JP6047526B2 - Sensing unit and function control system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensing unit that detects the posture of a three-dimensional object and a function control system that uses the sensing unit as a remote controller.

  In recent years, an increasing number of home appliances and office devices use a remote controller to remotely control functions of a device body. The remote controller is provided with, for example, a plurality of hardware switches or software switches and a display, and when the user operates the switch, the operation signal is transmitted from the remote controller to the device body. In the device main body, when the operation signal is received, the operation signal is decoded, and a corresponding function is executed according to the decoding result. In addition, information regarding the operation content or the executed function is displayed on the display of the remote controller.

  However, in a device that controls the functions of the device body using the remote controller as described above, the switch of the remote controller must be operated for the control. For this reason, the user must remember the correspondence relationship between the control target function of the device main body and the switch of the remote controller, or check it each time using an instruction manual or the like. This operation is particularly troublesome for users who are not familiar with the operation of the device, such as the elderly and children.

  Therefore, as an alternative to general infrared remote controllers, a polyhedral sensing unit and device operation system using the sensing unit that can operate the device simply by returning the surface to the front without having to learn special gestures are proposed. Has been. In this system, which surface of the sensing unit is returned to the table is detected using a sensor installed corresponding to the polyhedron (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).

Atsuko Ariga, Akihiro Miyata, Tetsuya Ura, Toru Sadakata, Takashi Sato, Satoshi Kobayashi, “Fundamental study of polyhedral switches that switch functions by returning polyhedra”, “Multimedia, Distributed, Cooperation and Mobile (DICOMO2013) Symposium”, 2G-5, pp.471-476, July 2013.

  However, the technology described in Non-Patent Document 1 provides one pressure sensor on each surface to be sensed and uses the weight of the sensing unit housing or uses the attractive force of the magnet on the wall surface. Alternatively, when a certain pressure is applied to a specific surface by applying a pressure by touching with a hand, the pressure is detected by a corresponding sensor to determine the orientation of the housing. For this reason, the sensor is likely to be worn, and there is a concern that detection is difficult when the wear occurs. In addition, since it is necessary to constantly supply power for operation to the sensor, standby power increases, leading to a shortened battery life.

  The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is not to require a complicated operation such as a switch operation, and to detect physical contact like a pressure sensor. Sensing unit and function control that can output sensing information corresponding to the posture of the housing without using sensors that are affected by the inclination of the installation location and acceleration fluctuations such as a three-axis acceleration sensor To provide a system.

In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention provides the following measures. That is, a plurality of tubes are arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of surfaces in a housing made of a three-dimensional object having a plurality of surfaces on the outer periphery. The arrangement direction of these tubular bodies is set so as to be affected by gravity in a state where the casing is disposed with the surface corresponding to the tubular body as a bottom surface. A conversion mechanism and a detection circuit are built in the casing. The conversion mechanism has a moving body enclosed in each of the plurality of tubular bodies so as to be movable by gravity, and converts the kinetic energy when the movable body moves by gravity in the tubular body into electrical energy to generate an electrical signal. Output. The detection circuit detects the moving direction of the moving body in the tube based on the magnitude and polarity of the electrical signal output from the conversion mechanism and outputs the detection result.
The conversion mechanism includes a rack portion disposed in the pipe body in the direction of gravity, a gear accommodated in the pipe body so as to be movable in the direction of gravity, and a power generation unit having a rotor shaft connected to the gear portion. A first configuration for generating electric power according to the rotation of the gear and outputting the generated electric power as an electric signal, and a fluid accommodated in the pipe body so as to be movable in the direction of gravity, An impeller that is housed in a housing and rotates when the fluid moves in the direction of gravity in the pipe body, and a generator having a rotor shaft connected to the impeller, and the generator rotates the impeller. A second configuration is considered in which power is generated according to the output and the generated power is output as an electrical signal.

The first aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising the following aspects.
In the first aspect, the detection circuit is configured to maintain an operation stop state in which power is not consumed during standby, and to operate using the electrical signal as a power source when the electrical signal is output from the conversion mechanism. is there.

According to a second aspect, in the state in which the detection circuit is arranged such that one of the plurality of surfaces thereof is the bottom surface, the arrangement state of the case is based on the detection result of the moving direction of the moving body. Is generated and output.

In the third aspect, different first information is physically displayed on a plurality of surfaces of the casing, and the displayed first information and the moving direction of the moving body are displayed on the detection circuit. Storage means for storing the information indicating the detection result of the mobile object in association with each other, and reading corresponding first information from the storage means based on the detection result of the moving direction of the moving body, 1 information is output.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the following measures are taken. That is, a function execution device having a plurality of functions and a sensing unit capable of communication with the function execution device are provided.
The sensing unit has a housing made of a three-dimensional object having a plurality of surfaces on the outer periphery. On the plurality of surfaces of the housing, command information for designating the function of the function execution device is written. A tubular body is disposed in the housing corresponding to each of the plurality of surfaces. The arrangement direction of these tubular bodies is set to a direction that is affected by gravity in a state where the casing is disposed with the surface corresponding to the tubular body as a bottom surface. A conversion mechanism and a detection circuit are provided in the casing. The conversion mechanism has a moving body enclosed in the plurality of tubes so as to be movable by gravity, and converts the kinetic energy when the moving body moves by gravity in the tube into electric energy to generate an electric signal. Output. When the casing is arranged so that one of the plurality of surfaces is a bottom surface, the detection circuit is configured to move the moving body in the tube based on the magnitude and polarity of the electrical signal output from the conversion mechanism. Is detected, the command information written on the surface opposite to the bottom surface is identified based on the detection result of the movement direction, and a control signal including information representing the identification result is transmitted.
On the other hand, the function execution device receives a control signal transmitted from the sensing unit, and executes a function corresponding to the information based on information representing an identification result included in the received control signal.
The conversion mechanism includes a rack portion disposed in the pipe body in the direction of gravity, a gear accommodated in the pipe body so as to be movable in the direction of gravity, and a power generation unit having a rotor shaft connected to the gear portion. A first configuration for generating electric power according to the rotation of the gear and outputting the generated electric power as an electric signal, and a fluid accommodated in the pipe body so as to be movable in the direction of gravity, An impeller that is housed in a housing and rotates when the fluid moves in the direction of gravity in the pipe body, and a generator having a rotor shaft connected to the impeller, and the generator rotates the impeller. A second configuration is considered in which power is generated according to the output and the generated power is output as an electrical signal.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the casing is arranged with its arbitrary surface as the bottom surface, the moving body moves by gravity in the tube corresponding to the bottom surface, and the kinetic energy by this movement is converted into electric energy. And output as an electrical signal. Based on the magnitude and polarity of the electrical signal, the moving direction of the moving body in the tube is detected, and the detection result is output. Therefore, it is possible to obtain sensing information corresponding to the posture of the housing without requiring a complicated operation such as a switch operation and without using a special sensor such as a pressure sensor or a triaxial acceleration sensor. .

According to the first configuration of the conversion mechanism, when the generator moves by gravity in the pipe, the gear that is pivotally attached to the generator rotates by meshing with the rack, and the rotation of the gear generates power. Electricity is generated in the machine. The moving direction of the generator is detected based on the magnitude and polarity of the current output from the generator. In other words, by using a combination of a so-called rack and pinion and a generator, sensors such as pressure sensors that wear out to sense physical contact, and three-axis acceleration sensors such as inclination and acceleration of the installation site Sensing information corresponding to the posture of the housing can be obtained without using a sensor or the like that is affected by fluctuations.

