JP3745182B2 - Instruction direction signal processing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing a signal obtained from an instruction operator such as a joystick.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Usually, the joystick unit has a stick standing upright with a spring force at a neutral position, and the stick is tilted in an arbitrary direction by the user against the spring force. The tilt direction (and tilt angle) of the stick at this time is used as input information for various devices.
[0003]
A so-called analog joystick unit has two potentiometers that output an analog signal having a magnitude corresponding to the tilt angle of the stick in two orthogonal (X and Y) directions. The tilt direction and tilt angle of the stick can be obtained based on the output values of both axes.
[0004]
In such a joystick unit, the output of both axes of the joystick unit will be zero at the mechanical neutral point of the stick due to imbalance of spring force to return the stick to the neutral point, variation in resistance value of the potentiometer, etc. Not exclusively.
[0005]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-130918 discloses a technique for providing a so-called dead band in which the output of the axis is 0 in a predetermined range near the neutral point of the stick and in a belt-like range near each axis of the X and Y axes. Is disclosed. This publication relates to an electric wheelchair and has a configuration in which the traveling speed is controlled by the tilt angle of the stick. More specifically, in order to prevent a delay in operation due to the dead zone during high speed traveling, the larger the output value (absolute value) of one shaft, the narrower the dead zone width of the other shaft.
[0006]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-281484 discloses a joystick unit for use in the operation of a three-dimensional measuring instrument. In this device, a dead zone is provided in which the output value to the outside is 0 when the absolute value of the signal obtained by sampling and digitizing the analog output of the joystick is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the change amount of the digital signal per sampling period When the value exceeds the threshold, the dead zone is ignored and the digital signal is output to the outside as it is.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the joystick can be used not only for the front / rear / left / right directions but also for more directions (e.g., 8 directions or 16 directions or more). However, the greater the number of azimuths, the narrower the azimuth angle range per azimuth, and the more accurate azimuth direction (stick positioning) by the user becomes more difficult.
[0008]
In order to solve such a problem, multiple orientations are associated with a plurality of display positions arranged in a ring on the display screen, and the cursor is sequentially moved clockwise or counterclockwise to each display position according to the operation of the stick. When the cursor reaches the target position, the movement of the cursor is stopped by returning the stick to the neutral position. In this way, the cursor sequentially moves to the display position corresponding to each azimuth, so that the target azimuth can be selected relatively easily even if the number of azimuths is large.
[0009]
However, as the number of azimuths increases, it takes time for the cursor to reach the target position. To shorten this time, it is necessary to increase the movement speed of the cursor. However, as the number of directions increases, the angle range of each direction becomes narrower and the movement speed of the cursor increases. In addition, it is difficult to perform a stick operation for accurately stopping the cursor at the target position. That is, the cursor may pass the target position or may not reach the target position.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide an indication direction signal processing apparatus capable of instructing multiple directions relatively quickly and accurately using an indication operator. And
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to provide an indication direction signal processing method and apparatus that can improve the operability of an indication operator that gives instructions in multiple directions.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An indication direction signal processing device according to the present invention is an indication direction signal processing device that instructs at least eight directions based on a tilt direction of an indication operator, and has an indication operator that can tilt in at least eight directions. The means for outputting the tilt direction signal of the operator, and whether the tilt direction of the pointing operator recognized based on the tilt direction signal falls within each of the predetermined azimuth angle ranges, and the direction is determined as the target direction Target orientation determination means for determining as, and display means for identifying and displaying on the display screen one of a plurality of display positions associated with the at least 8 orientations arranged in a ring as the currently selected current orientation. The identification display is sequentially rotated from the current direction to the target direction on the display screen, and the identified and displayed direction is set as a new current direction, and the tilt angle of the pointing operator is predicted. Identification display movement control means for stopping the movement of the identification display when it returns within a defined dead zone angle or when the identification display reaches a target azimuth, and maintaining the current azimuth at that time, and this identification display movement control means While the tilt angle of the pointing operator exceeds the dead zone angle, the moving speed of the identification display is reduced at least at the display position immediately before the identification display reaches the target azimuth.
