Patent ID: 6508137
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An input device comprising:separate electrodes comprised of an electrode for detecting input in a vertical direction and a plurality of electrodes for detecting input in a horizontal direction and arranged separately on a surface; an elastic body which faces the separate electrodes with a predetermined space therebetween, at least a portion opposite to the separate electrodes being conductive, a thin portion being provided opposite to the electrode for detecting input in the vertical direction, a storage depressed portion being formed on the thin portion, and the space between the elastic body and the separate electrodes changing by input; a slider connected to the elastic body and movable only in the horizontal direction; a hard pressing body stored in the storage depressed portion of the elastic body; and a key top whose portion opposite to the pressing body is movable in the vertical direction, wherein horizontal movement of the key top deforms the elastic body via the slider and a space between the conductive portion of the elastic body and the electrodes for detecting input in the horizontal direction changes, and when the key top is pressed, the thin portion of the elastic body deforms through the pressing body and the space between the thin portion and the electrode for detecting input in the vertical direction changes.