According to the second configuration of the conversion mechanism, when the fluid moves in the tube by gravity, the impeller provided in the tube rotates accordingly, and power is generated in the generator by the rotational force. The moving direction of the generator is detected based on the magnitude and polarity of the current output from the generator. That is, by using a combination of a mechanism that rotates an impeller with a fluid and a generator, a sensor that wears to sense physical contact, such as a pressure sensor, or a location sensor such as a triaxial acceleration sensor. Sensing information corresponding to the posture of the housing can be obtained without using a sensor or the like that is affected by fluctuations in inclination or acceleration.

According to the first aspect, the detection circuit operates using the electrical signal as a power source when the electrical signal is output from the conversion mechanism. This eliminates the need for a power source for operating the detection circuit, thereby reducing the power consumption of the sensing unit and extending the battery life.

According to the second aspect, when the casing is arranged such that an arbitrary surface is the bottom surface, information representing the arrangement state of the casing is generated and output based on the detection result of the moving direction of the moving body. . For this reason, it is possible to output information that directly represents the attitude of the housing.

According to the 3rd aspect, based on the detection result of the moving direction of a moving body, the information physically displayed on the corresponding surface of a housing | casing is output. For this reason, for example, when the user arranges the housing such that an arbitrary surface thereof is an upper surface, information physically displayed on the upper surface can be output as sensing information.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the sensing unit is placed so that an arbitrary surface thereof is an upper surface, the command information described on the upper surface is output from the sensing unit, and the function execution device includes the sensing unit described above. The corresponding function is executed in accordance with the command information output from. That is, the sensing unit can be used as a remote controller for the function execution device.

  In other words, according to the present invention, a complicated operation such as a switch operation is not required, and a wear sensor for detecting physical contact such as a pressure sensor, or a three-axis acceleration sensor such as a three-axis acceleration sensor can be used. It is possible to provide a sensing unit and a function control system that can output sensing information corresponding to the attitude of the housing without using a sensor or the like that is affected by fluctuations in inclination or acceleration.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the function control system which uses the sensing unit which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the outline | summary of the internal structure of the sensing unit which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the function structure of the function control system shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the execution content conversion table provided in the sensing unit shown in FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the 1st Example of the electromechanical conversion unit provided in the sensing unit shown in FIG. The figure which shows the circuit structure of the electromechanical conversion unit shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the data memorize | stored in the surface determination table used with the electromechanical conversion unit shown in FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the 2nd Example of the electromechanical conversion unit provided in the sensing unit shown in FIG. The figure which shows the circuit structure of the electromechanical conversion unit shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the data memorize | stored in the surface determination table used with the electromechanical conversion unit shown in FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the 3rd Example of the electromechanical conversion unit provided in the sensing unit shown in FIG. The perspective view which shows the structure of the generator used for the electromechanical conversion unit shown in FIG. The figure which shows the circuit structure of the electromechanical conversion unit shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the data memorize | stored in the surface determination table used with the electromechanical conversion unit shown in FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the 4th Example of the electromechanical conversion unit provided in the sensing unit shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows the process sequence and processing content by the sensing unit and function execution apparatus of the function control system shown in FIG.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[One Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a function control system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 indicates a sensing unit and 2 indicates a function execution device.

  The function execution device 2 comprises a television receiver and has a plurality of operation modes such as “turn on TV (ON)”, “turn off TV (OFF)”, “increase volume”, and “decrease volume”. ing.

The sensing unit 1 is used in a one-to-one relationship to control the function execution device 2. The sensing unit 1 has a casing 10 made of a regular hexahedron, and instructions for controlling the operation mode of the function execution device 2 are written on its six surfaces S1 to S6. For example, “Turn on TV (ON)”, “Turn off TV (OFF)”, “Raise volume”, “Decrease volume”, “Switch channel (Up)”, “Switch channel (Down)” Is written.
The function execution device 2 is not limited to a television receiver, but may be a video recorder, a lighting device, an air conditioner, an acoustic device, a household equipment such as an electric window or door, a bath, or a personal computer or a browser. There may be.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the sensing unit 1. As shown in the figure, in the casing 10 of the sensing unit 1, three sets of electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, 3c are accommodated. These electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, and 3c all have an electromechanical conversion function housed in a cylindrical resin tube 31 closed at both ends, and both ends of the tube body 31 are connected to the sensing unit. It is installed in a state where it is in contact with each of three opposing faces in 1. Here, the tube body may be made of any material as long as it does not electromagnetically affect the electromechanical conversion function.

  The electromechanical conversion function of the electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, 3c converts the kinetic energy when the moving body accommodated in the tube body 31 moves by gravity into electrical energy using an electromagnetic induction system or a mechanical energy system. When the sensing unit 1 is placed on a table or the like, the unit located between the upper surface and the bottom surface generates the electromotive force and outputs it to the circuit module 13 described later. . The details of the electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, 3c will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the sensing unit 1 and the function execution device 2. First, the circuit module 13 of the sensing unit 1 includes a function ID storage unit 131, a determination unit 132, and a sensing communication unit 133. Among these, the determination unit 132 and the sensing communication unit 133 are realized by causing a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a program stored in a program memory (not shown). The circuit module 13 is activated with the electromotive force output from the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c as a trigger, and also uses the electromotive force as a power source.

  The function ID storage unit 131 stores a face determination table and an execution content conversion table. In the execution content conversion table, the identification information of the surfaces S1 to S6 of the sensing unit 1 defined in the surface determination table, that is, the identification information (command ID) ID1 to ID6 of the function execution command written on the surfaces S1 to S6 is included. Correspondingly, identification information (operation mode ID) representing the execution content of the function execution device 2 is stored. FIG. 4 shows an example of information stored in the execution content conversion table.

  In the surface determination table, the identification information of the surfaces S1 to S6 of the sensing unit 1 to be determined and the reference pattern of the electromotive force generated by each of the electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, 3c are stored in association with each other. Has been. The identification information of the surfaces S1 to S6 also serves as the identification information (command ID) ID1 to ID6 of the commands written on the surfaces S1 to S6.

The determination unit 132 has the following processing functions.
(1) Processing for comparing the generation pattern of the electromotive force output from the electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, and 3c with the reference pattern stored in the surface determination table and reading the surface identification information corresponding to the matching pattern .
(2) The execution content conversion table is accessed based on the read surface identification information, that is, the command ID, and the operation mode ID corresponding to the command ID is read from the execution content conversion table, and the sensing communication unit Processing to output to 133.

  The sensing communication unit 133 generates a control signal including the operation mode ID output from the determination unit 132 and the identification information of the function execution device 2 to be controlled, and transmits the generated control signal. Do. As a communication medium, a wireless communication system using weak or low power such as WiFi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) with less directivity restriction is preferable, but an infrared communication method may be used. .

  On the other hand, the function execution device 2 includes a function storage unit 21, an instruction execution unit 22, and a client communication unit 23. The function storage unit 21 includes a plurality of functions of the function execution device 2, that is, “turn on TV (ON)”, “turn off TV (OFF)”, “increase volume”, “volume” of the television receiver. The control information for executing the function is stored in association with the operation mode ID for executing “lowering”, “switching channel (up)”, and “switching channel (down)”.

The instruction execution unit 22 reads control information corresponding to the operation mode ID included in the control signal received by the client communication unit 23 from the function storage unit 21, and executes a function according to the read control information. I do.
The instruction execution unit 22 is realized by causing a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a program stored in a program memory (not shown).

  By the way, the following four examples can be considered for the configuration of the electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, 3c. Since the electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, and 3c have the same configuration, the following description will be given taking the electromechanical conversion unit 3a as an example.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a first embodiment of the electromechanical conversion unit 3a. In the electromechanical conversion unit 3a, the coils 32a and 33a are fixedly arranged at both ends in the tube 31, and the permanent magnet 34 is accommodated in the tube 31 so as to be movable in the coils 32a and 33a. . The permanent magnet 34 is made of a bar magnet, and has N and S poles at both ends in the longitudinal direction. In the figure, reference numeral 35 denotes a buffer member, which absorbs an impact when the permanent magnet 34 collides with both end portions of the tubular body 31.

