JP2000099239A - Input/output device provided with bodily sensible function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To give sensuous stimulation other than sensations of video, sound, vibration and pressure through the information processor of a personal computer, a home game machine, etc. SOLUTION: An aroma substance storage part 104 as a means which stores chemical substances as the essence of an aroma, an aroma diffusion part 103 as a means for diffusing the essence of the aroma, and a communication part 102 are provided. A request of the information processor 106 is received through the communication device 102 and one or more chemical substances as the essence of the aroma are selected and diffused in the area by the aroma diffusion part 103. Consequently, aroma stimulation is given associatively with the operation state and screen state of the information processor 106.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an input / output device used for an information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an output device of an information processing device such as a personal computer or a home game machine, there are a display such as a CRT / LCD which appeals to visual sense by using an image, and a speaker which appeals to auditory sense by using sound. . Further, in order to further enhance the sense of realism of a game or the like, there is a method in which the input device is vibrated in accordance with a screen change or a reaction force is used to give a sense of resistance to the operation.

The input device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-97375 applies vibration to the input device using a gyro in order to improve the sense of reality. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-246
In the input device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 066, it is possible to apply a load to the operation of the stick by providing an elastic body and a drive unit that operates according to an instruction from the game machine main body.

[0004]

In an input / output device of an information processing device such as a personal computer or a home game machine, not only output by video and audio but also operation by interlocking with the screen state and the like is utilized. It is demanded that people feel a feeling close to reality. At present, a method of stimulating a user's sensation by providing vibration and resistance to an input device in addition to outputting video and audio has been realized.

The present invention provides a more realistic information processing by stimulating the sense of smell, which is a sensation other than the tactile sensation caused by the conventional sight, hearing, specific vibration or resistance, or stimulating the skin with warm or cold wind. An object is to realize an input / output device for realizing the device.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To solve this problem, the present invention provides a communication means for communicating with an information processing device such as a personal computer or a home game machine, and a fragrance element according to the communication contents. By providing a diffuser for diffusing, or a blower that generates wind according to the communication content and a heating / cooling unit that controls the temperature of the wind, the user can be synchronized with the screen information of the information processing device, etc. Stimulate the sense of smell by diffusing the scent,
Alternatively, it is configured to generate a tactile stimulus by a warmed or cooled wind.

[0007] With this configuration, it is possible to enhance the sense of reality by giving the user an olfactory stimulus or a tactile stimulus caused by the wind in conjunction with a change in the state of the screen of the information processing apparatus.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a communication means for communicating with an information processing apparatus, means for accumulating at least one chemical substance serving as a scent element, and a scent element. An input / output device having a sensational function capable of selecting and diffusing at least one of the fragrance elements in accordance with a request from the information processing device. It has the effect of generating a scent in conjunction with the output.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication means for communicating with the information processing apparatus, a means for heating the air, a means for cooling the air, and a means for blowing air in response to a request from the information processing apparatus. It is an input / output device with a bodily sensation function that can control the temperature and flow rate of air, and has the effect of generating wind in conjunction with the video and audio output of the information processing device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the input / output device with the sensation function according to the first or second aspect, wherein the input / output device is incorporated in an input device of the information processing device. Has the effect of generating fragrance and wind from a position close to the person.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram in which an input / output device having a sensation function for generating a scent is incorporated in an input device.

In FIG. 1, an input / output device 100 includes an input unit 1.
01, a communication unit 102, a scented substance accumulation unit 104, and a scent diffusion unit 103. The information processing device 106 is an information processing device such as a personal computer or a home game machine connected to the input / output device 100 for use.

The input unit 101 is an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a joypad, a tablet of a personal computer, or a joystick or joypad of a home game machine, and converts a user operation into an electric signal. The communication unit 102 converts the electric signal converted by the input unit 101 into an information processing device 106
It is composed of a communication interface, an IC for communication processing, and a communication processing program. RS-232C or IE as communication interface
Radio waves and radio waves conforming to standards such as EE1284, IrDA, USB, and IEEE1394 can be used. The information processing device 106 and the input / output device 100 are connected by wire or wirelessly. In addition, the communication unit 102 simultaneously executes the information processing device 1
Also, it has a function of transmitting a signal from the odor diffusion section 103 to the scent diffusion section 103.

The scent diffusion section 103 is a scent substance accumulation section 104 which is a means for accumulating a plurality of scent-based chemical substances.
Then, one or more chemical substances to be used as a fragrance element are selected, and the selected chemical substances are diffused into the air. The scented substance accumulation unit 104 is a tank container configured in a cartridge shape so as to be detachable from the input / output device 100,
By removing and replacing, it is possible to replenish the chemical substance that is the source of the scent, or switch to a different type of chemical that is the source of the scent. The tank container is made of a material that does not degrade the scent-generating substance by reacting with a chemical substance serving as a scent element.

