JP2010097529A - Input device and input method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device for faithfully reflecting a hand shape of a user on a hand model. <P>SOLUTION: The input device is configured to calculate a change of moving amounts of a contact region and the area of the contact region from an initial status that a user reaches the fingers, and to determine the parallel moving amounts of a CG model and the angle of bending of each finger joint on the basis of the change of the moving amounts of the contact region and the area of the contact region from the initial status, and to determine the deformed shape of the CG model according to the determined parallel moving amounts and angle of bending of each finger joint, and to create an image by superimposing the CG model whose deformed shape has been determined and held GUI parts, and to make a display part display the image, and to decide the collision of the GUI parts and the fingertips of the CG model, and to, when the collision is decided, transmit a command assigned to the GUI parts whose collision has been decided to the equipment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device and an input method for a user to input a command or the like to a device, and more specifically, using a body part such as a hand based on information displayed on a display or the like by a user. The present invention relates to an input device and an input method capable of inputting commands and the like.

  With the recent increase in functionality of information equipment terminals, user interfaces that are easier for users to use are required. An example of an easy-to-use user interface is a touch panel display. The touch panel display is a device in which a user inputs a command or the like to an information device terminal or the like by pressing a GUI (Graphical User Interface) part displayed on the display. From this, it can be said that the touch panel display is an interface that even a beginner can operate intuitively.

  However, in a touch panel display, since a device for detecting a touch (hereinafter referred to as an operation unit) and a display unit are integrated, there is a problem that the touch panel display cannot be operated unless the user has it.

In order to solve this problem, the technique of Patent Document 1 separates an operation unit and a display unit, detects an operator's hand placed on the operation unit, and forms a computer graphic (hereinafter referred to as CG) hand shape. A model (hereinafter simply referred to as a hand model) is displayed superimposed on a GUI displayed on the display unit. Thus, even when the user is away from the display unit, the user can perform an operation while maintaining an intuitive operational feeling of the touch panel display.
JP 2006-72854 A

However, since the above-described conventional technology cannot calculate the bending of the finger of the user who is an operator, when the user performs an operation by bending his / her finger, a hand model having a shape significantly different from the shape of the user's hand is used. Display on the display. As a result, there is a problem that the user feels uncomfortable during the operation.

  The present invention is an input device for operating a device by displaying a CG model of a hand placed on an operation surface on a display unit, and a contact region detection unit for detecting a plurality of contact regions between the operation surface and the hand; A movement amount calculation unit for calculating the movement amount of the contact region and the change of the area of the contact region from the initial state where the finger of the hand is extended; and the movement amount of the contact region and the change of the area of the contact region from the initial state And a model movement amount determination unit for determining the amount of movement of the CG model based on the parallel movement and the amount of movement of the finger bending, and a finger bending angle determination for determining the bending angle of each finger joint of the CG model based on the movement amount of the finger bending. A model shape determining unit that determines a position and a deformed shape of the CG model according to a parallel movement amount of the CG model and a bending angle of each finger joint, and a GUI part that holds a GUI part to which a command for the device is assigned A holding part, a superimposed image creating part for creating a superimposed image of the CG model whose shape is determined by the model shape determining part and the GUI part held in the GUI part holding part and displaying the superimposed image on the display part; A collision determination unit that determines a collision with the fingertip of the CG model, and a command transmission unit that transmits a command assigned to the GUI part determined to have the collision to the device when the collision determination unit determines a collision. .

  Thereby, the input device of the present invention can reflect the movement of the operator's hand in the CG model, and can also reflect the movement of each finger of the operator in the CG model.

  Preferably, the movement amount calculation unit determines a fingertip position point indicating a position corresponding to the fingertip in the contact area, and uses the fingertip position point to move the contact area from the initial state where the finger is extended. Is calculated.

  Thereby, since the input device of the present invention can detect a more accurate hand movement, a more accurate hand movement can be reflected in the CG model.

  Preferably, the model movement amount determination unit determines the amount of movement of the contact region from the initial state when the absolute value of the change rate of the area of the contact region from the initial state is smaller than a predetermined threshold. When the absolute value of the rate of change of the area of the contact region from the initial state is greater than a predetermined threshold, the amount of movement of the contact region from the initial state is determined as the amount of movement due to finger bending of the CG model.

  As a result, it is possible to determine whether the operator has bent the finger without moving the entire hand on the operation surface or moved the entire hand downward, and more accurate hand movement can be reflected in the CG model.

  Preferably, the finger bending angle determination unit determines the bending angle of each finger joint of the CG model using a constraint condition that the bending angle of each finger joint of the same finger of the CG model is constant.

  As a result, the input device of the present invention can greatly reduce the amount of calculation for determining the bending angle of each finger joint of the CG model, so that the shape of the CG model can be quickly transformed and the cost of the device can be further reduced. be able to.

  In addition, when the area on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit is expressed by the X coordinate and the Y coordinate, the contact area detection unit detects the X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the contact area independently and uses the intersection as the contact area. The model movement amount determination unit includes a sensor that detects the movement of the contact area from the initial state when the absolute value of the change rate from the initial state of the width of the Y coordinate area indicating the contact area is smaller than a predetermined threshold. The amount of movement of the contact region from the initial state when the absolute value of the rate of change from the initial state of the width of the Y coordinate region indicating the contact region is greater than a predetermined threshold Is determined as the amount of movement of the CG model due to finger bending.

