Input device and controller

Abstract

The present invention provides an input device and a controller that are capable of maintaining the state of contact between a cover and a head of an operation member. An input device according to the present disclosure comprises a module housing and an operation member that protrudes from one surface of the module housing and is tiltable or slidable in a surface direction along one surface of the module housing. The operation member includes: a shaft extending in a direction intersecting the surface direction of the module housing; a head connected to one end of the shaft outside the module housing and extending in the surface direction; a cover that covers the upper and lower sides of the head; and a cover protection member provided around the shaft and at a position in contact with the cover covering the lower side of the head.

Description

Input Devices and Controllers

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an input device and a controller that include an operating member that can be tilted or slid.

[0002] Conventionally, controllers of this type have been known to have various structures. For example, Patent Document 1 (JP 2011-143216 A) discloses a game controller that has a cover that covers the top of the operating member.

[0003] JP 2011-143216 A

[0004] In conventional input devices and controllers, there is still room for improvement in terms of maintaining contact between the head of the operating member and the cover.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to solve the above-mentioned problem by providing an input device and a controller that can maintain contact between the head of the operating member and the cover.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the input device of the present disclosure is an input device comprising: a module housing; and an operating member that protrudes from one surface of the module housing and is tiltable or slidable in a planar direction along the one surface of the module housing, wherein the operating member comprises: a shaft portion that extends in a direction intersecting the planar direction of the module housing; a head portion that is connected to one end of the shaft portion outside the module housing and extends in the planar direction; a cover that covers the upper and lower sides of the head; and a cover protection member that is provided around the shaft portion and in a position that contacts the cover that covers the underside of the head.

[0007] Furthermore, the controller according to the present disclosure is a controller comprising: a controller housing to be held by a user; and an operating member that partially protrudes from one surface of the controller housing and is tiltable or slidable in a planar direction along the one surface of the controller housing, wherein the operating member comprises: a shaft portion that extends in a direction intersecting the planar direction from the inside to the outside of the controller housing; a head portion that is connected to one end of the shaft portion outside the controller housing and extends in the planar direction; a cover that covers the upper and lower sides of the head; and a cover protection member that is provided outside the housing around the shaft portion and in a position opposite the cover that covers the underside of the head.

[0008] According to the input device and controller according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an input device and a controller that can maintain contact between the head of the operating member and the cover.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a controller according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A1-A1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an operation member provided on the controller of FIG. 1, viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of an input device and a controller according to a first modified example of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of an input device and a controller according to a second modified example of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of an input device and a controller according to a third modified example of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of an input device and a controller according to a fourth modified example of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of an input device and a controller according to a sixth modified example of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of an input device and a controller according to a seventh modified example of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of an input device and a controller according to an eighth modified example of the present disclosure.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an input device comprising: a module housing; and an operating member protruding from one surface of the module housing and capable of tilting or sliding in a planar direction along the one surface of the module housing, wherein the operating member comprises: a shaft portion extending in a direction intersecting the planar direction of the module housing; a head portion connected to one end of the shaft portion outside the module housing and extending in the planar direction; a cover covering the upper and lower sides of the head; and a cover protection member provided around the shaft portion and in a position in contact with the cover covering the underside of the head.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the input device according to the first aspect, wherein the cover is provided at a position sandwiched between the head and the cover protection member in the direction in which the shaft portion extends.

[0012] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the input device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the cover protection member protrudes from the shaft portion in the planar direction.

[0013] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an input device as described in any one of the first to third aspects, wherein, on the underside of the head, an end of the cover is arranged to surround the shaft portion, and the cover protection member is arranged to cover the end of the cover.

[0014] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the input device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein an end of the cover is in contact with the shaft portion on the underside of the head.

[0015] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an input device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the outer shape of the cover protection member is smaller than the outer shape of the cover when viewed in the direction in which the shaft portion extends.

[0016] According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an input device described in any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein an outer peripheral portion of the head, which is located outside the outer edge of the cover protection member when viewed from the direction in which the shaft extends, is provided with a step portion that is recessed in the direction in which the shaft extends so as to move away from the module housing.

