JP2015210800A - Information processing device and method for controlling information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing device in which the malfunction of a contact sensor due to an influence of noise is suppressed.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes: a reference value change unit (25) that changes a reference level; and a change amount detection unit (24) that detects the amount of change per unit time of a sensor value. The reference value change unit (25) executes, if the amount of change is smaller than a predetermined change threshold value, a normal mode for setting the sensor value as a reference level; and does not execute, if the amount of change is equal to or larger than the change threshold value, the normal mode.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of executing a predetermined process according to a detection result of a contact sensor.

  Conventionally, there is a technique for determining a process to be executed by an information processing device in accordance with a detection result by a sensor provided in the information processing device such as a smartphone. For example, in Patent Document 1, the electrodes of a capacitance sensor are arranged at both ends of a mobile terminal that is an information processing apparatus, and the process is executed on the mobile terminal depending on whether or not both electrodes are touched and the number of touched fingers. A technique for determining the processing to be performed is disclosed.

  A sensor (contact sensor) as described in Patent Document 1 may change the sensor value when the object is not in contact with the surrounding environment. For example, in the case of a capacitance sensor, a sensor value detected when an object is not in contact changes due to a temperature change around the sensor. If the threshold value for determining whether or not an object has touched at this time is unchanged, a malfunction of the sensor (for example, determining that the user is touching the touch sensor but not touching it) may occur. As a solution to such a problem, there is a technique of acquiring a sensor value when an object is determined to be non-contact and changing a threshold value at a predetermined time interval in accordance with the sensor value.

  FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing a relationship between a sensor value and a threshold value in a conventional information processing apparatus, and (a) is a timing chart when the threshold value is changed according to a change in the sensor value due to a temperature change. , (B) is a timing chart when the sensor value changes due to the influence of noise.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, conventionally, by obtaining a sensor value at a predetermined timing, a reference level is set as a sensor value when the object is not in contact, and a certain difference from the reference level is set. A value having a threshold value was used as a threshold value. Thereby, the threshold value is changed so as to follow the change of the sensor value, and the malfunction that may occur due to the temperature change around the sensor is prevented.

JP 2011-119959 A (released on June 16, 2011)

  However, an information processing apparatus including the above-described sensor has a problem that malfunction occurs due to disturbance such as RF noise. This will be specifically described below.

  In an information processing apparatus provided with a capacitance sensor, the sensor value changes due to the influence of RF noise or the impedance of the capacitance sensor fluctuating. For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, the sensor value starts to increase (increase) due to the influence of noise at time t0, and the reference level and threshold are changed so as to follow the change in the sensor value. Consider a case in which the sensor value decreases (decreases) because the influence of noise disappears at t1.

  The change in sensor value due to the effect of noise is steeper than the change in sensor value due to the effect of temperature change, so the reference level and threshold value are followed with sufficient response speed against the decrease in sensor value after time t1. It cannot be changed.

  As a result, the sensor value falls below the threshold value at time t2, and a malfunction occurs such as determining that the user is touching the touch sensor even though he is not touching the touch sensor.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing apparatus that suppresses malfunction of a contact sensor due to the influence of noise, and a control method for the information processing apparatus. .

