IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,724,475
Granted Patent B2
US 12,724,475 · App. 18/787,253 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Input device

Inventors: Takanori Minamino (Kanagawa, JP); Kenzo Nishikawa (Tokyo, JP); Takeshi Igarashi (Kanagawa, JP); Yoshiaki Kawamura (Chiba, JP)
Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
G06F3/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,724,475
App. No.
18/787,253
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Two light-emitting units are to be prevented from overlapping each other in an image obtained through a camera. A tracked unit ( 30 ) has a first outer surface (A 1 ) provided with a first light-emitting unit (H 1 ), a second outer surface (A 2 ) provided with a second light-emitting unit (H 2 ), and a light shield portion (B). The second outer surface (A 2 ) faces a second direction different from that of the first outer surface (A 1 ). The light shield portion (B) is located further outside than the first light-emitting unit (H 1 ) and the second light-emitting unit (H 2 ).

Claims (18)

1 . An input device comprising:

a main body, including: (i) a grip having a first end and a second end, opposite to the first end, where a Z-axis extends through the first end and the second end of the grip; (ii) an operation region disposed proximate to the first end of the grip of the main body, and including a plurality of operation units for manipulation by a user's fingers while holding the grip; and

a tracked unit including:

a member extending from proximate the first end of the grip, curving away from the grip to an apex, and curving back from the apex to proximate the second end of the grip, where an X-axis extends perpendicularly through the Z-axis of the grip and through the apex of the member,

an inner surface of the member, spaced from, and facing, the grip,

a first outer surface portion of the member, located opposite to the inner surface and facing away from the grip in a first direction, and having a first light-emitting unit thereon,

a second outer surface portion of the member, located opposite to the inner surface and facing away from the grip in a second direction, and having a second light-emitting unit thereon,

an Y-axis extending through an intersection of, and perpendicular to both, the Z-axis and the X-axis at the grip, where the first direction is away from the grip at least partly parallel to the Y-axis in a forward direction, and the second direction is away from the grip at least partly parallel to the Y-axis in an opposite, rearward direction, and

a light shielding ridge comprising an apex portion, the light shielding ridge extending along the member and between the first light-emitting unit on the first outer surface portion and the second light-emitting unit on the second outer surface portion,

wherein the light shield ridge is located further outside than a line connecting the first and second light-emitting units, and

wherein the distance between the apex portion and the line is greater than a diameter of each of the first and second light-emitting units.

2 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the light shielding ridge includes a ridge line defined by points that are each located outside of respective radial arcs that are tangent to the first and second outer surface portions.

3 . The input device according to claim 2 , wherein one of the points of the ridge line is located outside of one of the respective radial arcs that is in tangent contact with the first outer surface portion at a first point at which the first light-emitting unit is located, and that is in tangent contact with the second outer surface portion.

4 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the member of the tracked unit includes a ridge line.

5 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the tracked unit has a frame disposed inside the first outer surface portion and the second outer surface portion, which supports the first and second light-emitting units.

6 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the tracked unit has a bottom portion connected to the grip and extending upwardly curving from the bottom portion in a rear view of the input device.

7 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the tracked unit curves between a lowermost portion and the operation region.

8 . The input device of claim 1 , wherein the light shield ridge is located further outside than the first and second light-emitting units.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2026
From: MINAMINO, TAKANORI; NISHIKAWA, KENZO; IGARASHI, TAKESHI; KAWAMURA, YOSHIAKI
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 074498/0005 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019050278 · Mar 18, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17436232 · Mar 17, 2020
Related Publication 20240385680A1 · Nov 21, 2024
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