 30A, when the operation lever 800 is in the locked position, the operation lever 800 has a stopper portion (first portion) 850 that is located behind the convex portion 385 of the stick unit 30 and contacts the convex portion 385. The connector 31 of the stick unit 30 is fitted to the connector 63 of the main body 10, and when the operation lever 800 is in the locked position, the stopper portion 850 of the operation lever 800 contacts the rear side of the convex portion 385, thereby restricting the backward movement of the stick unit 30. A recess 385a is formed on the rear surface of the convex portion 385 of the stick unit 30, and a convex portion 850a is formed on the front surface of the stopper portion 850. When the operation lever 800 is in the locked position, the convex portion 850a of the stopper portion 850 fits inside the recess 385a of the stick unit 30. Thereby, the operation lever 800 in the locked position can be restricted from moving in the rotational direction R8-1 (the direction from the locked position of the operation lever 800 to the unlocked position) about the axis Ax8.

[0197] A spring mechanism 900 is attached to the shaft portion 810 of the operation lever 800. The spring mechanism 900 biases the shaft portion 810 of the operation lever 800 so that the operation lever 800 moves in the rotational direction R8-2. By doing so, it is possible to regulate the natural movement of the operation lever 800 in the rotational direction R8-1 when it is in the locked position. The user can move the operation lever 800 in the rotational direction R8-1 against the force of the spring mechanism 900 or the like. When the operation lever 800 moves in the rotational direction R8-1 and moves to the unlocked position shown in FIG. 30C, the stopper portion 850 of the operation lever 800 moves above the convex portion 385 and does not interfere with the convex portion 385 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the operation lever 800 is in the unlocked position, the backward movement of the stick unit 30 is allowed.

[0198] When the operation lever 800 moves from the intermediate position shown in FIG. 30B to the locked position shown in FIG. 30A, the stopper portion 850 of the operation lever 800 moves the stick unit 30 in the direction of the main body 10. For example, when the stick unit 30 is located in the accommodation recess U10 of the input device 1B and, as shown in FIG. 30B, the connector 31 of the stick unit 30 is not completely fitted to the connector 63 of the main body 10 (not electrically connected), the convex portion 850a of the stopper portion 850 moves along the rotational direction R8-2 while hitting the convex portion 385 of the stick unit 30 and pushes the convex portion 385 forward (the direction indicated by the arrow D3 in FIG. 30B). As a result, the entire stick unit 30 including the convex portion 385 is pushed forward, and the connector 31 of the stick unit 30 moves in the direction of fitting to the connector 63 of the main body 10. The user can move the stick unit 30 in the direction of the main body 10 and fit the connector 31 of the stick unit 30 to the connector 63 of the main body 10 by moving the operation lever 800 to the locked position via the operation portion 820. In this way, by using the operation lever 800, it becomes easy to attach the stick unit 30 to the main body 10.

[0199] The length of the operation unit 820 (the distance from the axis Ax8 to the rear end of the operation unit 820) is greater than the distance from the axis Ax8 to the convex portion 850a. Therefore, the force required to push the stick unit 30 forward can be reduced. As a result, in order to suppress the wobbling of the stick unit 30 with respect to the main body 10, even when the tolerance between the protruding portion 310b (the guided portion) formed on the stick unit 30 shown in FIG. 14 and the groove portions 76L and 76R (the guide portions) formed on the reinforcing frame 70 is reduced, the stick unit 30 can be fitted into the accommodation recess U10 with a small operating force.

[0200] As shown in FIG. 30B, the rear surface of the convex portion 385 of the stick unit 30 has an inclined surface 385b at the upper end. When the operation lever 800 moves in the rotation direction R8-2 from the intermediate position shown in FIG. 30B, the convex portion 850a of the stopper portion 850 can move toward the concave portion 385a while pushing the inclined surface 385b forward. Further, the operation lever 800 has an inclined surface 850b (see FIG. 30A) between the convex portion 850a and the shaft portion 810 where the axis Ax8 is defined. As shown in FIG. 30A, when the operation lever 800 is in the locked position, the inclined surface 850b of the stopper portion 850 contacts the inclined surface 385b of the convex portion 385, restricting the movement of the stick unit 30 in the front-rear direction.

[0201] operation lever 800It has an extension portion 860 that extends from the shaft portion 810 in a direction different from that of the operation portion 820. The extension portion 860 extends in a direction intersecting the direction in which the operation portion 820 extends. The connector 31 of the stick unit 30 is fitted to the connector 63 of the main body 10, and when the operation lever 800 moves from the intermediate position shown in FIG. 30B to the unlock position shown in FIG. 30C, the extension portion 860 of the operation lever 800 moves the stick unit 30 in a direction away from the main body 10. That is, the extension portion 860 moves the stick unit 30 in a direction in which the connector 31 of the stick unit 30 comes off from the connector 63 of the main body 10. When the operation lever 800 is moved in the rotational direction R8-1 and moves to the unlock position, the extension portion 860 moves along the rotational direction R8-1 while hitting the front surface of the convex portion 385 of the stick unit 30, and pushes the convex portion 385 backward (the direction indicated by the arrow D2 in FIG. 30C). As a result, the entire stick unit 30 including the convex portion 385 is pushed backward, and the connector 31 of the stick unit 30 moves in a direction away from the connector 63 of the main body 10. The user can remove the connector 31 of the stick unit 30 from the connector 63 of the main body 10 by moving the operation lever 800 to the unlock position via the operation portion 820. That is, by using the operation lever 800, the stick unit 30 can be easily removed from the main body 10.

