JP2013044605A - Operator and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operator and a method capable of detecting acceleration exceeding a detection range of an acceleration sensor.SOLUTION: A stick-like operator 1 is provided with a first acceleration sensor 12 on a distal end, and a second acceleration sensor 13 on a position coaxial with but different from the first acceleration sensor 12, and calculates the acceleration generated at the distal end of the operator 1 on the basis of output values from the acceleration sensors 12 and 13. At the time, when the first acceleration sensor 12 detects the acceleration within the detection range, a CPU 11 of the operator 1 calculates the acceleration as the acceleration generated at the distal end, and when the first acceleration sensor 12 detects the acceleration to be an upper limit of the detection range, the CPU 11 calculates the acceleration generated at the distal end by multiplying the acceleration detected by the second acceleration sensor 13 by a ratio of the acceleration of the first acceleration sensor 12 and the acceleration of the second acceleration sensor 13.

Description

  The present invention relates to a stick-like operation element and method held by a user, and relates to an operation element and method for detecting acceleration generated by a user's action.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a performance device that generates an electronic sound corresponding to a performance operation when a performance performance of the performer is detected. For example, a performance device (air drum) is known that produces percussion instrument sounds only with an operation element on a stick. In this performance apparatus, a sensor is provided on the stick-shaped operation element, and the player holds the operation element by hand. By shaking the sensor, the sensor detects the performance and produces a percussion instrument sound.
According to such a performance device, the musical sound of the musical instrument can be generated without the need for an actual musical instrument, so that the performance can be enjoyed without being restricted by the performance place or performance space.

  Regarding the above-described performance apparatus, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a performance apparatus that detects a performance action of a performer by providing an acceleration sensor on a stick-shaped operator. In this performance device, when the output (acceleration) from the acceleration sensor reaches a predetermined threshold value, a performance action is detected and a musical tone is generated.

  As another proposal for using an operator's motion using an acceleration sensor, a remote control system described in Patent Document 2 is also known. In this remote control system, two or more acceleration sensors are installed at different locations of the operation element, and based on the output (acceleration) from the two or more acceleration sensors, it is determined at which part the operation of the operator is performed. .

JP 2007-256736 A JP 2009-218759 A

  Here, a detection range (dynamic range) of acceleration that can be detected is set in the acceleration sensor, and the operation range operated by the user is generally about the detection range “± 2 G” to the detection range “± 8 G”. Acceleration sensors are used. In an operator equipped with such an acceleration sensor, there is a possibility that acceleration exceeding the detection range may occur depending on the operation of the user, and the acceleration sensor may not be able to detect the acceleration appropriately.

  In this regard, Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not propose any detection of acceleration exceeding the detection range, and a device for appropriately detecting acceleration exceeding the detection range is required. At this time, a device using an acceleration sensor with a wide detection range can be considered, but the cost is high, and there is a possibility that the operator may be increased in size and weight.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an operator and a method capable of appropriately detecting even an acceleration exceeding the detection range of an acceleration sensor.

  In order to achieve the above object, the operation element according to one embodiment of the present invention is a stick-shaped operation element that is provided at a different position on the longitudinal axis of the operation element and detects acceleration within a predetermined range. A plurality of acceleration sensors; and an acceleration calculation means for calculating an acceleration generated at an installation position of one of the plurality of acceleration sensors, wherein the acceleration calculation means has an acceleration generated at the installation position. When the acceleration is within the predetermined range, ratio calculating means for calculating a ratio between the acceleration detected by the one acceleration sensor and the acceleration detected by the other acceleration sensor, and the acceleration generated at the installation position are the predetermined Acceleration acceleration means for calculating the acceleration generated at the installation position by multiplying the acceleration detected by the other acceleration sensor by the ratio when the acceleration exceeds the range. And wherein the Rukoto.