[0013]
With this configuration, the identification display moves to each azimuth on the display screen by operating the pointing operator, and the moving speed is reduced at the display position immediately before the target azimuth. Even if the direction of one step ahead is indicated, the movement of the identification display is stopped by putting the tilt angle of the indicating operator in the dead zone (returning the indicating operator to the neutral position) in the immediately preceding step. , The intended orientation can be selected. Since the movement speed of the identifier can be maintained at a relatively high speed until immediately before the target azimuth, the azimuth selection time due to the speed reduction is minimized. Thereby, both ease of operation and certainty can be achieved.
[0014]
The identification display movement control means may reduce the movement speed of the identification display in an orientation one step before or two steps before the target orientation when the identification display moves. In this case, there may be a slight increase in time until selection of the target direction is completed, but the cursor can be stopped at the target direction with a margin.
[0015]
The identification display movement control means, at the time of movement of the identification display, while the tilt angle of the pointing operator exceeds the dead zone angle, after the identification display reaches the target azimuth, at a reduced moving speed. The identification display may be moved to a direction one step ahead. In this case, it is possible to effectively cope with the case where the user has instructed the target azimuth by mistake to instruct the azimuth one step before in the cursor rotation direction.
[0016]
The identification display movement control means may move the identification display directly from the current azimuth to the target azimuth when the tilt angle of the pointing operator exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Accordingly, it is possible to switch the movement mode of the identification display depending on the inclination angle of the pointing operator according to the use or according to the preference of the user. The direct movement mode makes it possible to select the target direction more quickly when the target direction is far away from the current direction.
[0017]
The target azimuth determining unit weights and adds the latest sample value when the tilt direction signal is sampled at a predetermined period and at least one or two past sample values, and calculates a current tilt direction. Filter means may be provided. Thereby, the instability in the tilt direction to be recognized is eliminated.
[0018]
Preferably, the identification display movement control means has a second threshold with a predetermined tilt angle of the pointing operator even when the target azimuth determining means cannot obtain a target azimuth different from the current azimuth. When the dead zone angle is returned again after exceeding the value, the identification display is moved by one step in the rotation direction determined according to the tilt direction of the pointing operator. Thereby, the azimuth | direction movement of only one step can be rapidly performed by the sensible rough operation of a pointing operator.
[0019]
The present invention further provides an indication direction signal processing method for instructing at least eight directions based on the tilt direction of the indication operator, and a recording medium in which a computer program for carrying out this method is recorded in a readable manner. To do. The recording medium includes a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, FD, semiconductor ROM, and flash memory, a fixed recording device such as a hard disk, and other arbitrary information carrying means.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a joystick is taken as an example of an instruction operator, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to any operator that can give the same instruction. For example, the present invention can also be applied to an instruction operator such as a pad inclined in a plurality of directions.
[0021]
FIG. 1 shows an external appearance of a main part of a joystick unit 10 in the present embodiment. The joystick unit 10 includes a stick (indicating operation element) 11 that stands upright from the center of a recess 12 provided on the surface of the operation panel 13. In this example, the stick 11 is supported at its lower part so as to be able to tilt in 360 degrees in all directions, and is held in its neutral position by a spring means as long as no force is applied from the outside. When the user operates the stick 11 with a finger (for example, a force is applied to the head of the stick with the belly of the thumb), the user tilts in the direction in which the stick 11 is operated by an inclination angle corresponding to the applied force. When the user loosens (or releases) the finger force, the stick 11 returns to the original neutral position by the spring force.
[0022]
FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration example of an apparatus using the joystick unit 10 as shown in FIG. Although this apparatus will be described by taking a game apparatus as an example, the present invention is not limited to a game apparatus, and can be adopted in any apparatus using an instruction operator that gives instructions in multiple directions.
