JP2002090152A - Input device and input system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device having excellent operability by generating a prescribed signal to be inputted corresponding to movement of a human or the like. SOLUTION: Each angular velocity on movement in the first direction and in the second direction in a space is detected, and information such as position designation information is generated based on the detected output and transmitted as input information to a prescribed instrument.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device and an input system for inputting operation information and the like to a predetermined device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an input device for operating information and the like, for example, a remote commander for audio / visual equipment, a mouse used for a computer device, an operating unit in a game device, and the like are generally widely known.

[0003]

However, conventional input devices have not always been the most suitable means for human use and operation. That is, the human interface is not excellent.

In addition, the more diversified the operation content, the more complicated the operation of the input device becomes, and there is a problem that it becomes difficult to operate various devices using the input device. For example, in a remote commander for an A / V device, the number of operation keys increases as the function of the device increases, and the user may not know which key to press when performing a certain operation. In the case of a mouse as a computer input device, an operation space on a desk or the like is required to move a lower rotating body, and there is a case where the operation cannot be performed easily.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has been described in detail. It is an object to provide an input device and an input system.

For this purpose, as an input device, a main body formed in a size that can be held by one hand, and a first detection signal for generating a first detection signal regarding movement of the main body in a first direction.
And a second angular velocity sensor means for generating a second detection signal regarding the movement of the main body housing in the second direction.

[0007] Further, an information generating means for generating information based on the first and second detection signals and a transmitting means for transmitting the information generated by the information generating means as input information to a predetermined device are further provided. Be prepared and configured.

An input system according to the present invention comprises an input device and a control device. The input device includes a main body housing formed in a size that can be held by one hand and a movement of the main body housing in a first direction. First angular velocity sensor means for generating a first detection signal, second angular velocity sensor means for generating a second detection signal for movement of the main body casing in the second direction, and first and second An information generating means for generating information based on a detection signal, and a transmitting means for transmitting the information generated by the information generating means as input information to a predetermined device are provided. Further, the control device, receiving means for receiving the input information from the transmitting means, image display means, according to the input information, image control means for controlling the movement of a cursor displayed on the image display means, Be prepared to have.

In the above-mentioned input system, the first detection signal is a detection signal of a movement of the main body of the input device in the left-right direction, and the information generating means responds to the first detection signal. Information for controlling the horizontal movement of the cursor is generated above. Further, the second detection signal is a detection signal of the vertical movement of the main body housing of the input device, and the information generating means responds to the second detection signal by displaying the cursor in the vertical direction of the cursor on the image display means. Generate information to control movement.

Outputting information obtained by the first and second detection signals, that is, detection signals of physical displacement or moving speed of the input device, as input information to a predetermined device (control device). Thus, a human operation itself on the input device is an input operation. For example, when the user holds the input device and shakes left and right, up and down, or rotates the input device, it can be directly corresponded as a predetermined operation.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, a basic configuration of a remote commander using an angular velocity sensor as an embodiment of the input device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the internal configuration of the remote commander.
Denotes a vibration gyroscope as an angular velocity sensor.

The vibrating gyroscope has a characteristic that when a rotational angular velocity is applied to a vibrating object, a Coriolis force is generated in a direction perpendicular to the vibration. The Coriolis force F is expressed as follows. F = 2mvω (m: mass, v: velocity, ω: angular velocity) Therefore, the angular velocity ω is proportional to the Coriolis force F, and the rotational angular velocity can be detected by detecting the Coriolis force F.

A driving piezoelectric ceramic 1a and a detecting piezoelectric ceramic 1b are attached to the vibrating gyroscope 1, and an alternating signal which is an oscillation output of the oscillator 2 is applied to the driving piezoelectric ceramic 1a. In this state, the vibration gyro 1
Is rotated in the Ω0 direction, a Coriolis force F is applied to the detection piezoelectric ceramic 1b, and a voltage E is generated.

The minute voltage obtained from the detecting piezoelectric ceramic 1b is amplified by an amplifier 3 and supplied to an A / D converter 4,
Digital data. 5 is a CPU 5a, ROM 5
b, a control unit formed by a microcomputer having a RAM 5c, and a command signal to be transmitted is stored in the ROM 5b or the RAM 5c. Reference numeral 6 denotes a clock oscillator.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an enter key provided as an operation key on the remote commander 10 as shown in FIG. 4, for example. Operation information of the enter key 7 is also supplied to the control unit 5. The control unit 5 reads and outputs an enter command from the ROM 5b or the RAM 5c in response to the operation of the enter key 7, and supplies the read command to the transmission unit 8.