  FIG. 6 is a circuit configuration diagram of the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c. The detection coils 32a, 33a, 32b, 33b, 32c, and 33c of the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c are connected to detection circuits 36a1, 36a2, 36b1, 36b2, 36c1, and 36c2, respectively. These detection circuits 36a1, 36a2, 36b1, 36b2, 36c1, 36c2 respectively reshape the induced current generated by the movement of the permanent magnet 34 in the coils 32a, 33a, 32b, 33b, 32c, 33c, The current after waveform shaping is output as detection signals La1, La2, Lb1, Lb2, Lc1, Lc2.

At this time, the waveform shaping process has a function of detecting only an induced current of a certain level or higher, for example. Therefore, the detection circuits 36a1, 36a2, 36b1, 36b2, 36c1, 36c2 output detection signals only when the permanent magnet 34 enters the coils 32a, 33a, 32b, 33b, 32c, 33c. This is because when the permanent magnet 34 is detached from the coils 32a, 33a, 32b, 33b, 32c, and 33c, the moving speed of the permanent magnet 34 is still slow, and the level of the induced current generated from the coil is less than the above constant level. Therefore, when the permanent magnet 34 enters the coils 32a, 33a, 32b, 33b, 32c, and 33c, the speed of the permanent magnet 34 is high, so that the induced current generated from the coil becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined level. Because.
Here, as the detection signals La1, La2, Lb1, Lb2, Lc1, and Lc2, the induced current detected in the detection circuits 36a1, 36a2, 36b1, 36b2, 36c1, and 36c2 is set to a predetermined threshold V in each detection circuit. “1” is returned when it is equal to or greater than (La1), V (La2), V (Lb1), V (Lb2), V (Lc1), and V (Lc2), and “0” when equal to or less than each threshold value. Is returned.

  The coils 32 a, 33 a, 32 b, 33 b, 32 c, 33 c are also connected to the electromotive force generation circuit 37. The electromotive force generation circuit 37 detects the rising of the induced current generated by each of the coils 32a, 33a, 32b, 33b, 32c, and 33c and gives this to the circuit module 13 as a trigger, and rectifies the induced current. And has a function of supplying the accumulated power as an electromotive force to the circuit module 13.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of data stored in the surface determination table provided in the function ID storage 131 in the circuit module 13 in the first embodiment. As shown in the figure, the detection circuit 36a1, when the sensing unit 1 is arranged in the surface determination table in association with the surfaces S1 to S6 to be determined so that the surfaces S1 to S6 are the upper surface. The basic detection patterns of the detection signals La1, La2, Lb1, Lb2, Lc1, and Lc2 output from 36a2, 36b1, 36b2, 36c1, and 36c2 are stored.

Next, operations of the sensing unit 1 and the function execution device 2 according to the first embodiment will be described.
It is assumed that the sensing unit 1 is arranged on the table so that the surface on which desired command information is written is the upper surface. If it does so, the unit corresponding to the said upper surface of the electromechanical conversion units 3a-3c will become vertical, and an electromotive force will generate | occur | produce by the electromotive force function of this vertical electromotive conversion unit.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the sensing unit 1 is arranged so that the surface S1 thereof is the upper surface, the electromechanical conversion unit 3a is oriented vertically. As a result, in the electromechanical conversion unit 3a, as shown in FIG. 5, when the permanent magnet 34 moves in the P direction due to gravity and leaves the coil 32a, and enters the coil 33a, the coils 32a and 33a respectively. Inductive current flows through. Among them, the induced current flowing through the coil 32a has a small current value because the removal speed of the permanent magnet 34 is slow, while the induced current flowing through the coil 33a has a large current value because the entry speed of the permanent magnet 34 is fast. Therefore, the detection signal La2 = "1" is output from only the detection circuit 36a2 of the detection circuits 36a1 and 36a2. Further, since the other electromechanical conversion units 3b and 3c are sideways, the permanent magnet 34 does not move, and no induced current is generated in the coils 32b, 33b, 32c, and 33c. Therefore, the detection signals Lb1, Lb2, Lc1, and Lc2 output from the detection circuits 36b1, 36b2, 36c1, and 36c2 are all “0”.

  The induced current generated by the coils 32 a and 33 a of the electromechanical conversion unit 3 a is also input to the electromotive force generation circuit 37. In the electromotive force generation circuit 37, first, the rising of the induced current of the input coil 32a is detected by waveform shaping, and this detected rising is supplied to the circuit module 13 as a trigger pulse. At the same time, each of the induced currents is rectified and stored as electric power in a power storage device such as a capacitor, and the stored electric power is supplied to the circuit module 13 as an electromotive force.

  The trigger pulse causes the circuit module 13 to transition from a sleep state (a standby state that consumes very little power) to an operation state, and further to receive the electromotive force to maintain the operation state. In this operating state, the following processing is performed. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure and processing contents. The electromotive force is used when transitioning from the sleep state to the operation state, and after the transition to the operation state, the operation state may be maintained by receiving power supply from an external battery.

  That is, the determination unit 132 first captures the detection signals La1, La2, Lb1, Lb2, Lc1, Lc2 output from the electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, 3c in step S11. The captured detection signals La1, La2, Lb1, Lb2, Lc1, Lc2 are compared with the basic detection pattern stored in the surface determination table of the function ID storage unit 131 in step S12, and the comparison result is obtained. In step S13, the surface identification information corresponding to the matching basic detection pattern is read out.

  Subsequently, the determination unit 132 accesses the execution content conversion table of the function ID storage unit 131 in step S14 based on the read surface identification information, that is, the command ID, and reads the command from the execution content conversion table. The operation mode ID corresponding to the ID is read. In step S15, the sensing communication unit 133 generates a control signal including the operation mode ID output from the determination unit 132 and the identification information of the function execution device 2 to be controlled, and the generated control signal is used as the control signal. Send.

  For example, it is assumed that the sensing unit 1 is arranged with the surface S1 as an upper surface as shown in FIG. In this case, the detection signals La1, La2, Lb1, Lb2, Lc1, Lc2 (0, 1, 0, 0) are detected from the detection circuits 36a1, 36a2, 36b1, 36b2, 36c1, 36c2 of the electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, 3c. , 0, 0) is output. Therefore, the surface identification information S1 (ID1) corresponding to the detection patterns (0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0) of the detection signals La1, La2, Lb1, Lb2, Lc1, Lc2 is read from the surface determination table. It is. Then, “turn on TV (a1)” is read from the execution content conversion table as the operation mode ID corresponding to the surface identification information S1 (ID1) as shown in FIG. The read operation mode ID is inserted into the control signal together with the identification information of the function execution device 2 to be controlled and transmitted.

  On the other hand, the function execution device 2 receives the control signal transmitted from the sensing unit 1 by the client communication unit 23 in step S21. Then, when it is confirmed that the control target is the own device 2 based on the identification information of the function execution device included in the received control signal, the command execution unit 22 is activated in step S22. Under the control, the control information corresponding to the operation mode ID included in the received control signal is read from the function storage unit 21, and the power of the television receiver is turned “ON” in accordance with the read control information. Execute control to

  On the other hand, it is assumed that the sensing unit 1 is arranged so that the surface S2 is the upper surface. In this case, the electromechanical conversion unit 3b is oriented vertically, and an induced current flows through the coils 32b and 33b of the electromechanical conversion unit 3b. Among them, the induced current flowing through the coil 32b has a small current value because the removal speed of the permanent magnet 34 is slow, while the induced current flowing through the coil 33b has a large current value because the entry speed of the permanent magnet 34 is fast. Therefore, the detection signal Lb2 = "1" is output from only the detection circuit 36b2 of the detection circuits 36b1 and 36b2. Further, since the other electromechanical conversion units 3a and 3c are oriented sideways, the permanent magnet 34 does not move, and no induced current is generated in the coils 32a, 33a, 32c, and 33c. For this reason, the detection signals La1, La2, Lc1, and Lc2 output from the detection circuits 36a1, 36a2, 36c1, and 36c2 are all “0”.

