JP2000131052A - Direction detection sensor, direction judgment equipment, and direction detection sensor system using them - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a direction detection sensor that can be mounted easily and can detect or judge the direction of an object to be measured from a remote location even in the case of a traveling object to be measured such as a human body, and a direction judgment equipment. SOLUTION: The direction detection sensor 2 that is fitted to a listener H as a hair band emits light signals La... that are modulated with different frequencies from light-emitting diodes 22a... that are arranged so that each light axis becomes radial. In this case, when the direction of the listener H changes, the light-emitting diodes 22a... closest to direction judgment equipment 4 also change, so that the output of each of the light signals La... at the direction judgment equipment 4 changes according to the direction of the listener H. On the other hand, the direction judgment equipment 4 receives each of the light signals La..., detect each output, and compares each output, thus judging the direction of the listener H.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a direction detecting sensor and a direction judging device which are preferably used for detecting a direction in which a person or a moving object is facing, or an angle of a rotating object, and the like. The present invention relates to a direction detection sensor system used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, several methods have been used as methods for informing an electronic / electric device of the position of a human body. For example, in electric fans, a method of detecting the heat of the human body and finding the position of the human body by using a pyroelectric sensor attached to the electric fan body has been put to practical use, and the neck of the electric fan is automatically swung in the direction of the human body. Can be made.

[0003] In a fan or an AV surround system, a method of using an infrared remote control transmitter to know a direction in which a person has operated the infrared remote control transmitter has been implemented. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the conventional AV surround system 101 includes an AV surround system main unit 1.
06, the speakers 10 arranged on the left and right sides of the front, the side, and the rear in order to convert the acoustic signal into an acoustic signal in accordance with the instruction of the first embodiment.
8a to 108f. The AV surround system 101 includes a PSD (Position Detector: PositionSensiti).
ve Detectors) 110, and determines that a person is positioned in the direction of the infrared light received from the infrared remote control transmitter 111, for example, the speaker 108a
Among them, a surround process such as increasing the volume of a speaker arranged in the direction is performed.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional detection method, the position of the human body with respect to the electronic / electric equipment main body can be detected, but the direction in which the human body is facing cannot be detected.

More specifically, in the AV surround system 101, for example, a surround process for reproducing a sound of an airplane passing over the viewer H from the front to the rear, such as a surround process for reproducing the sound of the viewer H to the AV surround system body 106, is performed. There is a process that requires a different calculation depending on not only the position but also the direction of the viewer H. However, the conventional A
In the V surround system 101, even if the position of the viewer H can be identified, the direction of the viewer H cannot be detected. Therefore, in the conventional AV surround system 101, the surround processing is performed on the assumption that the viewer H is facing the front speakers 108a and 108b. As a result, if the viewer H is facing the expected direction,
Even if the appropriate surround processing can be performed, for example, when the viewer H is facing sideways or behind the front speakers 108a and 108b, appropriate surround processing cannot be performed. . In this case, AV
Even if the surround system body 106 attempts to reproduce the sound passing from the front to the rear, the viewer H feels as if the sound is passing from the right to the left or from the rear to the front.

[0006] Although different from a human body, a motor uses a method of detecting the angle of a rotating body by attaching a rotary encoder or the like to a rotating shaft of rotation. The electric device can detect the rotation angle of the rotating body. However, the above-described conventional rotary encoder needs to be built in a rotary shaft in advance, and it is not easy to mount the rotary encoder later. In addition, for example, in the case of a measured object whose rotation axis cannot be determined, such as a moving measured object such as a human body, the direction of the measured object cannot be detected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object the purpose of being easy to attach to an electric / electronic device even when it is later attached, and to moving objects such as a human body. Even if it is a measured object,
It is an object of the present invention to realize a direction detection sensor and a direction determiner capable of detecting or determining the direction of an object to be measured, and a direction detection sensor system using the same.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a direction detecting sensor for detecting a direction in which an object to be measured is facing.
A signal output means for outputting a directional signal capable of discriminating each output from each other, and a support member attached to the device under test and supporting each of the signal output means so that the respective directional directions are different from each other. It is characterized by having. In addition, as a directional signal from which each output can be discriminated, for example, light such as infrared light or laser light, or ultrasonic waves can be used. Also, in order to make it easier to discriminate the output of each directional signal, for example, the output is modulated by a modulation method that can demodulate each output separately, such as by modulating at different frequencies, or the wavelength of light or sound wave is set separately. May be.

According to the above configuration, when the support member is attached to the object to be measured, each signal output means outputs a directional signal in a different directional direction. As a result, the output of the directivity signal from each signal output unit becomes maximum in the directivity direction of the signal output unit, and decreases as the distance from the directivity direction increases.

Therefore, the output of each directivity signal in a certain direction (hereinafter, referred to as a detection direction) has a magnitude corresponding to the difference between the detection direction and the directivity direction. For example, assuming that each signal output unit outputs a directional signal of the same magnitude as an example, in the detection direction, the output becomes larger as the directional signal from the signal output unit in which the difference between the detection direction and the directional direction is smaller. The output becomes smaller as the directivity signal from the signal output means has a larger difference between the two directions. Note that even when the output of each signal output unit is different, the output characteristics of the directivity signal in the detection direction with respect to the direction of the device under test are different from each other.

