Patent ID: 7319490

Claim:
An input unit disposed on an apparatus having a plurality of operation modes selectable by a user, for inputting the user's instruction to the apparatus, comprising: a display part for presenting a plurality of functions corresponding to the operation mode selected by the user, the plurality of functions being different in accordance with the operation mode selected by the user; an instruction input unit arranged in surroundings of said display part, for selecting a function among the plurality of functions when the user presses and displaces a first face thereof including a display screen of said display part; a switch pressing unit provided in the vicinity of an outer periphery of a rear face of said first face, said switch pressing unit being capable of being displaced in accordance with the displacement of the instruction input unit; and a switch part arranged to work by being pressed by said switch pressing unit, said switch part comprising a plurality of switches, wherein each switch corresponds to at least one function of the plurality of functions; said display part displays information related to the operation mode of the apparatus and plural pieces of information indicating the functions of the switches on an area provided in the vicinity of each switch, and the information related to the operation mode and the plural pieces of information indicating the functions of the switches are changed in response to the operation mode selected by the user.