Input key and input apparatus

(19)

(11)

EP 1 538 649 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	12.12.2007 Bulletin 2007/50

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	08.06.2005 Bulletin 2005/23

(21)	Application number: 04027936.6

(22)	Date of filing: 24.11.2004

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International Patent Classification (IPC):

H01H 25/04^(2006.01)

H01H 25/00^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL HR LT LV MK YU

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Priority:

04.12.2003 JP 2003406230
30.01.2004 JP 2004024165
30.01.2004 JP 2004024193
06.10.2004 JP 2004294230

(71)	Applicant: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
	Tokyo 100-6150 (JP)

(72)	Inventors:
	Sugimura, Toshiaki Int.Prop.Dept., NTT DoCoMo, Inc Tokyo 100-6150 (JP) Fukumoto, Masaaki Int.Prop.Dept., NTT DoCoMo, Inc Tokyo 100-6150 (JP) Ninjouji, Takashi Int.Prop.Dept., NTT DoCoMo, Inc Tokyo 100-6150 (JP)

(74)	Representative: GROSSE BOCKHORNI SCHUMACHER
	Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Elsenheimerstrasse 49 80687 München 80687 München (DE)

(54)	Input key and input apparatus

(57) An input key 10 has a key top 220 which can incline, a key top supported portion 20, a key top supporting portion 30 provided on a support plate 60 and arranged to come into contact with the key top supported portion 20 during a push on the key top and to support the key top supported portion 20 so as to permit the key top 220 to incline in the contact state, at least one inclination detector 54 provided in a direction assigned an input information item, on the support plate 60 or on the key top 220, a push detector for detecting a push on the input key 10, an inclination direction detector for detecting an inclination direction of the key top 220 when a push on the input key 10 is detected, and a symbol determiner for determining an input information item on the basis of the inclination direction.

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