The control unit 5 reads an up command or a down command from the ROM 5b or the RAM 5c according to the digital data of the voltage E input from the A / D converter 4, and supplies the read command to the transmission unit 8. The angular velocity ω applied to the vibrating gyroscope 1 and the generated voltage E are in a proportional relationship as shown in FIG. 2, and the control unit 5 converts the input voltage E (digital data) into voltage values Va, Vb, Vc, Vd, for example. By comparison, a command code corresponding to the operation performed by the user on the remote commander 10 can be output.

For example, the vibrating gyroscope 1 is arranged in the remote commander 10 so that the voltage E increases according to the angular velocity when the remote commander 10 is shaken upward, and the voltage E decreases according to the angular velocity when the remote commander 10 shakes downward. If so, the control unit 5 determines a command code to be generated according to, for example, the flowchart of FIG.

When the enter key 7 is pressed, an enter command is generated unconditionally (F101 → F102). Otherwise, the input voltage E (digital data) is converted to the voltage values Va, Vb, Vc. , Vd. And V
If c <E <Vd, that is, if the remote commander 10 is swung upward, an up command is read from the ROM 5b or the RAM 5c (F103 → F104). Also, Va <
If E <Vb, that is, if the remote commander 10 is swung downward, the down command is read (F105 → F1
06).

The command code generated by the control unit 5 in this way is subjected to a predetermined modulation process in the transmission unit 8, and is output to a predetermined device by an infrared signal or a radio wave. In addition, the voltage E input in the control unit 5
However, when Vb ≦ E ≦ Vc, no command code is generated. However, this is set as a dead zone so that the command code is not output when the user touches or carries the remote commander 10 for a short time. Is what it is.

The remote commander 10 outputs only three types of command codes, ie, an enter command, an up command, and a down command. In this case, for example, the receiving device of the command code responds to an input command having a configuration as shown in FIG. By providing the control unit integrally with or separately from the device to be operated, various types of operations can be performed.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 21 denotes a remote commander 1.
A receiving unit for receiving a command code transmitted by infrared or radio waves from 0, converting the command code into an electric signal, and demodulating the received signal. An input control unit 22 is a microcomputer that performs control based on the command code received and demodulated by the receiving unit 21. And has a CPU 22a, a ROM 22b, and a RAM 22c. In addition, a graphic 23 supplies a predetermined character to a display unit (for example, a CRT) 24 integrally formed with or connected to the device according to the control of the control unit 22, and performs a display operation. It is a controller. In addition, 25 is a clock oscillator.

The control unit 22 is a graphic controller 2
For example, the VT shown in FIG.
Display of operation contents and display of cursor K corresponding to R, CD player, television receiver, and the like are executed. Then, in response to the up command or the down command supplied from the remote commander 10, the control unit 22
The cursor K is moved on the T screen.

Then, the user enters the remote commander 1
For example, when the cursor K is moved to a position on the screen corresponding to the play button of the VTR as shown in FIG.
A command code indicating "TR: reproduction" is read from the ROM 22b or the RAM 22c, supplied to the transmission unit 26, and transmitted to a VTR device (not shown) as a modulation signal based on an infrared signal, for example. Alternatively, when the input command corresponding control unit in FIG. 5 is provided in the VTR device, “VTR:
The command code of "reproduction" is supplied from the terminal 27 to a predetermined operation control unit to execute the reproduction operation.

That is, the control section 22 holds coordinate data corresponding to the display area of various operation contents on the display screen of the CRT 24, and stores the actual command code, and stores the position of the up command or the down command. When the cursor K is moved according to the designated information, the coordinate position currently designated by the cursor K is grasped. Then, it is determined that the designation of the coordinate position is determined by the input of the enter command, and the command code stored as the command code corresponding to the coordinate position is read and output to the transmission unit 26 or the terminal 27. It is something that has been done.

Accordingly, the user can operate various devices by moving the cursor K by moving the remote commander up and down while looking at the screen of the CRT 24 and pressing the enter key 7 at a required position. Is very simple. Further, since the movement of the cursor K is linked to the movement of the user's hand, it is an operation means which is remarkably excellent in a so-called human interface. Of course, the number of operation keys may be a minimum number, and confusion of operation due to an increase in the number of keys is completely eliminated. Further, since the operation can be performed while looking at the screen, the operation does not become troublesome.

In the case of such a remote control system, it is not always necessary to provide the enter key 7 on the remote commander 10. That is, the control unit 22 on the receiving side sets the cursor K on the coordinate data.
Knowing the movement of the VT
When the display portion of the operation content of "R: Play" is reciprocated up and down several times, it is possible to determine that the enter is performed. In this case, the remote commander 10 has no operation key. be able to.

Further, since there is a difference that the operation (vertical swing) of the remote commander 10 is intense or weak depending on each user, the output sensitivity of the up command and the down command may be varied. For example, adjustment may be performed by providing a volume in the amplifier 3 of the remote commander 10, or by adjusting the coefficient of the coordinate movement amount for the up command and the down command as coordinate movement information in the control unit 22 on the receiving side. It should be possible to do.

