JP2011220894A - Hand waving action detecting apparatus and electric equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To expand the detectable range of hand waving actions and to reliably detect hand waving with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A hand waving action detecting apparatus 10 is equipped with capacitance sensor units 1 through 4 arranged in different positions outside a prescribed area D of electric equipment and with a circuit unit 20 that determines at least a direction of a hand waving action on the basis of capacitance sent from the capacitance sensor units 1 through 4. The circuit unit 20 includes an arithmetic processing unit 25 that detects the peak of capacitance value from each of the capacitance sensor units 1 through 4 by measuring the capacitance of each of the multiple capacitance sensor units 1 through 4 over time and determines the direction of the hand waving action in the prescribed area on the basis of the time differences among the peaks detected by different capacitance sensor units and the arranged positions of the capacitance sensor units detecting each peak.

Description

  The present invention relates to a hand movement detection device and an electric device that detect a hand movement.

  2. Description of the Related Art A hand shaking detection method and device (for example, see Patent Document 1 below) is known as a device that detects the action of a hand shake and controls the operation of an electrical device. This hand shake detection device emits pulsed light with different phases from the four light emitting elements, receives light reflected from the hand by the emitted light by the light receiving element, and moves and moves the hand shake based on the received light amount. Detect hand gestures including speed.

JP-A-10-148640

  However, in the hand shake detection device disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, the hand shaking state is detected by an optical means in which reflected light obtained by reflecting light emitted from the light emitting element to the hand is received by the light receiving element. For this reason, there is a problem that the detection range of the hand movement is narrowed and erroneous detection and malfunction are likely to occur.

  In order to solve the above-described problems caused by the prior art, the present invention provides a hand motion detection device and an electric device that can detect a hand motion reliably by expanding the detection range of the hand motion with a simple configuration. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a hand movement detection device according to the present invention includes a plurality of capacitance sensor units provided at different positions outside a predetermined region of an electric device, and the plurality of electrostatic capacitances. Detection means for detecting capacitance values based on the capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor unit, and at least the hand movement operation on the predetermined area based on each capacitance value detected by the detection means And determining means for determining the orientation of the.

  According to the hand movement detection device of the present invention, at least an operation of a hand movement operation on a predetermined area is performed by each capacitance value from a plurality of capacitance sensor units provided at different positions outside the predetermined area of the electric device. Since the direction can be determined, it is possible to widen the detection range of the hand movement operation with a simple configuration and reliably detect the hand movement operation.

  The plurality of capacitance sensor units include, for example, first and second capacitance sensor units arranged on a straight line crossing the predetermined region. The plurality of capacitance sensor units include a third capacitance sensor unit provided at a position different from the first and second capacitance sensor units, for example.

  The determination means detects, for example, a capacitance value peak from each capacitance sensor unit by measuring capacitance with time in each of the plurality of capacitance sensor units, and different capacitance sensor units. The direction of the hand movement operation on the predetermined area is determined on the basis of the time difference between the peaks detected from the first and second positions and the arrangement position of the capacitance sensor unit that detects each peak.

  Further, the determination means detects a capacitance value peak from each capacitance sensor unit by, for example, measuring capacitance with time in each of the first and second capacitance sensor units. , The time difference from the peak detection time in the first capacitance sensor unit to the peak detection time in the second capacitance sensor unit, and the first time from the peak detection time in the second capacitance sensor unit. The first and second capacitance sensor units based on the comparison result with the time difference until the peak detection in the capacitance sensor unit and the arrangement positions of the first and second capacitance sensor units. The direction of the hand movement along the direction connecting the two is determined.

  Further, the determination means detects the peak of the capacitance value from each capacitance sensor unit by measuring the capacitance with time in each of the first to third capacitance sensor units, for example. And passing through the first to third capacitance sensor units based on the time difference between the peaks detected from different capacitance sensor units and the arrangement position of the capacitance sensor unit detecting each peak. The direction of the hand movement along the surface direction is determined.

  In addition, when the capacitance value exceeding a predetermined threshold value does not change by a predetermined amount for a predetermined time, the determination unit compares the capacitance values to determine the detection position of the hand in the predetermined region. You may make it determine, and you may make it further determine at least 1 of the operation speed and the frequency | count of an operation | movement of the said hand movement operation | movement.

  Moreover, the structure further provided with the output means which outputs the determination result determined by the said determination means with respect to the control means of the said electric equipment may be sufficient.