[0023]
In FIG. 2, the joystick unit 10 includes potentiometers 21 and 22 that output analog voltages corresponding to the X-axis and Y-axis components of the tilt amount when the stick 11 tilts in an arbitrary direction. The outputs of both potentiometers 21 and 22 are converted into corresponding digital values by analog / digital (A / D) converters 23 and 24, respectively. Digital outputs of both A / D converters 23 and 24 are read periodically (for example, every 66 ms) by the CPU 20 via the interface unit 25. The CPU 20 performs a desired operation according to a control program stored in the ROM 27 and an application program stored in a CD-ROM or ROM cassette (not shown). The RAM 28 is used by the CPU 20 as a temporary data storage and work area. Various keys (KEY) 26 are operation units for the user to input data to the apparatus and to display intentions. The display 29 constitutes a display unit for displaying the contents of the game or displaying various information to be notified to the user. The CD-ROM drive 30 is a device for reading a CD-ROM in which an application program of the device is stored. In addition, although not shown, a nonvolatile storage device such as a flash memory or a hard disk in which data and programs can be written and stored in a nonvolatile manner may be provided. Further, it is possible to add / delete components depending on the application.
[0024]
In FIG. 2, the A / D converters 23 and 24 (and the interface unit 25) are shown as elements outside the joystick unit 10, but these elements may belong to the joystick unit 10.
[0025]
FIG. 3 shows 16 orientations that can be selected by the joystick in the present embodiment. These 16 directions are 360 degrees divided into 16 parts. For convenience, each direction is represented using “east”, “west”, “south”, “north”, and the like. As can be seen from the figure, when the 16 divisions are equally performed, the angular range of each direction is 22.5 degrees (that is, π / 8 radians).
[0026]
FIG. 4 conceptually shows a display example on the display screen of the display 29 (FIG. 2) relating to the selection of the orientation in the present embodiment. For example, the display positions of 16 azimuths arranged in a ring shape are displayed as graphics, characters, etc., and the display position of the currently selected azimuth (current azimuth) θc is identified and displayed. In this example, each display position of 16 directions is indicated by a circle with an orientation name inside for convenience, and identification display is performed with a square cursor surrounding the display position. These display forms are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Figures, characters, etc. in each direction are arbitrary. The identification display is not limited to the cursor, and any display mode that can identify the selected direction on the display screen from other directions can be adopted. For example, it may be a display color change such as a figure or a character representing a direction, a reverse display, a blinking display, or the like.
[0027]
The display 29, and the CPU and program for performing such display on the screen correspond to the display means in the present invention.
[0028]
The example of FIG. 4 shows a state where the current “north-northwest” direction is selected as the current direction θc. In the present embodiment, any one of the 16 directions is always selected as the current direction θc, and the current direction even if the tilt angle signal of the stick returns to r0 (see FIG. 13) corresponding to the dead zone. As θc, the immediately preceding current direction is maintained as it is. When the apparatus is turned on, a default orientation determined in advance is initially selected. How to use the current orientation θc depends on the application. For example, after assigning a plurality of options to each azimuth and selecting a specific azimuth as the current azimuth θc, a plurality of options assigned to that azimuth (for example, displayed in a separate window) It can be used for such purposes as selecting one of these by key (button) operation.
[0029]
Consider a case where it is desired to change the current direction θc from the “north-northwest” direction in FIG. 4 to the “east” direction. In this case, the user tilts the stick toward the “east” direction. As a result, the apparatus recognizes “east” as the target azimuth θd, and rotates the cursor 40 sequentially following the intermediate azimuth position from the display position of the current azimuth θc to the display position of the target azimuth θd. As the rotation direction (clockwise or counterclockwise), a direction having a small number of intermediate azimuth positions passing from the current azimuth θc to the target azimuth θd is selected. If the number is the same in both rotation directions, a predetermined rotation direction may be selected. The cursor 40 is moved when the cursor 40 reaches the display position of the target direction θd or when the user returns the stick to the neutral position before that (ie, the r value enters the dead zone r0). Stop at. In the example of FIG. 4, the user tilts the stick in the direction of true east, and when the cursor 40 rotates and moves from the display position in the “north-northwest” direction to reach the display position in the “east” direction, the stick is in the neutral position. Return to.
