Patent ID: 8681092

Claim:
An input device, comprising: an operation portion to be operated by an external force, the operation portion including an opening formed through a surface of the operating portion in a center thereof; a signal generating portion that generates a signal according to a movement of the operation portion; a tactile sense stimulus mechanism that applies a tactile sense stimulus to an object that applies the external force, the tactile sense stimulus mechanism comprising: a first magnetic field generating portion, a second magnetic field generating portion, and a tactile sense stimulus member including a projection, the projection being configured to project upwardly from a position below the surface of the operation portion and the opening and be exposed above the surface of the operation portion and the opening when the tactile sense stimulus member moves upwardly and to retract below the surface of the operation portion and the opening when the tactile sense stimulus member moves downwardly; wherein the first magnetic field generating portion includes at least two pairs of magnets, each pair having a North magnetic pole and a South magnetic pole that are arranged at given intervals to face each other, and the second magnetic field generating portion includes a coil and two terminals, each terminal being connected to a different end of the coil and externally extending from the tactile sense stimulus member to be slidably in contact with a wiring pattern for supplying an electric current, wherein the coil is secured to the tactile sense stimulus member so as to be wound around one of the magnets of each respective pair of magnets and such that the coil is interposed between the North magnetic pole and the South magnetic pole of the respective pair of magnets to be movably provided in perpendicular to a direction that connects the North magnetic pole and the South magnetic pole and such that the one magnet of the respective pair is not centered with respect to the respective coil, and a length of the first magnetic field generating portion is shorter than a length of the second magnetic field generating portion in a movable direction of the tactile sensor member and longer than a maximum movable range of the tactile sensor member, and the length of the second magnetic field generating portion is longer in the movable direction of the tactile sensor member than the maximum movable range of the tactile sensor member.