  Accordingly, the surface identification information S2 (ID2) corresponding to the detection patterns (0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0) of the detection signals La1, La2, Lb1, Lb2, Lc1, Lc2 is read from the surface determination table. It is. Then, “increase volume (a2)” is read from the execution content conversion table as the operation mode ID corresponding to the surface identification information S2 (ID2) as shown in FIG. The read operation mode ID is inserted into the control signal together with the identification information of the function execution device 2 to be controlled and transmitted.

  In contrast, in the function execution device 2, when the control signal transmitted from the sensing unit 1 is received by the client communication unit 23 and it is determined from the identification information that the control target is the function execution device 2, the command execution unit Under the control of 22, control information corresponding to the operation mode ID (a2) included in the received control signal is read from the function storage unit 21. Then, in accordance with the read control information, control for increasing the volume of the television receiver by a preset unit amount is executed.

  As described in detail above, in the first embodiment, the electromechanical conversion units 3a and 3b are respectively disposed between the three opposing surfaces S1 and S6, S2 and S5, and S3 and S4 in the casing 10 of the sensing unit 1. , 3c, and two coils 32a, 33a, 32b, 33b, 32c, 33c are arranged at both ends of these electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, 3c, and the inside of these coils can be moved by gravity permanently. A magnet 34 is provided. Then, the induction current generated in the coils 32a, 33a, 32b, 33b, 32c, 33c due to the movement of the permanent magnet 34 when an arbitrary surface of the sensing unit 1 is disposed is detected, and the detection signal La1, Based on La2, La1, La2, Lc1, and Lc2, the surface that is the upper surface of the sensing unit 1 is determined, and the operation mode ID corresponding to the surface is included in the control signal and transmitted to the function execution device 2. I have to.

  Therefore, when the user wants to control the function execution device 2, the function name “turn on TV”, “turn off TV”, etc. that the user wants the sensing unit 1 to execute among the six surfaces S1 to S6 is written. It is possible to cause the function execution device 2 to execute a desired function, that is, “ON”, “OFF”, etc., of the television receiver only by arranging the surface so that the upper surface is on the upper surface side. This eliminates the need for switch operation during remote control, thereby eliminating the need to store or confirm the correspondence between the control target function and the switch. Therefore, even a user who is unfamiliar with the operation of the device, such as an elderly person, can perform remote control easily and reliably.

  Further, since the function name to be executed is written on the surfaces S1 to S6 of the sensing unit 1, it is not necessary to electronically display the function name to be executed on the display. Moreover, since the circuit module 13 is activated by the electromotive force generated by the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c, the circuit module 13 can be put into a sleep state without always being in an operating state in a standby state. Thereby, the power consumption of the sensing unit 1 can be reduced and the battery life can be extended.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a second embodiment of the electromechanical conversion unit 3 a provided in the sensing unit 1. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG.
The electromechanical conversion unit 3a according to the second embodiment has a coil 41a fixedly disposed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body 31, and a permanent magnet 34 accommodated in the tubular body 31 so as to be movable within the coil 41a. Yes. The permanent magnet 34 is composed of a bar magnet as in the first embodiment, and forms an N pole and an S pole in its longitudinal direction. The electromechanical conversion units 3b and 3c are configured in the same manner as the electromechanical conversion unit 3a.

  FIG. 9 is a circuit configuration diagram of the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c in the second embodiment. The detection coils 41a to 41c of the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c are connected to detection circuits 42a to 42c, respectively. These detection circuits 42a to 42c detect the polarities of the induced currents generated by the movement of the permanent magnet 34 in the coils 41a to 41c, respectively, and the detection results are detected signals La +, La−, Lb + and Lb−. , Lc +, Lc−. As a result, detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb−, Lc +, Lc− representing the moving direction of the permanent magnet 34 in the coils 41a to 41c are output from the detection circuits 42a to 42c.

  The coils 41 a to 41 c are also connected to the electromotive force generation circuit 43. The electromotive force generation circuit 43 detects the rising of the induced current generated by each of the coils 41a to 41c and gives this to the circuit module 13 as a trigger, and rectifies the current generated by each of the coils 41a to 41c. And stored in a power storage device such as a capacitor, and has a function of supplying the stored power as an electromotive force to the circuit module 13.

  FIG. 10 shows stored data of the surface determination table provided in the function ID storage unit 131 in the circuit module 13 in the second embodiment. As shown in the figure, when the sensing unit 1 is arranged in the surface determination table so that the surfaces S1 to S6 are the upper surface in association with the surfaces S1 to S6 to be determined, the detection circuits 42a to 42a. The basic detection patterns of detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb−, Lc +, Lc− output from 42c are stored.

Next, operations of the sensing unit 1 and the function execution device 2 according to the second embodiment will be described.
It is assumed that the sensing unit 1 is arranged on the table so that the surface on which desired command information is written is the upper surface. If it does so, the unit corresponding to the said upper surface of the electromechanical conversion units 3a-3c will become vertical, and an electromotive force will generate | occur | produce by the electromotive force function of this vertical electromotive conversion unit.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the sensing unit 1 is arranged so that the surface S1 thereof is the upper surface, the electromechanical conversion unit 3a is oriented vertically. As a result, in the electromechanical conversion unit 3a, the permanent magnet 34 moves in the P direction by gravity as shown in FIG. 8, and an induced current flows through the coil 41a when passing through the coil 41a. At this time, the polarity of the induced current flowing through the coil 41a differs depending on the moving direction of the permanent magnet 34 with respect to the coil 41a.

  The detection circuit 42a detects the magnitude and polarity of the induced current, and outputs La + or La- according to the polarity when the absolute value is greater than or equal to a threshold value. Here, as the detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb−, Lc +, and Lc−, the induced currents detected in the detection circuits 42a to 42c are thresholds V (La +) and V in the predetermined detection circuits. “1” is returned when (La−), V (Lb +), V (Lb−), V (Lc +), and V (Lc−) or more, and “0” is returned when each threshold is less than or equal to each threshold value. Let's say. For example, when the surface S1 is disposed so as to be the upper surface as described above, the detection signal La + = “1” is output. In addition, since the other electromechanical conversion units 3b and 3c are sideways, the permanent magnet 34 does not move, and no induced current is generated in the coils 41b and 41c. For this reason, the detection signals Lb and Lc output from the detection circuits 42b and 42c are both “0”.

  The induced current generated by the coil 41 a of the electromechanical conversion unit 3 a is also input to the electromotive force generation circuit 43. In the electromotive force generation circuit 43, first, the rising of the induced current of the input coil 41a is detected by waveform shaping, and this detected rising is supplied to the circuit module 13 as a trigger pulse. At the same time, each of the induced currents is rectified and stored as electric power in a power storage device such as a capacitor, and the stored electric power is supplied to the circuit module 13 as an electromotive force.

  By the trigger pulse, the circuit module 13 transits from the sleep state to the operation state, and further receives the electromotive force to maintain the operation state. In this operating state, the following processing is performed. The electromotive force is used when transitioning from the sleep state to the operation state, and after the transition to the operation state, the operation state may be maintained by receiving power supply from an external battery.

  That is, the determination unit 132 first captures the detection signals La + or La−, Lb + or Lb−, Lc + or Lc− output from the electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, and 3c. Then, the captured detection signals La + or La−, Lb + or Lb−, Lc + or Lc− are compared with the basic detection pattern stored in the surface determination table of the function ID storage unit 131, and the matching basic detection is performed. Read the surface identification information corresponding to the pattern.

