Patent ID: 7310081

Claim:
An inputting apparatus for use with a pointer on a display screen, comprising: a tilt-enabled manipulating section comprising a keytop having an opening therein upon which a finger may be placed to manipulate the inputting apparatus and a tubular-shaped holder held to a lower side of said keytop, said manipulating section including a tactile-stimulating device configured to tactile-stimulate said finger when said pointer is in a predetermined position on the display screen; a signal-producing section configured to produce a signal in response to a tilt of the manipulating section, which signal causes the pointer on the display screen to be moved, said signal-producing section further comprising: a permanent magnet disposed at a bottom portion of said manipulating section for tilting movement therewith, and magneto-electric converting elements which detect a change in a magnetic field corresponding to tilting movement of said permanent magnet, wherein the signal produced by said signal-producing section is based on said change in the magnetic field: wherein: said tactile-stimulating device includes a tactile-stimulating element disposed for movement within said holder between a tactile-stimulating position and a non tactile-stimulating position, and wherein said tactile-stimulating element includes a coil and a projecting member positioned with respect to an upper side of said coil, a portion of said projecting member projecting from said opening when the tactile-stimulating element is in the tactile-stimulating position; and delivery of a first drive current to said coil generates a first electromagnetic force, using the magnetic field formed by said permanent magnet, which electromagnetic force moves said tactile-stimulating element away from the permanent magnet.