JP2008116249A - Portable device and distance measurent method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and quickly measure distance between two points by indicating two points by utilizing the rotation of the upper casing and the lower casing of a portable device. <P>SOLUTION: A user indicates a first point of a measuring object with a laser pointer of either of the upper casing 10 or the lower casing 20, and indicates a second point of the measuring object with a laser pointer of the other casing by rotating the upper casing 10 and the lower casing 20. The angle which the one casing forms with the other casing at this time is found by an angle sensor. The distance to at least one of the two points is measured by a distance sensor. The distance between the two points is calculated, based on the angle and the distance obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable device including first and second casings rotatably coupled by a hinge portion, and a distance measuring method using the portable device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a mobile device such as a mobile phone terminal in which a first housing and a second housing are coupled rotatably by a hinge portion is known.

A technique has been proposed in which a rotary encoder is mounted on the rotating hinge portion of such a portable device to detect the rotation angle of the housing (see Patent Document 1). This rotary encoder is used for the purpose of changing the rotation angle of a rotary hinge mechanism including a motor and the like in order to notify the user of incoming call types such as incoming calls and incoming mails.
JP 2005-210516 A

  By the way, there are cases where it is desired to measure the length or the distance between two points at a position away from the object. In such a case, it is preferable if the measurement can be easily performed with a portable device that is always carried by the user.

  The present invention has been made in such a background, and intends to easily measure the distance between two points by indicating the two points using the rotation of the upper case and the lower case of the portable device. To do.

  The portable device according to the present invention is a portable device that measures the distance between two points to be measured, and is built in the first and second housings that are rotatably coupled by a hinge portion, and the first housing. A distance sensor that measures a distance to at least one of the first and second points of the measurement object, and a first instruction unit that is built in the first housing and points to the first point of the measurement object. A second indicating means built in the second casing and indicating the second point of the measurement object; an angle sensor for detecting an angle formed by the first and second casing; and at least the distance sensor And a calculating means for calculating a distance between the first point and the second point based on the distance to the first point measured in step 1 and the angle detected by the angle sensor. Features.

  By instructing two points to be measured by the first and second instruction means, the rotation angle of the hinge portion is determined, and this angle is detected by the angle sensor. Further, the distance sensor can obtain a distance to at least one of the first and second points to be measured. Based on these angles and distances, the distance between the two points of the first and second points is calculated based on a predetermined calculation formula.

  Specifically, the control unit includes a control unit that executes the distance measurement mode. The control unit instructs the user to point to the first point, and the first instruction unit performs the first operation according to the user's operation. And the distance sensor measures the distance to the first point in response to a completion response from the user, and then instructs the user to point to the second point. Then, the second instruction means designates the second point, and the calculation means is activated in response to a user instruction completion response.

  Control means for executing another distance measurement mode is provided, the control means instructs the user to point to the first point, and the second instruction means sets the first point according to the user's operation. Instructing the user to measure the distance to the first point by the distance sensor in response to a completion response from the user, and then instructing the user to point to the second point. The second point is indicated by one instruction means, and the distance to the second point is measured by the distance sensor in response to an instruction completion response from the user, the calculation means is activated, and the measurement is performed by the distance sensor. The distance between the first point and the second point is calculated based on the distance to the first point, the distance to the second point, and the angle detected by the angle sensor.

  The present invention can also be grasped as a distance measuring method.

  According to the present invention, the shape unique to the portable device including the first and second casings rotatably coupled by the hinge portion is utilized to identify two points separated by the opening angle of both casings and at least one of them. By measuring the distance to this point, the distance between the two points can be measured remotely.

  Further, by pointing the two points so that the user can see them using the first and second instruction means, it is possible to confirm how much the length is measured, and the user can grasp the sense of length. Cheap.

  By implementing this function on a portable device such as a mobile phone terminal that you carry around every day, you can easily check the details of the size anytime, anywhere, and if you save the data, you can check it at any time. .

