Input device

Abstract

The present invention biases a member to be operated to an initial position without using an elastic member. An input device (1) comprises a first magnetic member (30) and a second magnetic material (40) which are accommodated in a housing (1) and which are made of a magnetic material. The first magnetic member (30) attaches, to the input device (1), a lower button (20) via a magnetic force between the first magnetic member (30) and an attachment part (22) which is on the lower button (20) and which is made of a magnetic material. When attached to the input device (1), the lower button (20) can move from an initial position together with the first magnetic member (30) upon receiving an operation by a user, and can be removed from the input device (1) via an operation from outside the housing (10). The second magnetic member (40) attracts the first magnetic member (30) and thereby biases the lower button (20) to the initial position.

Description

Input devices

[0001] The present disclosure relates to input devices.

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses an input device used for operating a game, etc. The input device is capable of wired or wireless communication with an information processing device. The input device uses a sensor to detect a user's operation on an operated member and transmits a signal corresponding to the operation to the information processing device. The operated member is attached to the input device by the magnetic force of a magnet and can be detached from the input device by a user's operation.

[0003] International Publication No. 2023 / 127662

[0004] A typical operated member such as an operation button is biased to an initial position using an elastic member such as a spring, and it is necessary to provide a space inside the input device to ensure the elastic force (e.g., spring length) of the elastic member.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to bias an operated member to an initial position without using an elastic member.

[0006] An input device according to the present disclosure may include an operated member having a housing, an operated portion exposed from the housing, and a magnetic portion formed of a magnetic material and housed in the housing; a first magnetic member housed in the housing and formed of a magnetic material, which attaches the operated member to the input device by magnetic force between the first magnetic member and the magnetic portion; and a second magnetic member housed in the housing and formed of a magnetic material. The operated member may be movable from an initial position together with the first magnetic member in response to a user's operation while attached to the input device, and may be detachable from the input device by an operation from outside the housing. The second magnetic member may bias the operated member to the initial position by attracting the first magnetic member. This allows the operated member to be biased to the initial position without using an elastic member.

[0007] 6A is a plan view of an input device according to an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 6B is a bottom view of the input device; FIG. 6C is a perspective view showing the underside of the input device; FIG. 6D is an exploded perspective view showing some of the components of the input device housed in the housing; FIG. 6E is a bottom view of the frame with the down button attached; FIG. 6F is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the support structure for the down button; FIG. 6G is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 4; FIG. 6H is a diagram showing the movement when the down button is pressed by a user in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6A; FIG. 6I is a diagram showing the movement when the down button is removed in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6A; FIG. 6IH is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 4;

[0008] An input device 1, which is an example of an input device proposed in the present disclosure, will be described below with reference to the drawings. The input device 1 can be used, for example, as an input device for an information processing device (e.g., a game device or a video playback device) that has a function for executing an application (e.g., a game application). The input device 1 is capable of wired or wireless communication with the information processing device, and transmits a signal corresponding to an operation performed by a user on the input device 1 to the information processing device.