The above is the basic configuration of an input device using a vibrating gyroscope as an angular velocity sensor. As an application example, for example, as shown in FIG. It is conceivable to provide two units (1x, 1y) in the orthogonal direction as the movement information (angular velocity) detection means corresponding to x. That is, the angular velocity ωx when the remote commander 10 is swung in the vertical direction is detected, an up command or a down command is output, and the angular velocity ωy when the remote commander 10 is swung in the left and right directions is detected. Output a command or a rightward movement command.

The control section 22 on the receiving side recognizes this as the vertical and horizontal movements of the designated coordinate position (= coordinates corresponding to the display position of the cursor K), and if the above operation is performed, further inputting is possible. Operability will be improved.

When only the enter command, the up command, and the down command are required as the information to be input to the predetermined device, or when only the left movement command and the right movement command are required in addition to the information, the input as shown in FIG. There is no need to provide a command correspondence control unit, and the command receiving side device may use the command code transmitted from the remote commander 10 directly as the device control code. In this case, for example, it can be adopted as an input device having a function equivalent to a mouse placed on a personal computer, and unlike a mouse that uses the rotation operation of a roller as input information, movement information can be input without touching the input device on a desk or the like. There is also an advantage that the data can be converted and transmitted.

As another embodiment of the input device of the present invention, the position designation information may be generated by using a detection output from an acceleration sensor. The configuration as an input device is shown in FIG.
And an acceleration sensor is provided instead of the angular velocity sensor.

As shown in FIG. 8, for example, three acceleration sensors are provided in a remote commander 10 as an input device. That is, an acceleration sensor 11x for detecting an acceleration in a displacement operation in the left-right direction (x direction) of the remote commander 10, an acceleration sensor 11y for detecting an acceleration in a displacement operation in the vertical direction (y direction), and a front-rear direction (z direction). And an acceleration sensor 11z for detecting the acceleration in the displacement operation of. Then, the remote commander 10
A predetermined command code can be output in accordance with the up, down, left, right, front and back movements performed by the user. Of course, the number of mounted acceleration sensors may be set according to the operation target device, and may be one or two units, or four or more units.

Further, as a detecting means for detecting the physical displacement, an inclination sensor 12 may be provided as shown in FIG. In this case, a predetermined command code is generated and output based on the inclination of the remote commander 10 in the vertical direction θy detected by the inclination sensor 12.

As a detecting means for detecting the physical displacement, a means using a metal ball 14 moving on the rail 13 as shown in FIG. 10 can be considered. That is, by tilting the input device in either direction, the metal ball 14
3, rolling in either direction of the terminals 15a and 15b,
The contact of the terminal 15a or 15b is closed. Terminal 15a or 1
The control unit 5 fetches information indicating which of 5b is closed, generates a predetermined command signal in response to the information, and outputs the command signal from the transmission unit 8.

By the way, the physical displacement of the input device, the angular velocity in a predetermined direction, and the acceleration are detected by the various detecting means, and the position specifying information is output based on the detected physical displacement. It is almost rare to always hold and operate correctly in the horizontal and vertical directions.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the user holds the device in an inclined state and shakes the input device horizontally, the displacement in the x direction is detected. When the information and the displacement information in the y direction are combined and detected, and the operation is performed by providing an input command correspondence control unit as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the cursor K moves obliquely on the screen. In other words, the correspondence between the user's operation and the input information cannot be correctly obtained. For this reason, it is desirable that the detecting means always maintain a constant direction regardless of the inclination of the input device.

Therefore, for example, the detecting means (vibrating gyro 1
x, 1y) are fixed in an orthogonal state as shown in FIG. 11, and an axis J is mounted on a vibrating gyroscope 1x arranged in a vertical state to detect an angular velocity in the left-right direction (x direction).
And is held by the bearing 15. That is, the detection means is mounted in the input device in a floating state. Then, FIGS. 12A and 12B show the input device (remote commander 10) viewed from obliquely above the rear surface.
As described above, the internal detecting means (the vibrating gyroscopes 1x and 1y) always keeps a fixed state with respect to the direction of gravity regardless of the tilt state of the remote commander 10. Thus, correct operation information can be output regardless of how the user holds the input device. It should be noted that the floating structure is not limited to the pivot support method.

As an example of use in various embodiments of the present invention, the input device of the present invention is
It can be used as a remote commander for an electronic device such as a V device or an air conditioner, or as an input device equivalent to a mouse corresponding to a personal computer, but can also be used as an operation unit for a game device. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the screen of the racing game and the steering wheel are displayed on the display screen, and the steering wheel operation is performed by swinging the input device 10 having the built-in angular velocity sensor in the left-right direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the virtual reality (artificial reality) device is configured as an input device incorporating three units of acceleration sensors for generating displacement information in three dimensions of x, y and z. The movement of the hand of the user holding the input device is converted into data as the amount of movement in the x, y, and z directions. Based on this input information, the main device can display a simulated screen on the display device so that the hand moves in space.