  Subsequently, the determination unit 132 accesses the execution content conversion table of the function ID storage unit 131 based on the read surface identification information, that is, the command ID, and corresponds to the command ID from the execution content conversion table. The operation mode ID is read and output to the sensing communication unit 133. The sensing communication unit 133 generates a control signal including the operation mode ID output from the determination unit 132 and the identification information of the function execution device 2 to be controlled, and transmits the generated control signal.

  For example, it is assumed that the sensing unit 1 is arranged with the surface S1 as an upper surface as shown in FIG. In this case, the detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb−, Lc +, Lc− are (1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) from the detection circuits 42a, 42b, 42c of the electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, 3c. 0) is output. For this reason, from the surface determination table, the surface identification information S1 (ID1) corresponding to the detection patterns (1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) of the detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb−, Lc +, Lc−. ) Is read out. Then, “turn on TV (a1)” is read from the execution content conversion table as the operation mode ID corresponding to the surface identification information S1 (ID1) as shown in FIG. The read operation mode ID is inserted into the control signal together with the identification information of the function execution device 2 to be controlled and transmitted.

  On the other hand, in the function execution device 2, as in the case of the first embodiment, the control signal transmitted from the sensing unit 1 is received by the client communication unit 23, and the control target is the function execution device 2 from the identification information. If it is determined that there is, control information corresponding to the operation mode ID included in the received control signal is read from the function storage unit 21 under the control of the instruction execution unit 22 and is read. In accordance with the control information, control for turning on the power of the television receiver is executed.

  Next, it is assumed that the sensing unit 1 is arranged so that the surface S2 is the upper surface. In this case, the electromechanical conversion unit 3b is oriented vertically, and an induced current having a polarity corresponding to the moving direction of the permanent magnet 34 flows through the coil 41b of the electromechanical conversion unit 3b. Therefore, the detection signal Lb + = “1” is output only from the detection circuit 41b. In addition, since the other electromechanical conversion units 3a and 3c are sideways, the permanent magnet 34 does not move, and no induced current is generated in the coils 41a and 41c. Therefore, none of the detection signals La +, La−, Lc +, and Lc− are generated from the detection circuits 42a and 42c.

  Therefore, from the surface determination table, as shown in FIG. 10, it corresponds to the detection patterns (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) of the detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb−, Lc +, Lc−. The surface identification information S2 (ID2) is read out. Then, “increase volume (a2)” is read from the execution content conversion table as the operation mode ID corresponding to the surface identification information S2 (ID2) as shown in FIG. The read operation mode ID is inserted into the control signal together with the identification information of the function execution device 2 to be controlled and transmitted.

  In contrast, in the function execution device 2, when the control signal transmitted from the sensing unit 1 is received by the client communication unit 23 and it is determined from the identification information that the control target is the function execution device 2, the command execution unit Under the control of 22, the control information corresponding to the operation mode ID included in the received control signal is read from the function storage unit 21. Then, in accordance with the read control information, control for increasing the volume of the television receiver by a preset unit amount is executed.

  As described above in detail, in the second embodiment, the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c are provided between the three opposing surfaces S1 and S6, S2 and S5, and S3 and S4 in the casing 31 of the sensing unit 1, respectively. And a single coil 41a, 41b, 41c is arranged at the longitudinal center of these electro-electric conversion units 3a-3c, and the permanent magnet 34 is accommodated so as to be movable in these coils 41a, 41b, 41c. doing. Then, the magnitude and polarity of the induced current generated in the coils 41a, 41b, 41c due to the movement of the permanent magnet 34 when an arbitrary surface of the sensing unit 1 is arranged as the upper surface are detected, and the detection signals La +, La− are detected. , Lb +, Lb−, Lc +, Lc−, the surface that is the upper surface of the sensing unit 1 is determined, and the operation mode ID corresponding to the surface is included in the control signal to the function execution device 2. I am trying to send it.

  Therefore, as in the first embodiment, when the function execution device 2 is to be controlled, the user wants to execute the sensing unit 1 among the six surfaces S1 to S6. The function execution device 2 is made to execute a desired function, that is, “ON”, “OFF”, etc. of the television receiver, simply by arranging the surface on which “Turn off TV” or the like is on the upper surface side. Is possible. This eliminates the need for switch operation during remote control, thereby eliminating the need to store or confirm the correspondence between the control target function and the switch. Therefore, even a user who is unfamiliar with the operation of the device, such as an elderly person, can perform remote control easily and reliably.

  Further, since the function name to be executed is written on the surfaces S1 to S6 of the sensing unit 1, it is not necessary to electronically display the function name to be executed on the display. In addition, the circuit module 13 is activated by the electromotive force generated by the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c, and the operation state is maintained. For this reason, in the standby state, the circuit module 13 can be shifted to the sleep state without always being in an operating state, thereby reducing the power consumption of the sensing unit 1 and extending the battery life.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a third embodiment of the electromechanical conversion unit 3 a provided in the sensing unit 1. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG.

  The electromechanical conversion unit 3 a has a rack 51 disposed along the longitudinal direction on the inner peripheral surface of the tube body 31, and houses a power generation unit 70 a movably in the tube body 31 in the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 12, the power generation unit 70 a has a case 73 in which a rotor 71 made of an electromagnetic coil and a pair of stators 72 made of a magnet magnet are housed. A gear 74 is attached to the rotating shaft of the rotor 71. Yes. When the power generation unit 70a moves in the tube body 31 by gravity, the gear 74 rotates in mesh with the rack 51, thereby generating power. The electromechanical conversion units 3b and 3c are configured in the same manner as the electromechanical conversion unit 3a.

  FIG. 13 is a circuit configuration diagram of the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c in the third embodiment. The power generation units 70a, 70b, and 70c of the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c are connected to detection circuits 53a, 53b, and 53c, respectively. These detection circuits 53a, 53b, and 53c detect the magnitude and polarity of the voltage generated when the power generation units 70a, 70b, and 70c move in the tube body 31 by gravity, and the detection results are detected as a detection signal La +. Or output as La-, Lb + or Lb-, Lc + or Lc-.

  The power generation units 70a, 70b, and 70c are also connected to the electromotive force generation circuit 54. The electromotive force generation circuit 54 detects the rising of the power waveform generated by each of the power generation units 70a, 70b, and 70c and gives this to the circuit module 13 as a trigger, and the power generation by the power generation units 70a, 70b, and 70c. The stored voltage is stored in a power storage device such as a capacitor, and the stored voltage is supplied to the circuit module 13 as an operating voltage.

  FIG. 14 shows storage data of the surface determination table provided in the function ID storage unit 131 in the circuit module 13 in the third embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the surface determination table, when the sensing unit 1 is arranged so that the surfaces S1 to S6 become the upper surface in association with the surfaces S1 to S6 to be determined, the detection circuits 53a to 53A. The basic detection patterns of the detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb−, Lc +, Lc− output from 53c are stored.

Next, operations of the sensing unit 1 and the function execution device 2 according to the third embodiment will be described.
It is assumed that the sensing unit 1 is arranged on the table so that the surface on which desired command information is written is the upper surface. If it does so, the unit corresponding to the said upper surface of the electromechanical conversion units 3a-3c will become vertical, and an electromotive force will generate | occur | produce by the electromotive force function of this vertical electromotive conversion unit.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the sensing unit 1 is arranged so that the surface S1 thereof is the upper surface, the electromechanical conversion unit 3a is oriented vertically. As a result, in the electromechanical conversion unit 3a, as shown in FIG. 11, the power generation unit 70a moves in the P direction due to gravity, and the gear 74 rotates with this movement to generate power. At this time, the voltage generated by the power generation unit 70a has a different polarity depending on the moving direction of the power generation unit 70a. The detection circuit 53a detects the magnitude and polarity of the voltage generated by the power generation unit 70a, and outputs La + or La− depending on the polarity when the absolute value is greater than or equal to a threshold value. For example, when the surface S1 is disposed so as to be the upper surface as described above, the detection signal La + = “1” is output. Since the other electromechanical conversion units 3b and 3c are sideways, the power generation units 70b and 70c do not move, and the detection signals Lb and Lc are not generated from the detection circuits 53b and 53c.

