IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,370,435
Granted Patent B2
US 12,370,435 · App. 17/911,478 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Input device

Inventors: Masaho Morita (Tokyo, JP); Kenji Kawashima (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
A63F13/24G06F3/0202
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,370,435
App. No.
17/911,478
Granted
Jul 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Noise is prevented from occurring in voice data acquired by a microphone due to an operation of an input stick. An input device ( 10 ) includes an upper cabinet section ( 41 ) having an opening formed therein, an input button ( 35 ) that is positioned inside the opening and is movable in an upward-downward direction, an elastic member that biases the input button ( 35 ) toward an initial position of the input button ( 35 ), and a buffer member ( 37 ). The input button ( 35 ) has a stopped portion ( 35 b, 35 c ) for preventing the input button ( 35 ) from popping out of the opening. The buffer member ( 37 ) is made of a material different from a material of the upper cabinet section ( 41 ) and from a material of the input button ( 35 ) and has a stopper portion ( 37 a, 37 b ) positioned between an inner edge of the opening of the upper cabinet section ( 51 ) and the stopped portion ( 35 b, 35 c ) of the input button ( 35 ).

Claims (19)

1. An input device comprising:

an exterior member having an opening formed therein;

at least one input button that is positioned inside the opening and is movable in a direction intersecting with the exterior member;

an elastic member that biases the least one input button toward an initial position of the at least one input button; and

a buffer member,

wherein the at least one input button has a stopped portion for preventing the input button from popping out of the opening, and

the buffer member is made of a material lower in rigidity than a material of the exterior member and a material of the at least one input button and has a stopper portion positioned between an inner edge of the opening of the exterior member and the stopped portion of the input button.

2. The input device according to claim 1 , comprising:

a plurality of input buttons as the at least one input button,

wherein the buffer member has a plurality of stopper portions each of which collides with the stopped portion of a corresponding one of the plurality of input buttons.

3. The input device according to claim 2 ,

wherein the buffer member has a center portion positioned between the plurality of input buttons, and

the plurality of stopper portions are formed in the center portion.

4. The input device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the exterior member has, at an edge of the opening, a guide portion for guiding the at least one input button, and

the buffer member is formed on an outer side of the guide portion along the guide portion.

5. The input device according to claim 4 ,

the buffer member has an annular portion surrounding the outer side of the guide portion, and

the stopper portion is formed on the annular portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2022
From: MORITA, MASAHO; KAWASHIMA, KENJI
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 061090/0675 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-065104 · Mar 31, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230173378A1 · Jun 8, 2023
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