[0009] [1. Overview of the Input Device] FIG. 1A is a plan view of an input device 1 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1B is a bottom view of the input device 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the underside of the input device 1. In the following description, the X1 and X2 directions of the X axis (the direction in which the left and right grips 10L and 10R, described later, are aligned) shown in FIG. 1A and other figures are defined as left and right directions, respectively. The Y1 and Y2 directions of the Y axis perpendicular to the X axis are defined as forward and backward directions, respectively. The Z1 and Z2 directions of the Z axis perpendicular to the X and Y axes shown in FIG. 2 and other figures are defined as upward and downward directions, respectively. However, these directions and positions are defined to explain the shapes and relative positional relationships of the elements (components, members, and parts) of the input device 1 and do not limit the orientation of the input device 1.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1A, the input device 1 may have a housing 10 that is the main body of the input device 1 and that forms the outer surface of the input device 1. As shown in Fig. 1A, the input device 1 may have a left grip 10L that extends rearward on the left side of the housing 10, and a right grip 10R that extends rearward on the right side of the housing 10. The input device 1 may also have a central portion 10M that is disposed between the left grip 10L and the right grip 10R on the housing 10. The left grip 10L and the right grip 10R may extend rearward beyond the rear edge of the central portion 10M.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 2, the housing 10 may be formed by combining an upper housing 80 and a lower housing 90. Also, as shown in Fig. 1A, the input device 1 may have four operation buttons 11, a directional key 12, an operation pad 16, and the like on the upper side of the housing 10. The operation buttons 11, the directional key 12, and the operation pad 16 may be provided on the upper housing 80. Also, the input device 1 may have an operation stick 13 protruding upward from the housing 10 (more specifically, the upper housing 80) and a function button 14 protruding rearward from the housing 10.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1B , a lower button 20, which is an operated member operated by a user, may be disposed on a lower surface 90D provided on the lower housing 90 in the central portion 10M of the housing 10. As shown in FIG. 2 , two holes H1 are provided on the lower surface 90D. Two lower buttons 20 are attached to the two holes H1. Note that the input device 1 may have an operated member other than the lower button 20 (for example, an operation button 17, a trigger button 18, or a slide switch 19 shown in FIG. 2 ).

[0013] The down button 20 may have an operated portion 21 exposed from the housing 10 and pressed by the user. The operated portion 21 may have an operated surface that the user touches with a finger (e.g., the middle finger). The operated portion 21 of the down button 20 attached to the right hole H1 (the left hole H1 in FIG. 2 ) may have an operated surface facing diagonally forward and to the left. The operated portion 21 of the down button 20 attached to the left hole H1 (the right hole H1 in FIG. 2 ) may have an operated surface facing diagonally forward and to the right. As a result, the right down button 20 can be pressed diagonally to the right and backward, and the left down button 20 can be pressed diagonally to the left and backward. While holding the right grip 10R, the user can press the right down button 20 with the fingers of their right hand toward the right grip 10R. Furthermore, while holding the left grip 10L, the user can press down the left down button 20 with the fingers of his / her left hand in the direction of the left grip 10L.

[0014] As will be described later, the down button 20 is attached to the hole H1 by magnetic force. The user can remove the down button 20 attached to the housing 10 without using tools or the like. This allows the user to freely select whether or not to attach the down button 20 to the input device 1 depending on the type of application (e.g., game application) executed on the information processing device.

[0015] [2. Support Structure of the Down Button] The support structure of the down button 20 inside the housing 10 will be described below. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing some of the components of the input device 1 built into the housing 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the input device 1 may have a frame 70. The frame 70 may be fixed to the housing 10 (e.g., the lower housing 90 and / or the upper housing 80) by fasteners such as screws. Note that FIG. 3 shows the upper side of the frame 70.

[0016] 3, the input device 1 may have a battery 15. The battery 15 may be disposed between the frame 70 and the lower housing 90. The frame 70 may have an accommodating recess 71 (see FIG. 4) that accommodates the battery 15. In addition, a support structure 100 for the lower button 20, which will be described later, may be attached to the frame 70.

[0017] 4 is a bottom view of the frame 70 with the lower buttons 20 attached. As shown in FIG. 4, two lower buttons 20 can be attached to the lower side of the frame 70. The frame 70 may be provided with a support structure 100 to which the lower buttons 20 are attached and which supports the lower buttons 20.

[0018] 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the support structure 100 for the down button 20. As shown in Fig. 5, the input device 1 may have, as the support structure 100, a first magnetic member 30 made of a magnetic material, a second magnetic member 40 made of a magnetic material, a support member 50 to which the down button 20, which is the operated member, is attached and which supports the down button 20, and two shaft members 60 attached to the support member 50. These members may be housed in a housing 10, which is a housing.