  The voltage generated by the power generation unit 70 a of the electromechanical conversion unit 3 a is also input to the electromotive force generation circuit 54. In the electromotive force generation circuit 54, first, the rise of the voltage generated by the power generation unit 70a is detected by waveform shaping, and the detected rise is supplied to the circuit module 13 as a trigger pulse. At the same time, the generated voltage is rectified and stored as electric power in a power storage device such as a capacitor, and the stored electric power is supplied to the circuit module 13 as an operation power source.

  In response to the trigger pulse, the circuit module 13 transits from the sleep state to the operation state, and further receives the supply of the operation power to maintain the operation state. In this operating state, the following processing is performed. Note that the operation power source may be used when transitioning from the sleep state to the operation state, and after the transition to the operation state, the operation state may be maintained by receiving power supply from an external battery.

  That is, the determination unit 132 first captures the detection signals La + or La−, Lb + or Lb−, Lc + or Lc− output from the electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, and 3c. Then, the captured detection signals La + or La−, Lb + or Lb−, Lc + or Lc− are compared with the basic detection pattern stored in the surface determination table of the function ID storage unit 131, and the matching basic detection is performed. Read the surface identification information corresponding to the pattern.

  Subsequently, the determination unit 132 accesses the execution content conversion table of the function ID storage unit 131 based on the read surface identification information, that is, the command ID, and corresponds to the command ID from the execution content conversion table. The operation mode ID is read and output to the sensing communication unit 133. The sensing communication unit 133 generates a control signal including the operation mode ID output from the determination unit 132 and the identification information of the function execution device 2 to be controlled, and transmits the generated control signal.

  For example, it is assumed that the sensing unit 1 is arranged with the surface S1 as an upper surface as shown in FIG. In this case, detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb−, Lc +, Lc− (1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) are detected from the detection circuits 53a, 53b, 53c of the electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, 3c. 0) is output. Therefore, from the surface determination table, as shown in FIG. 14, it corresponds to the detection patterns (1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) of the detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb−, Lc +, Lc−. The surface identification information S1 (ID1) to be read is read out. Then, “turn on TV (a1)” is read from the execution content conversion table as the operation mode ID corresponding to the surface identification information S1 (ID1) as shown in FIG. The read operation mode ID is inserted into the control signal together with the identification information of the function execution device 2 to be controlled and transmitted.

  On the other hand, in the function execution device 2, as in the first and second embodiments, the control signal transmitted from the sensing unit 1 is received by the client communication unit 23, and the control target is the function execution device 2 from the identification information. Is determined, the control information corresponding to the operation mode ID included in the received control signal is read from the function storage unit 21 under the control of the instruction execution unit 22, and this read-out is performed. Control for turning on the power of the television receiver is executed according to the control information.

  Next, it is assumed that the sensing unit 1 is arranged so that the surface S2 is the upper surface. In this case, the electromechanical conversion unit 3b is oriented vertically, and a power generation voltage having a polarity corresponding to the moving direction is output by the power generation unit 70b of the electromechanical conversion unit 3b. Therefore, the detection signal Lb + = “1” is output only from the detection circuit 53b. In addition, since the other electromechanical conversion units 3a and 3c are sideways, the power generation units 70a and 70c do not move and power generation is not performed. Therefore, none of the detection signals La +, La−, Lc +, and Lc− is output from the detection circuits 53a and 53c.

  Accordingly, the surface determination table corresponds to the detection patterns (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) of the detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb−, Lc +, Lc− as shown in FIG. The surface identification information S2 (ID2) is read out. Then, “increase volume (a2)” is read from the execution content conversion table as the operation mode ID corresponding to the surface identification information S2 (ID2) as shown in FIG. The read operation mode ID is inserted into the control signal together with the identification information of the function execution device 2 to be controlled and transmitted.

  In contrast, in the function execution device 2, when the control signal transmitted from the sensing unit 1 is received by the client communication unit 23 and it is determined from the identification information that the control target is the function execution device 2, the command execution unit Under the control of 22, the control information corresponding to the operation mode ID included in the received control signal is read from the function storage unit 21. Then, in accordance with the read control information, control for increasing the volume of the television receiver by a preset unit amount is executed.

  As described above in detail, in the third embodiment, the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c are provided between the three opposing surfaces S1 and S6, S2 and S5, and S3 and S4 in the casing 31 of the sensing unit 1, respectively. The rack-and-pinion mechanism and the power generation units 70a, 70b, and 70c that generate power by the mechanism are provided in the tube 31 of the electro-mechanical conversion units 3a to 3c. When the sensing unit 1 is arranged with the arbitrary surface as the upper surface, the magnitude and polarity of the voltage generated by the power generation units 70a, 70b, 70c are detected, and the detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb− are detected. , Lc +, Lc−, the surface that is the upper surface of the sensing unit 1 is determined, and the operation mode ID corresponding to the surface is included in the control signal and transmitted to the function execution device 2. Yes.

  Therefore, as in the first and second embodiments, when the function execution device 2 is to be controlled, the user wants to execute the sensing unit 1 among the six surfaces S1 to S6. Just place it so that the surface labeled “Turn off”, “Turn off TV”, etc. is on the top side, so that the function execution device 2 has the desired function, that is, “ON”, “OFF”, etc. of the television receiver. It can be executed. This eliminates the need for switch operation during remote control, thereby eliminating the need to store or confirm the correspondence between the control target function and the switch. Therefore, even a user who is unfamiliar with the operation of the device, such as an elderly person, can perform remote control easily and reliably.

  Further, since the function name to be executed is written on the surfaces S1 to S6 of the sensing unit 1, it is not necessary to electronically display the function name to be executed on the display. In addition, the circuit module 13 is activated by the power generated by the power generation units 70a, 70b, and 70c of the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c, and the operation state is maintained. For this reason, in the standby state, the circuit module 13 can be shifted to the sleep state without always being in an operating state, thereby reducing the power consumption of the sensing unit 1 and extending the battery life.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the electromechanical conversion unit 3 a provided in the sensing unit 1. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG.

  The electromechanical conversion unit 3 a accommodates a fluid moving mechanism 60 in the tube body 31. The fluid moving mechanism 60 is obtained by connecting the throttle ends of two funnel-shaped containers 61 and 62 via a connecting portion 63, and a fluid 64 such as liquid or powder is accommodated in the funnel-shaped containers 61 and 62. Has been. Reference numeral 65 denotes a stopper for closing the fluid containers 61 and 62.

  A power generation unit 80a is accommodated in the connecting portion 63. The power generation unit 80a has an impeller 82 pivotally attached to the rotation shaft of the rotor 71. When the fluid 64 flows from one funnel-shaped container 61 to the other funnel-shaped container 62 due to gravity, the impeller 82 rotates. Electric power is generated by the rotation of the impeller 82.

  The circuit configurations of the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c and the data configuration of the surface determination table of the circuit module 13 are the same as those in FIGS.