[0030]
However, the angle range of each azimuth may be narrow, and a user operation may not always be performed accurately. In such a case, an error is included in the target orientation θd itself. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the user's stick tilt direction is slightly lower than “east” unlike the intention, the target direction θd is one step ahead of the original target direction (ie, “east-southeast”). It may be recognized. As a result, the cursor passes through the display position of the “east” direction and stops at the display position of “east-southeast”. There is no problem if the stick is returned to the neutral position when the cursor reaches “east”, which is the display position of the target direction, but the movement speed is set high to reduce the movement time of the cursor. If it is, the operation may not be in time. In this case, a stick operation for returning the cursor one step back is required. This operation is not only easy because it is an additional operation but also requires fine adjustment in the tilt direction of the stick. Although not shown in the figure, similarly, when the user's stick tilt direction is slightly different from the intended direction and tilted slightly above “east”, the cursor is in the “east-northeast” direction just before “east”, which is the original target orientation intended by the user. Stops at the display position. In this case, a stick operation for moving the cursor forward one step is required.
[0031]
In order to make it possible to select an accurate target direction relatively quickly and easily without requiring re-operation as described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. The moving time interval Δt ′ of the cursor 40 from the display position 62 (“East” in the figure) immediately before the display position of the target direction θd (“East Southeast” in the figure) to the display position 61 of the target direction is set to It is longer than the movement time interval Δt. In this case, the graph of the time change of the azimuth angle where the cursor 40 exists is as shown in FIG. Even if the target azimuth θd exceeds the original target azimuth θd ′ by one step in the cursor rotation direction, when the cursor 40 reaches the target azimuth θd ′, the cursor is kept for a relatively long time Δt ′. Stay in position. This time is sufficient for the user to return the stick. By returning to the neutral position of the stick, the cursor stops at the target orientation θd ′, and overrun to the next step (broken line in the graph of FIG. 7) is avoided. The cursor movement speed may be reduced not before one step of the target orientation θd but before two steps.
[0032]
Assuming such control of the present embodiment, the user operates the instruction of the target direction θd with the stick slightly overrun, so that the target direction θd is one step before the original target direction θd ′. It can be avoided that the cursor is misrecognized as a heading and the cursor stops before the original target heading. That is, the azimuth as intended or the azimuth one step ahead is recognized, and the operation of this embodiment becomes effective.
[0033]
However, in consideration of the possibility that the target orientation θd may be a position one step before the original target orientation d ′, the following measures can be taken. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 as a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 8, a case is considered in which the target orientation θd (82) recognized by the apparatus is one step before the original target orientation θd ′ (83). In this case, the cursor moving speed is decreased from the display position 81 one step before the target orientation θd (time interval Δt ′). This is the same as in the first embodiment. Further, in the present embodiment, even after the cursor 40 reaches the display position 82 of the target azimuth θd, the cursor 40 is moved to the next display position 83 with another time interval Δt ′ after one more step. Actually, if the target orientation θd recognized by the apparatus is one step before the intended orientation (θd ′), the time Δt is not restored even after the cursor 40 reaches the display position 82 of the target orientation θd. When waiting for ', the cursor 40 reaches the display position 83 of the true target orientation θd'. If the stick is returned at this point, the target orientation θd ′ can be selected as the new current orientation θc. If the target orientation θd recognized by the apparatus is the same as the intended orientation, the stick may be returned when the cursor 40 reaches the display position 82 of the target orientation θd. The graph of the time change of the azimuth angle where the cursor exists in the second embodiment is as shown in FIG.
[0035]
According to the second embodiment, even if the user's instruction error is positive or negative, it is sufficient to confirm that the cursor has reached the display position in the direction intended by the user and perform an operation to return the stick. Is provided at the travel time interval Δt ′.
[0036]
Next, a specific processing flow for realizing the above-described first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0037]
FIG. 10 shows a process for determining the target orientation θd based on the output signal from the joystick unit. This process is a process executed by the CPU periodically (for example, every 66 ms). This process, or the CPU and program that implements this process, constitutes “target orientation determination means” in the present invention.
[0038]
First, the CPU reads the current X value and Y value (S1). Based on both values, the tilt angle signal r value and the tilt direction signal θ value are calculated by the following equations (S2).