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an information processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided at a position where a user's hand holding a gripping unit comes into contact with an object approaching or contacting the gripping unit. The presence or absence of gripping is determined based on the difference between the contact sensor that outputs a sensor value that changes and the reference value corresponding to the sensor value when the object is not in contact with the output sensor value. An information processing apparatus comprising: a gripping determination unit that performs a reference value changing unit that changes the reference value in accordance with a change in the sensor value, wherein the amount of change per unit time of the sensor value at an arbitrary time The reference value changing means sets the sensor value as the reference value when the change amount is smaller than a change threshold that is a predetermined value. 1st mode And executes, if the change amount is equal to or larger than the variation threshold, characterized in that it does not execute the first mode.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a control method for an information processing device according to an aspect of the present invention is provided at a position where a user's hand holding a gripping unit touches the object, A control method of an information processing apparatus including a contact sensor that outputs a sensor value that changes with approach or contact, wherein the reference value corresponding to the sensor value when the object is not in contact with the output sensor A gripping determination step for determining the presence or absence of gripping based on a difference value between the sensor value, a reference value changing step for changing the reference value in accordance with a change in the sensor value, and the sensor value at an arbitrary time. A change amount detecting step for detecting a change amount per unit time, and in the reference value changing step, when the change amount is smaller than a change threshold that is a predetermined value, The values of capacitors value and executes a first mode to be set as the reference value, if the change amount is equal to or larger than the variation threshold, characterized in that it does not execute the first mode.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus and a control method for the information processing apparatus in which malfunction of the contact sensor due to the influence of noise is suppressed.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the principal part structure of the portable terminal which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the external appearance of the portable terminal (information processing apparatus) which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a timing chart which shows the relationship between the sensor value in the portable terminal (information processing apparatus) which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, a reference level, and a threshold value. It is a timing chart which shows the relationship between the sensor value in the portable terminal (information processing apparatus) which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention, a reference level, and a threshold value. It is a timing chart which shows the relationship between the sensor value in the portable terminal (information processing apparatus) which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention, and a reference level. It is a timing chart which shows the relationship between the sensor value in the portable terminal (information processing apparatus) which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention, and a reference level. It is a timing chart which shows the relationship between the sensor value and threshold value in the conventional information processing apparatus, (a) is a timing chart when changing a threshold value according to the change of the sensor value by a temperature change, (b) These are timing charts when the sensor value changes due to the influence of noise.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. The configuration of the following specific items (embodiments) may be omitted if it is the same as the configuration described in other items. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those shown in each item are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  In the following description, a portable terminal is taken as an example of an information processing apparatus, and a case of a portable terminal is taken as an example of a gripping portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and has a portion that a person grips. The present invention can be applied to any device. Examples of the information processing device include a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a remote controller, a dryer, a vacuum cleaner, and other information processing devices operated with a handle.

Embodiment 1
<Configuration of mobile terminal 1>
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an external appearance of the mobile terminal 1 (information processing apparatus) according to the present embodiment. The mobile terminal 1 includes a display unit 10 (such as a touch panel) on at least one surface of the housing. Note that the surface provided with the display unit 10 is referred to as the “front” of the mobile terminal 1. In addition, the mobile terminal 1 includes a contact sensor 11 at a position where a user's hand holding the casing of the mobile terminal 1 contacts the mobile terminal 1. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 1 is in contact with two surfaces adjacent to the long side of the front (the two surfaces are referred to as “side surfaces” of the mobile terminal 1). A sensor 11 is provided. Note that the number of contact sensors 11 and the range in which the contact sensors 11 are arranged are not limited to the example shown in FIG. 2. For example, a plurality of contact sensors 11 may be arranged on each side surface. The contact sensor 11 may be disposed on the entire side surface. The contact sensor 11 may be exposed to the outside of the casing or may be disposed in the casing.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of the mobile terminal 1. The mobile terminal 1 is an information processing apparatus including a contact sensor 11, a grip determination unit 12 (grip determination unit), and a host control unit 13. In FIG. 1, some arrows are omitted in consideration of the visibility of the drawing.

  The contact sensor 11 is a sensor that detects the approach or contact of an object such as a user's hand. In the present embodiment, the contact sensor 11 is a capacitance sensor, but is not limited to this example. As the contact sensor 11, a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, or the like can be used. Note that the capacitance sensor can detect the proximity of the hand (contact between the housing and the hand) even if the housing is interposed between the capacitance sensor and the user's hand. The contact sensor 11 outputs a sensor value corresponding to the presence or absence of an object contact to the grip determination unit 12 based on an instruction from the grip determination unit 12. Specifically, the contact sensor 11 outputs a sensor value corresponding to a change in electrostatic capacitance of an electrode disposed on the side surface of the housing to the grip determination unit 12. For example, when the potential of the output signal of the contact sensor 11 is used as the sensor value, whether the potential decreases or increases when the housing is gripped depends on the type of the contact sensor. Here, in order to unify the description, the direction in which the sensor value changes as the casing is gripped is defined as the negative direction. That is, the sensor value when the casing is gripped is smaller than the sensor value when the casing is not gripped.