  As a result, even when an intersection between the X-coordinate axis direction and the Y-coordinate axis direction is used as a contact area and a touch pad that is detected by an optical sensor, a conductive film, a capacitance, or the like is used as a contact area detection unit, the operator can It is possible to determine whether the finger is bent without moving the entire hand or whether the entire hand is moved downward, and more accurate hand movement can be reflected in the CG model.

  The present invention is also directed to an input method for operating a device by displaying a CG model of a hand placed on an operation surface on a display unit. In order to achieve the above object, the input method of the present invention includes a contact region detection step for detecting a plurality of contact regions between the operation surface and the hand, and movement of the contact region from the initial state where the finger of the hand is extended. Based on the movement amount calculation step for calculating the amount and the change in the area of the contact region, and the movement amount of the contact region and the change in the area of the contact region from the initial state, the parallel movement amount of the CG model and the movement amount due to finger bending are calculated. A model movement amount determination step to determine; a finger bending angle determination step to determine a bending angle of each finger joint of the CG model based on a movement amount by finger bending; a parallel movement amount of the CG model and a bending angle of each finger joint; The model shape determining step for determining the position and deformation shape of the CG model, the CG model whose shape is determined in the model shape determining step, and the command for the device are allocated. A superimposed image creating step of creating an image in which a preliminarily held GUI part is superimposed and displaying the image on the display unit; a collision determining step of determining a collision between the GUI part and the fingertip of the CG model; When a collision is determined by the determination step, a command transmission step of transmitting a command assigned to the GUI part determined to have the collision to the device is provided.

  Thereby, the input method of the present invention can reflect the movement of the operator's hand in the CG model, and can also reflect the movement of each finger of the operator in the CG model.

  According to the input device and the input method of the present invention, even when the user operates by bending a finger, the user's hand shape can be accurately reflected in the hand model. As a result, according to the input device and method of the present invention, the user can perform an operation without feeling uncomfortable.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the operation of the input device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation of the input device 100 will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 100 includes a contact area detection unit 1 and a calculation unit 2. The contact area detection unit 1 detects an area touched by a user (hereinafter referred to as an operator) placed on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit 1 and detects information on the detected contact area (hereinafter simply referred to as contact). (Referred to as region information) is output to the calculation unit 2. The contact area detection unit 1 is, for example, a touch pad that detects contact at multiple points. The contact area detection unit 1 may be a general device that uses an optical method, a capacitance method, a pressure-sensitive method, a resistance film method, or the like as long as it can detect contact at multiple independent points.

  The calculation unit 2 creates display data using the contact area information detected by the contact area detection unit 1 and outputs the display data to the display unit 3. Specifically, the calculation unit 2 creates a CG hand model using the contact area information, creates display data in which the hand model is superimposed on the GUI, and outputs the display data to the display unit 3. Further, the calculation unit 2 determines a command intended by the operator using the positional relationship between the created hand model and the GUI part, and outputs the determined command to the operation target device 4 such as an information terminal device. Note that the arithmetic unit 2 may be a general personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC), or may be a general-purpose dedicated machine incorporating a dedicated graphic IC or the like. The calculation unit 2 includes an interface that receives a signal input from the contact area detection unit 1, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, a bus that connects the modules, and an interface that outputs a calculation result as an image.

  The display unit 3 performs display using the display data input from the calculation unit 2. The display unit 3 is a display such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT, for example. The operation target device 4 executes the command input from the calculation unit 2.

  With the above configuration, the operator operates the hand model by moving the hand on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit 1 while visually observing the hand model superimposed on the GUI part displayed on the display unit 3. Thus, the operation target device 4 can be operated.

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the input device 100 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the input device 100. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the input device 100 includes a contact area detection unit 1 and a calculation unit 2. The calculation unit 2 includes a movement amount calculation unit 12, a model movement amount determination unit 13, a finger bending angle determination unit 14, a model holding unit 15, a model shape determination unit 16, a GUI parts holding unit 17, and a superimposed image. A creation unit 18, a collision determination unit 19, and a command transmission unit 20 are included.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the input device 100. When the start switch is turned on by an operator or the like, the input device 100 starts operating.

  First, in step S <b> 101, the contact area detection unit 1 determines whether or not the operator's hand is placed on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit 1. When the operator's hand is not placed, the contact area detection unit 1 enters a process waiting state, and when the operator's hand is placed, the process proceeds to step S102. Note that the determination in step S101 can be made based on whether or not contact is detected.

  Next, in step S102, the contact area detection unit 1 detects an area where the operator's hand is in contact with the contact area detection unit 1 as a point group (hereinafter referred to as a contact point group), and detects the detected contact point. The group data is output to the movement amount calculation unit 12. The movement amount calculation unit 12 acquires a point indicating the position of the operator's four fingertips (hereinafter referred to as a fingertip position point) and a contact area using the input contact point group data. A method for acquiring the fingertip position point and the contact area will be described later.

  Next, in step S103, the movement amount calculation unit 12 determines whether or not four fingertip position points and a contact area have been acquired. If acquired, the process proceeds to step S104. If not, the process returns to step S102.

  In step S <b> 104, the movement amount calculation unit 12 determines whether or not an initial position point that is a fingertip position point in a state where the operator opens his hand (a state where the finger is extended) has been acquired. If the initial position point has been acquired, the process proceeds to step S106. If the initial position point has not been acquired, the process proceeds to step S105. Here, the determination of whether or not the initial position point has been acquired is to determine whether or not the initial position point has been acquired after the input device 100 is started this time.