[0017] According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an input device described in any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the operating member further comprises a columnar member extending in the direction of extension of the shaft between the head and the cover protection member, and the columnar member is in contact with the cover and the head or the cover protection member.

[0018] According to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an input device as described in the eighth aspect, in which the columnar member penetrates the cover in the direction in which the shaft portion extends and contacts the head and the cover protection member.

[0019] According to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a controller comprising: a controller housing to be held by a user; and an operating member that partially protrudes from one surface of the controller housing and is tiltable or slidable in a planar direction along the one surface of the controller housing, wherein the operating member comprises: a shaft extending in a direction intersecting the planar direction from the inside to the outside of the controller housing; a head connected to one end of the shaft outside the controller housing and extending in the planar direction; a cover that covers the upper and lower sides of the head; and a cover protection member provided outside the controller housing around the shaft and in a position opposite the cover that covers the underside.

[0020] According to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the controller according to the tenth aspect, wherein the cover is provided at a position sandwiched between the head and the cover protection member in the direction in which the shaft portion extends.

[0021] According to a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the controller according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, wherein the cover protection member protrudes from the shaft portion in the planar direction.

[0022] According to a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a controller according to any one of the tenth to twelfth aspects, wherein, on the underside of the head, an end of the cover is arranged to surround the shaft portion, and the cover protection member is arranged to cover the end of the cover.

[0023] According to a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a controller as described in any one of the tenth to thirteenth aspects, wherein, on the underside of the head, the cover protection member is provided around the shaft portion and in a position that contacts the cover.

[0024] According to a fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the controller according to any one of the tenth to fourteenth aspects, wherein an end of the cover is in contact with the shaft portion on the underside of the head.

[0025] According to a sixteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a controller according to any one of the tenth to fifteenth aspects, wherein the outer shape of the cover protection member is smaller than the outer shape of the cover when viewed in the direction in which the shaft portion extends.

[0026] According to a 17th aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a controller as set forth in any one of the 10th to 16th aspects, wherein a step portion recessed in the direction in which the shaft extends so as to move away from the controller housing is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the head portion that is located outside the outer edge of the cover protection member when viewed from the direction in which the shaft extends.

[0027] According to an 18th aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a controller according to any one of the 10th to 17th aspects, wherein the operating member further comprises a columnar member extending in the direction of extension of the shaft between the head and the cover protection member, and the columnar member is in contact with the cover and the head or the cover protection member.

[0028] According to a 19th aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the controller described in the 18th aspect, wherein the pillar-shaped member penetrates the cover in the direction in which the shaft portion extends and contacts the head and the cover protection member.

[0029] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. In addition, substantially the same components in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0030] Furthermore, for the sake of convenience, the following uses terms indicating directions such as "up," "down," "horizontal," "vertical," and "height," assuming a state of normal use, but this does not mean to limit the state of use of the input device and controller according to the present invention.

[0031] (Embodiment) The configurations of an input device and a controller according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The controller of the present disclosure is a controller used in various electronic devices such as game consoles, smartphones, tablet terminals, and personal computers. In this embodiment, the controller is used by being connected wirelessly or wired to a portable or stationary game console.

[0032] Fig. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a controller according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the controller according to this embodiment includes a controller housing 1, and operation buttons 2, 3 and an operation member 4, each of which is provided so as to partially protrude from an upper surface 1A, which is an example of one surface of the controller housing 1.

[0033] For ease of explanation, in this specification, the left-right direction in Fig. 1 is referred to as the horizontal direction X, the up-down direction in Fig. 1 is referred to as the vertical direction Y, and the direction into the paper surface of Fig. 1 is referred to as the height direction Z. The horizontal direction X, the vertical direction Y, and the height direction Z are perpendicular to one another. In this embodiment, the top surface 1A of the controller housing 1 is located on a plane parallel to the horizontal direction X and the vertical direction Y.

[0034] The controller housing 1 is held by the user. In this embodiment, the housing 1 has a hollow rectangular or approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape and is made of a resin material such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) resin. The controller housing 1 may also have a grip portion (not shown) formed in a shape that makes it easy for the user to hold.