Here, the directivity of each signal output means is determined by a support member attached to the device under test, and each directivity changes according to the direction of the device under test. Therefore, the output of each directional signal in the detection direction changes according to the direction of the device under test. As a result,
The direction detection sensor has different output characteristics in the detection direction with respect to the direction of the device under test, and outputs a plurality of directional signals that can discriminate each output from each other. Can be notified. Therefore, if the output of each directional signal is discriminated and compared in a direction determiner arranged at a certain position, from a location away from the measured object,
The direction of the measured object can be detected.

In addition, the detection direction is an arbitrary direction as long as the output of each directivity signal changes in accordance with the direction of the device under test. The direction in which the detection sensor (measured object) is not a reference may be used. Also, since the direction of the device under test is notified as a difference in the output characteristics of each directivity signal in the detection direction, the direction of the device under test can be changed even if the distance between the direction detection sensor and the direction determiner changes. Can notify. Furthermore, since it is notified as a directivity signal, it is not necessary to connect the direction detection sensor and the direction determiner by wire.

Therefore, the direction detecting sensor can notify the direction of the object to be measured even when the position and the direction with respect to the direction determiner change. As a result, for example, it is possible to realize a direction detection sensor capable of notifying the direction of the object to be measured in a wide range such as a human body, a moving object, or a rotating object.

Further, in the direction detecting sensor according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to the first aspect, each of the signal output means is an optical signal modulated at a different modulation frequency as the directivity signal. Is output.

According to the above configuration, since the optical signals modulated at different modulation frequencies are used as the directional signals, the output of each directional signal is detected when an ultrasonic signal or the like is used. Therefore, the configuration of the signal output unit can be simplified as compared with the case where another modulation method is used. Note that the direction determiner can easily detect the output of each directional signal by discriminating the amount of received light for each frequency.

As a result, a small-sized and light-weight direction detection sensor with low power consumption can be realized. Furthermore, since it is small and lightweight, it is possible to realize a direction detection sensor in which the direction detection sensor is detachably formed and hardly restricts the behavior of the object to be measured even when operated by an independent power supply.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the direction detection sensor according to the first aspect, each of the signal output means outputs an optical signal having a different wavelength as the directivity signal. It is characterized by.

According to the above configuration, since optical signals having mutually different wavelengths are used as the directional signals, the configuration of the signal output means can be simplified as compared with the case where a signal by an ultrasonic wave or the like is used. It should be noted that the direction determiner can easily detect the output of each directional signal by measuring the amount of received light for each wavelength. As a result, as in the case of the second aspect, it is possible to realize a direction detection sensor that is small and lightweight, consumes little power, and hardly restricts the behavior of the object to be measured.

The support member may be provided for each signal output means as long as it can support the directivity directions of the signal output means in different directions, or all the signal output means can be provided by a single support member. May be supported. However, when a plurality of support members are provided, there is a possibility that the trouble of attaching and detaching the direction detection sensor to and from the object to be measured may increase.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the direction detecting sensor according to the first, second, or third aspect of the present invention, the support member is detachable from the object to be measured. Each of the signal output means is mounted at a position of the support member where the respective directivity direction is radially arranged in a direction perpendicular to the center axis of the ring. It is characterized by: Note that the support member may be in the form of a belt that can be wound, or may be formed in a ring shape in advance, as long as the support member assumes a ring shape when mounted.

According to the above arrangement, each signal output means is supported by a common support member. For example, a belt-like support member is wound around an object to be measured, or a ring-shaped support member is attached to the object to be measured. It can be mounted on the DUT simply by inserting it from the open direction. Also, each signal output means is
Since the support member is mounted at a position where the directional direction at the time of mounting is radial, the directional directions are set to be different from each other without any particular adjustment of the directional direction when mounted. Therefore, a direction detection sensor that can be easily attached and detached can be realized.

On the other hand, the direction judging device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention provides a plurality of directivity signals having different output characteristics in the detection direction with respect to the direction of the object to be measured, and each output can be distinguished from each other. A direction determination unit that determines a direction in which the device under test is facing, based on the output detection means for detecting the output of each directional signal in the detection direction, A determination unit that compares the outputs of the directivity signals and determines a direction in which the device under test is facing. The directivity signals can be easily created by using, for example, the direction detection sensor according to the first, second, third, or fourth aspect of the present invention. In addition, the detection direction is defined as a direction in which the output detection unit receives each of the directional signals, for example, a direction perpendicular to a receiving surface when viewed from the output detection unit side.

In the above configuration, the output detecting means receives each directional signal and detects each output. On the other hand, the determining means determines the direction in which the device under test is facing by comparing the respective outputs. Here, since the output of each directivity signal changes according to the direction of the device under test, if the outputs are compared, the determination means can determine the direction of the device under test without any problem. As a result, it is possible to realize a direction determiner that can determine the direction of the measured object at a location distant from the measured object.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the direction judging device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, each of the directional signals is an optical signal modulated at a different modulation frequency from each other, and The detecting means includes a light receiving unit that outputs a light receiving signal corresponding to the amount of light in the detection direction, and a band-pass filter having a center frequency set to each of the modulation frequencies and receiving the light receiving signal. It is characterized by being in. In addition, each said directional signal is, for example,
It can be easily created by the direction detection sensor according to the second aspect of the present invention.