  An electrical apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by including the hand movement detection device according to any one of the above-described inventions. In the electric device according to the present invention, the predetermined area is, for example, a display area in display means of the electric apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to widen the detection range of the hand movement operation with a simple configuration and reliably detect the hand movement.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the hand movement motion detection apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the partial structure of the electrostatic capacitance sensor part and circuit part of the same hand movement motion detection apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the mode of a change of the electrostatic capacitance value detected by the electrostatic capacitance sensor part. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the hand movement operation | movement detection processing procedure by the hand movement operation detection apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of a hand movement operation | movement. It is a figure which shows the mode of a change of an electrostatic capacitance value. It is a figure which shows the example of installation of the electric equipment provided with the hand movement motion detection apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the hand movement operation | movement detection processing procedure by the hand movement operation detection apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the electrostatic capacitance value detected by the electrostatic capacitance sensor part, and a threshold value. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of a hand movement operation | movement. It is a figure which shows the mode of a change of an electrostatic capacitance value. It is a figure for demonstrating the detection position determination by the same hand movement motion detection apparatus. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the hand movement motion detection apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the electrostatic capacitance detection circuit of the hand movement motion detection apparatus which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of a hand movement detection device and an electric device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a hand movement detection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a partial configuration of the capacitance sensor unit and the circuit unit of the hand movement detection device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a change in the capacitance value detected by the capacitance sensor unit.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hand movement detection device 10 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of capacitance sensor units 1, 1 provided at different positions outside a predetermined region D of an electric device (not shown). 2, 3, and 4, and a circuit unit 20 that determines at least the direction of the hand movement based on the capacitance detected by the plurality of capacitance sensors 1 to 4. .

  In FIG. 1, each of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 includes, for example, capacitance sensor units 1 and 2 arranged on a straight line that crosses the predetermined region D, and another straight line that intersects the straight line and the predetermined region D. Capacitance sensors 3 and 4 are respectively arranged on the top. Specifically, the capacitance sensor units 1 and 2 are arranged opposite to each other with the predetermined region D interposed therebetween, and the capacitance sensor units 3 and 4 are arranged opposite to each other with the predetermined region D interposed therebetween. . A combination of the upper and lower capacitance sensor units 1 and 2 constitutes one set, and a combination of the left and right capacitance sensor units 3 and 4 constitutes another set.

  Here, in the following description, the hand movement operation means an operation in which the hand is reciprocated a plurality of times, and the direction of the hand movement operation is any one of the reciprocating movements of the hand. This refers to the direction indicated by the movement of the direction, but the direction of movement of the hand and the speed of the movement of the hand associated with the movement of only one direction of movement of the hand are the hand movements according to the present embodiment. Also in the detection apparatus 10, it can obtain | require as follows. Specifically, for example, a case where the hand moves from the vicinity of the center of the capacitance sensor unit 1 to the vicinity of the center of the capacitance sensor unit 2 through the center on the predetermined region D is considered as a detection example 1. Try.

  In this detection example 1, as shown in FIG. 3, the capacitance values C1, C2, C3, C4 indicating the capacitance detected over time by the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 are electrostatic capacitances. Regarding the capacitance sensor units 3 and 4, since the hand passes through the intermediate point between them, the capacitance values C3 and C4 hardly change. However, for the capacitance sensor units 1 and 2, the peak of the capacitance value C1 is detected after the peak of the capacitance value C1 (hereinafter simply abbreviated as “peak”) is detected first. It becomes such a change.

  Accordingly, if the order of detection of such peaks in the circuit unit 20 and the arrangement position of the capacitance sensor unit that has detected the peaks are obtained, the direction of one hand shake (here, from top to bottom) is determined. Can be determined. Moreover, if the arrangement position (distance between arrangement | positioning) of the electrostatic capacitance sensor parts 1-4 and the time ta (time difference) between the peak detection time t1, t2 are used, it will also obtain | require the moving speed of one hand by it. it can.

  As described above, the movement direction and movement speed can be easily obtained for a single gesture operation without going through complicated arithmetic processing, etc., but at least the direction of the movement is determined for a plurality of gesture operations. It is difficult to identify easily.

  That is, considering the example shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the hand shaking operation is performed a plurality of times, the peaks of the capacitance values C <b> 1 and C <b> 2 are detected alternately. In such a case, as the movement direction, two directions, such as the above from the top to the bottom and the opposite from the bottom to the top, can be identified.

  However, in this case, whether the multiple hand movements are simply turning the hand up or down, or that means (instructing) the direction from the top to the bottom (or vice versa). It is impossible to recognize whether there is, that is, what the multiple hand gestures are actually intended for. This also applies to the above-described prior art.

  Therefore, in the hand movement operation detection device 10 according to the first embodiment, the plurality of hand movement operations indicate at least the direction of the operation from the top to the bottom, for example (ie, the hand movement operation from the top to the bottom is performed). Whether the movement is performed multiple times) or indicating the direction of the movement from the bottom to the top (that is, the hand movement movement from the bottom to the top is performed a plurality of times) with a simple configuration. (Similarly, it is possible to determine the direction of motion of a plurality of hand movements in the left-right direction).