[0039]
r = √ (X * X + Y * Y) (1)
θ = arctan (Y / X) (2)
[0040]
Next, it is checked whether the r value belongs to the dead zone (whether it is a predetermined value r0 or less) (S3). If it belongs to the dead zone, execution of the following processing steps is omitted and the current processing ends. If it does not belong to the dead zone, the target orientation θd is determined based on this θ value (S4). The target azimuth θd is only recognized by the apparatus, and the cursor displayed on the display is on the display position of the current azimuth θc.
[0041]
FIG. 11 shows a process for rotating the cursor from the current direction θc to the target direction θd determined by the process of FIG. This process is executed substantially in parallel with the process of FIG.
[0042]
First, based on the current azimuth θc and the target azimuth θd, the rotation direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) of the cursor is determined (S11). As described above, this selects the direction in which the intermediate azimuth position is reduced. Next, it is checked whether the cursor (that is, an updated current direction θc described later) has reached the target direction θd (S12). If it has reached, this processing is terminated. If not, the cursor is moved by one step in the determined rotation direction, and the current azimuth θc is updated so as to coincide with the azimuth of the cursor position (S13). Here, when the stick is returned to the neutral position (that is, the r value is in the dead zone) (S14), this processing is terminated with the current azimuth θc at that time. Otherwise, it is checked whether the cursor (that is, the updated current direction θc) has reached the position next to the target direction θd (one step before) (S15). If not, the first value Δt1 is set as the cursor movement time interval Δt (S16). If reached, a second value Δt2 larger than the first value Δt1 is set to Δt (S17). Until Δt time elapses, the process returns to step S14, during which time it is checked whether or not the stick has been returned to the neutral position. It should be noted that steps S15, S16, and S17 are ignored while waiting for the Δt time to elapse in step S18 (No in S18). When the Δt time has elapsed, the process returns to step S11. In the meantime, the target orientation θd may be updated by the process of FIG. In that case, the process of FIG. 11 is interrupted, and the process is restarted from step S11.
[0043]
With the processing in FIG. 11, the control for reducing the cursor movement speed one step before the target orientation θd as described in the graph in FIG. 7 is realized. This process or the CPU and program for realizing this process constitute the “identification display movement control means” in the present invention.
[0044]
Although the processing flow of the second embodiment is not particularly shown, in the flow of FIG. 11, in step S12, “Has the cursor reached the target azimuth θd?” "??" and when the cursor reaches the target azimuth θd, it may be moved to the next azimuth after the target azimuth θd after waiting Δt2.
[0045]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the embodiment described above, the cursor is always rotated. In this case, the cursor movement speed outside the vicinity of the target azimuth can be improved to some extent, but if the change in azimuth is large, it is inevitable that a certain amount of time is required for movement of the azimuth. Therefore, in this embodiment, two cursor movement modes, ie, cursor movement control and direct movement control to the target direction, are provided, and both modes are switched according to the tilt angle of the stick. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, rth is provided as the threshold value of the r value.
[0046]
FIG. 12 shows a processing flow of cursor movement control in the third embodiment. After step S21 and step S22 of this process, or the CPU and the program that realize these steps, respectively constitute “target direction determination means” and “identification display movement control means” in the present invention.
[0047]
First, as described above with reference to FIG. 10, the target orientation θd is determined (S21). Next, the r value is examined (S22). If the r value is within rth, the above-described cursor rotation movement control is performed as the first cursor movement mode (S23). That is, the cursor is rotated to the target orientation θd. On the other hand, if the r value exceeds rth, as the second cursor movement mode, the target azimuth θd is directly assigned to the current azimuth θc, and the cursor is directly moved to the target azimuth θd (S24).
[0048]
According to the third embodiment, the user can move the cursor in a desired direction in the first and second cursor movement modes by changing the tilt angle of the stick.