[0035] The operation buttons 2 and 3 are buttons used for various game operations, for example. The operation buttons 2 and 3 are configured to be pressable in the height direction Z from the outside to the inside of the controller housing 1. When not pressed, the operation buttons 2 and 3 are biased from the inside to the outside of the controller housing 1 by an elastic member (not shown), such as a spring, so that a portion of each of the operation buttons protrudes from the top surface 1A of the controller housing 1 and is exposed to the outside. The number of operation buttons 2 and 3 is not limited to two, and one or three or more buttons may be provided. Furthermore, the operation buttons 2 and 3 may be provided on a surface other than the top surface 1A of the controller housing 1.

[0036] The operation member 4 is, for example, a stick member used to operate a game, particularly to indicate directions. In this embodiment, the operation member 4 is configured to be tiltable in a planar direction (including the horizontal direction X and the vertical direction Y) along the top surface 1A of the controller housing 1.

[0037] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A1-A1 in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, a circuit board 11 is disposed inside the controller housing 1. The circuit board 11 is, for example, a rigid circuit board or a flexible circuit board. An input device ID is mounted on the circuit board 11. The input device ID includes the operating member 4 and the base 5 described above.

[0038] The base 5 includes a module housing 51. The module housing 51 has a hollow rectangular parallelepiped or approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape. Various components are housed inside the module housing 51, such as a support member (not shown) that supports the operating member 4 so that it can be tilted, and an elastic member (not shown) that returns the operating member 4 to its original position before being tilted. In this embodiment, the base 5 is electrically connected to the board 11 by a cable extending from the module housing 51. The structure of the base 5 is not particularly limited and may be any of various known structures. In each drawing, the internal structure of the base 5 is omitted.

[0039] The operating member 4 protrudes from an upper surface 51A of the module housing 51, which is an example of one surface of the base 5, through an opening 1B provided in the upper surface 1A of the controller housing 1, and is configured to be tiltable in a planar direction along the upper surface 51A of the module housing 51. Specifically, in this embodiment, the operating member 4 is configured to be tiltable around a fulcrum S1 located inside the module housing 51, as shown by the solid arrow in FIG.

[0040] The operating member 4 has a shaft portion 41 extending in a direction (hereinafter referred to as the axial direction) intersecting the surface direction along the upper surface 51A of the module housing 51, and a head portion 42 connected to one end portion 41A of the shaft portion 41 outside the base 5 and extending in the surface direction.

[0041] The shaft portion 41 has, for example, a cylindrical shape and is provided so as to extend in an axial direction that intersects with the planar direction from the inside to the outside of the controller housing 1. In this embodiment, the shaft portion 41 is configured to extend in the height direction Z when it is located in its original position before being tilted.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operating member 4 as viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 2 , the head 42 has a certain thickness (length in the height direction Z). As shown in FIG. 3 , the head 42 is configured so that its outer shape, as viewed in the height direction Z, is larger than that of the shaft 41. In this embodiment, the head 42 is formed in a hemispherical or approximately hemispherical shape. In this embodiment, the shaft 41 and the head 42 are integrally molded from resin. For example, the shaft 41 and the head 42 are made of POM (polyoxymethylene) resin, PBB (polybromobiphenyl) resin, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin, or the like. The shaft 41 and the head 42 may be separate components. In this case, the shaft 41 and the head 42 may be made of the same material (e.g., resin) or different materials.

[0043] A cover 43 is attached to the head 42. In this embodiment, the cover 43 is configured to cover the entire or substantially entire head 42 so that the head 42 is not exposed to the outside. That is, the cover 43 covers the head 42 from the upper side 42A to the lower side 43B. The cover 43 is made of a resin different from that of the shaft 41 and the head 42. The cover 43 may be molded separately from the head 42 and attached to it. Alternatively, the cover 43 may be integrally formed by injection molding to cover the head 42. In this case, to reduce the thermal impact on the head 42 during injection molding, the cover 43 may be made of a resin having a lower melting temperature than the resin constituting the head 42. Alternatively, the cover 43 may be made of a resin having a lower thermal expansion coefficient than the resin constituting the head 42. This makes it easier for the cover 43 to be sandwiched between the head 42 and the cover protection member 44 (described later) for closer contact. The cover 43 is made of a soft resin such as an elastomer resin. The cover 43 may be made of a resin having a higher melting temperature than the resin that constitutes the head 42. The cover 43 may also be made of a resin having a higher thermal expansion coefficient than the resin that constitutes the head 42.