[0019] Fig. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 4. Fig. 6B is a diagram showing the movement of the down button 20 when the user presses it in the operating direction in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 6A. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the movement of the down button 20 when it is removed in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 6A. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 4.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6A, the down button 20 can be attached to a support member 50. The support member 50 may be attached to the frame 70 by a second magnetic member 40. The support member 50 can move about an axis Ax1 (see FIGS. 4, 5, and 8; in FIG. 4, the position of the axis Ax1 coincides with the position of line VIII-VIII) defined by two shaft members 60 (see FIG. 5) attached to the support member 50. The support member 50 may be made of metal, which ensures the rigidity of the support member 50.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 6A , the down button 20 may have an attachment portion 22 that is housed in the housing 10 and attached to a support member 50 (described later). The attachment portion 22 may be housed in a frame 70 that is fixed to the inside of the housing 10. The attachment portion 22 may be formed of a magnetic material. The attachment portion 22 may be formed of a magnetic substance. This magnetic substance may be a ferromagnetic substance such as iron, or a soft magnetic substance such as an iron alloy (e.g., silicon iron). In this embodiment, the attachment portion 22 of the down button 20 corresponds to the "magnetic portion" of the present invention.

[0022] In this embodiment, the entire down button 20 is made of a magnetic material. However, the down button 20 may be made of a plurality of materials. For example, the attachment portion 22 of the down button 20 that is housed in the housing 10 may be made of a magnetic material, and the other portions of the down button 20 may be made of a material different from the magnetic material.

[0023] 6A , the down button 20 may be attached to the input device 1 by magnetic force between the attachment portion 22 (magnetic portion) of the down button 20 and the first magnetic member 30. The first magnetic member 30 may be formed of a magnet (e.g., a hard magnetic material).

[0024] As shown in FIG. 6A , the support member 50 may have a base 51 in which a hole H2 is formed. The attachment portion 22 of the lower button 20 may be received in this hole H2. The attachment portion 22 may have a recess 22a on its side surface (the right side surface in FIG. 6A ). An edge 51a of the hole H2 formed in the support member 50 may fit into this recess 22a. The attachment portion 22 of the lower button 20 may have an inclined surface 22b on the side surface opposite the side surface in which the recess 22a is formed (the left side surface in FIG. 6A ). An inclined surface 51b may also be formed on the inner surface of the hole H2 formed in the support member 50.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 6A , the support member 50 may have a contact portion 52 that comes into contact with a sensor element 111 (described later). The contact portion 52 is spaced from the axis Ax1 on one side of a first direction intersecting the axis Ax1 (e.g., the left direction in FIG. 6A ). The support member 50 may also have an extension portion 53 extending from the base portion 51 to the other side of the first direction (the right direction in FIG. 6A ). The first magnetic member 30 may be attached to this extension portion 53. In this manner, the first magnetic member 30 may be attached to the support member 50 spaced from the axis Ax1 in the first direction. More specifically, the first magnetic member 30 may be spaced from the axis Ax1 on the other side of the first direction (the right direction in FIG. 6A ). The first magnetic member 30 may be fixed to the extension portion 53 so as not to come off the extension portion 53.

[0026] The attachment portion 22 of the down button 20 may have a facing portion 22c above the recess 22a (in the Z1 direction in FIG. 6A ) that faces the first magnetic member 30. When this facing portion 22c is magnetically attracted to the first magnetic member 30, a moment acts on the down button 20 in the rotational direction R1 shown in FIG. 6B . The inclined surface 22b of the down button 20 is pressed against the inclined surface 51b of the support member 50. As a result, the down button 20 is supported by the support member 50. Note that in the attachment portion 22, only the facing portion 22c may be made of a magnetic material, and the other portions may be made of a material other than a magnetic material.

[0027] In response to a user's operation, the down button 20 can move from its initial position together with the first magnetic member 30. The down button 20 can move around the axis line Ax1, for example, between the initial position shown in Fig. 6A and a first tilted position shown in Fig. 6B. In Fig. 6B, the initial position of the down button 20 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. The first tilted position is defined in a rotational direction R1 around the axis line Ax1 relative to the initial position.