  The host control unit 13 mainly performs control on the host side of the mobile terminal 1. For example, the host control unit 13 controls the display unit 10. The host control unit 13 changes the display of the display unit 10 according to the determination result of the presence / absence of gripping in the gripping determination unit 12.

<Configuration of gripping determination unit 12>
The grip determination unit 12 includes a sensor control unit 21, a contact determination unit 22 (contact determination unit), a calibration unit 23, a change amount detection unit 24 (change amount detection unit), and a reference value change unit 25 (reference value change unit). Prepare. In addition, the grip determination unit 12 includes a storage unit (not shown). The storage unit stores a reference level (reference value), a gripping threshold value, a release threshold value, and the like. Each unit of the grip determination unit 12 can read and write these stored values from the storage unit.

  The reference level is for representing a sensor value when the casing is not gripped by the user. The gripping threshold value is a threshold value for determining that the housing is gripped. The release threshold value is a threshold value for determining that the hand is released from the grip (the hand is released). For example, the gripping threshold is set to a value smaller than the reference level. The release threshold is set to a value smaller than the reference level and larger than the grip threshold. The difference between the reference level and the grip threshold and the difference between the reference level and the release threshold are set in advance. That is, when the reference level is determined, the gripping threshold value and the release threshold value are automatically determined accordingly. As described above, the reference level is a variable that is set to be changeable in order to provide a reference (gripping threshold value, release threshold value) for determining whether or not there is gripping. Here, the gripping threshold value and the release threshold value are different in order to determine the presence / absence of gripping as hysteresis, but they may be the same value. In addition, the reference level, the grip threshold, and the release threshold are set for each contact sensor 11.

  The grip determination unit 12 compares the sensor value with a threshold value (grip threshold value), and determines that the housing is gripped when the sensor value exceeds the threshold value. In other words, the grip determination unit 12 calculates a difference between the reference level and the sensor value, and determines that the housing is gripped when the difference exceeds a predetermined value.

  Note that “when the sensor value exceeds the threshold” can be restated as “when the sensor value exceeds the threshold”. That is, “when the sensor value exceeds the threshold value” here means that the sensor value changes across the threshold value, and includes a case where the sensor value exceeds the threshold value and a case where the sensor value falls below the threshold value.

  Specifically, when the sensor value changes in the positive direction as the housing is gripped, “when the sensor value exceeds the threshold” means that the sensor value exceeds the threshold. When the direction in which the sensor value changes as the casing is gripped is a negative direction, “when the sensor value exceeds the threshold” means that the sensor value is below the threshold.

  Whether the direction in which the sensor value changes as the casing is gripped can be positive or negative can be appropriately selected according to the design of the mobile terminal 1 including the contact sensor 11.

  Hereinafter, the portable terminal 1 in which the direction in which the sensor value changes as the casing is gripped will be described as an example.

(Sensor control unit 21)
The sensor control unit 21 operates the contact sensor 11 at a predetermined timing, and acquires a sensor value as an output of the contact sensor 11. The sensor control unit 21 acquires a sensor value from the contact sensor 11 at regular intervals. When there are a plurality of contact sensors 11, the sensor control unit 21 acquires sensor values from the respective contact sensors 11 at regular intervals. The sensor control unit 21 outputs the sensor value to the contact determination unit 22, the change amount detection unit 24, and the reference value change unit 25.

(Contact determination unit 22)
The contact determination unit 22 compares the sensor value with the gripping threshold value, and determines that the user's hand is in contact with the contact sensor 11 (via the housing) when the sensor value becomes smaller than the gripping threshold value. Moreover, the contact determination part 22 memorize | stores that the contact sensor 11 is a contact state at this time. Furthermore, the contact determination unit 22 compares the sensor value with the release threshold value, and determines that the user's hand is separated from the contact sensor 11 (released from gripping) when the sensor value is greater than the release threshold value. Moreover, the contact determination part 22 memorize | stores that the contact sensor 11 is a non-contact state at this time. If the sensor value is greater than or equal to the grip threshold and less than or equal to the release threshold, the contact determination unit 22 determines that the immediately previous state (contact state or non-contact state) continues and continues to store the state.