According to the above configuration, the light receiving section receives the light on which the optical signals are superimposed, and converts the light into a received signal. Therefore, each modulation frequency component of the received signal changes according to the output of each corresponding optical signal. On the other hand, each band-pass filter extracts a component of a corresponding modulation frequency from the received signal and individually detects an output of each optical signal. As a result, a direction determiner can be realized with a simple circuit configuration.

Further, a direction determining device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the configuration of the sixth aspect, the light receiving section is provided commonly to each of the bandpass filters.

According to the above configuration, since the light receiving section is provided in common for each bandpass filter, the number of light receiving sections can be reduced as compared with the case where a light receiving section is provided for each bandpass filter. Since the received signal from the light receiving unit has a frequency spectrum corresponding to the output of all optical signals, each bandpass filter can output the corresponding optical signal even if a common received signal is supplied. Can be distinguished. As a result, the circuit configuration of the direction determiner can be further simplified.

On the other hand, in the direction judging device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the fifth aspect, each of the directional signals is an optical signal having a different wavelength from each other, and Each of the peak sensitivity wavelengths is provided with a light receiving section set to be the same as each of the above wavelengths.

According to the above configuration, each of the light receiving units receives the light on which each of the optical signals is superimposed, and converts the light into a reception signal. Here, since the peak sensitivity wavelength of each light receiving unit is set to the wavelength of the corresponding optical signal, each received signal changes according to the output of the corresponding optical signal. As a result, the output detection means can detect the output of each directional signal given as an optical signal only by using the light receiving units having different peak sensitivity wavelengths, and can realize a direction determiner having a simple circuit configuration.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a direction detecting sensor system, which determines a direction in which the object is directed based on a direction detecting sensor attached to the object to be measured and a signal from the direction detecting sensor. A direction detection sensor system including: a direction determination unit that performs a directivity determination process, wherein the direction detection sensor outputs a directional signal capable of discriminating respective outputs from each other; A support member attached to the object to be measured and supporting each of the signal output means so that the respective directivity directions are different from each other; and the direction determiner outputs the respective directivity signals in a predetermined detection direction. And a determination unit that compares the output of each of the directivity signals to determine the direction in which the device under test is facing.

In the direction detecting sensor system having the above-mentioned configuration, the direction detecting sensor may be configured to detect the object to be measured even when the position and the direction with respect to the direction determiner change, as in the first embodiment. Output characteristics in the detection direction with respect to the direction are different from each other, and the direction of the object to be measured can be notified to a distant place as a plurality of directivity signals capable of discriminating each output from each other. On the other hand, the direction judging device arranged at a certain position discriminates and compares the outputs of the respective directivity signals in the same manner as the direction judging device according to claim 5 and, from a place away from the object to be measured, Detect the orientation of Therefore, for example, it is possible to realize a direction detection sensor system that can detect and determine the direction of a wide range of the measured object such as a human body, a moving object, or a rotating object.

[0032]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The direction detection system according to the present embodiment is suitably used, for example, when detecting the direction in which the viewer is facing in an AV surround system, and can detect the direction in which the device under test is facing. System.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, an AV surround system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a direction detection sensor 2 attached to a viewer H, which is an object to be measured, and a signal from the direction detection sensor 2. A direction determiner 4 for determining a direction in which the viewer H is facing (a direction of the viewer H) based on the signal, an AV surround system body 6 for performing a surround process based on the determination, and an AV surround system Body 6
Front speaker left 8a to convert sound signal from
・ Front speaker right 8b ・ Side speaker left 8c
・ Side speaker right 8d ・ Rear speaker left 8e ・ Rear speaker right 8f

In the above configuration, since the direction judging device 4 can detect the direction of the viewer H, there is a case where different surround processing is required depending on the direction of the viewer H, for example, a passing sound of an airplane from front to back. However, the AV surround system main unit 6 can perform the surround processing according to the direction of the viewer H. As a result, the AV surround system 1
Can give a desired sound effect to the viewer H regardless of the orientation of the viewer H.

More specifically, the direction detection sensor 2 includes a band (supporting member) 21 mounted on the viewer H as a hair band, and a light emitting diode (LED: signal output means) supported by the band 21. ) 22a, and can irradiate optical signals (directivity signals) La such as infrared light modulated at different frequencies from each other in different directions. Note that if the number of LEDs 22a is two or more, the number can be set to an arbitrary number according to the accuracy required for detecting the direction of the viewer H. Hereinafter, the case where eight LEDs 22a to 22h are provided will be described. An example will be described.

That is, as shown in FIG.
a to 22h are the direction detection sensors 2 of the band unit 21.
Are provided at positions where the respective optical axes (directional directions) Da to Dh are radial. In the present embodiment, each of the optical axes Da to Dh is clockwise as viewed from the top of the head,
The direction is set to divide the circumference equally. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the direction detection sensor 2 includes LEDs 22a to 22a.
As a 2h driving circuit, a pulse driving oscillator 23 that outputs a pulse signal P0 indicating whether or not all the LEDs 22a to 22h emit light, and modulation signals Pa to Ph of the modulation frequencies Fsa to Fsh of the LEDs 22a to 22h are output. Modulation oscillators 24a to 24h, an AND circuit 25 that combines each modulation signal Pa point and pulse signal P0 and outputs burst signals Ba to Bh, and corresponding burst signals Ba to Bh
And a transistor 26 for amplifying the LED to emit light from the LEDs 22a to 22h.