  According to the present invention, even an acceleration exceeding the detection range of the acceleration sensor can be detected appropriately.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the hardware of the operation element which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the acceleration which arose in the operation element when the front-end | tip was hit | damaged to the hitting surface. The figure which shows the output value of a 1st acceleration sensor and a 2nd acceleration sensor. The figure which shows the output value of a 1st acceleration sensor and a 2nd acceleration sensor. The figure which shows the calculation method of the acceleration based on a 2nd acceleration sensor. The flowchart explaining the flow of the acceleration acquisition process by CPU of an operator.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration of operation element 1]
First, with reference to FIG. 1, the structure of the operation element 1 as one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 1 (1) is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the operation element 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (2) is a diagram showing the appearance of the operation element 1 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 (2), the operation element 1 of the present invention is a stick-like member extending in the longitudinal direction, and is held by the user at an arbitrary position (fulcrum M) on the longitudinal axis 100. The user performs a predetermined operation using the operation element 1 by holding the operation element at the fulcrum M and performing a swinging-down operation centering on the wrist or the like.
Referring to FIG. 1 (1), an operator 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a first acceleration sensor 12, a second acceleration sensor 13, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 14, and a RAM (Random). (Access Memory) 15 and a data communication unit 16. Hereinafter, when the first acceleration sensor 12 and the second acceleration sensor 13 are not distinguished from each other, they are referred to as “acceleration sensors 12 and 13”.

  The CPU 11 controls the entirety of the operation element 1, for example, based on the acceleration output from the acceleration sensors 12 and 13, performs control for acquiring the acceleration generated at the position where the acceleration sensors 12 and 13 are installed. At this time, as will be described later, the CPU 11 may calculate the acceleration generated at the installation position of the first acceleration sensor 12 using the acceleration output from the second acceleration sensor 13 in some cases. That is, the CPU 11 may calculate the acceleration generated at a predetermined position of the operation element 1 based on the acceleration output from the acceleration sensor installed at a position different from the position. Further, the CPU 11 performs communication control with the main unit 2 described later via the data communication unit 16.

The acceleration sensors 12 and 13 are installed at arbitrary positions on the shaft 100, detect the acceleration generated at the installation position according to the user's operation, and output it to the CPU 11. The acceleration sensors 12 and 13 can detect acceleration in any direction generated at the installation position, and may be, for example, a three-axis acceleration sensor that detects acceleration generated in each of the three axis directions of the operation element 1. Here, in the acceleration sensors 12 and 13, a detectable acceleration detection range (dynamic range) is set, and in this embodiment, as an example, a detection range of “± 5G” is set. And The acceleration sensors 12 and 13 are set with a sampling cycle for detecting acceleration. In the present embodiment, as an example, a sampling cycle of “20 Hz” is set, and the acceleration sensors 12 and 13 have the same sampling cycle. Acceleration is detected at the timing.
Depending on the system that uses the acceleration of the operator 1, the acceleration sensors 12 and 13 may appropriately use the combined vector of each axis, cancel the center of gravity direction, perform various calibrations, and the like.

  The first acceleration sensor 12 is installed at one end (front end side) of the operation element 1, that is, at a position farthest from the fulcrum M held by the user on the shaft 100. The second acceleration sensor 13 is installed between the installation position of the first acceleration sensor 12 on the shaft 100 and the fulcrum M. At this time, the second acceleration sensor 13 is installed in parallel and in the same direction as the substrate (not shown) of the first acceleration sensor 12. The second acceleration sensor 13 may be installed at an arbitrary position, and can be installed at an effective position depending on the position of the fulcrum M, the use mode of the operation element 1, and the like.

  As described above, the first acceleration sensor 12 and the second acceleration sensor 13 are installed on the same axis, but have different distances from the fulcrum M, so that the user can swing up and down the operation element 1. If so, different accelerations will be detected. For example, referring to FIG. 2, when the user swings down the operating element 1 around the fulcrum M, the first acceleration sensor 12 having a long distance from the fulcrum M detects a large acceleration, and from the fulcrum M, The second acceleration sensor 13 having a short distance detects a small acceleration.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the ROM 14 stores processing programs for various processes executed by the CPU 11. The RAM 15 stores values acquired or generated in the process, such as acceleration detected by the acceleration sensors 12 and 13 and acceleration calculated by the CPU 11.

The data communication unit 16 performs predetermined communication with the data communication unit 21 provided in the main unit 2. The predetermined communication may be performed by an arbitrary method. In the present embodiment, communication with the main unit 2 is performed by infrared communication.
Although details on the main unit 2 are omitted, the main unit 2 performs a predetermined process based on data transmitted from the data communication unit 16. Here, the data transmitted from the data communication unit 16 includes the acceleration generated in the operation element 1. Further, the predetermined processing based on the data sent from the data communication unit 16 is not particularly specified, but as described in Patent Document 1 described above, the user's performance action is detected from the acceleration, and the performance As an example, a process (for example, an air drum) for generating a musical sound according to an operation can be given.