[0028] As described above, the support member 50 can move about the axis line Ax1. Therefore, the lower button 20 can move about the axis line Ax1 together with the support member 50 that supports it.

[0029] 4, the axis Ax1 extends in a direction oblique to the left-right direction (X-axis direction) and the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction). As a result, the left down button 20 attached to the left support member 50 can be pushed down toward the left grip 10L. Similarly, the right down button 20 attached to the right support member 50 can be pushed down toward the right grip 10R.

[0030] When the user moves the down button 20 from the initial position in the rotational direction R1 (see FIG. 6B ), which is the operation direction, to the first tilt position, the inclined surface 22b (see FIG. 6A ) of the down button 20 presses the inclined surface 51b (see FIG. 6A ) of the support member 50. As a result, the down button 20 moves together with the support member 50 from the initial position toward the first tilt position. As described above, when the down button 20 is in the initial position, the inclined surface 22b of the down button 20 is in contact with the inclined surface 51b of the support member 50. Therefore, when the user operates the down button 20, rattling of the down button 20 relative to the support member 50 can be suppressed.

[0031] The down button 20 may be detachable from the input device 1 by an operation from outside the housing 10. The down button 20 can be moved to, for example, a second tilted position shown in FIG. 7 . The second tilted position is defined by a rotational direction R2 (see FIG. 6B ), which is opposite to the rotational direction R1 relative to the initial position shown in FIG. 6A . When the down button 20 is in the second tilted position, the distance between the facing portion 22c, which is made of a magnetic material, and the first magnetic member 30 (see FIG. 6A ) increases. This weakens the magnetic force attracting the facing portion 22c to the first magnetic member 30, making it easy to detach the down button 20 from the support member 50 and the housing 10 (input device 1). When detaching the down button 20 from the input device 1, the user must move the down button 20 in a rotational direction R2, which is opposite to the rotational direction R1, which is the normal operating direction of the down button 20. This prevents the user from unintentionally detaching the down button 20.

[0032] As described above, the recess 22a formed in the down button 20 may fit over the edge 51a of the hole H2 formed in the support member 50. As shown in FIG. 7 , the width W1 of the space defined by the edge 51a and the end of the inclined surface 51b of the support member 50 (the end located in the Z1 direction in FIG. 7 ) is greater than the width W2 of the facing portion 22c of the down button 20. Furthermore, the corner 51c of the edge 51a of the support member 50 that contacts the edge of the facing portion 22c of the down button 20 is chamfered. Therefore, when the down button 20 is in the second tilt position, the user can pull the down button 20 out of the hole H2 along the corner 51c of the support member 50.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 5 , the second magnetic member 40 is disposed below the support member 50 (in the Z2 direction in FIG. 5 ). The second magnetic member 40 may be formed in a plate shape. The first magnetic member 30 attached to the support member 50 is movable about an axis Ax1 relative to the frame 70. In contrast, the second magnetic member 40 may be fixed to the frame 70. The second magnetic member 40 may have a fixed portion 41 fixed to the frame 70 by a fastener 49 such as a screw, and an opposing portion 42 bent from the fixed portion 41 to face the first magnetic member 30.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 6A , the second magnetic member 40 (more specifically, the opposing portion 42) magnetically attracts the first magnetic member 30, thereby biasing the down button 20 to the initial position shown in FIG. 6A . The first magnetic member 30 is attached to the support member 50, and the down button 20 can move integrally with the support member 50 around the axis Ax1. Therefore, the second magnetic member 40 magnetically attracts the first magnetic member 30, thereby biasing the down button 20 together with the support member 50 to which the first magnetic member 30 is attached, to the initial position. The second magnetic member 40 may be formed of a magnetic material. This magnetic material may be a ferromagnetic material such as iron, or a soft magnetic material such as an iron alloy (e.g., silicon-iron).