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, a mobile phone terminal will be described as an example of the mobile device, but the present invention is not limited to the mobile phone terminal.

  FIG. 1A shows the external configuration of the portable device 100 in the present embodiment, and FIG. 1B shows the main components inside.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the portable device 100 includes a lower housing 20 that is a first housing and an upper housing 10 that is a second housing at both ends. The hinge portions 18 are coupled to each other so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis. (This rotation need not be 360.)

  A screen of the display unit 12 such as an LCD is disposed on the main plane of the upper housing 10, and a sub operation unit 14 is disposed below the screen. A disc jog 15 is arranged at the center of the sub-operation unit 14, and a plurality of keys are arranged around the disc jog 15. In the drawing, for the sake of convenience, the rotation axis of the hinge portion 18 is shown as the same rotation axis of the disk jog 15, but the two rotation axes do not have to coincide.

  The lower housing 20 includes a main operation unit 22 on a main plane hidden by the upper housing 10 when being superimposed on the upper housing 10. The main operation unit 22 includes a numeric keypad and other various control keys.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, in the present embodiment, the lower housing 20 is a laser module serving as a first indicating means at a position where light can be emitted from the end opposite to the hinge portion 18. (Laser pointer) 226a and a distance sensor 224 for measuring the distance to the object designated by the laser module 226a. A control unit 222 that controls each unit is also arranged in the lower housing 20. On the other hand, in the upper housing 10, a laser module (laser pointer) 226b serving as second instruction means is disposed at a position where a light beam can be emitted from the end opposite to the hinge portion 18.

  FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration example of the mobile device 100.

  The mobile device 100 includes an antenna 201, a transmission / reception processing unit 203, a modulation / demodulation processing unit 205, a data processing unit 207, a D / A converter 209, a speaker 210, an A / D converter 211, and a microphone as elements unique to the mobile phone. 212. The portable device 100 also includes a control unit 222 including a CPU that controls these elements, a storage area for programs executed by the control unit 222, and an internal memory used as a work storage area and a temporary storage area for data. 223, a display unit 220 (corresponding to the display unit 12 in FIG. 1) including a display device such as a liquid crystal or an organic EL functioning as a user interface, and an operation unit 221 including operation elements such as arbitrary operation keys, buttons, and dials (FIG. 1 corresponding to the main operation unit 22 and the sub operation unit 14), a laser module 226 (226a and 226b) constituting a laser pointer, a distance sensor 224 for measuring a distance to an object designated by the laser pointer, and an upper housing It functions as an angle sensor that detects the relative rotation angle of the lower housing 20 with respect to the body 10 (opening angle of the housing). Comprising a rotary encoder 225. The control unit 222 also functions as calculation means of the present invention.

  The internal memory 223 includes a read-only memory (EEPROM or flash memory) in which information can be electrically written and erased, and accepts normal mobile device operation input, communication, mail processing, web processing, display, voice input / output In addition to various operations such as telephone book management and schedule management, a control program for realizing the distance measurement mode in the present embodiment is stored.

  The rotary encoder 225 can measure the rotation angle by outputting the output pulse High / Low for every fixed amount of rotation and detecting the number of changes from High → Low and Low → High. For example, when the resolution is 120 [pulse / rotation] and the pulse change is 20 times, the rotation angle is obtained as (360/120) × 20 = 60 [degrees].

  The operation principle and structure of the distance sensor 224 are not particularly limited. For example, according to the PSD type distance sensor, the output voltage value changes according to the distance. Therefore, the distance is calculated by A / D converting the voltage value. can do.

  The principle of the first distance measuring method by the portable device 100 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Assume that the position of the portable device 100 is the base point 30 and the distance between the two points between the first point 31 and the second point 32 that are remote from this is measured. In this first distance measuring method, it is assumed that the straight line connecting the first point 31 and the second point 32 is substantially orthogonal to the straight line connecting the base point 30 and the first point. Under this condition, the distance L from the base point 30 to the first point 31 is measured by the distance sensor 224, and a straight line connecting the base point 30 and the first point 31 becomes a straight line connecting the base point 30 and the second point 32. Find the angle θ. As a result, the distance X between the two points is obtained by the following equation.