Next, operations of the sensing unit 1 and the function execution device 2 according to the fourth embodiment will be described.
It is assumed that the sensing unit 1 is arranged on the table so that the surface on which desired command information is written is the upper surface. If it does so, the unit corresponding to the said upper surface of the electromechanical conversion units 3a-3c will become vertical, and an electromotive force will generate | occur | produce by the electromotive force function of this vertical electromotive conversion unit.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the sensing unit 1 is arranged so that the surface S1 thereof is the upper surface, the electromechanical conversion unit 3a is oriented vertically. As a result, in the electromechanical conversion unit 3a, the fluid 64 flows from one funnel-shaped container 61 to the other funnel-shaped container 62 as shown in FIG. At that time, the impeller 82 rotates in the connecting portion 63, and the power generation unit 80 a generates power by the rotation of the impeller 82. At this time, the voltage generated by the power generation unit 80 a has a different polarity depending on the moving direction of the fluid 64.

  The detection circuit 53a detects the magnitude and polarity of the voltage generated by the power generation unit 80a, and outputs La + or La− depending on the polarity when the absolute value is greater than or equal to a threshold value. For example, when the surface S1 is disposed so as to be the upper surface as described above, the detection signal La + = “1” is output. In addition, since the other electromechanical conversion units 3b and 3c are sideways, the fluid 64 does not flow and the power generation units 80b and 80c do not operate. For this reason, the detection signals Lb and Lc are not output from the detection circuits 53b and 53c.

  The voltage generated by the power generation unit 80a of the electromechanical conversion unit 3a is also input to the electromotive force generation circuit 54. In the electromotive force generation circuit 54, as in the third embodiment, first, the rise of the voltage generated by the power generation unit 80a is detected by waveform shaping, and the detected rise is supplied to the circuit module 13 as a trigger pulse. The At the same time, the generated voltage is rectified and stored as electric power in a power storage device such as a capacitor, and the stored electric power is supplied to the circuit module 13 as an operation power source. Note that the operation power source may be used when transitioning from the sleep state to the operation state, and after the transition to the operation state, the operation state may be maintained by receiving power supply from an external battery.

  In response to the trigger pulse, the circuit module 13 transits from the sleep state to the operation state, and further receives the supply of the operation power to maintain the operation state. In this operating state, the following processing is performed.

  That is, the determination unit 132 first captures the detection signals La + or La−, Lb + or Lb−, Lc + or Lc− output from the electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, and 3c. Then, the captured detection signals La + or La−, Lb + or Lb−, Lc + or Lc− are compared with the basic detection pattern stored in the surface determination table of the function ID storage unit 131, and the matching basic detection is performed. Read the surface identification information corresponding to the pattern.

  Subsequently, the determination unit 132 accesses the execution content conversion table of the function ID storage unit 131 based on the read surface identification information, that is, the command ID, and corresponds to the command ID from the execution content conversion table. The operation mode ID is read and output to the sensing communication unit 133. The sensing communication unit 133 generates a control signal including the operation mode ID output from the determination unit 132 and the identification information of the function execution device 2 to be controlled, and transmits the generated control signal.

  For example, it is assumed that the sensing unit 1 is arranged with the surface S1 as an upper surface as shown in FIG. In this case, detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb−, Lc +, Lc− (1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) are detected from the detection circuits 53a, 53b, 53c of the electromechanical conversion units 3a, 3b, 3c. 0) is output. Therefore, from the surface determination table, as shown in FIG. 14, it corresponds to the detection patterns (1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) of the detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb−, Lc +, Lc−. The surface identification information S1 (ID1) to be read is read out. Then, “turn on TV (a1)” is read from the execution content conversion table as the operation mode ID corresponding to the surface identification information S1 (ID1) as shown in FIG. The read operation mode ID is inserted into the control signal together with the identification information of the function execution device 2 to be controlled and transmitted.

  On the other hand, in the function execution device 2, as in the first and second embodiments, the control signal transmitted from the sensing unit 1 is received by the client communication unit 23, and the control target is the function execution device 2 from the identification information. Is determined, the control information corresponding to the operation mode ID included in the received control signal is read from the function storage unit 21 under the control of the instruction execution unit 22, and this read-out is performed. Control for turning on the power of the television receiver is executed according to the control information.

  Next, it is assumed that the sensing unit 1 is arranged so that the surface S2 is the upper surface. In this case, the electromechanical conversion unit 3b is oriented vertically, and the fluid 64 flows from one funnel-shaped container 61 to the other funnel-shaped container 62 by gravity in the electromechanical conversion unit 3b, and the flow of the fluid 64 causes the power generation unit to flow. By 80b, a generated voltage having a polarity corresponding to the flow direction is output. Therefore, the detection signal Lb + = “1” is output only from the detection circuit 53b. In addition, since the other electromechanical conversion units 3a and 3c are sideways, the power generation units 80a and 80c do not move and power generation is not performed. Therefore, none of the detection signals La +, La−, Lc +, and Lc− is output from the detection circuits 53a and 53c.

  Accordingly, the surface determination table corresponds to the detection patterns (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) of the detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb−, Lc +, Lc− as shown in FIG. The surface identification information S2 (ID2) is read out. Then, “increase volume (a2)” is read from the execution content conversion table as the operation mode ID corresponding to the surface identification information S2 (ID2) as shown in FIG. The read operation mode ID is inserted into the control signal together with the identification information of the function execution device 2 to be controlled and transmitted.

  In contrast, in the function execution device 2, when the control signal transmitted from the sensing unit 1 is received by the client communication unit 23 and it is determined from the identification information that the control target is the function execution device 2, the command execution unit Under the control of 22, the control information corresponding to the operation mode ID included in the received control signal is read from the function storage unit 21. Then, in accordance with the read control information, control for increasing the volume of the television receiver by a preset unit amount is executed.

  As described above in detail, in the fourth embodiment, the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c are provided between the three opposing surfaces S1 and S6, S2 and S5, and S3 and S4 in the casing 31 of the sensing unit 1, respectively. Are arranged, and power generation units 80a, 80b, and 80c using fluid are provided in the pipe bodies 31 of these electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c. When the sensing unit 1 is arranged with the arbitrary surface as the upper surface, the magnitude and polarity of the voltage generated by the power generation units 80a, 80b, 80c are detected, and the detection signals La +, La−, Lb +, Lb− are detected. , Lc +, Lc−, the surface that is the upper surface of the sensing unit 1 is determined, and the operation mode ID corresponding to the surface is included in the control signal and transmitted to the function execution device 2. Yes.

  Therefore, as in the first to third embodiments, when the user tries to control the function execution device 2, the user wants to execute the sensing unit 1 among the six surfaces S1 to S6. Just place it so that the surface labeled “Turn off”, “Turn off TV”, etc. is on the top side, so that the function execution device 2 has the desired function, that is, “ON”, “OFF”, etc. of the television receiver. It can be executed. This eliminates the need for switch operation during remote control, thereby eliminating the need to store or confirm the correspondence between the control target function and the switch. Therefore, even a user who is unfamiliar with the operation of the device, such as an elderly person, can perform remote control easily and reliably.

  Further, since the function name to be executed is written on the surfaces S1 to S6 of the sensing unit 1, it is not necessary to electronically display the function name to be executed on the display. In addition, the circuit module 13 is activated by the power generated by the power generation units 80a, 80b, and 80c of the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c, and the operation state is maintained. For this reason, in the standby state, the circuit module 13 can be shifted to the sleep state without always being in an operating state, thereby reducing the power consumption of the sensing unit 1 and extending the battery life.