[0049]
By the way, in the direction of the boundary between adjacent azimuth angle ranges, the azimuth angle range to which the stick belongs may change due to a slight movement of the stick. In such a case, if the azimuth angle range to which the stick belongs is recognized as the target azimuth θd as it is, the target azimuth θd changes in an unstable manner. In order to prevent this, a minute azimuth angle range δ between adjacent azimuth angle ranges may be set as a dead zone, and the target azimuth θd immediately before entering the dead zone may be maintained in this dead zone. Note that the dead zone in the belt-shaped range in the vicinity of the X-axis and Y-axis in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-130918 has an output of the axis of 0, which is the adjacent azimuth angle range in this embodiment. It is different from the effect of the dead zone at the boundary.
[0050]
Although the phenomenon that the target orientation θd becomes unstable as described above is reduced by providing the dead zone, another target orientation determination method for preventing this phenomenon will be described below. The cause of this phenomenon is mechanical factors such as non-uniform spring force acting on the stick in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction, and the direction of remaining force when the user's finger is loosened There may be human factors such as non-uniformity in both axial directions.
[0051]
In order to solve this problem, a filter action such as the following expression is applied to the determination of the target orientation θd.
[0052]
θp = a · θn + b · θn-1 + c · θn-2 (3)
Here, θp is the calculated current indication direction, θn is the latest θ sample value, θn−1 is the previous θ sample value, and θn−2 is the previous θ sample value. Further, a, b, and c are predetermined weighting coefficient values, where a>b> c and a + b + c = 1. For example, a = 5/9, b = 3/9, and c = 1/9. The number of terms on the right side of Equation (3) is not limited to three terms, and the specific values of the coefficients are not limited to those illustrated.
[0053]
The action of the expression (3) is determined not only by determining the current indicated direction θp only by the latest sample value but also by taking the past sample value into consideration, and determining the target direction θd from the present indicated direction θp. It is something to try. The action of this filter acts in a direction that suppresses the change in the indicated direction θp and consequently the change in the target direction θd, and thus can be said to be a low-pass filter.
[0054]
With this low-pass filter, even when the sample point temporarily enters an adjacent azimuth angle range from a certain azimuth angle range, the influence can be prevented from appearing in the target azimuth.
[0055]
The setting of the dead zone in the azimuth angle range and the sample filtering described above constitute a part of the target azimuth determination means of the present invention.
[0056]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Regardless of which embodiment described above is employed, there is a case where it is desired to select a target orientation θd that is one step away from the current orientation θc. In that case, a delicate stick operation is still required. In particular, when a dead zone or a low-pass filter as described above is employed, this delicate operation may be ignored by the apparatus. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a special stick operation method for moving the cursor by one step to the azimuth position adjacent to the current azimuth θc is provided. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, a second threshold value rth2 is provided for the r value. This embodiment can be employed independently of the third embodiment that provides the two cursor movement modes described above, but can also be used in combination with the third embodiment. When used in combination, the second threshold value rth2 is smaller than the first threshold value rth1 and larger than r0 which is the r value of the dead zone.
[0057]
FIG. 15 shows a flowchart of the main processing in the present embodiment. This process is executed substantially in parallel with the process of FIG. This process or the CPU and program that implements this process also constitute “identification display movement control means” in the present invention.
[0058]
First, it is examined whether or not a new target azimuth θd has been determined in the processing routine including the processing of FIG. 10 and the dead zone in the azimuth angle range and the function of the filter as described above (S41). The case where the target azimuth θd is not determined is simply the case where the user does not perform a new stick operation, or the device does not recognize it even if the user does. When a new target orientation θd is determined, the cursor is moved to the target orientation θd described above (S42).