  The contact determination part 22 determines with the user's hand holding the housing | casing (mobile terminal 1), when the some (both sides) contact sensor 11 is a contact state. For example, when only the contact sensor 11 on one side is in contact and the contact sensor 11 on the other side is in a non-contact state, the contact determination unit 22 determines that the user's hand is not gripping the housing. Also good. When there is only one contact sensor 11 provided in the mobile terminal 1, the contact determination unit 22 determines the presence or absence of gripping based on the contact state of the contact sensor 11 (gripping determination step). The contact determination unit 22 outputs determination result information regarding the presence or absence of gripping to the host control unit 13. In the following description, for the sake of simplicity, determination of the contact state of one contact sensor 11 will be described.

(Calibration unit 23)
The calibration unit 23 acquires the sensor value from the sensor control unit 21 at a predetermined timing, and calibrates the reference level based on the sensor value. For example, the calibration unit 23 calibrates the reference level at regular intervals. The calibration unit 23 also calibrates the reference level when the mobile terminal 1 is turned on and when the grip determination function is turned on. The calibration unit 23 acquires sensor values a plurality of times, and sets an average value (or intermediate value) of the plurality of sensor values as a reference level. When the reference level is changed, the gripping threshold value and the release threshold value are also changed based on the information that has changed the reference level value. Thereby, the reference level for expressing the sensor value at the time of non-contact can be calibrated according to environmental changes, such as temperature.

(Change amount detection unit 24)
The change amount detection unit 24 detects the change amount (sensor value inclination) per unit time of the sensor value at an arbitrary time (change amount detection step). Further, the change amount per unit time of the sensor value is output to the reference value changing unit 25.

  The amount of change per unit time of the sensor value may be, for example, a difference between two sensor values that are continuously acquired by the sensor control unit 21 after a certain period.

(Reference value changing unit 25)
The reference value changing unit 25 compares the change amount of the sensor value detected by the change amount detection unit 24 with a predetermined change amount threshold value (change threshold value), and according to the comparison result, the normal mode (first mode). 1 mode) and U mode (second mode).

  Specifically, when the change amount of the sensor value by the change amount detection unit 24 is smaller than the change threshold value, the normal mode is executed, and when the change amount of the sensor value by the change amount detection unit 24 is equal to or greater than the change threshold value, U Run the mode. Then, the reference value changing unit 25 changes the reference level as necessary (reference value changing step), and outputs the changed reference level to the contact determination unit 22.

  When the ambient temperature of the sensor changes from a low temperature to a high temperature, the change amount of the sensor value based on the temperature change is smaller than the change amount of the sensor value based on the influence of the RF noise. Therefore, a value suitable for classifying the change amount of the sensor value based on the temperature change and the change amount of the sensor value based on the influence of the RF noise is set in advance as the change threshold value. Thereby, changes in sensor values can be classified into those due to temperature changes and those due to the influence of RF noise, and each mode can be executed in accordance with changes in sensor values based on the respective factors. .

  The reference value changing unit 25 changes the reference level following the change in the sensor value during execution of the normal mode. On the other hand, the reference value changing unit 25 does not change the reference level following the change of the sensor value even when the sensor value changes during execution of the U mode.

  The reference value changing unit 25 can change the reference level and the threshold according to a change in the surrounding environment such as a temperature change by changing the reference level so as to follow the change in the sensor value during execution of the normal mode. it can. Thereby, even if it is a case where a change of an environment arises, generation | occurrence | production of a malfunction can be suppressed.

  Further, the change amount of the sensor value due to the influence of the RF noise is larger than the change amount of the sensor value due to the temperature change. Furthermore, the change in the sensor value due to the influence of the RF noise is steep compared to the change in the sensor value due to the temperature change. Therefore, when the reference level is changed according to the change of the sensor value due to the influence of the RF noise, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the RF noise suddenly disappears, the sensor is not affected regardless of the user's operation. The value exceeds a threshold value (gripping threshold value, release threshold value), and a malfunction occurs.