The scent diffusion section 103 diffuses scent-generating substances by blowing, spraying and heating. As a method of diffusing with the wind, a wind is generated by a blowing device such as a compressed air nozzle or a small fan device, and a powdery chemical substance serving as a fragrance element is diffused by the wind pressure. As a method of spraying, a liquid chemical substance serving as a fragrance element is diffused by spraying into the air with a spray or a compressed air nozzle. As a method of vaporizing by heating, a liquid chemical substance is vaporized by heat of a heating element and diffused into air. In the case of the method of vaporizing by heating, the shape of the scented substance accumulating unit 104 is not limited to the tank container, and by using a solid impregnated with a liquid chemical substance serving as a scent element, by heating the solid itself, Chemicals can also be vaporized. The scent diffusion unit 103 not only diffuses the chemical substance of the scent element but also controls the type and amount of the scent diffusion at one time according to the communication result of the communication unit 102.

With the above configuration, the program executed on the information processing apparatus 106 is executed by the information processing apparatus 1 at that time.
06, communicates with the communication unit 102 in the input / output device 100 according to the screen state, and according to the communication result, the scent diffusion unit 103 selects and diffuses the chemical substance of the scent element. The generation of the fragrance stimulus according to the state of the processing device 106 is realized.

If a substance that promotes a relaxing effect, such as aromatherapy, is used as the scent diffusion substance, a key operation is detected to detect that the user is using the information processing device, and a relaxation promoting substance is generated. It is also possible. In addition, although the description has been given of the example in which the scent diffusion unit is incorporated in the input device, the same effect can be obtained by communicating with the information processing device and using it in the vicinity of the user, for example, by incorporating it in a display or the like. Is obtained.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram in which an input / output device having a sensational function of generating hot air and cold air is incorporated in the input device.

In FIG. 2, an input / output device 200 is an input unit 2
01, a communication unit 202, a blowing unit 203, a heating unit 204, and a cooling unit 205. The information processing device 206 is an information processing device such as a personal computer or a home game machine connected to the input / output device 200 for use.

The input unit 201 is an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a joypad, a tablet of a personal computer, or a joystick or joypad of a home game machine, and converts a user operation into an electric signal. The communication unit 202 transmits the electric signal converted by the input unit to the information processing device 206, and includes a communication interface, an IC for communication processing, and a communication processing program. The communication interface is RS-232C or IEEE1
284, IrDA, USB, IEEE1394 and other standards and radio waves can be used. Information processing device 206
Between the input and output device 200 may be wired or wireless.
The communication unit 202 also has a function of transmitting a signal from the information processing device to the blowing unit 203, the heating unit 204, and the cooling unit 205 at the same time.

A blower unit 203 serving as a blower is disposed in a portion of the input / output device 200 where the user's finger touches or where the user's finger is placed nearby. Stimulating the user's tactile sensation by touching it or flowing it very close to the finger. The blower 203
For example, a small fan device or a nozzle can be used. In the case of a nozzle, the blower also includes a spray tank that holds compressed air for ejection from the nozzle. In this case, by realizing the spray tank in a replaceable shape, it is possible to replace the spray tank with a new tank when the compressed air is exhausted or the pressure is reduced.

The heating unit 204 and the cooling unit 205 adjust the temperature of the wind blown from the blower unit 203, and provide a user with a tactile stimulus other than the direct stimulus of the wind.
The heating unit 204 can be an electric heater or the like, and the cooling unit 205 can be a Peltier device or the like. With the above configuration, the program executed on the information processing device 206 communicates with the communication unit 202 in the input / output device 200 according to the operation state or screen state of the information processing device 206 at that time, and according to the communication result. Then, the blowing unit 203 generates wind, and the heating unit 204 raises the temperature or the cooling unit 205 lowers the temperature, thereby realizing the generation of the tactile stimulus by the wind according to the state of the information processing device 206.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, communication with an information processing apparatus is performed, and a tactile stimulus such as olfaction or wind is generated in accordance with the communication contents, thereby enabling a personal computer or a home game machine to be used. It is possible to provide the user with a bodily sensation full of a sense of reality linked with the screen display.

When a scent generating device or a blowing device is incorporated in the input device, the input device is usually close to the user of the information processing device by utilizing the feature that is located within the reach of the user. A stimulus can be generated at the location. For this reason, a stimulus can be given to the user more directly. Further, in the case of the scent generator, the amount of the diffused chemical substance can be suppressed to a small amount, and the scent can be quickly transmitted to the user. In the case of a blower, wind can be directly applied to a user's finger from a short distance, and delicate tactile control can be performed. In addition, transmission and reception of a signal required for the input device and a signal required for controlling the scent generation device or the blower device can be performed using a single signal line.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an input device having a built-in scent generating function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an input device having a function of generating hot air and cold air according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 input / output device 101 input unit 102 communication unit 103 scent diffusion unit 104 scented substance storage unit 106 information processing device 200 input / output device 201 input unit 202 communication unit 203 blowing unit 204 heating unit 205 cooling unit 206 information processing device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Means for communicating with an information processing apparatus, means for accumulating at least one or more scent-based chemical substances,
An input / output device with a bodily sensation function, comprising: means for diffusing the fragrance element, and capable of selecting and diffusing at least one of the fragrance elements according to a request from the information processing device. 2. An information processing apparatus, comprising: means for communicating with an information processing apparatus; means for heating air; means for cooling air; and means for blowing air. I / O device with bodily sensation function that can control 3. The input / output device with a sensation function according to claim 1, wherein the input / output device is incorporated in an input device of the information processing device.