ATBECHDEDKESFRGBGRITLILUNLSEMCPTIESILTLVFIROMKCYALTRBGCZEEHUPLSK..HRISYU........JDIM360 (Ver 1.5 21 Nov 2005) - 1620000/01538649EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATIONA320071212EP04027936.62004112420041124enenen200340623020031204JP200402416520040130JP200402419320040130JP200429423020041006JP2007121220075020050608200523

H01H 25/04 20060101AFI20050303BHEP

H01H 25/00 20060101ALI20050303BHEP

deEingabetaste und EingabegerätenInput key and input apparatusfrTouche de clavier et dispositif d'entrée1NTT DoCoMo, Inc.03031180E 83032 EP(BO/K11-1, Nagatacho 2-chome, Chiyoda-kuTokyo 100-6150JPSugimura, Toshiaki Int.Prop.Dept., NTT DoCoMo, IncSanno Park Tower,11-1Nagata-cho 2-chome Chiyoda-kuTokyo 100-6150JPFukumoto, Masaaki Int.Prop.Dept., NTT DoCoMo, IncSanno Park Tower,11-1Nagata-cho 2-chome Chiyoda-kuTokyo 100-6150JPNinjouji, Takashi Int.Prop.Dept., NTT DoCoMo, IncSanno Park Tower,11-1Nagata-cho 2-chome Chiyoda-kuTokyo 100-6150JPGROSSE BOCKHORNI SCHUMACHER00102031Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Elsenheimerstrasse 4980687 MünchenDEATBEBGCHCYCZDEDKEEESFIFRGBGRHUIEISITLILUMCNLPLPTROSESISKTRALHRLTLVMKYU20071212200750

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.