[0202] As described above, the operation lever 800 has an operation portion 820 extending from the shaft portion 810. As shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B, the operation portion 820 extends in a direction away from the accommodation recess U10 in which the stick unit 30 is disposed in the left - right direction (a direction perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction of the stick unit 30 with respect to the main body 10 of the input device 1B). The operation portion 820 extends along the intersection direction of the axis Ax8 and is not perpendicular to the axis Ax8. In a state where the stick unit 30 is attached to the main body 10, the end portion of the operation lever 800 including the operation portion 820 is separated from the stick unit 30 in the left - right direction. As shown in FIG. 29A, the operation portion 820 of the left - hand operation lever 800L in the locked position extends in an obliquely rearward and leftward direction with respect to the accommodation recess U10. Also, the operation portion 820 of the right - hand operation lever 800R in the locked position extends in an obliquely rearward and rightward direction with respect to the accommodation recess U10. By doing so, when the user touches the operation portion 820 to operate the operation lever 800, it is possible to prevent the user's finger from interfering with the stick unit 30.

[0203] As shown in FIG. 24, the operation lever 800 is attached to the main body 10 of the input device 1B. More specifically, it is attached to the upper case 40 that constitutes the main body 10. Also, the main body 10 has an accommodation recess U15 that opens upward and rearward on the left or right side of the accommodation recess U10 in which the stick unit 30 is disposed. In a state where the operation lever 800 is in the locked position, the entire operation lever 800 is accommodated inside the accommodation recess U15. In other words, in a state where the operation lever 800 is in the locked position, the entire operation lever 800 is disposed below the upper surface 1d of the input device 1B. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the operation lever 800 from interfering with the upper cover 20 attached to the main body 10 of the input device 1B. Also, a space U15a is provided below the accommodation recess U15, and the user can easily lift the operation portion 820 of the operation lever 800 by inserting the fingertip inside the space U15a.

[0204] A part of the housing recess U15 that houses the left operation lever 800L is formed on the right side surface 10La of the left grip 10BL. Also, a part of the housing recess U15 that houses the right operation lever 800R is formed on the left side surface 10Ra of the right grip 10BR. By doing so, the housing recess U15 and the operation lever 800 can be enlarged in the extending direction of the left and right grips 10BL and 10BR, and the operation of the user on the operation lever 800 can be facilitated.

Claims

1. A trigger button having a stopper portion and capable of moving within a first range, a stopper member movable between a first position that allows movement of the trigger button within the first range and a second position that abuts against the stopper portion and restricts the movable range of the trigger button to a second range smaller than the first range, an operating member that engages with the stopper member, can move in a direction different from that of the stopper member, and moves the stopper member between the first position and the second position, an exterior member, and wherein the stopper member is housed inside the exterior member, and at least a part of the operating member is exposed outside the exterior member an input device.

2. A trigger button having a stopper portion and capable of moving within a first range, a stopper member movable between a first position that allows movement of the trigger button within the first range and a second position that abuts against the stopper portion and restricts the movable range of the trigger button to a second range smaller than the first range, an operating member that engages with the stopper member, can move in a direction different from that of the stopper member, and moves the stopper member between the first position and the second position, an exterior member having a curved outer surface, and wherein the stopper member is housed inside the exterior member and can move along the curved outer surface an input device.

3. A trigger button having a stopper portion and capable of moving within a first range, a stopper member movable between a first position that allows movement of the trigger button within the first range and a second position that abuts against the stopper portion and restricts the movable range of the trigger button to a second range smaller than the first range, an operating member that engages with the stopper member, can move in a direction different from that of the stopper member, and moves the stopper member between the first position and the second position and wherein the stopper member can move along the curved outer surface of the trigger button an input device.

4. A trigger button having a stopper portion and capable of moving within a first range, A stopper member movable between a first position that allows movement of the trigger button within the first range and a second position that abuts against the stopper portion and restricts the movable range of the trigger button to a second range smaller than the first range. An operating member that engages with the stopper member, can move in a direction different from that of the stopper member, and moves the stopper member between the first position and the second position. It has. The operating member can move along a straight line. Input device.

5. The trigger button can move about an axis along a first direction. The operating member can move in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The stopper member is at the first position, the second position, and a position between the first position and the second position, and can be arranged at a third position that regulates the movable range of the trigger button to a third range between the first range and the second range. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. A first sensor for detecting the position of the operating member or the stopper member, A second sensor, It further has a circuit board on which the first sensor and the second sensor are mounted. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

8. A first sensor for detecting the position of the operating member or the stopper member, An actuator that applies a force in a direction opposite to the direction in which the trigger button is pressed to the trigger button, A control device that drives the actuator based on the position of the operating member or the stopper member detected by the first sensor. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which has.

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