  In step S <b> 105, the movement amount calculation unit 12 notifies a message prompting the operator to open the hand placed on the contact area detection unit 1 and acquires the initial position point and the contact area. This message is displayed on the display unit 3 and notified to the operator, for example. Thereafter, the movement amount calculation unit 12 creates a hand model (hereinafter referred to as an initial hand model) in which the operator has opened his / her hand using the acquired initial position point. The data of the initial position point, contact area, and initial hand model acquired in step S105 are stored in the model holding unit 15. Thereafter, the process returns to step S102. That is, the input device 100 acquires the initial position point, the contact area, and the initial hand model when the operator places the hand on the contact area detection unit 1 for the first time after activation. A method for acquiring the initial position point, the contact area, and the initial hand model will be described later.

  In addition, when the operator changes, in order to update the initial position point, the contact area, and the initial hand model, the initial position point of the previous operator that has already been acquired in response to the instruction of the subsequent operator, The contact area and the initial hand model may be discarded, and the subsequent operator's initial position point, contact area, and initial hand model may be acquired by performing the operation in step S105 again. In addition, the initial position point, the contact area, and the initial hand model are not acquired every time it is activated, and the initial position point, the contact area, and the initial hand model are newly acquired by performing the operation of step S105 in response to the operator's instruction. May be. If the contact area detection unit 1 does not detect a hand contact for a predetermined period in step S101, the already acquired initial position point, contact area, and initial hand model are discarded, and the operation in step S105 is performed again to perform a new operation. Initial position points, contact area and initial model may be obtained.

  In step S106, the movement amount calculation unit 12 acquires the movement amount of the fingertip position point from the initial position point and the change in the contact area, respectively. Here, in order to obtain the movement amount of each point, a general method may be used as a method of taking correspondence between each point after movement and each point before movement.

  Next, in step S107, the model movement amount determination unit 13 uses the movement amount from the initial position point of the fingertip position point acquired in step S106 and the change in the contact area to change the translation amount of the hand model and finger bending. Determine the amount of movement. A method for determining the parallel movement amount and the movement amount by finger bending will be described later.

  Next, in step S108, the finger bending angle determination unit 14 determines the bending angle of each finger joint of the hand model using the amount of movement of the fingertip position point acquired from step S107 by finger bending from the initial position point. . A method for determining the bending angle of each finger joint will be described later.

  Next, in step S109, the model shape determination unit 16 uses the parallel movement amount of the hand model determined in steps S107 and S108 and the bending angle of each finger joint to determine the hand model held in the model holding unit 15. Read to reflect the deformation. Here, when the initial hand model is held in the model holding unit 15, the initial hand model is read to reflect the deformation.

  Note that the hand model held in the model holding unit 15 is preferably a CG model having a general skeleton (hereinafter referred to as a bone structure). An example of a hand model held by the model holding unit 15 is shown in FIG. The hand model shown in FIG. 4 includes a plurality of polygons and lines indicating bone structures. The file format for holding the hand model in the model holding unit 15 may be a general format. As an example, there is a file format that stores the vertex coordinates of a polygon. The hand model may also hold texture information and amplify the realism of the hand model.

  Next, in step S110, the superimposed image creating unit 18 reads the GUI parts previously held by the GUI parts holding unit 17, and creates an operation image in which the read GUI parts are arranged. Here, the GUI part is a button or the like to which a control command displayed on the display unit 3 is assigned. The GUI parts and the arrangement method thereof may be general. Thereafter, the superimposed image creating unit 18 creates a superimposed image by superimposing the hand model reflected in the deformation in step S109 and the operation image on which the GUI parts are arranged, and displays the superimposed image on the display unit 3. .

  Next, in step S111, the collision determination unit 19 determines whether or not there is a collision between the GUI part and the fingertip position point of the hand model. Details of the collision determination will be described later. If it is determined that there is no collision, the processes in steps S101 to S111 are repeated, and the hand model in the superimposed image is deformed according to the movement of the operator's hand. If it is determined that there is a collision, the collision determination unit 19 notifies the command transmission unit 20 of the command assigned to the GUI part that has the collision, and proceeds to step S112.

  In step S112, the command transmission unit 20 transmits the notified command to the operation target device 4, and the process returns to step S101. The operation target device 4 receives and executes the transmitted command. By repeating the above processing, the input device 100 operates the operation target device 4 by repeatedly transmitting a command. Note that the processing ends when the start switch is turned off by an operator or the like.

  By the operation described above, the operator can operate the hand model in the superimposed image by moving his / her hand while viewing the superimposed image displayed on the display unit 3. Then, the operator can operate the operation target device 4 by operating the hand model and superimposing the position of the fingertip on the GUI part.

  Below, each step demonstrated using FIG. 3 is demonstrated in detail.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the contact area detector 1 in steps S101 and S102 of FIG. FIG. 5A shows an example of a state where the operator's hand is placed on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit 1. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the contact point group detected by the contact area detection unit 1 as a black circle group. As shown in FIG. 5, the contact area detection unit 1 detects a contact area of the hand by detecting a contact point (contact point group) in steps S <b> 101 and S <b> 102 of FIG. 3.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining step S102 of FIG. 3 in detail. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the fingertip position points acquired in step S102 of FIG. Hereinafter, the process of step S102 of FIG. 3 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  First, in S102-1, the movement amount calculation unit 12 acquires data indicating the contact point group described with reference to FIG.