[Other Embodiments]
In the embodiment, the determination unit 132 of the sensing unit 1 reads the identification information of the surfaces S1 to S6 corresponding to the detection patterns of the detection signals La, Lb, and Lc output from the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c, and further Based on the identification information of the issued surfaces S1 to S6, that is, the instruction ID, the operation mode ID representing the execution content is read from the execution content conversion table, and this is included in the control signal and transmitted to the function execution device 2. did. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the identification information of the surfaces S1 to S6 corresponding to the detection patterns of the detection signals La, Lb, and Lc output from the electromechanical conversion units 3a to 3c is included in the control signal and transmitted to the function execution device 2. You may do it. In this case, the function execution device 2 can be similarly realized by providing a function for converting the surface identification information included in the received control signal into command information.
In the above embodiment, the identification information of the surfaces S1 to S6 also serves as the identification information (command ID) ID1 to ID6 of the commands written on the surfaces S1 to S6. However, the surfaces S1 to S6 and the command ID1 are not necessarily used. ~ ID6 may not correspond. For example, a common command ID1 may be associated with the surface S1 and the surface S2.

  In addition, the number of sensing units, the number of electromechanical conversion units, the configuration of the electromechanical conversion units, the types of functions provided in the function execution device, and the like can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention. .

  In short, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the components without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sensing unit, 2 ... Function execution apparatus (television receiver), 3a-3c ... Electromechanical conversion unit, 10 ... Case of sensing unit, 13 ... Circuit module, 131 ... Function ID storage part, 132 ... Determination part, 133 ... Sensing communication unit, 21 ... Function storage unit, 22 ... Command execution unit, 23 ... Client communication unit, 31 ... Tube of electromechanical conversion unit, 32a, 33a, 32b, 33b, 32c, 33c, 41a-41c ... Coil 34 ... Permanent magnet, 35, 52 ... Buffer member, 36a1, 36a2, 36b1, 36b2, 36c1, 36c2, 42a-42c, 53a-53c ... Detection circuit, 37, 43, 54 ... Electromotive force generation circuit, 51 ... Rack , 60 ... Fluid moving mechanism, 61, 62 ... Funnel-like container, 63 ... Connection part, 64 ... Fluid, 65 ... Plug, 70a-70c, 80 ～80C ... Power unit, 71 ... rotor, 72 ... stator, 73 ... case, 74 ... gear, 82 ... impeller.

Claims (7)

A housing made of a three-dimensional object having a plurality of surfaces on the outer periphery;
A plurality of arrangement directions that are arranged in the housing corresponding to each of the plurality of surfaces of the housing, and are arranged so as to be affected by gravity in a state where the housing is disposed with the corresponding surface as a bottom surface. Tube of
A conversion mechanism that has a moving body enclosed in each of the plurality of pipes so as to be movable by gravity, and that converts kinetic energy when the moving body moves through the pipes by gravity into electrical energy and outputs it as an electrical signal. When,
A detection circuit that detects a moving direction of the moving body in the tube based on the magnitude and polarity of the electrical signal output from the conversion mechanism and outputs the detection result ;
The conversion mechanism is
A rack portion disposed in the pipe body in the direction of gravity;
A gear housed in the tube body so as to be movable in the direction of gravity, and meshing with the rack portion;
A generator having a rotor shaft connected to the gear, generating electric power according to rotation of the gear, and outputting the generated electric power as the electric signal;
Sensing unit, characterized in that it comprises a. A housing made of a three-dimensional object having a plurality of surfaces on the outer periphery;
A plurality of arrangement directions that are arranged in the housing corresponding to each of the plurality of surfaces of the housing, and are arranged so as to be affected by gravity in a state where the housing is disposed with the corresponding surface as a bottom surface. Tube of
A conversion mechanism that has a moving body enclosed in each of the plurality of pipes so as to be movable by gravity, and that converts kinetic energy when the moving body moves through the pipes by gravity into electrical energy and outputs it as an electrical signal. When,
A detection circuit that detects a moving direction of the moving body in the tube based on the magnitude and polarity of the electrical signal output from the conversion mechanism and outputs the detection result ;
The conversion mechanism is
A fluid accommodated in the tube so as to be movable in the direction of gravity;
An impeller that is housed in the housing and rotates when the fluid moves in the direction of gravity in the tube;
A generator having a rotor shaft connected to the impeller, generating electric power according to rotation of the impeller, and outputting the generated electric power as the electric signal;
Sensing unit, wherein Rukoto equipped with. The detection circuit, the waiting maintains an operation stop state in which no power is consumed, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that to operate the electric signal as a power supply when an electrical signal is outputted from the converting mechanism Sensing unit. The detection circuit generates information representing an arrangement state of the housing based on a detection result of a moving direction of the moving body in a state where the housing is arranged so that one of the plurality of surfaces is a bottom surface. sensing unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that output. The casing is physically displayed with different first information on a plurality of surfaces thereof,
The detection circuit includes:
Storage means for storing the first information displayed and the information indicating the detection result of the moving direction of the moving body in association with each other;
2. A unit that reads out corresponding first information from the storage unit based on a detection result of a moving direction of the moving body and outputs the read first information. 4. The sensing unit according to any one of 3 . A function execution device having a plurality of functions, and a sensing unit capable of communicating with the function execution device;
The sensing unit is
A casing in which command information for designating a function of the function execution device is written on the plurality of surfaces of the three-dimensional object, the solid information having a plurality of surfaces on the outer periphery;
A plurality of surfaces arranged in the housing corresponding to each of the plurality of surfaces of the housing, the orientation of which is set so as to be affected by gravity in a state where the housing is disposed with the corresponding surface as a bottom surface The tube,
Each of the plurality of tubes has a moving body sealed so as to be movable in the weight direction, and converts the kinetic energy when the moving body moves in the weight direction in the tube into electric energy and outputs an electric signal. A conversion mechanism;
When the casing is arranged in a state where one of the plurality of surfaces is a bottom surface, the moving direction of the moving body in the tubular body is detected based on the magnitude and polarity of the electrical signal output from the conversion mechanism. And a detection circuit that identifies command information written on a surface opposite to the bottom surface based on the detection result of the moving direction, and transmits a control signal including information representing the identification result.
The conversion mechanism is
A rack portion disposed in the pipe body in the direction of gravity;
A gear housed in the tube body so as to be movable in the direction of gravity, and meshing with the rack portion;
A generator having a rotor shaft connected to the gear, generating electric power according to rotation of the gear, and outputting the generated electric power as the electric signal;
With
The function execution device includes:
Means for receiving a control signal transmitted from the sensing unit;
A function control system comprising: means for executing a function corresponding to the information based on information representing the identification result included in the received control signal. A function execution device having a plurality of functions, and a sensing unit capable of communicating with the function execution device;
The sensing unit is
A casing in which command information for designating a function of the function execution device is written on the plurality of surfaces of the three-dimensional object, the solid information having a plurality of surfaces on the outer periphery;
A plurality of surfaces arranged in the housing corresponding to each of the plurality of surfaces of the housing, the orientation of which is set so as to be affected by gravity in a state where the housing is disposed with the corresponding surface as a bottom surface The tube,
Each of the plurality of tubes has a moving body sealed so as to be movable in the weight direction, and converts the kinetic energy when the moving body moves in the weight direction in the tube into electric energy and outputs an electric signal. A conversion mechanism;
When the casing is arranged in a state where one of the plurality of surfaces is a bottom surface, the moving direction of the moving body in the tubular body is detected based on the magnitude and polarity of the electrical signal output from the conversion mechanism. And a detection circuit that identifies command information written on a surface opposite to the bottom surface based on the detection result of the moving direction, and transmits a control signal including information representing the identification result.
The conversion mechanism is
A fluid accommodated in the tube so as to be movable in the direction of gravity;
An impeller that is housed in the housing and rotates when the fluid moves in the direction of gravity in the tube;
A generator having a rotor shaft connected to the impeller, generating electric power according to rotation of the impeller, and outputting the generated electric power as the electric signal;
With
The function execution device includes:
Means for receiving a control signal transmitted from the sensing unit;
A function control system comprising: means for executing a function corresponding to the information based on information representing the identification result included in the received control signal.

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