[0044] The cover 43 may be configured to cover at least a portion of the head 42 so that the head 42 is not exposed to the outside.

[0045] A cover protection member 44 is provided around the shaft 41. The cover protection member 44 is a member that prevents the user's fingers from unintentionally touching the portion of the cover 43 on the shaft 41 side, and maintains contact between the head 42 and the cover 43. In this embodiment, the cover protection member 44 is provided at a position outside the controller housing 1 where it contacts the cover 43.

[0046] In this embodiment, the cover protection member 44 is made of the same resin as the shaft portion 41 and the head portion 42. Specifically, the cover protection member 44 is integrally molded from the same resin as the shaft portion 41 and the head portion 42. In other words, the cover protection member 44 is configured as a ring-shaped protrusion protruding outward from the shaft portion 41. The cover protection member 44 is provided on the underside 42B of the head portion 42 in a position where it contacts the end portion 43A of the cover 43 from below. As described above, the head portion 42 is provided on one end portion 41A of the shaft portion 41. The cover protection member 44 is provided spaced apart from the head portion 42 and protrudes in the planar direction from midway along the shaft portion 41. In this embodiment, the cover 43 is provided between the head portion 42 and the cover protection member 44 in the axial direction. That is, the cover protection member 44, the cover 43, and the head portion 42 are provided in this order from closest to the module housing 51 in the axial direction. The cover 43 and the head portion 42 may be bonded with an adhesive. Similarly, the cover 43 and the cover protection member 44 may be bonded together with an adhesive.

[0047] On the underside 42B of the head 42, the end 43A (inner edge) of the cover 43 is arranged to surround the shaft 41. In this embodiment, the end 43A of the cover 43 is arranged to contact the shaft 41. The end 43A of the cover 43 and the shaft 41 may be bonded together with an adhesive. The cover protection member 44 is arranged to cover the end 43A of the cover 43. That is, as viewed in the axial direction (height direction Z), the length L1 from the center of the shaft 41 to the outer edge 44A of the cover protection member 44 is longer than the length L2 from the center of the shaft 41 to the end 43A of the cover 43. With this configuration, the cover protection member 44 does not protrude beyond the cover 43, so that contact between the cover 43 and the head 42 can be maintained without impairing user operability. Note that the cover protection member 44 may be arranged so that at least a portion thereof overlaps the end 43A of the cover 43 in the axial direction and may be in contact with the end 43A of the cover 43. The thickness T1 of the cover protection member 44 is smaller than the maximum thickness T2 of the head portion 42.

[0048] Furthermore, the outer shape of the cover protection member 44 is smaller than the outer shape of the cover 43 when viewed in the axial direction. That is, when viewed in the axial direction, the length L1 from the center of the shaft portion 41 to the outer edge 44A of the cover protection member 44 is shorter than the length L3 from the center of the shaft portion 41 to the outer edge of the cover 43. In this embodiment, the outer shapes of the cover protection member 44 and the cover 43 when viewed in the height direction Z are circular. In this embodiment, the outer shapes when viewed in the height direction Z increase in the order of the shaft portion 41, the cover protection member 44, the head portion 42, the cover 43, and the opening 1B. The largest outer shape of the opening 1B increases the tilt range of the operating member 4. Furthermore, if the opening 1B is larger than the outer shape of the base 5, it becomes easier to mount the input device ID on the substrate 11 by penetrating the opening 1B. Note that the outer shape of the opening 1B when viewed in the height direction Z may be smaller than the outer shape of the cover protection member 44, the outer shape of the head portion 42, or the outer shape of the cover 43. This configuration makes it difficult for dirt and dust to enter through the gap between the shaft portion 41 and the opening 1B. The outer shapes of the cover protection member 44 and the cover 43 as viewed from the height direction Z are not particularly limited, and may be other shapes such as an ellipse or a polygon.