[Calculation method of acceleration exceeding the detection range]
At this time, since an acceleration detection range is set in the acceleration sensors 12 and 13, if an acceleration exceeding the detection range occurs, an accurate acceleration cannot be detected. Appropriate processing cannot be performed.
Referring to FIG. 2, for example, when the tip of the operating element 1 (installed with the first acceleration sensor 12) is hit against the hitting surface, the acceleration exceeding the detection range of the first acceleration sensor 12 is applied to the tip of the operating element 1. It can happen. In such a case, the CPU 11 calculates the acceleration generated at the tip of the operation element 1 from the acceleration of the second acceleration sensor 13.

First, the output values of the acceleration sensors 12 and 13 and the acceleration calculated by the CPU 11 when the acceleration within the detection range occurs at the tip of the operation element 1 by calculating FIG. 3 will be described. FIG. 3A is a graph showing an output value (acceleration) of the first acceleration sensor 12 when a predetermined operation is performed on the operation element 1, and FIG. 3B is a second acceleration in that case. 3 is a graph showing an output value (acceleration) of a sensor 13;
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, each of the first acceleration sensor 12 and the second acceleration sensor 13 outputs acceleration within a set detection range. At this time, since the first acceleration sensor 12 can accurately detect the acceleration generated at the tip of the operating element 1, the CPU 11 generates the output value of the first acceleration sensor 12 at the tip of the operating element 1. Calculate as acceleration.

Next, the output values of the acceleration sensors 12 and 13 and the acceleration calculated by the CPU 11 when the acceleration exceeding the detection range occurs at the tip of the operation element 1 by calculating FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 4 (1) is a graph showing the output value (acceleration) of the first acceleration sensor 12 when a predetermined operation is performed on the operator 1, and FIG. 4 (2) is the second acceleration in that case. 3 is a graph showing an output value (acceleration) of a sensor 13;
Since the acceleration exceeding the detection range is applied to the tip of the operating element 1, the output value of the first acceleration sensor 12 is saturated as shown in FIG. Acceleration beyond that cannot be detected. On the other hand, the second acceleration sensor 13 is different from the first acceleration sensor 12 in the distance from the fulcrum M and the striking point N (see FIG. 2) with the striking surface. Even when the acceleration exceeds the acceleration, the acceleration can be output within the set detection range. At this time, since the second acceleration sensor 13 is installed at a position different from the tip of the operation element 1 (the installation position of the first acceleration sensor 12), the output value of the second acceleration sensor 13 is the value of the operation element 1. The acceleration generated at the tip is not detected.

Therefore, the CPU 11 calculates the acceleration generated at the tip of the operation element 1 from the acceleration of the second acceleration sensor 13 using the method shown in FIG.
Specifically, referring to FIG. 5A, first, the CPU 11 determines that the output value of the first acceleration sensor 12 and the output value of the second acceleration sensor 13 before the output value of the first acceleration sensor 12 is saturated. The ratio with the output value is calculated. For example, when the first acceleration sensor 12 outputs the acceleration “2G” and the second acceleration sensor 13 outputs the acceleration “1G” at the time “t1”, the CPU 11 outputs the output value of the first acceleration sensor 12. And a ratio “2” between the output value of the second acceleration sensor 13 and the second acceleration sensor 13 is calculated.
Referring to FIG. 5B, after that, after the output value of the first acceleration sensor 12 is saturated, the CPU 11 is generated at the tip of the operation element 1 from the calculated ratio and the output value of the second acceleration sensor 13. Calculate the acceleration. For example, at time “t2”, the output value of the first acceleration sensor 12 is saturated, while the second acceleration sensor 13 outputs the acceleration “4G” within the detection range. At this time, the CPU 11 calculates the acceleration “8G” generated at the tip of the operating element 1 by multiplying the acceleration “4G” output from the second acceleration sensor 13 by the ratio “2”.

  By such a method, the CPU 11 can appropriately calculate the acceleration generated at the tip of the operation element 1 even after the output value of the first acceleration sensor 12 is saturated. The detection range (dynamic range) can be expanded.