  Next, in step S102-2, the movement amount calculation unit 12 calculates a plurality of regions based on the positional relationship between the contact points. A general method may be used as a method of calculating a plurality of regions in S102-2. For example, when there are other contact points in the vicinity of the contact point, there is a method of dividing these contact points into a plurality of regions by regarding them as the same region.

  Next, in step S102-3, the movement amount calculation unit 12 performs an ellipse fitting process on each region calculated in step S102-2. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a calculation method of fingertip position points. In step S102-3, the movement amount calculation unit 12 encloses the contact point group of the finger with an ellipse as indicated by an ellipse A in FIG. Thereafter, the movement amount calculation unit 12 sets, for example, the center of the ellipse A as the fingertip position point (see FIG. 7B). It should be noted that the fingertip position point may be determined by using another method or another position.

  After determining the fingertip position points, the contact area is obtained for each fingertip position point. The contact area is an area where each fingertip is in contact with the operation surface. For example, when the fingertip position point is obtained by ellipse fitting as described above, it can be obtained by calculating the area of the ellipse. Further, the number of contact points in each region can be used as the contact area.

  Next, in step S102-4, the movement amount calculation unit 12 holds the position and contact area of the fingertip position point acquired in step S102-3. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the position of the fingertip position point acquired in step S102-3 in FIG. In FIG. 8, a black circle indicates a fingertip position point 801, and a dotted ellipse 802 indicates a contact area region.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining in detail the processing in step S105 in FIG. First, in step S105-1, the movement amount calculation unit 12 notifies the operator to open a hand on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit 1, and acquires the four initial position points and the contact area. .

  Next, in step S105-2, the movement amount calculation unit 12 uses the initial position point (fingertip position point) acquired in step S105-1 and the model that is the model that the model holding unit 15 holds from the beginning. The initial model is created by deforming the model hand model so that the corresponding fingertip position point of the hand model overlaps. Here, the four initial position points correspond to the little finger, ring finger, middle finger, and index finger, respectively. If the operator's operation is limited to the left hand, use the left hand model hand model so that the initial position point overlaps with the little finger, ring finger, middle finger, and index finger in that order from the left. Deform the model to create an initial hand model.

  Here, when creating the initial hand model, it is necessary to know from which direction the operator has entered the hand with respect to the contact area detection unit 1. When the hand is entered from the opposite direction, the initial hand model is created in the opposite direction even if the same four initial position points are used. Therefore, it is assumed in advance which direction the operator enters the hand with respect to the contact area detection unit 1.

  FIG. 19 shows an example of the position where the contact area detector 1 is installed in the vehicle. FIG. 19A is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where it is attached to the center console of the vehicle. FIG. 19B is a diagram illustrating an example when the contact area detection unit 1 is attached to the operation unit of the vehicle door. FIG. 19C is a diagram illustrating an example of the case where the contact area detection unit 1 is attached to a vehicle handle. By attaching the contact area detection unit 1 to the position of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 19A, it is possible that the operator as a driver causes the left hand to enter the direction of the arrow 1901 with respect to the contact area detection unit 1 in advance. I understand. Further, by attaching the contact area detection unit 1 to the position of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 19B, the operator as a driver causes the right hand to enter the direction of the arrow 1902 with respect to the contact area detection unit 1. Is known in advance. In the case of FIG. 19C, it is known in advance that the operator who is a driver causes his / her hand to enter the contact area detection unit 1 in the direction of the arrow 1903. However, in this case, since the operator does not know whether to operate with the right hand or the left hand, it is only necessary to be able to input information on whether to operate with the right hand or the left hand according to the operator's preference in advance. .

  Further, when the operator operates with the right hand or the left hand, usually the little finger is smaller than the other fingers and the contact area with the operation surface is also small, so the contact area acquired in step S105-1 is the smallest. It is also possible to determine the region as a little finger and identify the right hand or the left hand from the positional relationship with other regions. That is, if the region specified as the little finger is located on the leftmost side from the other three regions, it is determined as the left hand, and the left hand template hand model is deformed. On the other hand, if the region specified as the little finger is located on the rightmost side from the other three regions, it is determined as the right hand, and the model hand model of the right hand is deformed.

  Returning to FIG. 9, thereafter, the movement amount calculation unit 12 displays the created initial hand model on the display unit 3. By this processing, the movement amount calculation unit 12 can create an initial hand model reflecting the size of the operator's hand and display it on the display unit 3.

  Next, in step S105-3, the movement amount calculation unit 12 stores the position and contact area of the initial position point acquired in step S105-1 and the initial hand model created in step S105-2 in the model holding unit 15. Save and return to step S102 (see FIG. 3).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of steps S107 and S108 of FIG. The processes in steps S107 and S108 in FIG. 3 are performed as a unit. Therefore, hereinafter, the processes of steps S107 and S108 of FIG. 3 will be described simultaneously with reference to FIG. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the subject that executes each step of FIG. 10 is referred to as the model movement amount determination unit 13 or the finger bending angle determination unit 14, but this subject may be replaced depending on the step.

  First, in step S178-1, the model movement amount determination unit 13 determines whether any fingertip position point has moved from the movement amount from the initial position point of the fingertip position point acquired in step S106. . If any fingertip position point has not moved, the process proceeds to step S109, and if any fingertip position point has moved, the process proceeds to step S178-2.

