Patent ID: 7215329

Claim:
A touch panel input device comprising: a movable plate; an input operation surface on a surface of said movable plate; a support substrate facing said movable plate across an insulating gap; a first conductor layer on a first surface of said movable plate facing said support substrate; a second conductor layer on a second surface of said support substrate facing said movable plate; pressure detecting means for detecting a pressure and a pressed position on said input operation surface based on a contact between said first and second conductor layers; the pressure detecting means further including a voltage detection circuit operable to read a constant electric gradient formed across the movable plate, wherein the electric gradient at the pressed position is at a value proportional to a distance from a side of the moveable plate; means for providing pressed position data indicating a position of said pressure; a piezoelectric substrate mechanically fixed to one of said movable plate and said support substrate; and means for applying a drive voltage to said piezoelectric substrate responsive to said pressure, whereby contracting and expanding of said piezoelectric substrate in response to said drive voltage vibrates the one of said movable plate and said support substrate to generate an input operation feeling.