For example, in the case of the LED 22a, the modulation oscillator 24a outputs a pulse-shaped modulation signal Pa having a frequency Fsa as shown in FIG.
The D circuit 25 includes the modulation signal Pa and the pulse signal P
The logical sum with 0 is calculated and the burst signal Ba is output. The burst signal Ba is applied to the base of the transistor 26 whose emitter is grounded. A predetermined power supply voltage is applied to the collector of the transistor 26 via the resistor 27 and the LED 22a. By this, LED2
2a is the frequency Fs while the pulse signal P0 is at the high level.
The optical signal La modulated by a can be output in the direction of the optical axis Da.

The driving current of each transistor 26 is adjusted by the resistance value of each resistor 27, etc.
The light intensity when 2a to 22h emits light is set to be the same. Thereby, the direction detection sensor 2 moves the mutually different frequencies Fsa-F to the directions of the different optical axes Da-Dh.
optical signals La to Lh, which are modulated by
Can be irradiated.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, since the direction detection sensor 2 is attached to the viewer H as a hair band, the optical axes Da to Dh indicate the direction of the viewer H, more specifically. Changes depending on the orientation of the viewer H's head. As a result, the directions of the optical axes Da to Dh with respect to the viewer H do not change while the direction detection sensor 2 is mounted. For example,
When the direction detection sensor 2 is mounted so that the optical axis Da is in front of the viewer H, the optical signal La always outputs the viewer H
Irradiated in the front direction.

Conversely, with reference to the AV surround system main body 6 which is a different place from the viewer H, the directions of the optical axes Da to D change according to the direction of the viewer H. For example, when the optical axis Da is arranged in the front direction of the viewer H, when the viewer H faces the direction of the AV surround system main body 6, the optical axis Da also faces the direction of the AV surround system main body 6. Therefore, in the AV surround system main body 6, the light amount of the optical signal La from the LED 22a is highest. In addition, when the viewer H turns his / her back to the AV surround system main body 6, the optical axis De arranged in the rear direction of the viewer H faces the direction of the AV surround system main body 6. As a result, in the AV surround system main unit 6, the light amount of the optical signal Le becomes highest.

On the other hand, the direction judging device 4 provided in the AV surround system main body 6 discriminates each of the optical signals La to Lh from the received light, compares the respective light intensities, and determines the direction of the viewer H. Measuring. More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG.
Photodiodes corresponding to a to Lh (PD: light receiving unit)
41a to 41h, amplifiers 42a to 42h for amplifying signals photoelectrically converted by the PDs 41a to 41h, and bandpass filters 43a to 43h for passing only signal components in a predetermined band among the output signals of the amplifiers 42a to 42h. 43
h and a peak hold circuit 4 for detecting peak values of output signals Sa to Sh of the band-pass filters 43a to 43h.
4a to 44h and each peak hold circuit 44a to 44h
And a comparison / determination circuit (determination means) 45 for comparing the output values of the two to determine the orientation of the viewer H. Note that P
PDs 41a to 41h as SD photodiodes
Is used, the position of the viewer H can be detected without providing an element for detecting the position separately from the direction determiner 4.

Here, each of the band-pass filters 43a to 43a-4
The center frequency Fra to Frh of 3h is determined by the corresponding optical signal L
The modulation frequencies are set to be substantially the same as the modulation frequencies Fsa to Fsh of a to Lh. Therefore, each band-pass filter 43a-
Relative gain characteristics Ga to Gh for a frequency of 43h are as follows:
As shown in FIG. 6, each of the center frequencies Fra to Fr
h, the peak becomes extremely small in a band apart from the center frequencies Fra to Frh. As a result, the magnitude of each of the output signals Sa to Sh becomes the corresponding optical signal La to Lh.
, And the respective peak values are held in the corresponding peak hold circuits 44a to 44h.

Further, the comparison judgment circuit 45 compares the output values of the peak hold circuits 44a to 44h and selects the peak hold circuit 44x having the largest output value.
For example, it is output as a 3-bit digital signal. As a result, the direction determiner 4 is connected to the peak hold circuit 4
It can be determined that the LED 22x corresponding to 4x faces the direction closest to the front with respect to the direction determiner 4.

For example, L of the direction detecting sensor 2 shown in FIG.
When the ED 22b faces the front of the direction determiner 4, the PDs 41a to 4h are included in the optical signals La to Lh.
The light signal Lx (x is any one of a to h) applied to the light receiving surface of 1h in the direction most perpendicular to the light signal is the light signal Lx.
b. Thus, the LED 22b is connected to each of the PDs 41a to 41a.
In the case of being closest to 41h, the light amount of the optical signal Lb is the strongest, and as shown in FIG. 7, the frequency spectrum of the output signals (light receiving signals) of the PDs 41a to 41h is the largest at the modulation frequency Fsb of the optical signal Lb. , For example, LED 22f
The modulation frequency component of the LED arranged at an angle away from the LED 22b, such as the component of the modulation frequency Fsf, becomes smaller. Further, when the light receiving signal having the frequency spectrum passes through each of the band-pass filters 43a to 43h, as shown in FIG.
Of the 43h output signals Sa to Sh, the output signal Sb has the largest amplitude. Therefore, the output value of the peak hold circuit 44b becomes the largest, and the comparison determination circuit 45
Outputs a digital signal indicating the peak hold circuit 44b. As a result, the direction determiner 4 can determine that the LED 22b is facing the direction determiner 4.