  Next, in step S178-2, the model movement amount determination unit 13 determines whether or not all four fingertip position points have moved in the same direction (upward or downward direction shown in FIG. 5). If all four fingertip position points have moved in the same direction, the process proceeds to step S178-3. If not, the process proceeds to step S178-6.

  Next, in step S178-3, the model movement amount determination unit 13 determines whether or not the contact area of the fingertip position point acquired in step S106 has changed from the contact area of the initial position point. FIG. 11 shows a change in the contact area of each fingertip position point when the operator moves the hand on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit 1. FIG. 11A shows a case where the operator bends four fingers without moving the entire hand, and the contact position between the operation surface and the finger is changed from the belly portion of each finger by bending the finger. Since it moves toward the nail, the contact area becomes small. Conversely, when the finger is extended from the bent state, the contact area increases. FIG. 11B shows a case where the operator moves the entire hand on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit 1 downward, and the contact position between the operation surface and the finger remains the belly part of each finger. The contact area does not change much.

  Although the two cannot be distinguished from each other only by the movement of the fingertip position point, in step S178-3, the two are distinguished by utilizing the difference in the change in the contact area. That is, when the change in the contact area of the fingertip position point acquired in step S106 indicates a decrease from the contact area of the initial position point, it is determined that the operator has bent the finger, and the bending angle of the finger is determined. When the calculation process (steps S178-6 and S178-7) proceeds and the change in the contact area at the fingertip position point acquired in step S106 indicates that the contact area at the initial position point has not changed. Then, it is determined that the operator has moved the entire hand on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit 1 downward or upward, and the process proceeds to the process of translating the hand model (steps S178-4 and S178-5).

  Here, since the contact area slightly changes depending on the size of the operator's hand and how the finger is pressed against the operation surface of the contact area detection unit 1, a predetermined threshold is set for the rate of change of the contact area before and after the movement of the fingertip position point. It may be determined in advance that the contact area has changed when the rate of change (absolute value) of the contact area is greater than a predetermined threshold. Further, the change rate of the contact area may be calculated for each fingertip position point, or the change rate may be calculated by the sum of the contact areas corresponding to the four fingertip position points.

  Next, in step S178-4, the model movement amount determination unit 13 determines the movement amount from the initial position of the fingertip position point acquired in step S106 as the parallel movement amount of the hand model, and in step S178-5, The current fingertip position point is stored in the model holding unit 15 as the initial position point of the hand model.

  In step S178-6, the model movement amount determination unit 13 calculates the distance between the base point of the hand model and each fingertip position point. Here, the base point of the hand model is a point on the lower palm side and the center of the hand model, which is a reference position of the hand model. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating distances R1 to R4 from the base point 1202 of the hand model 1201 to the fingertip position points 1211 to 1214. Since the operator bends or stretches the finger without moving the entire hand, the base point 1202 of the hand model does not move. The amount of change in length of R1 to R4 shown in FIG. 12 is the amount of movement caused by finger bending, respectively. The model movement amount determination unit 13 determines the movement amount from the initial position of the fingertip position point acquired in step S106 as the movement amount generated by finger bending.

  Next, in step S178-7, the finger bending angle determination unit 14 determines the bending angle of each joint of each finger, using the movement amount by finger bending calculated in step S178-6.

  Here, there is an inverse kinematics (hereinafter referred to as IK) technique known in the robot engineering field or the like as a method for obtaining the bending angle of the finger joint from the displacement of the fingertip. The IK technique is used to move the tip of an arm having a plurality of movable parts to a target position. When the arm has a plurality of movable parts, there are a plurality of solutions for the bending angle of the movable part in order to move the tip of the arm to the target position using the IK technique.

  Also in the present invention, since the finger has a plurality of joints, there are a plurality of solutions for the bending angles of the finger joints. For this reason, in the present invention, as an example, using the constraint condition that the palm and fingertip of the operator exist on the operation surface (on the same plane) and the constraint condition that the bending angles of the finger joints are equal, Is uniquely determined.

  FIG. 13A shows the displacement of the fingertip position point when the index finger is bent as an example. FIG. 13B is a side view of the hand model of the index finger 1300 in the bent state shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 13, since the three finger joints usually bend at the same time when the fingers are bent, the operator feels uncomfortable when the hand model is deformed using the constraint that the bending angles 1301 to 1303 of the finger joints are equal. The operation can be performed without. Further, when the hand model is deformed using such a constraint condition, the amount of calculation can be greatly reduced, and therefore the hand model that responds instantaneously to the movement of the operator's hand can be deformed.

  Note that the constraint condition for calculating the bending angle of the finger joint is not limited to this, and may be a constraint condition for uniquely obtaining a solution. However, as described above, the constraint condition for calculating the bending angle of the finger joint is preferably a constraint condition that is a hand model that does not cause the operator to feel uncomfortable, and is a hand model that allows the operator to act naturally. Restraint conditions are preferred. In addition, as a method for obtaining the bending angle of the arm movable portion from the target position in the IK technique, a method of repeatedly calculating using a Jacobian matrix, a method of calculating geometrically, and the like are known. May be used.

  By performing the series of processes described above, the model movement amount determination unit 13 and the finger bending angle determination unit 14 perform the processes of steps S107 and S108 in FIG. 3 to determine the parallel movement amount of the hand model and each finger joint. Determine the bend angle.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the process of step S109 of FIG. By the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 14, the deformed shape of the hand model is determined using the values determined in steps S107 and S108. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 14, step S109 in FIG. 3 will be described in detail.

