Patent ID: 7742037

Claim:
An input device comprising: an input operation member; pressure intensity detection means for detecting a pressure intensity on the input operation member by a user at an input operation time; pressing frequency detection means for detecting a pressing number by the user of the operation member per unit of time at the input operation time; reference pressure value calculation means for calculating a reference pressure value based on detection results of a pressure intensity obtained by the pressure intensity detection means during a first predetermined period or by a predetermined number of input operations with respect to the input operation member; reference pressing frequency value calculation means for calculating a reference pressing frequency value based on detection results of a pressing number obtained by the pressing frequency detection means during a second predetermined period; pressure intensity comparison means for comparing detection results of the pressure intensity detected by the pressure intensity detection means at the input operation time and the reference pressure value; pressing frequency comparison means for comparing detection results of the pressing number obtained by the pressing frequency detection means at the input operation time and the reference pressing frequency value; and psychological state indication determination means for determining an indication of the user's psychological state using input operations by the user detected only by the pressure intensity detection means and the pressing frequency detection means, wherein the psychological state indication determination means is for determining a reference indication of the user's psychological state using only the reference pressure value and the reference pressing frequency value, and for determining an indication of the psychological state of the user at the input operation time, in relation to the reference indication, using the comparison results obtained by the pressure intensity comparison means and the pressing frequency comparison means.