Here, in the example shown in FIG.
22 a to 22 h are arranged so as to equally divide the circumference of the band portion 21. Therefore, the direction determiner 4 determines whether the viewer H
When viewed from the top of the head, the direction detection sensor 2 is
It is determined that it has rotated 45 ° counterclockwise with respect to the optical axis Da of a. That is, the direction determiner 4 is an LED
When the user 22a is worn so as to face the front of the viewer H, it can be determined that the viewer H is facing the front left.

The direction in which the viewer H wears the direction detection sensor 2 may be instructed to the viewer H by, for example, displaying the mounting direction on the direction detection sensor 2. Further, after the mounting, the direction judging device 4 may measure the amount of light received from the direction detecting sensor 2 to confirm the mounting direction. In this case, the viewer H wears the direction detection sensor 2 and then moves to a specific direction (for example, the direction of the direction determination unit 4).
For example, by pressing a button of the AV surround system main unit 6 or operating an infrared remote control transmitter, the direction judging device 4 is notified that the vehicle has turned in the direction.
In this state, the direction determiner 4 determines that each of the optical signals La to L
h, the direction of attachment of the direction detection sensor 2 is confirmed. For example, when the viewer H notifies the direction judging device 4 that the light has been received, the direction judging device 4 sets the LED 2
It can be determined that 2b is worn in front of the viewer H.
In this case, the AV surround system main body 6 can perform the surround processing without any trouble if the optical axis Db of the LED 22b is used as a reference instead of the optical axis Da used as a reference.

In the above configuration, when the viewer H wearing the direction detecting sensor 2 changes the direction, the optical axes Da to Dh of the LEDs 22a to 22h change with the change in the direction. Therefore, the LED 22x closest to the direction determiner 4
And the optical signal Lx having the largest amount of light received by the direction determiner 4 also changes. As a result, the direction determiner 4 can recognize the LED 22x that is closest to the front of the direction determiner 4 as a result of the change in the direction of the viewer H. As a result, the direction determiner 4 can always grasp the direction of the viewer H and can instruct the AV surround system main unit 6 to perform a surround process according to the direction of the viewer H.

For example, when the direction judging device 4 detects that the viewer H is facing backward, the AV surround system main unit 6 sets the front speakers 8a and 8b together.
Is used as a rear speaker, and both rear speakers 8e
・ Control 8f as a front speaker.
As a result, for example, even if the sound effect cannot be normally provided unless the viewer H is facing the direction of the AV surround system body 106 in the past, such as a passing sound of an airplane from the front to the rear, the present invention is not limited to this. The AV surround system body 6 according to the embodiment can be provided regardless of the orientation of the viewer H.

When the distance between the direction detecting sensor 2 and the direction determiner 4 changes, each of the peak hold circuits 44a to 44a
The output value of 4h also changes. However, since each change is substantially uniform, the ratio between the output values and the order of the magnitudes are kept constant regardless of the distance. Accordingly, the direction determiner 4 can accurately determine the direction of the viewer H regardless of the distance of the direction detection sensor 2.

In the direction detecting sensor 2 according to the present embodiment, the optical signals La to Lh are modulated at different modulation frequencies Fsa to Fsh, and the optical signals La to Lh are modulated by the bandpass filters 43a to 43h. ＬLh are discriminated. Therefore, for example, a PD 46 and an amplifier 47 common to each of the optical signals La to Lh may be provided instead of the PDs 41a to 41h and the amplifiers 42a to 42h as in the direction determination unit 4a shown in FIG. in this case,
Each of the optical signals La to Lh is photoelectrically converted by the PD 46 and then amplified by the amplifier 47. Further, the output signal of the amplifier 47 is input to each of the bandpass filters 43a to 43h corresponding to each of the optical signals La to Lh, and the light intensity of each of the optical signals La to Lh is discriminated. Thus, the direction determiner 4a can determine the direction of the viewer H, similarly to the direction determiner 4. In this case, for each of the optical signals La to Lh, P
Since the D46 and the amplifier 47 can be shared, the circuit configuration of the direction determiner 4a can be further simplified.

[Second Embodiment] In the above-described first embodiment, the direction detection sensor 2 has different modulation frequencies Fs
Although the case where the optical signals La to Lh modulated by a to Fsh are emitted has been described as an example, the invention is not limited to this. If the output of each of the optical signals La to Lh can be distinguished by the direction determiner 4, for example, the direction detection sensor 2 may irradiate the optical signals La to Lh having different wavelengths.

Even in the case of discrimination based on wavelength, it is better to modulate the optical signals La to Lh as described later in order to prevent noise from being mixed. 1 to 3 except for the characteristics of the LEDs 22a to 22h and the photodiodes 41a to 41h. Therefore, in the following, members having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

That is, in the AV surround system 1 according to the present embodiment, the LEDs 22a to 22
As 22h, light emitting diodes having different emission wavelengths are used. On the other hand, as the photodiodes 41a to 41h of the direction judging device 4, photodiodes using mold resins having different spectral sensitivities or photodiodes having optical filters having different spectral sensitivities disposed on the front surfaces thereof are used. Then, the peak sensitivity wavelengths of the light receiving signals at the photodiodes 41a to 41h are set to be the same as the emission wavelengths of the corresponding LEDs 22a to 22h.