[0049] According to this embodiment, a cover protection member 44 is provided around the shaft 41 and in a position that contacts the cover 43 that covers the underside 42B of the head 42. This prevents the user's fingers from unintentionally touching the portion of the cover 43 that is located closer to the shaft 41 than the outer edge 44A of the cover protection member 44 in the surface direction, and allows the head 42 and the cover 43 to be maintained in contact with each other.

[0050] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the cover 43 is provided at a position in the axial direction where it is sandwiched between the head 42 and the cover protection member 44. This further prevents the user's fingers from unintentionally touching the portion of the cover 43 that is provided closer to the shaft 41 than the outer edge 44A of the cover protection member 44 in the surface direction, and makes it possible to better maintain contact between the head 42 and the cover 43.

[0051] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the cover protection member 44 is provided so as to protrude in the planar direction from the shaft portion 41. This further prevents the user's fingers from unintentionally touching the portion of the cover 43 that is provided closer to the shaft portion 41 in the planar direction than the cover protection member 44, thereby more effectively maintaining contact between the head portion 42 and the cover 43.

[0052] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, on the underside 42B of the head 42, the end 43A of the cover 43 is provided to surround the shaft 41, and the cover protection member 44 is provided to cover the end 43A of the cover 43. This further prevents the user's fingers from unintentionally touching the portion of the cover 43 that is provided closer to the shaft 41 in the surface direction than the cover protection member 44, and makes it possible to better maintain contact between the head 42 and the cover 43.

[0053] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the end 43A of the cover 43 is in contact with the shaft 41 on the underside 42B of the head 42. This further prevents the user's fingers from unintentionally touching the portion of the cover 43 that is located closer to the shaft 41 than the cover protection member 44 in the surface direction, thereby making it possible to better maintain the contact state between the head 42 of the operating member 4 and the cover.

[0054] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the outer shape of the cover protection member 44, as viewed in the axial direction, is smaller than the outer shape of the cover 43. This prevents the user's fingers from unintentionally touching the cover protection member 44 before the cover 43, thereby reducing the likelihood of poor operability.

[0055] (First Modification) Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be embodied in various other forms. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the length L1 from the center of the shaft 41 to the outer edge 44A of the cover protection member 44 is longer than the diameter of the opening 1B of the controller housing 1, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 , the length L1 from the center of the shaft 41 to the outer edge 44A of the cover protection member 44 may be shorter than the diameter of the opening 1B of the controller housing 1.

[0056] (Second Modification) In the above embodiment, the cover protection member 44 is provided at a position outside the controller housing 1 where it contacts the cover 43. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , the cover protection member 44 may be provided at a position facing the cover 43 outside the housing. That is, a gap CL1 may be provided between the cover protection member 44 and the cover 43. This configuration also prevents the user's fingers from unintentionally touching the portion of the cover 43 that is closer to the shaft 41 than the cover protection member 44 in the surface direction, thereby maintaining contact between the head 42 and the cover 43. Note that the cover protection member 44 may be provided around the shaft 41 at a position that does not contact the cover 43. This configuration also prevents the user's fingers from unintentionally touching the portion of the cover 43 that is closer to the shaft 41 than the cover protection member 44 in the surface direction, thereby maintaining contact between the head 42 and the cover 43.

[0057] (Third Modification) In the above embodiment, the shaft portion 41 has a cylindrical shape and is provided to extend axially from the inside to the outside of the controller housing 1. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , the base 5 may include a protrusion 52 that protrudes axially from the upper surface 51A of the module housing 51, and the protrusion 52 may be configured to be inserted into one end of the shaft portion 41. Also, as shown in FIG. 6 , the operating member 4 may include a flange portion 45 that protrudes outward from one end of the shaft portion 41 inside the controller housing 1. As shown in FIG. 6 , the flange portion 45 may have a dome shape. The flange portion 45 may be configured to be larger than the opening 1B of the controller housing 1. This prevents components arranged inside the controller housing 1, such as the base 5, from being visible through the opening 1B from outside the controller housing 1.

