Patent ID: 7532199

Claim:
An input apparatus, comprising: a first operation housing having a plurality of first input buttons for performing a first group of functions, the first operation housing being adapted principally to be held; a second operation housing having a plurality of second input buttons for performing a second group of functions and a plurality of third input buttons for performing a third group of functions; a hinge section connecting the second operation housing to the first operation housing for pivotal movement between a folded position and an unfolded position, the third input buttons being operable while the first input buttons and the second input buttons are disposed between the first operation housing and the second operation housing in the folded position; and a joystick control section disposed integrally with the first operation housing on a center line of the hinge section and having an outer circumferential portion provided with fourth input buttons for performing functions corresponding to the first group of functions and the second group of functions; the joystick control section being exposed in both the folded position and the unfolded position so that input operations can be performed using the fourth input buttons.