In this case, the optical signals La to Lh are
Since they are discriminated by wavelength, there is no need to modulate at different frequencies. Therefore, in the direction detection sensor 2 shown in FIG. 3, the modulation oscillators 24a to 24h and the respective AND circuits 25 are omitted, and while the pulse signal P0 indicates the irradiation, the LEDs 22a to 22h output the light signals La to
The irradiation with Lh may be continued. In this case, the direction determiner 4 can omit the band pass filters 43a to 43h.

However, when the optical signals La to Lh are not modulated, when the direction judging device 4 receives light having the same wavelength as each of the optical signals La to Lh from other than the direction detecting sensor 2 such as a fluorescent lamp, for example, Optical signals La to L from the direction detection sensor 2
h, there is a possibility that the direction of the direction detection sensor 2 is erroneously determined. Therefore, in order to improve the detection accuracy of the light amounts of the optical signals La to Lh, the above members 24a to 24h are required.
4h, 25..., 43a to 43h, without omitting the optical signal La.
It is more preferable to modulate Lh. In addition, LED22a ~
When the emission wavelengths of the LEDs 22h are different from each other, the modulation frequencies Fsa to Fsh may be set to be the same. In this case, the modulation oscillators 24a to 24h and 2
5 and share a common burst signal with each transistor 2.
, The circuit configuration of the direction detection sensor 2 can be simplified.

In the first and second embodiments, the LEDs 22a are arranged over the entire circumference of the band portion 21, and the direction determiner 4 (4a) sets the direction of the viewer H to 36.
Although the determination was made in the angle range of 0 °, the determination is not limited to this. For example, when the direction of the viewer H that can be detected by the direction determiner 4 (4a) is within an angle range of 180 °, each LE
D22a... May be distributed over a half circumference of the band portion 21. In the above embodiments, the LEDs 22a are arranged so that the angles between the adjacent optical axes Da are the same, but the present invention is not limited to this. When the detection accuracy required by the direction determiner 4 (4a) differs depending on the direction of the viewer H, the angle between the optical axes Da may be increased or decreased in accordance with the detection accuracy for each direction.

In any case, if the directions of the optical axes Da are different from each other, the output of the optical signals La in the direction determiner 4 (4a) changes according to the direction of the viewer H. Therefore, a similar effect can be obtained. However, as in each of the above embodiments, if the entire circumference is arranged uniformly,
The direction determiner 4 (4a) can determine the direction of the viewer H with a certain accuracy regardless of which direction the viewer H faces.

In each of the above embodiments, each LED 22
a ... are emitted with uniform intensity, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, when the light emission amount of each LED 22a is set to a predetermined ratio, the direction determiner 4 (4a)
, The amplifiers 42a.
The same effect can be obtained by adjusting the gain of, or by making a comparison so that the comparison / judgment circuit 45 cancels the ratio and makes a comparison. In any case, the direction determiner 4
The output of the LEDs 22a detected in (4a) changes depending on the direction of the viewer H. Therefore, the direction determiner 4 (4a) can determine the direction of the viewer H by comparing the outputs. However, as in the above embodiments, each LE
If the light amount of D22a is set to a predetermined ratio, the comparison determination circuit 45 can detect the direction of the viewer H by selecting the LED 22a having the maximum output after correcting the ratio. As a result, the circuit configuration of the direction determiner 4 (4a) can be simplified.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the case where one direction judging device 4 is provided in the AV surround system 1 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. If a plurality of direction determiners 4 are provided and their correlations are taken, the influence of the reflected light can be reduced, and the viewer H
Direction can be determined.

In the first and second embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the direction detection sensor 2 includes the band portion 21 and is attached to the viewer H, which is the object to be measured, as a hair band. Although the above description has been made with reference to the example, the present invention is not limited to this. If the LEDs 22a can be supported such that the optical axes Da are different from each other, they may be separately attached to the object to be measured. However, for example,
When the direction detection sensor 2 is attached to and detached from the object to be measured, such as when the object to be measured is a human body, for example, the band unit 2 shown in FIG.
It is desirable that the LEDs 22a are attached to a single support member such as 1. In this case, the mounting of the LEDs 22a and the determination of the optical axes Da are performed simply by attaching and detaching a single support member to and from the object to be measured, so that the labor for attaching and detaching can be reduced.

The method of mounting the supporting member on the object to be measured is not limited to the mounting as a hair band, but may be any method such as mounting using a magnet, a screw, or an adhesive tape. You can choose the method.
However, when a magnet is used, the object to be measured must be a magnetic material, and when it is screwed with a screw, a screw hole is required. Therefore, the object to be measured that can be detached is limited. In addition, the number of times of attachment and detachment of the adhesive tape is limited.

On the other hand, as shown in each of the above embodiments, when the support member is a band or a ring which becomes ring-shaped at the time of mounting, the band is wound around or the ring is opened from the open direction of the object to be measured. Can be attached simply by inserting the object, and can be attached and detached more times without limiting the object to be measured. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to a human body without any trouble.