  Therefore, for example, when the hand movement operation is repeated a plurality of times and the direction of the operation is to be given to the electric device as an instruction regarding some control necessary as information, the hand movement operation detection device 10 is capable of performing the hand movement operation. It is possible to accurately and surely determine an intended instruction and output it to an electrical device.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 is configured such that a detection range exists on the detection surface (sensor surface) side, for example, a sensor electrode formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. 7, a shield electrode 8 formed in the shape of a rectangular flat plate on the back side of the sensor electrode 7, and a shield electrode formed on the same plane as the sensor electrode 7 and formed in a square shape surrounding the sensor electrode 7 9.

  The sensor electrode 7 detects a hand (or a human body) that falls within the detection range on the detection surface side. The shield electrode 8 shields the sensor electrode 7 from being detected on the back side. The shield electrode 9 defines a detection range around the main surface of the sensor electrode 7.

  On the other hand, the circuit unit 20 includes, for example, a plurality of capacitance detection circuits 21, 22, 23, and 24 connected to the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4, and the plurality of capacitance detection circuits 21 to 24, respectively. A / D converters 21a, 22a, 23a, and 24a connected to each other, and an arithmetic processing unit 25 connected to these A / D converters 21a to 24a are provided.

  Each of the capacitance detection circuits 21 to 24 has a CV conversion function for converting, for example, capacitance (Capacitance) detected by the sensor electrodes 7 of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 into voltage (Voltage). For example, a circuit for measuring a known CR charge / discharge time, a circuit for transferring charged charges to a known capacitor, a circuit for measuring impedance, a circuit for configuring an oscillation circuit and measuring an oscillation frequency, and the like are used. be able to. The A / D converters 21a to 24a convert analog signals indicating voltages output from the capacitance detection circuits 21 to 24, respectively, into digital signals.

  The arithmetic processing unit 25 includes, for example, a CPU (not shown), a storage unit such as a RAM used as a temporary storage area thereof, a ROM for data storage, and the like, and controls the entire hand movement detection device 10, At least the direction of the movement is determined, or a function as an output means for outputting the determined determination result to the outside is provided.

  Each of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 is formed, for example, separately on a plurality of substrates (not shown) or integrally on one substrate. As this board | substrate, any board | substrate of a flexible printed circuit board, a rigid board | substrate, and a flexible printed circuit board (for example, board | substrate with which the wiring pattern was printed on the base material) is employable, for example.

  In addition, even if the circuit unit 20 is mounted on the same surface side or the back surface side of the substrate on which each of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 is formed and provided integrally, the circuit unit 20 is separately mounted on the substrate and separated. It may be provided. In addition, when a set of capacitance detection circuits and A / D converters are one circuit element, a plurality of circuit elements may be provided so as to correspond to the number of capacitance sensor units.

  The sensor electrode 7 and the shield electrodes 8 and 9 of each capacitance sensor unit 1 to 4 are, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyimide (PI), polyamide (PA), glass epoxy resin, or It can be composed of copper, a copper alloy, or a metal member (conductive material) such as aluminum or iron, an electric wire, or the like patterned on a substrate made of an insulator such as ceramic.

  In addition, it may be necessary to arrange | position each electrostatic capacitance sensor part 1-4 so that it may not stand out in appearance depending on the arrangement | positioning aspect. For example, if the predetermined area D of the electric device is a display area of the display means (display device or the like), each capacitance sensor unit 1 to 4 is arranged on the back side (lower side) of the design panel or the like of the display means. However, it may be provided by being attached or embedded on the surface side.

  In such a case, the said board | substrate is formed with the panel and film material which have transparency, and each electrode 7-9 should just be comprised with a transparent electrode. The transparent electrode can be composed of, for example, tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) or a conductive polymer. As the conductive polymer, for example, PEDOT / PSS (polyethylene dioxythiophene / polystyrene sulfonic acid), PEDOT / TsO (polyethylene dioxythiophene / toluene sulfonate), or the like can be used.

  Next, a hand movement operation detection processing procedure of the hand movement operation detecting device 10 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a hand movement detection process procedure by the hand movement detection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of a hand movement operation. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how the capacitance value changes.

  As shown in FIG. 4, first, the arithmetic processing unit 25 detects a capacitance value C (C1 to C4) based on the capacitance measured over time by the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 ( Step S100). Then, it is determined whether or not the detected capacitance values C1 to C4 are equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value (step S101). When it is determined that the detected capacitance values C1 to C4 are not equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value (N in step S101), the process proceeds to step S100. When it is determined that the capacitance values C1 to C4 are equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value (Y in step S101), it is determined whether or not the change amount ΔC is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value (step S102). ). If it is determined that the amount of change ΔC is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value (Y in step S102), it is determined whether there are two capacitance values and two variations whose amount of change is equal to or greater than the threshold value. (Step S104). If it is determined that there are two (Y in step S104), the capacitance value peak determined for each of the capacitance sensor units determined to be equal to or greater than the threshold value is detected (step S106). When it is determined that the amount of change ΔC is less than the predetermined threshold (N in step S102) and when there are not two (N in step S104), the process proceeds to step S100. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the hand 6 is repeatedly shaken up and down from the direction of the capacitance sensor unit 1 through the center of the predetermined region D to the direction of the capacitance sensor unit 2. When the direction of the operation is from the top to the bottom, the capacitance values C1 to C4 of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 change as shown in FIG.