[0058] (Fourth Modification) In the above embodiment, the operating member 4 is configured to be tiltable in a planar direction along the top surface 1A of the controller housing 1, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 , the operating member 4 may be configured to be slidable in a planar direction along the top surface 1A of the controller housing 1. In the above embodiment, the head 42 is formed in a hemispherical or approximately hemispherical shape, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 , the head 42 may be formed in a flat or approximately flat plate shape. The outer shape of the head 42 when viewed from the axial direction may be, for example, circular, elliptical, or polygonal. The flange portion 45 may be formed in a flat or approximately flat plate shape. The outer shape of the flange portion 45 when viewed from the axial direction may be, for example, circular, elliptical, or polygonal. The top surface 1A of the controller housing 1 and the top surface 51A of the module housing 51 are not limited to being flat, and may be, for example, curved. In this case, the "planar direction" along the top surface 1A of the controller housing 1 or the top surface 51A of the module housing 51 may be a direction along the curved surface.

[0059] (Fifth Modification) Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8 , an outer peripheral portion of the head 42 located outside the outer edge of the cover protection member 44 when viewed from the axial direction may be provided with a stepped portion 42C recessed in the axial direction so as to be spaced away from the base 5 and the controller housing 1. This configuration increases the contact area between the outer peripheral portion of the head 42 not protected by the cover protection member 44 and the cover 43, thereby better maintaining contact between the head 42 and the cover 43. The angle of the stepped portion 42C may be an acute angle, a right angle, or an obtuse angle. When the angle of the stepped portion 42C is an acute angle (i.e., the cross section of the stepped portion 42C is Z-shaped), the contact area between the outer peripheral portion of the head 42 not protected by the cover protection member 44 and the cover 43 is further increased, thereby better maintaining contact between the head 42 and the cover 43.

[0060] (Sixth Modification) As shown in FIG. 9 , the operating member 4 may further include a columnar member 46 extending axially between the head 42 and the cover protection member 44. The columnar member 46 axially penetrates the cover 43 and contacts the head 42 and the cover protection member 44. With this configuration, even if the cover 43 is about to come off, it is caught on the columnar member 46, thereby preventing the cover 43 from coming off. Furthermore, by bringing the columnar member 46 into contact with the cover 43, the contact area between the cover 43 and the head 42 and the cover protection member 44 is increased, thereby more effectively maintaining the contact state between the head 42 and the cover 43. Note that the columnar member 46 may be in contact with only one of the head 42 and the cover protection member 44. With this configuration, the columnar member 46 increases the contact area between the cover 43 and the head 42 or the cover protection member 44, thereby more effectively maintaining the contact state between the head 42 and the cover 43. The columnar members 46 may be integrally molded with either or both of the head portion 42 and the cover protection member 44. Although two columnar members 46 are shown in FIG. 9 , the number of columnar members 46 is not particularly limited and may be one, three, or more. The shape of the columnar members 46 is not particularly limited and may be a cylindrical shape, an elliptical cylindrical shape, a polygonal cylindrical shape, or the like. Furthermore, the columnar members 46 do not need to be in contact with the cover 43.

[0061] (Seventh Modification) In the above embodiment, the cover protection member 44 is configured as a ring-shaped protrusion protruding outward from the shaft portion 41. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 10 , the cover protection member 44 and the shaft portion 41 may not be in contact with each other in the X direction or the Y direction. Alternatively, the cover protection member 44 and the shaft portion 41 may not be integrally formed. That is, a gap CL2 may be provided between the inner edge of the cover protection member 44 and the shaft portion 41. In this case, the cover protection member 44 can be connected to the head portion 42 via, for example, a columnar member 46, thereby maintaining contact between the head portion 42 and the cover 43. Even in this case, as in the case where the cover protection member 44 and the shaft portion 41 are in contact with each other, it is possible to prevent the user's fingers from unintentionally touching the portion of the cover 43 that is closer to the shaft portion 41 than the cover protection member 44 in the planar direction, thereby maintaining contact between the head portion 42 and the cover 43. Furthermore, in this case, the cover protection member does not have to be provided to cover the end 43A of the cover 43.

[0062] 11 , the end 43A of the cover 43 may be provided along the shaft 41 in a direction away from the head 42, through a gap CL2 between the inner edge of the cover protection member 44 and the shaft 41. In this case, the cover protection member 44 may be provided to fit over the end 43A of the cover 43 without being connected to the head 42 via a columnar member 46. The cover protection member 44 may also be made of a resin different from that of the shaft 41 and the head 42.