If the LEDs 22a are formed in a ring shape in advance, for example, the optical axes Da of the LEDs 22a can be easily maintained in a desired direction. However, in this case, mounting cannot be performed unless one of the mounting portions is open. Further, even if the ring is formed of a stretchable material, the size of the ring is limited, and the object to be measured that can be mounted is limited. on the other hand,
When the band is wound to form a ring, for example, when the object to be measured is in a donut shape, it can be attached even when one of the attachment points is not open, and when the attachment point is away from the open point. Even if there is, it can be easily attached. If the radius of the ring formed at the time of mounting is different, the direction of the optical axes Da changes, and there is a possibility that the detection accuracy of the direction may decrease. However, even in this case, the angles between the adjacent optical axes Da are the same except for where the bands overlap due to winding. Therefore, the number of the LEDs 22a that can irradiate the optical signals La after mounting is instructed to the direction determiner 4 (4a), or the ring is set to one after mounting.
If the direction is determined by the direction determiner 4 (4a), the direction of the object to be measured can be measured with sufficient accuracy, for example, by rotating and rotating the optical signals La at that time.

In the first and second embodiments, the case where the direction detecting sensor 2 is provided with the pulse driving oscillator 23 and the respective optical signals La... Are pulse driven has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the direction detection sensor 2 may always emit the light signals La. However, if pulse driving is performed, the light emission time of each LED 22a can be shortened, so that the power consumption of the direction detection sensor 2 can be reduced and each LE 22
Can be extended.

In particular, as described above, when the direction detecting sensor 2 is attached to and detached from the object to be measured, the direction detecting sensor 2 is connected to an independent power source such as a battery so as not to hinder the operation of the object to be measured. It is desired to be operable with a small size and light weight. Therefore, when the direction detection sensor 2 is operated by an independent power supply, it is desired that the LEDs 22a are pulse-driven in order to extend the operation time of the direction detection sensor 2 and reduce the weight and size of the battery.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the direction detection sensor 2 irradiates infrared light or the like as the optical signals La... Has been described as an example. Good. In addition, the same effect can be obtained by using other propagation phenomena such as a signal by an ultrasonic wave as long as the signal is not limited to an optical signal but has directivity and can discriminate each output. However, as described above, when the direction detection sensor 2 is attached and detached, it is strongly required that the direction detection sensor 2 be small in size and light in power consumption. In particular, when mounted on the head of a human body or mounted on a minute object to be measured, it is required that the object to be measured is not adversely affected. Therefore, it is preferable to realize the direction detection sensor 2 using a small and lightweight LED that has a small influence on the surroundings and has low power consumption. Further, instead of the method of discriminating by wavelength or frequency, discrimination may be performed by using another modulation / demodulation method. However, the circuit configuration of the direction detection sensor 2 and the direction judging device 4 (4a) is more preferable to discriminate by wavelength or frequency. Can be simplified.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the AV surround system 1 has been described as an example of the device including the direction determiner 4 (4a), but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, when applied to a virtual game machine or the like, the behavior of the game can be made to react to the direction of the viewer H, so that a more advanced game than before can be provided. In any case, the direction determiner 4 (4a) can determine the direction of the object to be measured equipped with the direction detection sensor 2, so that any device that needs to detect the direction of the object to be measured can be used. Widely applicable to any device.

[0068]

As described above, the direction detecting sensor according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided with a signal output means for outputting a directional signal capable of discriminating each output from each other, and attached to the object to be measured. And a support member for supporting each of the above signal output means so that the directivity directions are different from each other.

According to the above configuration, a certain direction (hereinafter, referred to as
The output of each directivity signal to the detection direction has a magnitude corresponding to the difference between the detection direction and the directivity direction. As a result, the output characteristics in the detection direction with respect to the direction of the device under test are different from each other, and the output of each device can be notified to a remote place as a plurality of directional signals that can discriminate each output from each other. This has the effect.

In addition, the detection direction is an arbitrary direction as long as the output of each directivity signal changes in accordance with the direction of the object to be measured. Are notified as a difference in the output characteristics of each directional signal at Therefore, the direction detection sensor can notify the direction of the measured object even when the position and the direction with respect to the direction determiner change, and can realize a direction detecting sensor capable of notifying the direction of the measured object in a wide range. The effect is also achieved.

The direction detecting sensor according to the second aspect of the present invention
As described above, in the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, each of the signal output units outputs, as the directional signal, an optical signal modulated at a different modulation frequency.

According to the above configuration, since the optical signals modulated at different modulation frequencies are used as the directivity signals, the configuration of the signal output means can be simplified. As a result, there is an effect that a direction detection sensor that is small and lightweight, consumes less power, and hardly restricts the behavior of the object to be measured can be realized.

The direction detecting sensor according to the third aspect of the present invention
As described above, in the direction detecting sensor according to the first aspect, each of the signal output units outputs optical signals having different wavelengths as the directivity signal.

According to the above configuration, since the optical signals having different wavelengths are used as the directional signals, the configuration of the signal output means can be simplified. As a result, it is small and lightweight,
This has the effect of realizing a direction detection sensor that consumes less power and hardly restricts the behavior of the device under test.

The direction detecting sensor according to the invention of claim 4 is:
As described above, in the configuration according to the first, second, or third aspect of the invention, the support member is detachably attached to the object to be measured, and is formed so as to have a ring shape when attached. The means is configured to be mounted at a position in the support member where each directional direction is radially arranged in a direction perpendicular to the center axis of the ring.