  That is, the capacitance values C1 and C2 from the capacitance sensor units 1 and 2 change the distance between the hand 6 and the capacitance sensor units 1 and 2 by moving the hand 6 as described above. In contrast, the capacitance values C3 and C4 from the capacitance sensor units 3 and 4 change substantially because the distance between the hand 6 and the capacitance sensor units 3 and 4 hardly changes. It will be in a state that does not.

  Next, the arithmetic processing unit 25 calculates a time difference between the peaks detected from different capacitance sensor units based on the detected peaks, and compares the time differences (step S108). Specifically, the time difference from the time of peak detection in the first capacitance sensor unit 1 to the time of peak detection in the second capacitance sensor unit 2 and the time of peak detection in the second capacitance sensor unit 2 Is compared with the time difference from when the first capacitance sensor unit 1 detects the peak. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, by measuring the capacitance with time in each of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4, the capacitance value C <b> 1 of the first capacitance sensor unit 1 has a peak. Since the detection is performed at the detection time points t1, t3, and t5, and the peak of the capacitance value C2 of the second capacitance sensor unit 2 is similarly detected at the detection time points t2, t4, and t6, for example, in time series The respective time differences ta, tb, tc, td, and te between the detection times t1 to t6 of the respective peaks along are sequentially compared.

  Then, a part (hereinafter referred to as “determination part”) that is a combination having a short time difference is extracted (step S110). In the example of FIG. 6, since the time differences ta, tc, and te are a combination shorter than the time differences tb and td, the extracted determination points are between detection points t1 and t2 (determination point 1) and between detection points t3 and t4. (Determination location 2) and between detection times t5 and t6 (determination location 3).

When the determination points 1 to 3 are extracted in this way, based on the arrangement positions of the capacitance sensor units 1 and 2, from the direction of the arrangement position of the capacitance sensor unit in which the peak is first detected at each of the determination points 1 to 3. Then, assuming that the direction to the direction of the arrangement position of the capacitance sensor portion where the peak is detected later is the direction of the operation, the direction is determined (step S112).
In addition, at least one time difference (for example, time difference ta) from the time of peak detection in the first capacitance sensor unit 1 to the time of peak detection in the second capacitance sensor unit 2 and the second capacitance sensor By comparing at least one time difference (for example, time difference tb) from the time of peak detection in the unit 2 to the time of peak detection in the first capacitance sensor unit 1, at least one determination point (for example, determination point 1) ) And the direction of the hand gesture is determined based on the arrangement direction of the capacitance sensor unit in which the peak is first detected at the determination point and the arrangement position of the capacitance sensor unit in which the peak is detected later. May be.

  That is, in the determination location 1, since the one where the peak is detected first is the capacitance value C1, and the one where the peak is detected after is the capacitance value C2, The direction along the direction connecting the capacitance sensor unit 2 (from top to bottom) is determined as the direction of operation.

  Then, when there are other determination points (N in Step S114), the arithmetic processing unit 25 proceeds to Step S112 and repeats the process (that is, the operation direction is also determined in the determination points 2 and 3 in the same manner). ) If there is no other determination part (Y in step S114), for example, it is determined whether or not the process is terminated in accordance with detection of power-off of the electric device (step S116), and it is determined that the process is terminated. In the case (Y in step S116), the series of processes according to this flowchart is completed, but if it is determined that the process is not completed (N in step S116), the process proceeds to step S100 and the process is repeated. With such a process, it is possible to determine the direction and the number of operations for each of a plurality of hand movement operations in at least the four directions of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.

  As described above, according to the hand gesture motion detection device 10 according to the first embodiment, even when there are a plurality of hand motion motions in the vertical direction and the left-right direction, the direction and the number of motions indicated by the hand motion motion. Can be accurately determined, and the determination result can be used, for example, for the control of electrical equipment as follows. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an installation example of an electrical device including the hand movement detection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7, when the electrical device mounted on the instrument panel 101 of the vehicle 100 is a car navigation device, and the predetermined area D is a display area of the display device 102 of the car navigation apparatus, this If the electric device includes the hand movement detection device 10 having the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 arranged outside the display area, the map image displayed on the display area by the hand movement is hand movement. In order to scroll and display the number of times the operation has been performed, or to enlarge or reduce the magnification of the map image according to the direction of the operation, it is possible to change and display the magnification by the number of times. Become.

