Patent ID: 8427423

Claim:
An information input device, comprising: a touch panel comprising a sensor section configured to detect contact positions on the touch panel, the sensor section being divided into a rectangular main region and at least one sub region, wherein the touch panel is an acoustic type touch panel and the sensor section comprises a plurality of reflective arrays arranged along the perimeter of the sensor section, the plurality of reflective arrays comprising a first reflective array along the main region and a second reflective array along the at least one sub region wherein the first reflective array and the second reflective array are co-linear but separated from each other by a first gap, the first gap representing a first separation between the main region and the at least one sub region, wherein first portions of surface acoustic waves are reflected by the first reflective array across the main region and second portions of the surface acoustic waves pass through the first gap and are reflected by the second reflective array across the at least one sub region; a receiving transducer configured to receive the first portions of the surface acoustic waves and the second portions of the surface acoustic waves; and an image display visible through the main region of the touch panel; wherein the at least one sub region has a smaller area than the main region, is separated from the main region, extends along at least one edge of the main region, and has a switching function; wherein images are displayed by the image display and contact positions are detected in the main region; and wherein only the presence or absence of contact is detected in the at least one sub region.