  First, in step S109-1, the model shape determination unit 16 determines the position of the hand model using the parallel movement amount of the hand model determined in step S107.

  Next, in step S109-2, the model shape determining unit 16 determines the deformed shape of the hand model using the bending angle of each finger joint determined in step S108. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S110.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a specific example of the deformation of the hand model in step S109 of FIG. FIG. 15A shows an initial position point (a fingertip position point in a state where the operator opens his hand). FIG. 15B is an initial hand model drawn using the initial position points shown in FIG. FIG. 15C shows a fingertip position point when the operator bends the index finger as an example. FIG. 15D is a hand model deformed using the fingertip position points shown in FIG. FIGS. 16A and 16B are views of the hand model shown in FIGS. 15B and 15D as viewed from the side. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, in step S <b> 109 of FIG. 3, the hand model is deformed realistically according to the deformation of the operator's hand.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the process of step S110 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 17, in step S <b> 110, the superimposed image creating unit 18 creates a superimposed image 1720 by superimposing the operation image 1700 on which the GUI parts 1701 are arranged and the deformed hand model 1710, and the display unit 3. To display. Note that when the superimposed image 1720 is created, the hand model may be made semi-transparent or the like in order to make it easy to visually recognize the GUI part that overlaps the hand model.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the processing in step S111 in FIG. As indicated by an arrow 1820 in FIG. 18, when the GUI parts 1801 to 1804 and the fingertip position point of the hand model 1810 overlap each other, the collision determination unit 19 performs the GUI part 1801. ˜1804 and the fingertip position point of the hand model 1810 are determined to have collided. In the case of FIG. 18, the collision determination unit 19 notifies the command transmission unit 20 of the command assigned to the GUI part 1802 for which the collision is determined.

  Thereafter, the command is transmitted to the operation target device 4 in step S112. The operation target device 4 executes the received command.

  As described above, according to the input device 100 according to the present invention, even when the operator is away from the display unit 3, the operator can perform an operation while maintaining an intuitive operational feeling of the touch panel display. Further, the input device 100 according to the present invention can display a hand model that faithfully reproduces the movement of the operator's finger on the display unit 3. As a result, the input device 100 according to the present invention can provide the operator with a comfortable operation feeling without a sense of incongruity.

  In the present embodiment, four fingertip position points and contact areas are acquired, but the number is not limited to four. If the right hand or the left hand is known and the finger touching can be identified (for example, touching with the index finger), the position of the hand model can be determined if the hand approach direction is known. The fingertip position point and the contact area may be acquired.

(Embodiment 2)
The hardware configuration and functional blocks of the input device according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The input device according to the second embodiment differs from the input device 100 according to the first embodiment in the configuration of the contact area detection unit. The contact area detection unit 1 according to the first embodiment is a touch pad that can acquire each contact area independently, but the contact area detection unit according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. The sensor detects the X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the contact area independently and detects the intersection as the contact area.

  Fig.20 (a) is a figure which shows the structural example of the contact area | region detection part 1a which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. However, an area on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit 1a is represented by an X coordinate and a Y coordinate. The longitudinal direction of the operator's hand is defined as the direction of the Y coordinate axis, and the direction orthogonal to the Y coordinate axis is defined as the direction of the X coordinate axis.

  In FIG. 20A, the contact area detection unit 1a includes a large number of light emitting units that emit light in a direction perpendicular to the X coordinate axis, and a large number of light receiving units that receive light emitted from the large number of light emitting units. The contact area detection unit 1a includes a large number of light emitting units that emit light in a direction perpendicular to the Y coordinate axis, and a large number of light receiving units that receive the light emitted by the large number of light emitting units.

  For example, when the shape of the operation surface is a rectangle, the contact area detection unit 1a includes a plurality of light emitting units that emit light on one side of two sides that are parallel to the X coordinate axis and face each other, and the light emitting unit on the other side. And a large number of light receiving parts for receiving the light emitted by. In addition, the contact area detection unit 1a is parallel to the Y coordinate axis and has a large number of light emitting units that emit light on one side of two sides facing each other, and a large number of light receiving units that receive light emitted by the light emitting unit on the other side. A part.

  When the operator's hand comes into contact with the operation surface, a part of the light emitted from the many light emitting units is blocked by the operator's hands and cannot reach some of the light receiving units. The X coordinate and Y coordinate of the contact area can be detected.

  FIG. 20B is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the contact area detection unit 1b according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 20B, the contact region detection unit 1b includes a substrate on which a striped conductive film that flows current in a stripe shape in the X coordinate direction and a striped conductive film that flows current in a stripe shape in the Y coordinate direction. The formed substrate is configured to overlap vertically so that the conductive films face each other through a predetermined space. In this example, the stripe-like conductive film in the X coordinate direction is overlaid on the upper side, and the stripe-like conductive film in the Y coordinate direction is overlaid on the lower side. When a hand touches the operation surface, the stripe-shaped conductive film in the X-coordinate direction and the stripe-shaped conductive film in the Y-coordinate direction that are normally separated from each other are energized at the contact position, and the contact area detection unit 1b The X coordinate and Y coordinate of the region can be detected.

  In addition, a capacitance method or the like can also be used as a sensor that detects the X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the contact area independently and detects the intersection as the contact area.