  Next, a description will be given of a hand movement operation detection process procedure of the hand movement operation detection device 10 including a hand movement operation detection process when the hand 6 is moved in an oblique direction. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a hand movement detection process procedure by the hand movement detection device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the capacitance value detected by the capacitance sensor unit and the threshold value. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of a hand movement operation. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating how the capacitance value changes. In the following description, the same parts as those already described will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted, and parts not particularly relevant to the present invention may not be specified.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the arithmetic processing unit 25 waits until the processing is started (for example, N in Step S <b> 200) in response to detecting that the electric device is powered on (N in Step S <b> 200). Y) Capacitance values C (C1 to C4) based on the capacitances detected by the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 are detected (step S202).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the detected capacitance value C is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value (step S204). As shown in FIG. 9, when the predetermined threshold is Th, for example, the capacitance values Cc1 and Cc3 that change as shown in the figure are determined to be equal to or greater than the threshold Th, and the capacitance value Cc2 is It is determined that it is less than the threshold value Th.

  When it is determined that the detected capacitance value C is not equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value (N in step S204), the process proceeds to step S202. In the case where the capacitance value C is less than the predetermined threshold value, it can be determined that at least the distance between the hand 6 and each of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 is somewhat apart, in this case The hand movement is not intended, and the operation is not determined based on the fact that the hand 6 has just approached the predetermined area D or a simple noise. When it is determined that the detected capacitance value C is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value (Y in step S204), it is determined whether the change amount ΔC is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value (step S204). S206).

  For example, it is determined that the change amount of the capacitance value Cc1 is greater than or equal to the threshold value. However, the change amount of the capacitance value Cc3 is almost zero and less than the threshold value because the change is flat. Judge that there is.

  If it is determined that the amount of change ΔC is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value (Y in step S206), it is determined whether there are two capacitance values and two variations whose amount of change is equal to or greater than the threshold value. (Step S208). When it is determined that there are two (Y in step S208), as described in the first embodiment, a hand movement operation is intended for two of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 (that is, It is possible to determine that the hand movement motion has been performed in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction), so that the peak is measured and detected over time in the same manner as in the first embodiment (step S210), and the time difference is compared. (Step S212), the determination part is extracted (Step S214), and the direction of the operation is determined (Step S216).

  Then, when the determination result is output to the outside (step S220) and there are other determination locations (N in step S222), the process proceeds to step S216 and the process is repeated, and there is no other determination location ( In step S222 Y), for example, it is determined whether or not the process is terminated in accordance with detection of power-off of the electric device (step S224). If it is determined that the process is to be terminated (Y in step S224). When a series of processes according to this flowchart is finished, but it is determined that the process is not finished (N in Step S224), the process proceeds to Step S202 and the process is repeated.

  In the hand movement detection device 10 according to the second embodiment, for example, the hand movement operation in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is not performed between the vicinity of the center of each of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4, and other electrostatic Even if it is performed in a state of being biased toward the capacitance sensor unit side, at least the amount of change ΔC does not exceed the threshold value for the capacitance value from the capacitance sensor unit (N in step S206), so the hand movement operation Is not affected by it.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S208 that there are not two (N in step S208), it is determined whether or not there are three or more of which the capacitance value and the amount of change thereof are each equal to or greater than a threshold value ( Step S226). If it is determined that there are three or more (Y in step S226), the peak of the capacitance value is measured over time for each of the three or more capacitance sensor units in which the determined capacitance value is detected. Measure and detect (step S228). In the case where there are three or more and four cases, for example, the following situation can be considered.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the capacitance sensor unit 6 passes through the center of the predetermined region D from the direction of the nearest intermediate position (nearest intermediate position) of the arrangement position of the capacitance sensor units 1 and 4. In the case where the movement direction is an operation in which the direction of the operation is an operation indicating the upper left direction to the lower left direction when it is repeatedly tilted obliquely in the direction of the nearest intermediate position of the second and third arrangement positions, the capacitance of each of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 Values C1 to C4 change as shown in FIG.

  That is, the capacitance values C1 and C4 from the capacitance sensor units 1 and 4 change in the same manner as the peak detection time is the same or closest in time as the hand 6 moves diagonally. In addition, the capacitance values C2 and C3 from the capacitance sensor units 2 and 3 also change in the same way as the peak detection time is the same or closest in time as the hand 6 moves diagonally.

  Therefore, the arithmetic processing unit 25 groups (groups) two capacitance sensor units having the same or closest peak detection time points (step S230). In the example shown in FIG. 11, for example, the first capacitance sensor unit 1 and the second capacitance sensor unit 4 having the same or closest peak detection time are grouped as a first group, and the other two The two capacitance sensor units 2 and 3 are grouped as a second group.