[0059]
On the other hand, when it is determined that a new target orientation θd has not been determined, the following steps are used to determine whether or not the user has performed a single stick operation for a relatively short time that has not been detected by the processing routine. . That is, it is first checked whether the r value is equal to or greater than rth2 (S43). If Yes, the θ value (for example, that calculated in S2 of FIG. 10) is substituted into the change direction θm (S44). If the r value is smaller than rth2 (or smaller) (S43, No), it is checked whether the r value is equal to or less than r0 (S45). If the r value is larger than r0 (S45, No), the process returns to step S41. If the r value is equal to or less than r0 (S45, Yes), it is checked whether the change direction θm is determined (that is, whether θm is set in step S44) (S46). If θm has not been determined, the process returns to step S41. If θm is determined, the process proceeds to the next step. In the processing from step S43 to S46, before the target azimuth θd is determined, the r value once returns to the dead zone after rth2 or more (that is, the stick returns to the neutral position after exceeding a predetermined tilt angle). This means that a stick operation of “)” has been detected. When such a stick operation is performed, the cursor is moved by one step in the rotation direction determined by the current azimuth θc and the changed azimuth θm (S47). Whether the rotation direction at this time is clockwise or counterclockwise depends on whether the tilting direction of the stick is on the clockwise side or the counterclockwise side with reference to the current azimuth θc. For example, suppose that when the current direction θc is the “north-northwest” direction as in the example of FIG. 4, it is desired to move the cursor one step in the clockwise direction and select the “north” direction. At this time, in the previous embodiment, it is necessary to correctly incline the stick in the direction of true north, but in this embodiment, the stick is directed toward the direction in which the cursor is to be moved (for example, instantaneously in the east direction). Is simply tilted so that the r value exceeds rth2 and immediately returned to the neutral position. The direction in which the stick is tilted does not have to be “east”. In FIG. 3, when all directions are bisected by a straight line connecting “north-southeast” facing “north-northwest” which is the current direction θc, the side to which the adjacent direction (in this example “north”) to which the cursor is to belong is assigned. The stick may be tilted in any direction as long as it is oriented. The result is the same, and the cursor moves one step to the adjacent orientation on that side. Therefore, the user does not need to indicate an accurate azimuth, and it is only necessary to momentarily tilt the stick to the side on which the cursor is to be moved. This operation is easy to understand sensibly and can quickly move the cursor one step.
[0060]
Note that although the processing from steps S41 and S43 to S46 in FIG. 15 constitutes a loop, in practice, a new θd may be determined even during the execution of this loop, and this detection detects step S42. To “Process of moving the cursor to the target orientation θd”. Further, the feature of the one-step movement in FIG. 15 is not necessarily based on the speed reduction immediately before the target direction in the rotational movement of the cursor. Furthermore, even the rotational movement of the cursor is not premised, but may be combined with the direct movement to the target direction.
[0061]
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various modifications and changes can be made. For example, although a joystick that uses a potentiometer has been mentioned, any other principle or structure such as an optical type can be used. In addition, although an example in which the analog output of the joystick is converted into a digital signal and digital processing has been described, the analog signal processing circuit can be used to perform processing as it is. The number of 360-degree omnidirectional divisions is 16, but the number of divisions is not limited to this, and the present invention is suitable for application to at least 8 or more.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
According to the pointing direction signal processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to accurately indicate multi-directions. In addition, it is possible to improve the operability of a joystick that gives instructions in multiple directions.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a main part of a joystick unit in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an apparatus using the joystick unit as illustrated in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing 16 orientations of the joystick in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing a display on a display relating to selection of an orientation in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a deviation between an intended direction and a target direction recognized by the apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining cursor movement control according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a graph showing temporal changes in azimuth corresponding to the cursor movement control in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining cursor movement control according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a graph showing temporal changes in azimuth angles corresponding to the cursor movement control in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing for determining a target orientation θd according to the embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a flowchart showing a process for rotationally moving the cursor from the current azimuth θc to the target azimuth θd determined in the process of FIG.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process for realizing the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a concept of a third embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the concept of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a process for realizing the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Joystick unit
11 sticks
12 recess
13 Operation panel
20 CPU
21,22 Potentiometer
23, 24 Analog to digital converter
25 Interface section
26 Various keys
27 ROM
28 RAM
29 display
30 CD-ROM drive

Claims (8)

