# US 10,481,702 B2 · Input device, information processing apparatus and manufacturing method of input device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,702 B2 - Document ID: US10481702B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/945,008 - Filed: 2018-04-04 - Published: 2018-10-18 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-17 - Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Nintendo Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Shinji Hirose; Kumpei Fujita - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481702B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0202: {Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device} - A63F 13/214: for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads - A63F 13/24: Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles - A63F 13/92: Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing - G05G 9/047: the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks {(for switches H01H25/04)} - G06F 1/169: {the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes (G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033)} - G06F 3/0338: with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks - G06F 3/041: Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means - G02F 1/13336: {Combining plural substrates to produce large-area displays, e.g. tiled displays} - G02F 1/13338: {Input devices, e.g. touch panels} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00) - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract A non-limiting example information processing apparatus may be a game apparatus that includes an upper housing and a lower housing. The upper housing is provided with a first LCD. The lower housing is provided with a second LCD, and a cross button is provided in a left side of the second LCD and push buttons and a pointing stick are provided in a right side of the second LCD. The pointing stick is constituted with a cap, a holder, an operating body and a sensor board. The operating body to which the sensor board is adhesively fixed is secured, in a plane, to the holder, and the cap is joined to an operating stick of the operating body with the holder interposed therebetween. Then, the holder is fixed, in a linear manner, to the lower housing at one side, and a movement toward a rear side is regulated at a side not fixed to the lower housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An input device, comprising: a housing; a protrusion; and an input detector configured to detect input based on operation of the protrusion, wherein the input detector is fixed to the housing at one or more points disposed to provide a tilt axis for allowing tilting movement of the input detector in response to a bending of the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a holding member configured to hold the input detector, the input detector being fixed to the housing via the holding member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input detector is configured to detect distortion according to operation of the protrusion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The input device according to claim 2, wherein the holding member is fixed in a linear manner to the housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The input device according to claim 4, wherein the holding member is fixed in a linear manner to the housing at one side or two adjacent sides. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The input device according to claim 4, wherein the holding member is fixed to the housing at two fixing portions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The input device according to claim 3, wherein the holding member is fixed to the housing at a single fixing portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The input device according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion comprises an elastic material and includes a portion sandwiched between the input detector and the holding member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The input device according to claim 2, wherein the holding member further comprises a leg member configured to regulate a side not fixed to the housing of the holding portion from being displaced due to operation of the protrusion within a predetermined range. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The input device according to claim 9, wherein the leg member extends in a direction perpendicular to a first surface of the housing in the holding member, and the leg member is provided with having a gap from a further member, and is brought into contact to the further member when the holding member is inclined due to operation to the protrusion, thereby to support the holding member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The input device according to claim 9, wherein the leg member includes a first portion extending from the housing in a direction perpendicular to a first surface of the housing and a second portion extending from an end of the first portion toward the holding member, and the leg member is provided with having a gap between the holding member and the second portion, and the holding member is configured to be brought into contact to the second portion when the holding member is inclined due to operation to the protrusion, thereby to support the holding member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The input device according to claim 2, wherein a detector including the input detector is fixed to the holding member at three or more points. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The input device according to claim 2, wherein the holding member is fixed to a first surface of the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The input device according to claim 2, wherein the holding member includes a protruding portion provided around the protrusion, and the protruding portion is configured to be brought into contact with the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is provided on a grip of the housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a depressible input, and the protrusion is provided adjacent to the depressible input. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The input device according to claim 16, wherein the depressible input is operable for performing touch input. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An information processing apparatus, comprising the input device recited in the claim 1. ### Claim 19 A method for manufacturing an input device comprising a housing, a protrusion, and an input detector configured to detect input based on operation of the protrusion, the method comprising: (a) arranging the protrusion on a front side of the housing; and (b) connecting the input detector to the protrusion for enabling detecting of input based on operation of the protrusion, and fixing the input detector to the housing in a rear side of the housing at one or more points disposed to provide a tilt axis for allowing tilting movement of the input detector in response to a bending of the housing. ### Claim 20 A method for manufacturing an input device comprising a housing, a protrusion, an input detector configured to detect input based on operation of the protrusion, and a holding member configured to hold the input detector, the method comprising: (a) arranging the protrusion on a front side of the housing; (b) connecting the input detector to the protrusion for enabling detecting of input based on operation of the protrusion, and fixing the input detector to the holding member; and (c) fixing the holding member to the housing in a rear side of the housing at one or more points disposed to provide a tilt axis for allowing tilting movement of the input detector in response to a bending of the housing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input detector is fixed to the housing at one point. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input detector is fixed to the housing at a two points. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input detector is fixed to the housing at three or more co-linear points. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises an operating stick or a cap for an operating stick. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input detector detects a direction and a magnitude of a tilt of the operating stick based on the operation of the protrusion. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) A game controller comprising an input device according to claim 1. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A game system comprising the game controller according to claim 26.