  On the other hand, according to the mobile terminal 1 of the present embodiment, the reference value changing unit 25 executes the U mode when the change amount of the sensor value is equal to or larger than the change threshold, and the sensor value during the execution of the U mode. Even if is changed, the reference level is not changed following the change of the sensor value. That is, the reference value changing unit 25 does not change the reference level according to the influence of disturbance such as RF noise. Thereby, malfunction due to the influence of RF noise can be suppressed.

(Operation example)
Hereinafter, the relationship between the sensor value and the reference level and the control method of the mobile terminal 1 in the present embodiment will be described based on specific examples.

  FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the relationship between the sensor value, the reference level, and the threshold value in the mobile terminal of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the change amount detection unit 24 has a sensor value (first sensor value) at time t1 (first time) and a sensor value (second sensor value) at time t2 (second time). From this difference, the change amount of the sensor value per time (unit time) from time t1 to time t2 is detected. When the change amount of the sensor value per unit time from time t1 to time t2 is equal to or greater than a predetermined change threshold, the reference value changing unit 25 shifts from the normal mode to the U mode at time t2.

  If the change amount of the sensor value per unit time from time t1 to time t2 is smaller than the change threshold value, the reference value changing unit 25 continues the normal mode and sets the sensor value at time t2 as the reference level. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the reference value changing unit 25 does not change the reference level even when the sensor value changes during execution of the U mode. As a result, even when disturbance such as RF noise suddenly disappears and the sensor value decreases, the sensor value does not easily exceed the threshold value (gripping threshold value, release threshold value), so that malfunctions can be suppressed. it can.

  The reference value changing unit 25 shifts from the U mode to the normal mode when the sensor value exceeds a U mode release threshold (mode threshold) that is a predetermined value at time t3 during execution of the U mode. .

  The value of the U mode release threshold can be set as appropriate. For example, the value of the U mode release threshold value may be the same value as the reference level during execution of the U mode.

[Embodiment 2]
The following will describe another embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  Unlike the reference value changing unit of the portable terminal of the first embodiment, the reference value changing unit 25 of the portable terminal 1 of the present embodiment responds to environmental changes such as temperature changes even during the execution of the U mode. Change the reference level.

  FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the relationship between the sensor value, the reference level, and the threshold value in the mobile terminal of this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the change amount detection unit 24 detects the change amount of the sensor value per unit time from time t1 to time t2 from the difference between the sensor value at time t1 and the sensor value at time t2. . When the change amount of the sensor value per unit time from time t1 to time t2 is equal to or greater than a predetermined change threshold, the reference value changing unit 25 shifts from the normal mode to the U mode at time t2.

  After that, the change amount detection unit 24 detects the change amount of the sensor value per unit time. When the change amount of the sensor value per unit time is equal to or greater than the change threshold value, the reference value changing unit 25 does not change the reference level.

  On the other hand, when the absolute value of the change amount of the sensor value per unit time is smaller than the change threshold value, the reference level is increased or decreased according to the change amount. Specifically, when the absolute value of the sensor value increase amount S34 per unit time from time t3 to time t4 is smaller than the change threshold, the sensor value, the threshold, and the U mode threshold are increased by S34 at time t4. . If the absolute value of the sensor value decrease amount S56 per unit time from time t5 to time t6 is smaller than the change threshold value, the sensor value, threshold value, and U mode threshold value are decreased by S56 at time t6. As a result, when the absolute value of the change amount of the sensor value per unit time is smaller than the change threshold during execution of the U mode, the change of the sensor value is regarded as being caused by the change of the environment, and the sensor value and the reference The reference level and the threshold value can be changed so as to follow the change of the sensor value while maintaining the difference from the level.

  When the absolute value of the sensor value decrease amount S78 per unit time from time t7 to time t8 is equal to or greater than the change threshold, the reference value changing unit 25 does not change the sensor value, the threshold, and the U mode threshold.