An instruction direction signal processing device for instructing at least eight directions based on a tilt direction of an instruction operator,
Means for outputting a tilt direction signal of the pointing manipulator having a pointing manipulator capable of tilting in at least eight directions;
A target azimuth determining means for determining which of the predetermined azimuth angle ranges the tilt direction of the pointing operator recognized based on the tilt direction signal falls within, and determining the azimuth as a target azimuth;
Display means for identifying and displaying on the display screen one of a plurality of display positions associated with the at least eight orientations and arranged in a ring shape as a currently selected current orientation;
The identification display is sequentially rotated and moved from the current direction to the target direction on the display screen, and the direction of the identification and display is set as a new current direction, and the tilt angle of the pointing operator is returned to a predetermined dead zone angle. When the identification display reaches a target azimuth, the identification display movement control means for stopping the movement of the identification display and maintaining the current azimuth at that time,
The identification display movement control means reduces the movement speed of the identification display at least at the display position immediately before the identification display reaches the target azimuth while the tilt angle of the pointing operator exceeds the dead zone angle. A characteristic pointing direction signal processing device. 2. The indication direction signal according to claim 1, wherein the identification display movement control means reduces the movement speed of the identification display in a direction one step before or two steps before the target direction during movement of the identification display. Processing equipment. The identification display movement control means, at the time of movement of the identification display, while the tilt angle of the pointing operator exceeds the dead zone angle, after the identification display has reached the target azimuth, at a reduced moving speed. 3. The indication direction signal processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the identification display is moved to a direction one step ahead. The identification display movement control means moves the identification display directly from the current azimuth to the target azimuth when the tilt angle of the pointing operator exceeds a predetermined threshold value. 2. The direction signal processing apparatus according to 2 or 3. The target azimuth determining means weights and adds the latest sample value when the tilt direction signal is sampled at a predetermined period and at least one or two past sample values to calculate the current tilt direction. The pointing direction signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a filter unit. The identification display movement control means has a tilt angle of the pointing operator exceeding a predetermined second threshold value even when the target azimuth determining means cannot obtain a target azimuth different from the current azimuth. 6. The identification display is moved by one step in a rotation direction determined in accordance with the tilt direction of the pointing operator when the dead zone angle is returned again within the dead zone angle. The indicated direction signal processing device. An instruction direction signal processing method for instructing at least eight directions based on a tilt direction of an instruction operator,
Examining which of the at least eight azimuth angle ranges the tilt direction of the pointing operator recognized based on the tilt direction signal from the tilting operation signal capable of tilting in at least eight directions is;
Identifying and displaying on the display screen one of a plurality of display positions associated with at least eight directions and arranged in a ring shape as a currently selected current direction;
The direction of the azimuth range to which the tilt direction of the pointing operator recognized based on the tilt direction signal belongs is set as the target direction, and the identification display is sequentially rotated from the current direction to the target direction on the display screen. A step in which the given direction is set as a new current direction,
Stopping the movement of the identification display when the tilt angle of the pointing operator returns within a predetermined dead band angle or when the identification display reaches a target azimuth, and maintaining the current azimuth at that time;
Reducing the moving speed of the identification display at least at the display position immediately before the identification display reaches the target azimuth while the tilt angle of the pointing operator exceeds the dead zone angle;
An instruction direction signal processing method characterized by comprising: An instruction direction signal processing method for instructing at least eight directions based on a tilt direction of an instruction operator,
Examining which of the at least eight azimuth angle ranges the tilt direction of the pointing operator recognized based on the tilt direction signal from the tilting operation signal capable of tilting in at least eight directions is;
Identifying and displaying on the display screen one of a plurality of display positions associated with at least eight directions and arranged in a ring shape as a currently selected current direction;
The direction of the azimuth range to which the tilt direction of the pointing operator recognized based on the tilt direction signal belongs is set as the target direction, and the identification display is sequentially rotated from the current direction to the target direction on the display screen. A step in which the given direction is set as a new current direction,
Stopping the movement of the identification display when the tilt angle of the pointing operator returns within a predetermined dead band angle or when the identification display reaches a target azimuth, and maintaining the current azimuth at that time;
Reducing the moving speed of the identification display at least at the display position immediately before the identification display reaches the target azimuth while the tilt angle of the pointing operator exceeds the dead zone angle;
A recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for carrying out the pointing direction signal processing method.

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