[0063] Any of the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined as appropriate to achieve the effects of each.

[0064] Although the present disclosure has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims unless they depart therefrom.

[0065] The input device and controller according to the present disclosure can maintain contact between the head of the operating member and the cover, and are therefore useful as input devices and controllers for use in various electronic devices such as game consoles, smartphones, and personal computers.

[0066] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Controller housing 1A Top surface 1B Opening 2 Operation button 3 Operation button 4 Operation member 5 Base 11 Substrate 41 Shaft portion 41A One end portion 42 Head portion 42A Upper side 42B Lower side 42C Step portion 43 Cover 43A End portion 44 Cover protection member 44A Outer edge portion 45 Flange portion 51 Module housing 51A Top surface 52 Protrusion ID input device

Claims

1. A module housing; an operating member that protrudes from the module housing and is tiltable or slidable relative to the module housing; An input device comprising: The operating member is A shaft portion; a head portion connected to an upper end side of the shaft portion on the opposite side from the module housing in the extending direction of the shaft portion; a cover for covering the upper and lower sides of the head; a cover protection member provided around the shaft portion and in a position in contact with the cover covering the underside of the head portion; An input device comprising:

2. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the cover is provided at a position sandwiched between the head and the cover protection member in the extending direction of the shaft portion.

3. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the cover protection member protrudes in a direction away from an extending direction of the shaft portion.

4. An end of the cover is provided on the lower side of the head so as to surround the shaft portion, The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the cover protection member is provided so as to cover an edge of the cover.

5. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein an end of the cover contacts the stem on the underside of the head.

6. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein an outer shape of the cover protection member is smaller than an outer shape of the cover when viewed in the extending direction of the shaft portion.

7. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein an outer peripheral portion of the head, which is positioned outside an outer edge of the cover protection member when viewed from the direction in which the shaft extends, is provided with a stepped portion recessed in the direction in which the shaft extends so as to move away from the module housing.

8. The operating member further includes a columnar member extending in the direction in which the shaft portion extends between the head and the cover protection member, The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the pillar-shaped member is in contact with the cover and the head or the cover protection member.

9. The input device according to claim 8 , wherein the pillar-shaped member penetrates the cover in the direction in which the shaft extends and is in contact with the head and the cover protection member.

10. a controller housing that is held by a user; an operating member that protrudes from the controller housing and is tiltable or slidable relative to the controller housing; A controller comprising: The operating member is a shaft portion extending from the inside to the outside of the controller housing; a head portion connected to an upper end side of the shaft portion outside the controller housing in a direction in which the shaft portion extends; a cover for covering the upper and lower sides of the head; a cover protection member provided outside the controller housing around the shaft portion and facing the cover that covers the underside of the head; A controller comprising:

11. The controller according to claim 10 , wherein the cover is provided at a position sandwiched between the head and the cover protection member in the direction in which the shaft extends.

12. The controller according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the cover protection member protrudes in a direction away from an extension direction of the shaft portion.

13. An end of the cover is provided on the lower side of the head so as to surround the shaft portion, The controller according to claim 10 , wherein the cover protection member is provided so as to cover an end portion of the cover.

14. The controller according to claim 10 , wherein the cover protection member is provided on the underside of the head at a position that surrounds the shaft and contacts the cover.

15. The controller of claim 10 , wherein an end of the cover contacts the stem at the underside of the head.

16. The controller according to claim 10 , wherein an outer shape of the cover protection member is smaller than an outer shape of the cover when viewed in the extending direction of the shaft portion.

17. 11. The controller according to claim 10, wherein an outer peripheral portion of the head, which is positioned outside an outer edge of the cover protection member when viewed from the direction in which the shaft extends, is provided with a stepped portion that is recessed in the direction in which the shaft extends so as to move away from the controller housing.

18. The operating member further includes a columnar member extending in the direction in which the shaft portion extends between the head and the cover protection member, The controller according to claim 10 , wherein the pillar-shaped member is in contact with the cover and the head or the cover protection member.

19. The controller according to claim 18 , wherein the pillar-shaped member penetrates the cover in the direction in which the shaft portion extends and is in contact with the head and the cover protection member.