Patent ID: 8344834

Claim:
An input apparatus comprising: an operating member, operable to move in at least X and −X directions from a predetermined neutral position, the X and −X directions being opposite to each other; first and second magnets, being arranged with spacing along an X and −X direction and having opposite magnetic polarities to each other, wherein when the operating member moves in either one of the X and −X directions, the first and second magnets moves in the same direction as the operating member; and a first magnetic sensor, provided at a position displaced from a middle point between the first magnet and the second magnet when the operating member is located in the neutral position, the position being equidistant from the first magnet and the second magnet, wherein when the operating member moves in one of the X and −X directions, the first magnetic sensor outputs a signal in accordance with the magnetic polarity of one of the first and second magnets that approaches the first magnetic sensor.