US Patent 8427423 Information input device

An information input device (1) includes a touch panel (2), an image display (6), and a sensor section (12) for detecting touched contact positions on the touch panel (2). A detection region of the touch panel (2), surrounded by the sensor section (12), is divided into a rectangular main region (10) and at least one sub region (14), which has a smaller area than the main region (10), is separated from the main region (10), and extends along at least one edge thereof. Images are displayed by the image display (6) and contact positions are detected in the main region (10). Only the presence or absence of contact is detected in the at least one sub region (14).