[0035] In this way, by attracting the first magnetic member 30 with magnetic force, the down button 20 can be biased to the initial position shown in Fig. 6A without using a spring. This makes it possible to prevent the down button 20 from wobbling in the initial position. Furthermore, the structure that generates the magnetic force used to attach the down button 20 to the housing 10 can also be used to bias the down button 20 to the initial position.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 6A , the first magnetic member 30 may be, for example, a magnet, and may have a first magnetic pole P1, which is one of an south pole and a north pole, and a second magnetic pole P2, which is the other magnetic pole. The two magnetic poles P1 and P2 face opposite each other in a first direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 6A ) that intersects with the axis Ax1. The attachment portion 22 (more specifically, the facing portion 22c) of the down button 20 may face the first magnetic pole P1. Furthermore, the facing portion 42 of the second magnetic member 40 may face the second magnetic pole P2. By using a magnet as the first magnetic member 30, both the attachment portion 22 of the down button 20 and the second magnetic member 40 can be formed of a magnetic material (e.g., a ferromagnetic material or a soft magnetic material). This reduces the number of magnets required to bias the down button 20 to its initial position.

[0037] As described above, the first magnetic member 30 may be attached to the support member 50 at a distance from the axis Ax1 in a first direction (e.g., the left-right direction in FIG. 6A ) intersecting the axis Ax1. Here, the second magnetic member 40 may attract the first magnetic member 30 in a second direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction, the up-down direction in FIG. 6A ) intersecting the axis Ax1 and the first direction. As shown in FIG. 6A , the facing portion 42 may be offset in the second direction relative to the first magnetic member 30. More specifically, in the second direction, the center position Q0 of the facing portion 42 may be offset from the center position P0 of the first magnetic member 30. In the example shown in FIG. 6A , the facing portion 42 faces the lower end portion of the first magnetic member 30 (the portion located in the Z2 direction) but does not face the upper end portion of the first magnetic member 30 (the portion located in the Z1 direction). As a result, a moment acts on the first magnetic member 30 in a rotational direction R1 (see FIG. 6B ) about the axis Ax1, and the support member 50 is biased together with the first magnetic member 30, and the down button 20 attached to the support member 50 is biased to the initial position shown in FIG. 6A .

[0038] As shown in FIG. 5 , a sensor board 110 may be attached to the frame 70. A sensor element 111 may be mounted on the sensor board 110. The sensor element 111 is housed in the housing 10 of the input device 1 together with the frame 70. The sensor element 111 may output a signal depending on whether it is pressed by the support member 50 (more specifically, the contact portion 52). The sensor element 111 is, for example, a switch that outputs an ON signal when pressed by the support member 50 or when not pressed. The sensor element 111 may also be a pressure-sensitive sensor that outputs a signal depending on the pressure received from the support member 50. When a user presses the operated unit 21 in the rotational direction R1 (see FIG. 5B ) to place it in the first tilted position shown in FIG. 5B , the contact portion 52 of the support member 50 may move in the rotational direction R1 around the axis Ax1 and press the sensor element 111. This causes a signal to be output from the sensor element 111, and the user's operation of the down button 20 is detected.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 6A , the sensor element 111 may be located on one side (e.g., the Z1 direction, downward in FIG. 6A ) of the contact portion 52 of the support member 50 in a second direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction, the up-down direction in FIG. 6A ) intersecting the axis Ax1 and the first direction (e.g., the left-right direction in FIG. 6A ). The second magnetic member 40 may attract the first magnetic member 30 on the other side of the second direction (e.g., the Z2 direction, upward in FIG. 6A ). The sensor element 111 and the second magnetic member 40 may be located on either side of the axis Ax1 in the first direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 6A ) and may be offset to opposite sides of the support member 50 in the second direction (the up-down direction in FIG. 6A ). In FIG. 6A , the second magnetic member 40 is offset upward (in the Z2 direction) with respect to the support member 50, and the sensor element 111 is located below the support member 50 (in the Z1 direction). As a result, when no external force is applied to the down button 20 (for example, when the user is not operating the down button 20), the support member 50 is biased in the direction of the sensor element 111.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 6A , the contact portion 52 of the support member 50 may be in contact with the sensor element 111 when no external force is applied to the down button 20. This more effectively prevents the support member 50 and the down button 20 attached thereto from rattling in the initial position. Furthermore, when the user presses the down button 20 from the initial position in the rotational direction R1, which is the operation direction, the contact portion 52 is in contact with the sensor element 111, and therefore can immediately press the sensor element 111. Note that when the down button 20 is in the initial position shown in Fig. 6A , it is desirable that the contact portion 52 be in contact with the sensor element 111 but not pressing the sensor element 111.