  However, when these detection-type sensors are used in the contact area detection unit, there are the following problems. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a problem of the contact area detection unit according to the second embodiment. However, an area represented by an X coordinate and a Y coordinate is referred to as an (X, Y) area. Assuming the shape of the human left hand on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit, it is assumed that the fingertip of the operator is in contact at a point indicated by a black circle. Since the contact area detection unit uses the detection method as described above, the area other than the (X1, Y2) area 2101, the (X2, Y1) area 2102, the (X3, Y1) area 2103, and the (X4, Y1) area 2104 In addition, the (X1, Y1) region 2111, (X2, Y2) region 2112, (X3, Y2) region 2113, (X4, Y2) region 2114 are detected when the operator's fingertip is not actually touching. Resulting in. In addition, the Y coordinates of the (X2, Y1) region 2102, (X3, Y1) region 2103, and (X4, Y1) region 2104 are the same. For example, in the case of the contact area detection unit 1a, since the Y coordinates of the ring finger, the middle finger, and the index finger are close to each other, the light emitted from the light emitting unit is blocked by these three fingers and cannot be specified separately. This is because it is only possible to detect that the area is within the wide area Y1.

  In response to the problems described above, when creating the initial hand model in step S105 of FIG. 3 of the first embodiment, the time difference when the operator places each finger on the contact area detection unit is used. For example, a method of specifying a contact area can be considered. However, in the same way as shown in FIG. 11 of the first embodiment, the movement of the fingertip position point alone may cause the operator to bend four fingers without moving the entire hand, and There is a problem that it is impossible to distinguish the case where the entire hand on the operation surface of the detection unit is moved downward.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the problem is solved as follows with respect to the problem described above. FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining a method of distinguishing between the contact position detection units 1a or 1b shown in FIG. FIG. 22A is a view showing a case where the operator bends four fingers without moving the entire hand as in FIG. 11A, and FIG. 22B is a view similar to FIG. It is a figure which shows the case where the whole hand on the operation surface of a contact area | region detection part is moved below.

  In FIG. 22A, contact areas 2201 to 2204 corresponding to the little finger, ring finger, middle finger, and index finger move from left to contact areas 2211 to 2214 by bending four fingers without moving the entire hand. . At this time, since the contact position between the operation surface and the finger is moved from the belly portion of each finger toward the nail by bending the finger, the area of the contact region is reduced. Therefore, the area of the Y coordinate detected when using the contact area detection unit 1a or 1b moves from the area Y1 to the area Y3 and from the area Y2 to the area Y4, and the width of each area becomes small.

  In FIG. 22B, contact areas 2201 to 2204 corresponding to the little finger, ring finger, middle finger, and index finger from the left move to the contact areas 2221 to 2224 by moving the entire hand on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit downward. Has moved. At this time, the contact position between the operation surface and the finger remains the belly part of each finger, and the contact area does not change much. Therefore, the area of the Y coordinate detected when the contact area detection unit 1a or 1b is used moves from the area Y1 to the area Y5 and from the area Y2 to the area Y6, respectively, and the width of each area does not change much.

  Although the two cannot be distinguished from each other only by the movement of the fingertip position point, both can be distinguished from each other using the difference in the change in the width of the Y-coordinate region as in the first embodiment.

  That is, in the present embodiment, in step S102 of FIG. 3 of the first embodiment, the model movement amount determination unit acquires the width of the Y coordinate region as the contact area of the fingertip position point, and step S178 of FIG. In −3, the model movement amount determination unit detects a change in the width of the Y coordinate region as a change in the contact area.

  When the absolute value of the rate of change from the initial state of the width of the Y coordinate area indicating the contact area is smaller than a predetermined threshold, the model movement amount determination unit determines the movement amount of the contact area from the initial state in parallel with the CG model. When the absolute value of the change rate from the initial state of the width of the Y-coordinate region indicating the contact region is larger than a predetermined threshold, the amount of movement of the contact region from the initial state is determined by the finger bending of the CG model. It is determined as the amount of movement.

  The present invention can be used for an input device, an input method, and the like, and is particularly useful when a CG model of an operator's hand is more realistically deformed in accordance with the movement of the operator's hand.