  X = L × tan θ (1)

  FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C show a procedure example when the first distance measurement method is actually realized by the portable device 100 of FIG. FIG. 5 shows the procedure of the distance measurement process (1) executed by the control unit of the mobile device 100.

  When the distance measurement process (1) is activated by a user operation (for example, menu selection, predetermined button press, etc.), the mobile device 100 performs the first operation on the user as shown in the display screen of FIG. The user is prompted to specify the point (A point) (S11). In response to this, the laser pointer of the lower housing 20 is driven, and the user presses a predetermined button (here, the determination button 16) in a state where the point A is indicated by the laser pointer. At this time, since the laser pointer emits visible light, the light spot hits point A, and the user can recognize point A.

  When the designation of the point A is completed (S12, Yes), the control unit operates the distance sensor and converts the output into the distance L (S13). Next, as shown in the display screen of FIG. 4B, the control unit prompts the designation of the second point (point B) (S14). At this time, the laser pointer of the upper housing 10 is driven. Further, the input interrupt of the rotary encoder is permitted (S15). At this time, the accumulated value n of the output change (number of times) of the rotary encoder is reset (n = 0). The user rotates the upper housing 10 while instructing the point A on the lower housing 20 and instructs the point B with the laser pointer of the upper housing 10. Thereby, a light spot hits B point, and the user can recognize B point.

  Each time the rotary encoder rotates by a unit angle due to the rotation of the upper casing 10 with respect to the lower casing 20, the interrupt process of FIG. In this interrupt process, first, the rotational direction is checked, and if the direction is positive (S21, Yes), the cumulative value n is incremented (S22). If the direction is negative, the cumulative value n is decremented (S23). Thereafter, the absolute value of the accumulated value n is converted into an angle θ (S24). By this interrupt processing, the current angle of the upper housing 10 with respect to the lower housing 20 is obtained in real time.

  When the user presses the enter button 16 in the state of FIG. 4B (S16, Yes), the input interruption of the rotary encoder is prohibited (S17). Thereafter, even if the rotational positional relationship between the two cases changes, the distance is changed. The angle obtained by the sensor does not change. Therefore, the distance between the two points is calculated by the above equation (1) (S18). For example, as shown in FIG. 4C, the control unit displays the calculation result on the display screen as “Am between A and B”, and informs the user (S19).

  Next, the principle of the second distance measuring method by the portable device 100 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Similarly to the first distance measuring method, the position of the portable device 100 is set as the base point 30, and the distance between the two points between the first point 31 and the second point 32 away from this is measured. However, the condition that “the straight line connecting the first point 31 and the second point 32 is substantially orthogonal to the straight line connecting the base point 30 and the first point” as in the first distance measuring method is not necessary. Versatility is improved. The relationship between the base point 30, the first point 31, and the second point 32 is, for example, as shown in FIGS.

In this second distance measuring method, instead of the need for the orthogonal condition, in addition to the distance L1 from the base point 30 to the first point, the distance L2 from the base point 30 to the second point needs to be measured by the distance sensor. There is. If the length (L1, L2) of the two sides of the triangle and the included angle θ between the two sides are known, the length (X) of the other side can be calculated by the following equation.
X = √ (L1 ² + L2 ² -2 · L1 · L2 · cos θ) (2)

  FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C show an example of a procedure when the second distance measuring method is actually realized by the portable device 100 of FIG. FIG. 8 shows the procedure of the distance measurement process (2) executed by the control unit of the mobile device 100.

  When the distance measurement process (2) is activated by a user operation (for example, menu selection, predetermined button press, etc.), the mobile device 100 performs the first operation on the user as shown in the display screen of FIG. The user is prompted to specify the point (point A) (S31). At this time, the laser pointer of the upper housing 10 is driven. In response to this, the user presses a predetermined button (here, the determination button 16) in a state where the point A is indicated by the laser pointer. At this time, the light spot hits point A, and the user can recognize point A.