[0041] 5 , the second magnetic member 40 may have a facing portion 42 facing the first magnetic member 30, and a fixed portion 41 bent from the facing portion 42 and fixed to the frame 70. As described above, the facing portion 42 may have a function (first function) of attracting the first magnetic member 30. The fixed portion 41 may have a function (second function) different from the function of attracting the first magnetic member 30.

[0042] 6A and 6B , the fixing portion 41 may have a first cover portion 41a that covers a portion of the support member 50 in the Z-axis direction. The first cover portion 41a may be located below (in the direction indicated by Z2 in FIGS. 6A and 6B ) a contact portion 52 formed on the support member 50. This prevents the contact portion 52 from moving downward (in the direction indicated by Z2) and prevents the support member 50 from moving in the rotational direction R2 around the axis Ax1. Furthermore, by providing the second magnetic member 40 with both a portion that covers a portion of the support member 50 and a portion that attracts the first magnetic member 30, the number of components to be accommodated in the housing 10 can be reduced compared to when these portions are provided on different components.

[0043] 5 and 8, the input device 1 may have a shaft member 60 that defines an axis line Ax1. In the example shown in Fig. 8, two shaft members 60 are attached to the base 51 of the support member 50. This allows the support member 50 to rotate around the axis line Ax1 defined by the shaft members 60.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 , the shaft member 60 may have a cylindrical end portion 61. The support member 50 may have two recesses 51d shaped to correspond to the end portions 61 of the shaft member 60. One recess 51d may be formed on each of two opposing side surfaces of the base portion 51 of the support member 50. The end portions 61 of the shaft member 60 may fit into the two recesses 51d, respectively. The shaft members 60 may be fixed to the frame 70. The support member 50 can rotate about the axis Ax1 defined by the shaft members 60 by sliding along the outer circumferential surfaces of the end portions 61 of the two shaft members 60. Note that the end portions 61 do not have to be cylindrical and may be, for example, spherical.

[0045] As described above, the support member 50 is made of metal, whereas the shaft member 60 may be made of resin. By forming the shaft member 60, which defines the axis Ax1, from resin in this manner, the shaft member 60 is allowed to bend with respect to the axis Ax1, and the durability of the shaft member 60 can be improved.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 , the frame 70 may have recesses 72a and 72b into which the upper sides of the two shaft members 60 (the Z1 side in FIG. 8 ) fit. The fixing portion 41 may have a second cover portion 41b and a third cover portion 41c that cover the two shaft members 60 in the Z-axis direction. The second and third cover portions 41b and 41c may be located below the two shaft members 60 (the direction indicated by Z2 in FIG. 8 ). In this manner, the fixing portion 41 including the second and third cover portions 41b and 41c is fixed to the frame 70, thereby fixing the two shaft members 60 to the frame 70. In other words, the second and third cover portions 41b and 41c cover the two shaft members 60, restricting movement of the two shaft members 60 in a direction intersecting the axis Ax1 (e.g., the second direction, the Z-axis direction in each figure). This prevents the shaft members 60 from coming off the frame 70.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the fixing portion 41 of the second magnetic member 40 fixed to the frame 70 may have a U-shape surrounding the base portion 51 of the support member 50 in a plan view. The fixing portion 41 may cover both the support member 50 (e.g., the contact portion 52) and the two shaft members 60. By covering both the support member 50 and the two shaft members 60 with a single second magnetic member 40 in this manner, the number of components fixed to the frame 70 can be minimized. Also, as shown in FIG. 5 , the fixing portion 41 may have a bent portion 41d extending from the facing portion 42 and bending back toward one of the two shaft members 60. By forming the bent portion 41d, the second magnetic member 40 can be formed with a facing portion 42 that faces the first magnetic member 30 and magnetically attracts the first magnetic member 30.

