Patent ID: 7355585

Claim:
An input device including a set of cursor-movement keys (or simply cursor keys) that, when activated, cause the cursor to move at an initial speed across the screen in the direction as indicated by the cursor-movement key, a cursor key activation detect means for detecting the activation of any cursor key and outputting the detected result of the cursor key activation for the cursor movement in the direction as indicated, a rotary operation device being operable to be rotated in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction for performing the input operations through its rotation, a rotary operation device activation detect means for detecting the activation of the rotary operation device and outputting the detect result of the rotation amount or the rotation speed of the rotary operation device and the direction of rotation in which the rotary operation device has been rotated, that is, the clockwise direction or counterclockwise direction representing the forward direction and backward direction respectively, and a cursor movement information generator means for receiving the detect results from the cursor key activation detect means and from the rotary operation device activation detect means, wherein, when the detected result is received only from the cursor key activation detect means, the cursor movement information generator means responds to the received detect result, and provides output signals that cause the cursor to move in the respective direction indicated by the activated cursor key at an initial first speed, and when the detected results are received from both the cursor key activation detect means and the rotary operation activation detect means by the simultaneous operation of the cursor key and the rotary operation device, the cursor movement information generator means responds to the received detected result, and provides output signals such that when the rotary operation device is being rotated in the forward direction the output signals cause the cursor to continue to move in the respective direction indicated by the activated cursor key but at a second speed based upon modulating the first speed according to the rotation amount or the rotation speed of the rotary operation device and when the rotary operation device is rotated in the backward direction the output signals cause the cursor to move in the direction opposite the direction as indicated by the activated cursor key and at said second modulated speed according to the rotation amount or rotation speed of the rotary operation device.