By the way, the ratio between the output value of the first acceleration sensor 12 and the output value of the second acceleration sensor 13 differs depending on the positions of the fulcrum M and the strike point N. Therefore, it is preferable that the CPU 11 uses a ratio calculated from an output value detected immediately before the first acceleration sensor 12 is saturated. The output value detected immediately before the first acceleration sensor 12 is saturated means an output value detected in the sampling period immediately before the first acceleration sensor 12 detects the acceleration that is the upper limit of the detection range.
Generally, when the operating element 1 is hit on the hitting surface, the change in acceleration is steep and is a short period, so that it is unlikely that the fulcrum M will move greatly during that period. Therefore, by using the ratio immediately before saturation, the CPU 11 can calculate the acceleration exceeding the detection range with a certain accuracy regardless of the position of the fulcrum M or the hit point N.

[Acceleration calculation processing at the tip of the operator 1]
Next, a process in which the CPU 11 calculates the acceleration generated at the tip of the operation element 1 based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensors 12 and 13 at a predetermined sampling period will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the CPU 11 stores the acceleration output from the first acceleration sensor 12 in the RAM 15 (step S1), and also stores the acceleration output from the second acceleration sensor 13 in the RAM 15 (step S2). Move. In step S <b> 3, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the first acceleration sensor 12 is saturated, that is, the acceleration acquired from the first acceleration sensor 12 is the upper limit acceleration of the detection range (in this embodiment, “± 5G )). At this time, when the acceleration is the upper limit of the detection range, the CPU 11 proceeds to the process of step S6, and when the acceleration is less than the upper limit of the detection range, the CPU 11 proceeds to the process of step S4.

In step S <b> 4, the CPU 11 calculates the ratio between the acceleration acquired from the first acceleration sensor 12 and the acceleration acquired from the second acceleration sensor 13, and stores it in the RAM 15. Specifically, the CPU 11 calculates the ratio by dividing the acceleration acquired from the first acceleration sensor 12 by the acceleration acquired from the second acceleration sensor 13. Subsequently, the CPU 11 validates the acceleration acquired from the first acceleration sensor 12 (step S5), and ends the process.
In step S6, the CPU 11 reads the ratio stored in the RAM 15, validates the acceleration acquired from the second acceleration sensor 13 by the ratio, and ends the process.

Thus, for the acceleration within the detection range, the CPU 11 calculates the acceleration generated at the tip of the operator 1 using the first acceleration sensor 12 installed at the tip of the operator 1 (step S5). For acceleration exceeding the detection range, the second acceleration sensor 13 is used to calculate the acceleration generated at the tip of the operation element 1 (step S6).
At this time, by repeatedly executing the processing shown in FIG. 6 at the sampling period of the acceleration sensors 12 and 13, the CPU 11 is generated at the tip of the operator 1 using the ratio immediately before the first acceleration sensor 12 is saturated. Acceleration can be calculated.

The configuration and processing of the operation element 1 according to the present embodiment have been described above. According to the operation element 1 as described above, acceleration exceeding the detection range of the first acceleration sensor 12 can be calculated using output values of the second acceleration sensor 13 installed at different positions on the same axis. The detection range (dynamic range) of the first acceleration sensor 12 can be expanded.
At this time, since the operator 1 uses the ratio immediately before the first acceleration sensor 12 is saturated, the acceleration exceeding the detection range is calculated with a certain accuracy regardless of the position of the fulcrum M or the hit point N. can do.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, these embodiment is only an illustration and does not limit the technical scope of this invention. The present invention can take other various embodiments, and various modifications such as omission and replacement can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention described in this specification and the like, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the case where acceleration exceeding the detection range of the first acceleration sensor 12 occurs at the tip of the operation element 1 is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. When the striking point N is not the tip of the operating element 1 but the middle of the operating element 1, acceleration exceeding the detection range is generated at the installation position of the second acceleration sensor 13, and the tip position of the first acceleration sensor 12 is It is also conceivable that acceleration within the detection range occurs. Even in such a case, the acceleration exceeding the detection range can be calculated using the ratio of the output values of the acceleration sensors 12 and 13.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it is supposed that the two acceleration sensors 12 and 13 are provided in the operation element 1, it is not restricted to this, It is good also as providing three or more acceleration sensors. Even in this case, the acceleration exceeding the detection range can be calculated by using the output values and ratios of other acceleration sensors.