[0048] [3. Modifications] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In the embodiment, an example has been described in which the first magnetic member 30 is formed of a magnet (e.g., a hard magnetic material), and the attachment portion 22 of the down button 20 housed in the housing 10 and the second magnetic member 40 are formed of a magnetic material (e.g., a ferromagnetic material or a soft magnetic material). This is not limiting, and for example, the attachment portion 22 (e.g., the facing portion 22 c) and the second magnetic member 40 (e.g., the facing portion 42) may be formed of a magnet, and the first magnetic member 30 may be formed of a magnetic material (a ferromagnetic material or a soft magnetic material). This configuration also allows the first magnetic member 30 to be attracted to the second magnetic member 40 by magnetic force, thereby biasing the down button 20 to the initial position shown in FIG. 6A .

[0049] Furthermore, two or more of the attachment portion 22 (e.g., the facing portion 22c) of the down button 20, the first magnetic member 30, and the second magnetic member 40 (e.g., the facing portion 42) may be formed of a magnet (e.g., a hard magnetic material), or all of them may be formed of a magnet. In this way, the first magnetic member 30 can be attracted to the second magnetic member 40 by magnetic force, and the down button 20 can be biased to the initial position.

[0050] Furthermore, in the embodiment, a structure has been described in which the support member 50 and the two shaft members 60 are formed separately, and the two shaft members 60 are attached to the support member 50. However, this is not limiting, and the shaft members 60 may be formed integrally with the support member 50. Furthermore, the shaft members 60 may be formed from the same material as the support member 50. When the support member 50 and the shaft members 60 are formed separately, the axis Ax1 may be defined by a single shaft member. In this case, the support member 50 may be formed with a hole through which one shaft member passes.

[0051] [4. Summary] (1) As described above, the input device described in this disclosure may include a housing and an operated member. The operated member may include an operated portion exposed from the housing and a magnetic portion formed of a magnetic material and housed in the housing. The input device may also include a first magnetic member housed in the housing, formed of a magnetic material, and attaching the operated member to the input device by magnetic force between the first magnetic member and the magnetic portion, and a second magnetic member housed in the housing, formed of a magnetic material. The operated member, when attached to the input device, may be movable from an initial position together with the first magnetic member in response to a user's operation and may be detachable from the input device by an operation from outside the housing. The second magnetic member may bias the operated member to the initial position by attracting the first magnetic member. This allows the operated member to be biased to the initial position without using an elastic member.

[0052] (2) In the input device of (1), the first magnetic member may be a magnet having a first magnetic pole that is one of an S pole and an N pole, and a second magnetic pole that is the other magnetic pole. The magnetic portion may be made of a magnetic material different from the magnet and may face the first magnetic pole. The second magnetic member may be made of a magnetic material different from the magnet and may have a portion facing the second magnetic pole.

[0053] (3) The input device of (1) or (2) above may further include a support member accommodated in the housing, to which the operated member is attached and which supports the operated member. The support member may be movable about an axis. The first magnetic member may be attached to the support member away from the axis in a first direction intersecting the axis. The second magnetic member may attract the first magnetic member in a second direction intersecting the axis and the first direction.

[0054] (4) In the input device of (3), the second magnetic member may have an opposing portion that faces the first magnetic member and attracts the first magnetic member in the second direction, and a center position of the opposing portion may be offset from a center position of the first magnetic member in the second direction.

[0055] (5) The input device of (3) or (4) above may further include a sensor accommodated in the housing and outputting a signal depending on whether the support member is pressed. The support member may further include a contact portion that is spaced apart from the axis on one side of the first direction and that contacts the sensor. The sensor may be located on one side of the second direction with respect to the contact portion. The first magnetic member may be spaced apart from the axis on the other side of the first direction. The second magnetic member may attract the first magnetic member on the other side of the second direction.