  According to the mobile terminal of this embodiment, even during the execution of the U mode, it is possible to appropriately set the reference level and the threshold corresponding to the environmental change, and to suppress malfunctions that may occur due to the environmental change around the sensor. can do.

[Embodiment 3]
The following will describe another embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  The reference value changing unit 25 of the mobile terminal 1 according to the present embodiment has a unit per unit time after calibration is performed by the calibration unit 23 in a state in which the user is in contact with the contact sensor 11 (a state in which the mobile terminal 1 is held). Even when the change amount of the sensor value is equal to or larger than the change threshold value, the normal mode is executed without shifting to the U mode.

  As described above, in the mobile terminal 1, the calibration unit 23 acquires the sensor value at a predetermined timing, and calibrates the reference level based on the sensor value. For example, the calibration unit 23 calibrates the reference level at regular intervals. Specifically, the calibration unit 23 acquires sensor values a plurality of times, and sets an average value of the plurality of sensor values as a reference level.

  In a state where the user holds the mobile terminal 1, the sensor value is smaller than the threshold value. Therefore, when the calibration is performed by the calibration unit 23 while the user is holding the mobile terminal 1, the reference level is set to a value smaller than the threshold value at the time of calibration.

  When the reference level is calibrated as described above, the threshold value is lower than normal, and the sensor value is unlikely to exceed the threshold value even when the user is holding the mobile terminal 1. I can't.

  Therefore, the reference value changing unit 25 of the mobile terminal 1 according to the present embodiment changes the sensor value per unit time in a predetermined period after the calibration is performed by the calibration unit 23 with the user holding the mobile terminal 1. Even if the amount is equal to or greater than the change threshold value, the reference level is raised to the value before calibration early by executing the normal mode without shifting to the U mode.

  Hereinafter, a specific example will be described. 5 and 6 are timing charts showing the relationship between the sensor value and the reference level in the mobile terminal of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the user holds the mobile terminal 1, the sensor value starts to decrease from time t <b> 0 and decreases to a threshold value (not shown) or less. When calibration by the calibration unit 23 is performed at time t1 in a state where the sensor value has decreased below the threshold value, the reference level decreases from the pre-calibration value Bc (first reference value) to the sensor value at the time of calibration.

  The reference value changing unit 25 stores Bc, which is the value of the reference level before calibration. In the period from when the reference level rises to Bc again, the reference value changing unit 25 normally does not shift to the U mode even if the change amount of the sensor value per unit time is equal to or greater than the change threshold. Run the mode. Specifically, in the period from when the reference level increases to Bc again, even if the sensor value change amount per unit time from time t1 to time t2 is greater than or equal to the change threshold, the reference value changing unit 25 Executes the normal mode and changes the reference level to follow the change of the sensor value.

  After the reference level increases and becomes Bc again, the reference value changing unit 25 executes the normal mode or the U mode as in the first and second embodiments.

  As shown in FIG. 6, after the calibration by the calibration unit 23 at time t1, if the sensor value becomes larger than Bc at time t2, the reference value changing unit 25 sets the reference level. Set to Bc. Thus, after the calibration by the calibration unit 23 at time t1, when the sensor value becomes larger than Bc, by setting the reference level with the reference level value (Bc) before calibration as the upper limit, An excessive increase in the reference level can be prevented.

  According to said structure, even if it is a case where a reference level falls extremely by calibration by the calibration part 23 in the state which the user hold | gripped the portable terminal 1, a reference level is made into the value before calibration early. It can be returned, and a gripping determination can be made normally. In addition, Bc is a held reference level before calibration, but may be set as an absolute value.

[Example of software implementation]
The control block (particularly the grip determination unit 12) of the mobile terminal 1 may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or software using a CPU (Central Processing Unit). It may be realized by.

  In the latter case, the mobile terminal 1 includes a CPU that executes instructions of a program that is software that implements each function, a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which the program and various data are recorded so as to be readable by a computer (or CPU), or A storage device (these are referred to as “recording media”), a RAM (Random Access Memory) that expands the program, and the like are provided. And the objective of this invention is achieved when a computer (or CPU) reads the said program from the said recording medium and runs it. As the recording medium, a “non-temporary tangible medium” such as a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. The program may be supplied to the computer via an arbitrary transmission medium (such as a communication network or a broadcast wave) that can transmit the program. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission.

