Patent ID: 8384687

Claim:
A manipulation input apparatus comprising: a panel member having a front surface exposed toward an outside, the front surface functioning as a manipulation input surface, on which a load is applied toward an inside of the panel member in association with an input by a touch manipulation; a load detection section configured to detect a load, which is applied to the panel member; a calculation section configured to calculate a load position, to which a load is applied, based on the load detected by the load detection section; and a structural section configured to apply a load to the panel member toward the outside, the structural section being integrated with the panel member, wherein: the load detection section is further configured to include strain gauge sensors that are arranged respectively at four points of a rear surface of the panel member, the four points forming a rectangle; and each of the strain gauge sensors detects (i) a load corresponding to a quantity of a pulling-outward manipulation which is executed by pulling the panel member toward the outside using the structural section and (ii) a load corresponding to a quantity of an inclination manipulation which is executed by inclining the panel member to a direction of each of four sides of the rectangle formed by the four points using the structural section.