  For example, when the hand 6 is swung from the direction of the most intermediate position of the capacitance sensor units 1 and 4 to the direction near the center of the capacitance sensor unit 3, it is similar in the sense of being oblique. Although there are three cases where the capacitance value and the amount of change thereof are each equal to or greater than the threshold value, the capacitance sensor units 1 and 4 grouped as the first group and the second group as the first group. Attention is paid to the one electrostatic capacitance sensor unit 3 grouped.

  Then, the arithmetic processing unit 25 detects at the time of detection of any peak of the first group and the detection of any peak of the second group (if the second group is a single capacitance sensor unit, The time difference from the time of peak detection is compared (step S212). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the capacitance values C1 and C4 are detected by measuring over time in the same or closest state at the detection time points t1, t3, and t5. For C2 and C3, the peaks are detected by measuring over time in the same or closest state at the detection times t2, t4, and t6, so, for example, the time difference between the detection times t1 to t6 of each peak along the time series ta, tb, tc, td, and te are sequentially compared.

  And the determination location used as a combination with a short time difference is extracted (step S214). In the example of FIG. 11, the time differences ta, tc, and te are combinations shorter than the time differences tb and td, so that the extracted determination points are the same as the example shown in FIG. 6 (determination points 1 to 3). Become.

  If the determination locations 1 to 3 are extracted in this way, the capacitance sensor portions in which the peaks are first detected over time in the respective determination locations 1 to 3 are included based on the arrangement positions of the capacitance sensor portions 1 to 4. Arrangement of two capacitance sensor units included in a group including a capacitance sensor unit in which a peak is detected later from the direction of an intermediate position of the arrangement positions of the two capacitance sensor units included in the selected group Assuming that the direction leading to the middle position of the position is the direction of movement, the direction is determined (step S216).

  That is, in the determination location 1, the first peaks detected are the capacitance values C1 and C4, and the second peaks detected are the capacitance values C2 and C3. Are substantially equal to each other, so that the second group from the direction of the most intermediate position of the arrangement position of the capacitance sensor units 1 and 4 of the first group along the surface direction passing through the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4. Direction (ie, from the upper right to the lower left) is determined as the direction of operation.

  When there is one capacitance sensor unit included in the group including the capacitance sensor unit in which the peak has been detected first over time, the direction in which the peak is detected and the static value in which the peak has been detected later. When there is one capacitance sensor unit included in the group including the capacitance sensor unit, the direction of the arrangement position may be used to determine the direction of the operation.

  And the arithmetic processing part 25 outputs a determination result outside (step S220), and when there exists another determination location (N of step S222), it transfers to the said step S216 and repeats a process (namely, determination) The direction of motion is also determined at locations 2 and 3). When there is no other determination part (Y in step S222), the process proceeds to step S224.

  Through the processing up to this point, it is possible to determine the four hand movements in the oblique direction together with the four hand movements in the up and down direction and the left and right direction described in the first embodiment. At the same time, the direction and the number of operations of each of a plurality of hand movements in 24 directions including the hand movements in 16 directions from the nearest middle position point of each group to the vicinity of the center of one capacitance sensor unit. Can be determined. In addition, if the determination conditions and the like are set more finely, it is possible to determine the direction and the number of operations in more directions.

  When it is determined that there are not three or more in step S226 (N in step S226), it can be determined that the capacitance value and the amount of change thereof exceed one threshold value, respectively, For example, there may be cases where the hand 6 is simply moved close to one capacitance sensor unit and then separated, or a simple noise is detected. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S220 and the determination result thus determined is output. To do.

  When it is determined that the change amount ΔC is less than the predetermined threshold value (N in step S206), it can be determined that the capacitance value exceeds the threshold value but has not changed. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the capacitance value has changed by a predetermined amount for a predetermined time (step S232).

  When it is determined that there has been a predetermined amount change for a predetermined time (N in step S232), for example, a case where an attempt to stop the hand 6 while trying to move the hand 6 closer to the predetermined region D may be considered. Then, the process proceeds to step S202 and the process is repeated. If it is determined that the predetermined amount has not changed for a predetermined time (Y in step S232), the arithmetic processing unit 25 determines the detection position of the hand 6 in the predetermined region D by comparing the capacitance values. (Step S234), the process proceeds to step S220, the determination result is output to the outside, and the subsequent processing is repeated.

  Here, the detection position determination processing in step S234 will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining detection position determination by the hand movement detection device 10.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the arithmetic processing unit 25 satisfies the stop condition that there is no predetermined amount change for a predetermined time based on the capacitance values C1 to C4 from the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4. The detection positions are determined, for example, at the nine positions shown on the predetermined area D. That is, for example, when the detection values are equal in all of the capacitance values C1 to C4 and the stop condition is satisfied, the detection position can be determined on the assumption that the hand 6 has stopped on the central location AC.