The invention described in the scope of claims at the beginning of the filing of the present application will be appended.
[Appendix 1]
A stick-shaped controller,
A plurality of acceleration sensors that are provided at different positions on the longitudinal axis of the operator and detect a predetermined range of acceleration;
Acceleration calculating means for calculating an acceleration generated at an installation position of one of the plurality of acceleration sensors;
The acceleration calculating means includes
A ratio calculating means for calculating a ratio between an acceleration detected by the one acceleration sensor and an acceleration detected by another acceleration sensor when the acceleration generated at the installation position is an acceleration within the predetermined range;
An acceleration calculating means for calculating the acceleration generated at the installation position by multiplying the acceleration detected by the other acceleration sensor by the ratio when the acceleration generated at the installation position exceeds the predetermined range; ,
An operation element comprising:
[Appendix 2]
The acceleration calculating means calculates the acceleration generated at the installation position when an acceleration within the predetermined range is detected by the one acceleration sensor.
The operation element according to appendix 1, wherein
[Appendix 3]
The one acceleration sensor is provided at a tip portion on the axis, and the other acceleration sensor is provided between the tip portion and a position held by a user.
The operation element according to appendix 1 or 2, characterized in that:
[Appendix 4]
In a stick-like operation element provided with a plurality of acceleration sensors for detecting acceleration within a predetermined range at different positions on the longitudinal axis, the acceleration generated at the installation position of one of the plurality of acceleration sensors is calculated. A calculation method, executed by the control unit of the operator,
Obtaining the acceleration detected by the plurality of acceleration sensors;
Determining whether the acceleration generated at the installation position is an acceleration within the predetermined range based on the acquired acceleration;
As a result of the determination, when the acceleration is within the predetermined range, calculating a ratio between the acceleration detected by the one acceleration sensor and the acceleration detected by another acceleration sensor;
As a result of the determination, if the acceleration exceeds the predetermined range, multiplying the acceleration detected by the other acceleration sensor by the ratio to calculate the acceleration generated at the installation position;
Including methods.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Operation element, 11 ... CPU (acceleration calculation means, ratio calculation means, acceleration calculation means), 12 ... 1st acceleration sensor, 13 ... 2nd acceleration sensor, 14 ... ROM, 15 ... RAM, 16 ... data communication unit, 2 ... main unit, 21 ... data communication unit

Claims (4)

A stick-shaped controller,
A plurality of acceleration sensors that are provided at different positions on the longitudinal axis of the operator and detect a predetermined range of acceleration;
Acceleration calculating means for calculating an acceleration generated at an installation position of one of the plurality of acceleration sensors;
The acceleration calculating means includes
A ratio calculating means for calculating a ratio between an acceleration detected by the one acceleration sensor and an acceleration detected by another acceleration sensor when the acceleration generated at the installation position is an acceleration within the predetermined range;
An acceleration calculating means for calculating the acceleration generated at the installation position by multiplying the acceleration detected by the other acceleration sensor by the ratio when the acceleration generated at the installation position exceeds the predetermined range; ,
An operation element comprising: The acceleration calculating means calculates the acceleration generated at the installation position when an acceleration within the predetermined range is detected by the one acceleration sensor.
The operation element according to claim 1. The one acceleration sensor is provided at a tip portion on the axis, and the other acceleration sensor is provided between the tip portion and a position held by a user.
The operation element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein In a stick-like operation element provided with a plurality of acceleration sensors for detecting acceleration within a predetermined range at different positions on the longitudinal axis, the acceleration generated at the installation position of one of the plurality of acceleration sensors is calculated. A calculation method, executed by the control unit of the operator,
Obtaining the acceleration detected by the plurality of acceleration sensors;
Determining whether the acceleration generated at the installation position is an acceleration within the predetermined range based on the acquired acceleration;
As a result of the determination, when the acceleration is within the predetermined range, calculating a ratio between the acceleration detected by the one acceleration sensor and the acceleration detected by another acceleration sensor;
As a result of the determination, if the acceleration exceeds the predetermined range, multiplying the acceleration detected by the other acceleration sensor by the ratio to calculate the acceleration generated at the installation position;
Including methods.

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