  When the designation of the point A is completed (S32, Yes), the control unit operates the distance sensor and converts the output to the distance L1 (S33). Next, the control unit prompts the user to specify the second point (point B) as shown in the display screen of FIG. 7B (S34). At this time, the laser pointer of the lower housing 20 is driven.

  Also, the rotary encoder input interrupt is permitted (S35). At this time, the accumulated value n of the output change (number of times) of the rotary encoder is reset (n = 0). The user rotates the lower casing 20 while instructing the point A on the upper casing 10 and instructs the point B with the laser pointer of the lower casing. Thereby, a light spot hits B point, and the user can recognize B point.

  As described above, the interruption process in FIG. 5B is activated by the rotation of the lower casing 20 with respect to the upper casing 10 and the rotation angle between the two casings is obtained.

  If the user presses the enter button 16 in the state of FIG. 7B (S36, Yes), the input interruption of the rotary encoder is prohibited (S37). Thereafter, even if the rotational positional relationship between the two cases changes, the distance is changed. The angle obtained by the sensor does not change. Further, the distance sensor is operated to convert the output into the distance L2 (S38). Therefore, the distance between the two points is calculated by the above equation (2) (S39). For example, as shown in FIG. 7C, the control unit displays the calculation result on the display screen to inform the user (S40).

In the embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 1, the rotation axis of the hinge portion 18 that couples the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 has a relationship substantially perpendicular to the main plane of the housing. Met. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the rotation axis of the hinge portion 18 that joins the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 is so-called parallel to the main plane of the housing. The present invention can be similarly applied to the foldable portable device 100a. The hardware configuration of the portable device 100a is the same as that of the portable device 100 shown in FIG. Further, the above-described first and second distance measuring methods can be applied to the portable device 100a of FIG. 9 as it is. However, in this case, as the “decision button”, it is difficult to use a key or the like that is hidden inside when the casing is closed. In addition to the display unit 12, the display screen may be a display screen of a sub display unit (not shown) that is usually disposed on the back side of the display unit 12.
According to the present embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The distance between two points can be measured from a distant place.
(2) Measurement is possible even when the measuring object is not touched by hand (high temperature, dirty, etc.).
(3) Can be measured even in hazardous locations.
(4) Since the two pointed points are visible, it is possible to get a sense of length.
(5) Unlike a tape measure, it can be measured by one person, saving the trouble of winding the tape measure.
(6) It can be measured anytime, anywhere, easily and on the spot by being mounted on a portable device that is always carried around.
(7) Measurement data can be saved in a portable device.
(8) Saved data can be communicated.
(9) If there is a gap where the laser can point, measurement is possible even if there is an obstacle between the two points.
(10) It can be used when changing the room or responding to various applications (games, etc.).

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but various modifications and changes other than those mentioned above can be made.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure (a) of the portable apparatus in embodiment of this invention, and the main component (b) inside it. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the portable apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the principle of the 1st distance measuring method by the portable apparatus shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the example of a procedure in the case of actually implement | achieving the 1st distance measuring method in embodiment of this invention with the portable apparatus of FIG. 1 with the change of an apparatus external appearance. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the distance measurement process (1) which the control part of the portable apparatus in embodiment of this invention performs. It is a figure for demonstrating the principle of the 2nd distance measuring method by the portable apparatus shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the example of a procedure in the case of actually implement | achieving the 2nd distance measuring method in embodiment of this invention with the portable apparatus of FIG. 1 by the change of an external appearance of an apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the distance measurement process (2) which the control part of the portable apparatus in embodiment of this invention performs. It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure (a) of the other portable apparatus in embodiment of this invention, and the main component (b) inside it.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Upper housing | casing, 12 ... Display part, 14 ... Sub operation part, 16 ... Decision button, 18 ... Hinge part, 20 ... Lower housing | casing, 22 ... Main operation part, 30 ... Base point, 31 ... 1st point (A point), 32 ... second point (B point), 100 ... portable device, 100a ... portable device, 220 ... display unit, 221 ... operation unit, 222 ... control unit, 223 ... internal memory, 224 ... distance sensor 225 ... Rotary encoder, 226a ... Laser module (laser pointer), 226b ... Laser module (laser pointer)