Further, it is also preferable to employ the present invention as a pointing device. For example, when a presenter gives a presentation using a large screen image, a conventional rod antenna type pointer or a laser pointer using laser light does not reach a position desired by the pointer,
The operation is difficult when the presenter gets in the way of the screen or wants to show a predetermined portion on the screen continuously while explaining. Here, by adopting the present invention as a pointing device and moving the cursor K as a pointer on the screen in accordance with the movement of the input device to indicate a predetermined portion, the above-mentioned disadvantage is solved.

In the above-described embodiments, the input device is described as a wireless input device for the operated device. However, the input device may be a wired input device.

[0042]

As described above, in the input device and the input system according to the present invention, the first and second detection signals, that is, the detection signals of the physical position displacement or the moving speed of the input device are input to a predetermined device. By outputting as a signal, a predetermined signal to be input is generated in response to a human motion or the like, and there is an effect that the input device and the input system are excellent in operability and human interface. In particular, the first and second angular velocity sensor means for obtaining the first and second detection signals are held in a floating state in the input device so as to always maintain a constant position in the direction of gravity. Thus, even when the user tilts and holds the input device at the time of operation, it is possible to obtain input information correctly corresponding to the movement of the user's hand (the hand holding the input device).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment using an angular velocity sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between an angular velocity and a voltage output in the angular velocity sensor according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a command code determination operation based on angular velocity detection according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a remote commander according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an input command correspondence control unit corresponding to the remote commander according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation content display example by the input command corresponding control unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement state of the angular velocity sensor according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment using the acceleration sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment using the tilt sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment using an angular displacement sensor using a metal ball according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a floating structure of a detecting unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a detection unit is held at a fixed position in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram in a case where the input device of the embodiment is employed as an operation means of a game machine.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram in a case where the input device of the embodiment is adopted as position displacement information input means of a virtual reality system.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram when the input device of the embodiment is employed as a pointing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1x, 1y Vibrating gyroscope, 5 control unit, 7 enter key, 10 remote commander, 11x, 11
y, 11z acceleration sensor, 12 tilt sensor, 14
Metal ball

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C001 CA00 CA06 CA09 2F105 AA08 AA10 BB01 CC06 CD02 CD06 5B087 AA09 AB09 BC12 BC13 BC26 BC31 DD03 5K048 AA04 BA02 DB01 DB02 DC01 EA11 EB02 FC01 HA01 HA05 HA07

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A main body housing formed in a size that can be held by one hand, first angular velocity sensor means for generating a first detection signal about movement of the main body housing in a first direction, An input device, comprising: second angular velocity sensor means for generating a second detection signal for movement of the main body casing in the second direction. 2. An information generating means for generating information based on the first and second detection signals, and a transmitting means for transmitting the information generated by the information generating means as input information to a predetermined device. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is provided. 3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second angular velocity sensor means are formed by a column having at least two piezoelectric ceramics. 4. The columnar body has a plurality of surfaces, and each of the at least two piezoelectric ceramics is mounted on a surface of a certain one of the plurality of surfaces. 4. The input device according to 3. 5. An input system comprising an input device and a control device, wherein the input device comprises: a main body housing formed in a size that can be held by one hand; and a movement of the main body housing in a first direction. First angular velocity sensor means for generating a first detection signal; second angular velocity sensor means for generating a second detection signal for movement of the main body casing in a second direction; 2. An information generating means for generating information based on the detection signal of No. 2, and a transmitting means for transmitting the information generated by the information generating means as input information to a predetermined device. Receiving means for receiving the input information, image display means, and image control means for controlling movement of a cursor displayed on the image display means in accordance with the input information. Input system, characterized in that. 6. The input system according to claim 5, wherein said first and second angular velocity sensor means are formed by a column having at least two piezoelectric ceramics. 7. The columnar body has a plurality of surfaces, and each of the at least two piezoelectric ceramics is mounted on a surface of one of the plurality of surfaces. 7. The input system according to 6. 8. The input system according to claim 5, wherein the control device is a computer device. 9. The input system according to claim 5, wherein the control device is an audio device or a video device. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first detection signal is a detection signal of a lateral movement of a main body housing of the input device, and the information generating unit is configured to display the image in response to the first detection signal. 6. The input system according to claim 5, wherein information for controlling horizontal movement of the cursor is generated on the means. 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the second detection signal is a detection signal of a vertical movement of a main body housing of the input device, and the information generating unit is configured to display the image in response to the second detection signal. 6. The input system according to claim 5, wherein information for controlling the vertical movement of the cursor is generated on the means.