Patent ID: 7750889

Claim:
An input device that detects a position of a movable object moving on a given plane and inputs an instruction, comprising: a first detection portion that detects the position of the movable object in a first direction; and a second detection portion that detects the position of the movable object in a second direction crossed at right angle to the first direction; wherein: the first detection portion and the second detection portion detect movement amounts of the movable object in the first direction and in the second direction, based on a change of either a light quantity or a magnetic flux, the first detection portion has a first regulator, a first emitter and a first receiver, the first regulator moves with the movable object in the first direction and changes a quantity of a light passing through the first regulator or an amount of leaked magnetic flux, the first regulator being arranged between the first emitter and the first receiver, the second detection portion has a second regulator, a second emitter and a second receiver, the second regulator moves with the movable object in the second direction and changes a quantity of a light passing through the second regulator or an amount of leaked magnetic flux, and the second regulator being arranged between the second emitter and the second receiver.