[0056] (6) In the input device of (5) above, the contact portion may be in contact with the sensor when no external force is applied to the operated member. This more effectively prevents the support member and the operated member attached to the support member from wobbling in the initial position. Furthermore, when a user pushes the operated member from the initial position in the operation direction, the contact portion is in contact with the sensor, so the contact portion can immediately press the sensor.

[0057] (7) In the input device according to any one of (3) to (6), the second magnetic member may have a facing portion that faces the first magnetic member and has a first function that attracts the first magnetic member, and a portion that is spaced apart from the facing portion and has a second function different from the first function. This reduces the number of components housed in the housing compared to when the portion having the second function is provided on a member different from the second magnetic member.

[0058] (8) The input device according to any one of (3) to (7) above may further include a shaft member supporting the support member. The second magnetic member may include a portion that attracts the first magnetic member and a portion that covers the shaft member and restricts movement of the shaft member. This reduces the number of components housed in the housing compared to when the portion that restricts movement of the shaft member is provided on a member different from the second magnetic member.

[0059] (9) The input device according to any one of (1) to (8) above may further include a frame accommodated in the housing. The first magnetic member may be movable relative to the frame together with the operated member. The second magnetic member may be fixed to the frame.

Claims

1. An input device comprising: a housing; an operated member having an operated portion exposed from the housing and a magnetic portion formed of a magnetic material and housed in the housing; a first magnetic member housed in the housing and formed of a magnetic material for attaching the operated member to an input device by magnetic force between the magnetic portion and the first magnetic member; and a second magnetic member housed in the housing and formed of a magnetic material, wherein the operated member, when attached to the input device, can move from an initial position together with the first magnetic member in response to operation by a user, and can be removed from the input device by operation from outside the housing, and the second magnetic member biases the operated member to the initial position by attracting the first magnetic member.

2. An input device as described in claim 1, wherein the first magnetic member is a magnet having a first magnetic pole which is one of an S pole and an N pole, and a second magnetic pole which is the other magnetic pole, the magnetic part is made of a magnetic material different from the magnet and faces the first magnetic pole, and the second magnetic member is made of a magnetic material different from the magnet and has a portion which faces the second magnetic pole.

3. An input device as described in claim 1, further comprising a support member accommodated in the housing and having the operated member attached thereto to support the operated member, the support member being movable about an axis, the first magnetic member being attached to the support member away from the axis in a first direction intersecting the axis, and the second magnetic member attracting the first magnetic member in a second direction intersecting the axis and the first direction.

4. An input device as described in claim 3, wherein the second magnetic member has an opposing portion that faces the first magnetic member and attracts the first magnetic member in the second direction, and in the second direction, the center position of the opposing portion is shifted relative to the center position of the first magnetic member.

5. An input device as described in claim 3, further comprising a sensor housed in the housing and outputting a signal depending on whether or not the support member is pressed, the support member being spaced apart from the axis on one side of the first direction and further comprising a contact portion in contact with the sensor, the sensor being positioned on one side of the second direction relative to the contact portion, the first magnetic member being spaced apart from the axis on the other side of the first direction, and the second magnetic member attracting the first magnetic member to the other side of the second direction.

6. The input device according to claim 5, wherein the contact portion comes into contact with the sensor when no external force is applied to the operated member.

7. An input device as described in claim 3, wherein the second magnetic member has an opposing portion that faces the first magnetic member and has a first function of attracting the first magnetic member, and a portion that is spaced from the opposing portion and has a second function different from the first function.

8. An input device as described in claim 3, further comprising an axial member supporting the support member, wherein the second magnetic member has a portion that attracts the first magnetic member and a portion that covers the axial member and restricts movement of the axial member.

9. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a frame accommodated in the housing, the first magnetic member being movable relative to the frame together with the operated member, and the second magnetic member being fixed to the frame.

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