Patent ID: 6906699

Claim:
An input unit having: a mouse function, at least one inputting function selected from the group consisting of a scanning function and a function for inputting hand-written/drawn information, and image-recording means having an area sensor comprising a plurality of sensing elements, and the image-recording means adapted to record with only the area sensor a plurality of images in such a way that content of one of plurality of images partially overlaps content of another of plurality of images, and the image-processing means are adapted to determine a relative position of the images with the aid of the partially overlapping contents of the images for both the mouse function and the at least one inputting function, and further, for the mouse function, obtaining positioning information using the relative position, and for the at least one inputting function, processing at least one image of the at least two images in a way which is specific to the at least one inputting function.