<p>A touch panel is provided with an infrared light transmission member a surface of which is used as a touch surface (20) by a detection target and which can transmit infrared light, an area sensor (3) which includes a plurality of optical sensor elements (4) arranged on the lower part of a touch area to be touched by the detection target in the infrared light transmission member, and a plurality of infrared light sources (1) arranged on the outside of the touch area to be touched by the detection target in the infrared light transmission member so that the infrared light is irradiated over the surface of the infrared light transmission member and the infrared light is irradiated over the whole circumference of the detection target which touches the touch surface (20), wherein among the infrared light irradiated from the infrared light sources (1) over the surface of the infrared light transmission member, the infrared light which is reflected by the detection target and transmits the infrared light transmission member is received by the optical sensor element (4) so as to detect a position touched by the detection target.</p>
