Remote control unit with keyboard cover and cover position detector

Claim 1

An input apparatus comprising: a base; a first operation key part having a plurality of operation keys formed on said base; a cover part hingedly attached to said base for covering said first operation key part when set to a first position and for exposing said first operation part when set to a second position located under said base; a second operation part having a plurality of second operation keys and attached to said cover part so as to be exposed when said cover part is set to said first position; control means for generating operation information for a first electronic device when any of said first operation keys of said first operation key part is operated and for generating operation information for a second electronic device when any of said second operation keys of said second operation key part is operated; transmission means for transmitting the operation information generated by said control means; and means for determining whether said cover part is set to said first position or to said second position, wherein, if said position determination means has determined that said cover part is set to said first position, said control means does not generate operation information in response to any of said first operation keys of said first operation key part being operated and only generates operation information in response to any of said second operation keys of said second operation key part being operated, and wherein, if said position determination means has determined that said cover part is set to said second position, said control means does not generate operation information in response to any of said second operation keys of said second operation key part being operated and only generates operation information in response to any of said first operation keys of said first operation key part being operated.