  When only the capacitance value C1 satisfies the stop condition, it is assumed that the hand 6 has stopped on the location A1 near the center of the capacitance sensor unit 1, and only the capacitance value C2 satisfies the stop condition. If the hand 6 stops on the location A2 near the center of the capacitance sensor unit 2 and only the capacitance value C3 satisfies the stop condition, the center of the capacitance sensor unit 3 If the hand 6 stops on the nearby location A3, and if only the capacitance value C4 satisfies the stop condition, the hand 6 stops on the location A4 near the center of the capacitance sensor unit 4. , Each detection position can be determined.

  Similarly, when the combination of the capacitance values C1 to C4 satisfies the stop condition, the detection position can also be determined on the assumption that the hand 6 has stopped on the locations A13, A14, A23, and A24. If the determination conditions for detection position determination are set more finely, it is possible to detect the above-described nine or more positions.

  As described above, the hand movement motion detection device 10 according to the second embodiment can detect not only the hand movement motion on the predetermined region D but also the position of the stop position of the hand 6. If a control command or the like is assigned, it is possible to control more types of electric devices in addition to the above-described control by the hand movement operation in 24 directions.

  That is, in the car navigation device shown in FIG. 7, various buttons are displayed on the display area of the display device 102, and the hand 6 is assigned to the position where the hand 6 is stopped based on the detection position determined by the hand movement detection device 10. It is also possible to execute control when a button is selected.

  Other electrical devices include stereo devices, car stereo devices, etc., and specify the playback, pause, fast forward, rewind, etc. of these devices at the detection position based on the determination result of the hand movement detection device 10 provided for them. , Seek control of the music by the direction, speed and number of hand movements, volume adjustment and equalizer setting.

  It is also possible to specify heating / cooling operation switching, setting, temperature adjustment, etc., in the air conditioner device at the detection position of the hand movement detection device 10, and to adjust the temperature and wind direction by the direction, speed, and number of hand movement operations. It becomes. Furthermore, it is possible to move the mouse pointer of the personal computer or execute / select a click operation or the like based on the determination result of the hand movement detection device 10. In addition, it is possible to control the operation of the monitoring camera device based on the determination result of the hand movement motion detection device 10 or to apply the hand movement motion detection device 10 as a controller of a game machine.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a hand movement detection device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a capacitance detection circuit of the hand movement detection device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the hand movement motion detection device 10 </ b> A according to the third embodiment is similar to the above-described embodiment in the arrangement mode and configuration of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4, but the capacitance detection circuit. 28 and one A / D converter 28a are provided, and the capacitance detection circuit 28 and the shield drive circuit 26 are respectively connected to the sensors of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 via the switches SW31 to 34 and SW41 to 44, respectively. It is different in that it is connected to the electrode 7 and the shield electrodes 8 and 9.

  That is, the sensor electrodes 7 of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 are connected to the capacitance detection circuit 28 via the switches SW31 to 34, respectively, and the shield electrodes 8 and 9 of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 are Each is connected to the shield drive circuit 26 via the switches SW41 to SW44. Further, the arithmetic processing unit 25 performs switch control (ON / OFF control) of the switches SW31 to SW34 and SW41 to 44 and control of timing for taking in data from the A / D converter 28a.

  For example, when the electrostatic capacitance sensor unit 1 detects the electrostatic capacitance, the sensor electrode 7 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor unit 1 is opened by closing the switches SW31 and SW42 to 44 and opening the switches SW32 to 34 and SW41. Is connected to the capacitance detection circuit 28, and the sensor electrodes 7 of the capacitance sensor units 2 to 4 are connected to the shield drive circuit 26. The capacitance is detected in the same manner for each of the capacitance sensor units 2 to 4.

  If comprised in this way, it will become possible to reduce the number of electrostatic capacitance detection circuits by switching the connection of the electrostatic capacitance sensor parts 1-4 and the electrostatic capacitance detection circuit 28 temporally. Although the arithmetic processing unit 25 performs the switch control and the timing control, the switch control is periodically performed separately from the arithmetic processing unit 25, and the output at each switching is held. It may be configured to be connected to the / D converter 28a.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the capacitance detection circuits 21 to 24 and 28 of the hand movement detection device according to the fourth embodiment are configured to perform a differential operation. Each of the capacitance sensor units 1 to 4 has a configuration including a dummy sensor electrode (dummy electrode) 19 in addition to the sensor electrode 7 and the shield electrodes 8 and 9.

  Specifically, for example, the sensor electrode 7 is connected to the positive input end of the differential amplifier circuit, the dummy electrode 19 is connected to the negative input end, and the value of the capacitance Cb is subtracted from the value of the capacitance Ca. The hand 6 is detected by comparing the output value with a threshold value using a comparator or the like.