Claims (7)

A portable device for measuring the distance between two points to be measured,
First and second housings rotatably coupled by a hinge portion;
A distance sensor built in the first housing for measuring a distance to at least one of the first and second points of the measurement object;
First indicating means built in the first housing and pointing to the first point of the measurement object;
Second indicating means built in the second housing and pointing to the second point of the measurement object;
An angle sensor for detecting an angle formed by the first and second housings;
Calculating means for calculating a distance between the first point and the second point based on at least the distance to the first point measured by the distance sensor and the angle detected by the angle sensor; A portable device characterized by comprising.   Control means for executing the distance measurement mode is provided. The control means instructs the user to point to the first point, and instructs the first point by the first instruction means according to the user's operation. The distance sensor measures the distance to the first point in response to a completion response from the user, and then instructs the user to point to the second point. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein a second point is indicated by an instruction means, and the calculation means is activated in response to a user instruction completion response.   The positions of the first point and the second point and the distance sensor are such that a straight line connecting the first point and the second point is substantially orthogonal to a straight line connecting the position of the distance sensor and the first point. The portable device according to claim 2 in a relationship.   Control means for executing the distance measurement mode is provided, the control means instructs the user to point to the first point, and instructs the first point by the second instruction means according to the user's operation. After the distance sensor measures the distance to the first point according to the completion response from the user, the user is instructed to point to the second point, and the first sensor is operated according to the user's operation. A second point is indicated by the instruction means, and the distance to the second point is measured by the distance sensor in response to a user instruction completion response, and the calculation means is activated and measured by the distance sensor. The distance between the two points of the first point and the second point is calculated based on the distance to the first point, the distance to the second point, and the angle detected by the angle sensor. Portable device.   The portable device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the first and second instruction means includes a laser pointer that emits visible laser light. A first and a second housing rotatably coupled by a hinge portion; and a distance sensor built in the first housing and measuring a distance to at least one of the first and second points of the measurement object; A first instruction means built in the first housing and pointing to the first point of the measurement object; and a second instruction built in the second housing and pointing to the second point of the measurement object A method of measuring a distance between two points of a first point and a second point using a portable device comprising a means and an angle sensor for detecting an angle formed by the first and second cases,
Instructing the user to point to the first point;
Instructing the first point by the first instruction means in response to a user operation;
Measuring a distance to a first point by the distance sensor in response to a completion response from a user;
Instructing the user to point to the second point;
Instructing the second point by the second instruction means in response to a user operation;
Two points of the first point and the second point based on at least the distance to the first point measured by the distance sensor and the angle detected by the angle sensor according to a user instruction completion response A distance measurement method using a portable device, comprising: A first and a second housing rotatably coupled by a hinge portion; and a distance sensor built in the first housing and measuring a distance to at least one of the first and second points of the measurement object; A first instruction means built in the first housing and pointing to the first point of the measurement object; and a second instruction built in the second housing and pointing to the second point of the measurement object A method of measuring a distance between two points of a first point and a second point using a portable device comprising a means and an angle sensor for detecting an angle formed by the first and second cases,
Instructing the user to point to the first point;
Instructing the first point by the second instruction means in response to a user operation;
Measuring a distance to a first point by the distance sensor in response to a completion response from a user;
Instructing the user to point to the second point;
Instructing the second point by the first instruction means in response to a user operation;
Measuring a distance to a second point by the distance sensor in response to a user instruction completion response;
Based on the distance to the first point and the distance to the second point measured by the distance sensor and the angle detected by the angle sensor, the distance between the two points of the first point and the second point is calculated. A distance measuring method using a portable device comprising: a calculating step.

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