The figure for demonstrating the outline | summary of operation | movement of the input device 100 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structural example of the input device 100 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the input device 100 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the hand model which the model holding part 15 hold | maintains FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the contact area detection unit 1 in steps S101 and S102 of FIG. 3, (a) a diagram showing an example of a state where an operator's hand is placed on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit 1 (B) The contact point group detected by the contact area detector 1 is represented by a black circle group. Flowchart for explaining step S102 in FIG. 3 in detail FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining the fingertip position points acquired in step S102 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 3A shows an example in which a contact point group is subjected to ellipse fitting processing, and FIG. Figure The figure which shows an example of the position of the fingertip position point acquired by step S102-3 of FIG. Flowchart for explaining in detail the process of step S105 in FIG. Flowchart for explaining the processing of steps S107 and S108 in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a change in contact area of each fingertip position point when the operator moves the hand on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit 1, and (a) the operator bends four fingers without moving the entire hand. (B) The figure which shows the case where the operator moves the whole hand on the operation surface of the contact area detection part 1 downward. The figure which shows distance R1-R4 from a base point to each fingertip position point FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining a finger bending angle of a hand model in step S108 of FIG. 3, (a) a diagram showing displacement of a fingertip position point when the index finger 1300 is bent, and (b) a bent state. View of hand model of index finger 1300 from the side Flowchart for explaining the process of step S109 of FIG. FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a specific example of deformation of the hand model in step S <b> 109 in FIG. 3, (a) a diagram showing an initial position point, (b) a diagram showing an initial hand model drawn using the initial position point, and (c). The figure which shows the fingertip position point when an operator bends the index finger, (d) The figure which shows the hand model deform | transformed using the fingertip position point when the index finger is bent 15 is a view of the hand model shown in FIG. 15 viewed from the side, (a) a view of the hand model shown in FIG. 15b as viewed from the side, and (b) a view of the hand model shown in FIG. 15d as viewed from the side. The figure for demonstrating the process of step S110 of FIG. The figure for demonstrating the process of step S111 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the installation position to the vehicle of the contact region detection part 1, (a) A figure which shows an example at the time of being attached to the center console of a vehicle, (b) When it is attached to the operation part of the door of a vehicle The figure which shows an example, (c) The figure which shows an example at the time of attaching to the steering wheel of a vehicle It is a figure which shows the structural example of the contact area | region detection part which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (a) The figure which shows the structural example which detects a contact position with a light emission part and a light-receiving part, (b) By striped conductive film The figure which shows the structural example which detects a contact position The figure explaining the subject of the contact area detection part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a change in a Y coordinate area indicating a contact area when the contact position detection unit 1a or 1b is used, and (a) a diagram showing a case where an operator bends four fingers without moving the entire hand. (B) The figure which shows the case where an operator moves the whole hand on the operation surface of a contact area detection part downward.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a, 1b Contact area | region detection part 2 Calculation part 3 Display part 4 Operation object apparatus 12 Movement amount calculation part 13 Model movement amount determination part 14 Finger bending angle determination part 15 Model holding part 16 Model shape determination part 17 GUI parts holding part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 Superimposed image preparation part 19 Collision determination part 20 Command transmission part 100 Input device

Claims (6)

An input device for operating a device by displaying a CG model of a hand placed on an operation surface on a display unit,
A contact area detector that detects a plurality of contact areas between the operation surface and the hand;
A movement amount calculation unit for calculating a movement amount of the contact region and an area change of the contact region from an initial state in which the finger of the hand is extended;
A model movement amount determination unit that determines a movement amount of the CG model based on a movement amount of the contact region from the initial state and a change in the area of the contact region, and a movement amount by finger bending;
A finger bending angle determination unit that determines a bending angle of each finger joint of the CG model based on a movement amount by the finger bending;
A model shape determining unit that determines a position and a deformed shape of the CG model according to a parallel movement amount of the CG model and a bending angle of each finger joint;
A GUI parts holding unit for holding GUI parts to which commands for the device are assigned;
A superimposed image creating unit that creates an image in which the CG model whose shape is determined by the model shape determining unit and a GUI part held in the GUI part holding unit are superimposed and displayed on the display unit;
A collision determination unit that determines a collision between the GUI part and the fingertip of the CG model;
When a collision is determined by the collision determination unit, an input device includes a command transmission unit that transmits a command assigned to the GUI part for which the collision is determined to the device. The movement amount calculation unit determines a fingertip position point indicating a position corresponding to the fingertip in the contact area, and uses the fingertip position point to move the contact area from an initial state where the finger is extended. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is calculated. The model movement amount determination unit determines the movement amount of the contact region from the initial state in parallel with the CG model when the absolute value of the change rate of the area of the contact region from the initial state is smaller than a predetermined threshold. When the absolute value of the change rate of the area of the contact region from the initial state is larger than a predetermined threshold, the amount of movement of the contact region from the initial state is determined by finger bending of the CG model. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is determined as a movement amount. The finger bending angle determination unit determines a bending angle of each finger joint of the CG model using a constraint condition that a bending angle of each finger joint of the same finger of the CG model is constant. The input device according to claim 1. When the area on the operation surface of the contact area detection unit is represented by the X coordinate and the Y coordinate,
The contact area detection unit includes a sensor that detects the X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the contact area independently and detects the intersection as a contact area.
The model movement amount determination unit moves the contact area from the initial state when the absolute value of the rate of change from the initial state of the width of the Y coordinate area indicating the contact area is smaller than a predetermined threshold. When the absolute value of the rate of change from the initial state of the width of the Y-coordinate region indicating the contact region is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the contact from the initial state The input device according to claim 1, wherein the movement amount of the region is determined as a movement amount by finger bending of the CG model. An input method for operating a device by displaying a CG model of a hand placed on an operation surface on a display unit,
A contact area detection step of detecting a plurality of contact areas between the operation surface and the hand;
A movement amount calculating step for calculating a movement amount of the contact region and an area change of the contact region from an initial state in which the finger of the hand is extended; and
A model movement amount determination step for determining a movement amount of the CG model based on a movement amount of the contact region from the initial state and a change in the area of the contact region, and a movement amount by finger bending;
A finger bending angle determination step for determining a bending angle of each finger joint of the CG model based on a movement amount by the finger bending;
A model shape determining step for determining a position and a deformed shape of the CG model according to a parallel movement amount of the CG model and a bending angle of each finger joint;
A superimposed image creating step of creating an image in which the CG model whose shape is determined in the model shape determining step and a GUI part that is held in advance to which a command for the device is assigned is superimposed and displayed on the display unit; ,
A collision determination step of determining a collision between the GUI part and the fingertip of the CG model;
When a collision is determined by the collision determination step, a command transmission step of transmitting a command assigned to the GUI part determined to have the collision to the device.

Images