According to the above arrangement, the directional directions of the respective signal output means can be set to different directions only by attaching the common support member to the object to be measured. Therefore, there is an effect that a direction detection sensor that can be easily attached and detached can be realized.

As described above, the direction judging device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention compares the output of each directional signal with the output detecting means for detecting the output of each directional signal in the detection direction.
A determination unit configured to determine a direction in which the device under test is facing.

In the above configuration, since the output of each directional signal changes according to the direction of the device under test, if the outputs are compared, the judging means will not hinder the direction of the device under test. Can be determined. As a result, there is an effect that it is possible to realize a direction determiner that can determine the direction of the object to be measured in a place away from the object to be measured.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, as described above, in the configuration of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the output detecting means outputs a light receiving signal corresponding to the amount of light in the detection direction. The configuration includes a light receiving unit for outputting, and a band-pass filter whose center frequency is set to the modulation frequency of each optical signal and to which the light receiving signal is input.

According to the above configuration, each band-pass filter extracts the component of the corresponding modulation frequency from the received signal and detects the output of each directional signal. As a result, there is an effect that the direction determiner can be realized with a simple circuit.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, as described above, in the configuration of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the light receiving section is provided commonly to each of the bandpass filters. .

According to the above configuration, since the light receiving section is provided in common for each bandpass filter, there is an effect that the circuit configuration of the direction determiner can be further simplified.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, as described above, in the configuration of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the output detection means has the same peak sensitivity wavelength as the wavelength of each optical signal. This is a configuration including a light receiving unit set to.

According to the above configuration, the output of each directional signal given as an optical signal can be detected only by using the light receiving units having different peak sensitivity wavelengths as the light receiving unit. As a result, there is an effect that a direction determiner having a simple circuit configuration can be realized.

The direction detecting sensor system according to the ninth aspect of the present invention includes the direction detecting sensor according to the first aspect and the direction determining unit according to the fifth aspect as described above. Therefore, there is an effect that a direction detection sensor system capable of detecting and determining the direction of a wide range of the measured object such as a human body, a moving object, or a rotating object can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a perspective view illustrating a main part of an AV surround system having a direction detection sensor and a direction determiner.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an arrangement of light emitting diodes in the direction detection sensor.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the direction detection sensor.

FIG. 4 is a waveform chart showing the operation of the direction detection sensor and the direction determiner.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the direction determiner.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relative gain characteristic with respect to a frequency of each band-pass filter provided in the direction determiner.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a frequency spectrum of an output signal of a photodiode provided in the direction determiner.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the direction determiner.

FIG. 9 shows a conventional example, and is a perspective view showing a main part of an AV surround system.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Direction detection sensor 4 (4a) Direction determination unit 21 Band unit (support member) 22a to 22h Light emitting diode (signal output unit) 41a to 41h, 46 Photodiode (light receiving unit) 43a to 43h Band pass filter 45 Comparison determination circuit ( Judgment means) Da to Dh Optical axis (directional direction) H Viewer (measured object) La to Lh Optical signal (directional signal)

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A direction detecting sensor for detecting a direction in which an object to be measured is directed, signal output means for outputting a directional signal capable of discriminating respective outputs from each other, attached to the object to be measured, A direction detection sensor, comprising: a support member that supports each of the signal output units so that the respective directional directions are different from each other. 2. The direction detecting sensor according to claim 1, wherein each of said signal output means outputs, as said directional signal, an optical signal modulated at a different modulation frequency. 3. The direction detecting sensor according to claim 1, wherein said signal output means outputs optical signals having mutually different wavelengths as said directional signal. 4. The support member is detachably attached to the object to be measured, and is formed so as to be ring-shaped at the time of attachment. Each of the signal output means has a directivity direction of the support member. 4. The direction detecting sensor according to claim 1, wherein the direction detecting sensor is attached at a position radially arranged in a direction perpendicular to a center axis of the ring. An output characteristic in a detection direction with respect to a direction of an object to be measured is different from each other. A direction determiner for determining, comprising: output detection means for detecting an output of each directional signal in the detection direction; and comparing outputs of the directional signals to determine a direction in which the device under test is facing. A direction determining unit comprising: 6. Each of the directivity signals is an optical signal modulated at a different modulation frequency, and the output detecting means outputs a light receiving signal corresponding to the amount of light in the detecting direction. 6. The direction judging device according to claim 5, further comprising: a band-pass filter having a center frequency set to each of the modulation frequencies and receiving the light receiving signal. 7. The direction judging device according to claim 6, wherein the light receiving section is provided commonly to each of the band pass filters. 8. Each of the directivity signals is an optical signal having a wavelength different from each other, and the output detection means includes a light receiving section in which each peak sensitivity wavelength is set to be the same as each of the wavelengths. The direction judging device according to claim 5, wherein: 9. A direction detection sensor system comprising: a direction detection sensor attached to an object to be measured; and a direction determiner that determines a direction in which the object is facing based on a signal from the direction detection sensor. The direction detection sensor includes a signal output unit that outputs a directional signal capable of discriminating each output from each other. And a support member that supports the above, wherein the direction determination unit compares the output of each of the directivity signals with an output detection unit that detects the output of each of the directivity signals in a predetermined detection direction. A direction detection sensor system comprising: a determination unit configured to determine a direction in which the device under test is facing.