  The operations of the capacitance detection circuits 21 to 24, 28 are, for example, when the switch S1 is open (OFF), the switch S2 is grounded (GND), and the switch S3 is closed (ON). When S3 is opened (OFF), the switch S2 is switched to Vr, and the switch S1 is connected to the inverting input of the operational amplifier, the capacitances Ca and Cf are charged with VaVr, and the capacitances Cb and Cf are charged with CbVr. .

  Next, after the switch S1 is opened (OFF) and the switch S2 is grounded (GND), the output voltage V when the switch S1 is grounded (GND) is measured. The voltage at this time is V / Vr = {(Cf + Ca) / Cf} − {(Cf + Cb) / Cf}, and a voltage corresponding to the ratio between the electrostatic capacitance Ca and the electrostatic capacitance Cb is output.

  Thus, by setting the capacitance detection circuits 21 to 24 and 28 to a differential operation (differential circuit), the temperature characteristics of the circuit can be offset and common mode noise can be reduced. At this time, the dummy electrode 19 is connected to, for example, the negative input terminal of the differential amplifier circuit. When the dummy electrode 19 is capacitively coupled to the hand 6, the sensitivity of the sensor itself is lowered. On the other hand, the area of the dummy electrode 19 should be made sufficiently small, or another shield electrode 47 having the same potential should be provided between the dummy electrode 19 and the hand 6 to reduce the capacitive coupling with the hand 6. There is.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where four capacitance sensor units are provided has been described as an example. However, at least two capacitance sensor units may be provided. Two-dimensional positions may be measured by arranging triangles surrounding the predetermined region D at different positions, or the resolution may be improved by increasing the number of capacitance sensor units. Furthermore, the capacitance sensor units may be arranged in a three-dimensional manner so as to detect a three-dimensional hand movement operation. In addition, the circuit unit 20 is configured to determine the output of the capacitance detection circuit as it is. As a value, a hand movement operation may be determined using a difference value from the initial capacitance value.

1-4 Capacitance Sensor Unit 6 Hand 7 Sensor Electrode 8, 9 Shield Electrode 10, 10A Hand Shake Motion Detection Device 20 Circuit Unit 21-24 Capacitance Detection Circuit 21a-24a A / D Converter 25 Arithmetic Processing Unit 26 Shield Drive circuit 28 Capacitance detection circuit 28a A / D converter 31-34 switch 41-44 switch 100 vehicle 101 instrument panel 102 display device

Claims (11)

A plurality of capacitance sensor units provided at different positions outside the predetermined area of the electrical device;
Detecting means for respectively detecting capacitance values based on the capacitance detected by the plurality of capacitance sensor units;
A hand gesture motion detection device comprising: determination means for determining at least the direction of motion of the hand motion on the predetermined region based on each capacitance value detected by the detection means. The hand movement detection device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of capacitance sensor units include first and second capacitance sensor units arranged on a straight line crossing the predetermined region. The hand movement according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of capacitance sensor units include a third capacitance sensor unit provided at a position different from the first and second capacitance sensor units. Motion detection device. The determination means detects the peak of the capacitance value from each capacitance sensor unit by measuring the capacitance with time in each of the plurality of capacitance sensor units, and from different capacitance sensor units. The direction of a hand movement operation on the predetermined region is determined based on a time difference between detected peaks and an arrangement position of a capacitance sensor unit that detects each peak. The hand movement detection device according to any one of the above. The determination unit detects a peak of a capacitance value from each capacitance sensor unit by measuring capacitance with time in each of the first and second capacitance sensor units, and The time difference from the time of peak detection in the first capacitance sensor unit to the time of peak detection in the second capacitance sensor unit, and the time from the time of peak detection in the second capacitance sensor unit to the first capacitance. A direction connecting the first and second capacitance sensor units based on a comparison result with a time difference until the peak detection in the capacitance sensor unit and an arrangement position of the first and second capacitance sensor units. The direction of the hand movement along the line is determined. The hand movement detection device according to claim 2 or 3. The determination unit detects the peak of the capacitance value from each capacitance sensor unit by measuring the capacitance with time in each of the first to third capacitance sensor units, and detects different static values. Based on the time difference between the peaks detected from the capacitance sensor unit and the arrangement position of the capacitance sensor unit that detects each peak, in the plane direction passing through the first to third capacitance sensor units. The direction of the hand movement motion along the hand is determined. The hand motion detection device according to claim 3. The determination means determines the detection position of the hand in the predetermined region by comparing the capacitance values when the capacitance value exceeding a predetermined threshold value does not change by a predetermined amount for a predetermined time. The hand movement detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The hand gesture motion detection device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit further determines at least one of an operation speed and a number of operations of the hand motion. The hand gesture motion detection device according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit that outputs a determination result determined by the determination unit to a control unit of the electrical device. An electric device comprising the hand movement detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9. The electric device according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined area is a display area in display means of the electric device.

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