[Summary]
An information processing apparatus (portable terminal 1) according to aspect 1 of the present invention is provided at a position where a user's hand holding a gripping part comes into contact, and changes with an object approaching or contacting the gripping part A contact sensor (11) that outputs a value, a reference value (reference level) corresponding to the sensor value when the object is not in contact, and a difference value between the output sensor value and An information processing apparatus comprising: grip determination means (grip determination section 12) for determining presence / absence; and reference value change means (reference value change section 25) for changing the reference value in accordance with a change in the sensor value. And a change amount detecting means (change amount detecting unit 24) for detecting a change amount per unit time of the sensor value at an arbitrary time, and the reference value changing means has the change amount determined in advance. Than the change threshold value In this case, the first mode (normal mode) in which the sensor value is set as the reference value is executed, and the first mode is not executed when the amount of change is equal to or greater than the change threshold. Features.

  According to the above configuration, the reference value changing unit does not execute the first mode when the change amount of the sensor value per unit time is equal to or greater than the change threshold value. The reference value is not changed following the change in value.

  Generally, the amount of change in sensor value based on the influence of disturbance such as RF noise is larger than the amount of change in sensor value based on environmental changes such as temperature changes.

  Therefore, based on the influence of the disturbance by setting a value suitable for classifying the change amount of the sensor value based on the influence of the disturbance and the change amount of the sensor value based on the environmental change as a change threshold. Thus, when the sensor value changes, the reference value may not be changed following the change of the sensor value.

  As a result, even if the influence of the disturbance suddenly disappears, the sensor value does not easily exceed the contact threshold value, so that malfunction due to the influence of the disturbance can be suppressed.

  The information processing apparatus according to aspect 2 of the present invention is the information processing apparatus according to aspect 1, wherein the sensor value changes as the object approaches or contacts the grip portion, and the change amount detection unit is configured to perform the first time Increase amount from the first sensor value as the sensor value detected at (time t1) to the second sensor value as the sensor value detected at the second time (time t2) after the first time The reference value changing means sets the value of the second sensor value as the reference value in the first mode when the change amount is smaller than the change threshold. It may be.

  According to said structure, a reference value can be set appropriately according to the change of the sensor value based on the change of an environment, and the malfunction which may arise by the change of the environment around a sensor can be suppressed.

  In the information processing apparatus according to aspect 3 of the present invention, in the aspect 1 or 2, the reference value changing unit sets the value of the sensor value as the reference value when the amount of change is equal to or greater than the change threshold. The second mode (U mode) is executed, and the reference value changing means is configured to set a mode threshold value (U mode) in which the sensor value output from the contact sensor during execution of the second mode is a predetermined value. If the release threshold is exceeded, the first mode may be executed instead of the second mode.

  According to said structure, it can switch appropriately between 1st mode and 2nd mode according to the value of the predetermined mode threshold value.

  In the aspect 3, the mode threshold may be equal to the reference value during execution of the second mode.

  In the information processing apparatus according to aspect 4 of the present invention, in the aspect 3, when the absolute value of the change amount of the sensor value per unit time during the execution of the second mode is smaller than the absolute value of the change threshold value, The reference value changing means may be configured to increase or decrease the reference value and the mode threshold according to the change amount.

  According to the above configuration, even during execution of the second mode, it is possible to appropriately set the reference level and the threshold corresponding to the environmental change, and to suppress malfunction that may occur due to the environmental change around the sensor. Can do.

  In the information processing apparatus according to aspect 5 of the present invention, in the aspect 3 or 4, the reference value changing unit is configured to detect the first reference value, which is the reference value at a certain time, in the state where the grip portion is gripped. After the change to the value, during the period until the sensor value exceeds the first reference value, even if the change amount is not less than the change threshold value, the first mode is executed without shifting to the second mode. It may be a configuration.

  According to the above configuration, even if the reference value is extremely increased or decreased due to calibration of the reference value while the user is holding the information processing apparatus, the reference value is set to the value before calibration at an early stage. Thus, the gripping determination can be made normally.

  The control method of the information processing device according to aspect 6 of the present invention is provided at a position where the user's hand holding the gripping unit comes into contact, and sensor values that change as the object approaches or touches the gripping unit are obtained. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus including an output contact sensor, based on a difference value between a reference value corresponding to the sensor value when the object is non-contact and the output sensor value A gripping determination step for determining the presence or absence of gripping, a reference value changing step for changing the reference value as the sensor value changes, and a change amount for detecting a change amount per unit time of the sensor value at an arbitrary time Detecting step, and setting the sensor value as the reference value when the change amount is smaller than a change threshold that is a predetermined value in the reference value changing step. And it executes a first mode that, if the change amount is equal to or larger than the variation threshold, characterized in that it does not execute the first mode.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, a new technical feature can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment.

  The present invention can be used for an information processing device (a smart phone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a remote controller, a dryer, a vacuum cleaner, and other information processing devices operated with a handle) including a contact sensor.

1 Mobile terminal (information processing device)
11 Contact sensor 12 Grasping determination unit (gripping determination means)
24 Change amount detection unit (change amount detection means)
25 Reference value changing section (reference value changing means)
t1 time (first time)
t2 time (second time)

Claims (6)

A contact sensor that is provided at a position where a user's hand holding the gripping unit comes into contact, and that outputs a sensor value that changes as the object approaches or contacts the gripping unit;
Gripping determination means for determining the presence or absence of gripping based on a difference value between a reference value corresponding to the sensor value when the object is non-contact and the output sensor value;
A reference value changing means for changing the reference value in accordance with a change in the sensor value;
It includes a change amount detecting means for detecting a change amount per unit time of the sensor value at an arbitrary time,
The reference value changing means executes a first mode in which the sensor value is set as the reference value when the change amount is smaller than a change threshold that is a predetermined value, and the change amount is The information processing apparatus, wherein the first mode is not executed when the change threshold value is equal to or greater than the change threshold value. The sensor value changes as the object approaches or touches the grip part,
The change amount detecting means changes from the first sensor value as the sensor value detected at the first time to the second sensor value as the sensor value detected at the second time after the first time. Is detected as the amount of change above,
The said reference value change means sets the value of the said 2nd sensor value as the said reference value in the said 1st mode, when the said variation | change_quantity is smaller than the said change threshold value. Information processing device. The reference value changing means executes a second mode in which the value of the sensor value is not set as the reference value when the change amount is equal to or greater than the change threshold value,
The reference value changing means replaces the second mode when the sensor value output from the contact sensor during execution of the second mode exceeds a predetermined mode threshold value. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first mode is executed.   When the absolute value of the change amount of the sensor value per unit time during execution of the second mode is smaller than the absolute value of the change threshold value, the reference value changing means sets the reference value and the mode threshold value to The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information processing apparatus increases or decreases according to the amount of change.   The reference value changing means changes the first reference value, which is the reference value at a certain time, to the sensor value in a state where the grip portion is gripped, and then the sensor value exceeds the first reference value. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first mode is executed without shifting to the second mode even if the amount of change is equal to or greater than the change threshold during a period. This is a control method for an information processing apparatus provided with a contact sensor that is provided at a position where a user's hand holding the gripping unit comes in contact and outputs a sensor value that changes as the object approaches or contacts the gripping unit. And
A grip determination step of determining presence or absence of gripping based on a difference value between a reference value corresponding to the sensor value when the object is non-contact and the output sensor value;
A reference value changing step for changing the reference value in accordance with a change in the sensor value;
A change amount detecting step for detecting a change amount per unit time of the sensor value at an arbitrary time, and
In the reference value changing step, when the amount of change is smaller than a change threshold that is a predetermined value, a first mode for setting the value of the sensor value as the reference value is executed, and the amount of change is A control method for an information processing apparatus, wherein the first mode is not executed when the change threshold is not less than the threshold value.

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