JP2016091171A - Operation input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve an operation-input recognition rate for an operation input using a gesture.SOLUTION: An operation input device 10 recognizes an operator's gesture in a three-dimensional space and receives an operation input to to-be-operated equipment 30. In the three-dimensional space, a steering wheel 20 is provided and a plurality of gesture regions along at least two coordinate axis directions is set around the steering wheel 20. When an operator performs a predetermined gesture motion in the predetermined gesture region, the operation input device outputs a control signal to control the to-be-operated equipment to perform a motion identified by a combination of the gesture region and the gesture motion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation input device that receives an operation input to an operation target device.

Conventionally, an operation input device that recognizes an operator's gesture and receives an operation input to an operation target device is known. Compared with operation input using an input unit such as a switch or a button, operation input using a gesture can be performed without directing the operator's line of sight or attention to the input unit. Effective for operation input to equipment.
For example, in Patent Document 1 below, a plurality of gesture regions provided corresponding to a plurality of predetermined operation target devices are irradiated with light of different colors, and a gesture operation is performed based on a result of photographing the plurality of gesture regions. In addition to detecting, a gesture region in which the gesture operation is performed is detected. Then, control is performed to perform a predetermined operation corresponding to the detected gesture operation on the operation target device corresponding to the detected gesture region.

JP 2014-153554 A

The operation input using the gesture according to the related art has a problem that the recognition error rate increases because the gesture performed in a wide space is recognized. In order to solve this problem, for example, a method of making a gesture of input a simple movement or using a plurality of sensors and cameras can be considered. However, since the number of simple gestures is limited, there is a problem that the types of operation inputs are limited. When a plurality of sensors and cameras are used, there is a problem that the system becomes expensive.
Further, in Patent Document 1 described above, the interior space of the vehicle is divided into a plurality of gesture regions in the vehicle width direction. However, each region is irradiated with colored light so that the operator can grasp it. It may interfere with the driver's vision.
Moreover, in patent document 1 mentioned above, since the inside of a vehicle interior space is divided | segmented only to one direction (vehicle width direction) and the gesture area | region is formed, there exists a subject that gesture operation has a restriction | limiting.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to improve the recognition rate of operation input in operation input using a gesture.

In order to achieve the above object, an operation input device according to the invention of claim 1 is an operation input device that recognizes an operator's gesture in a three-dimensional space and receives an operation input to an operation target device. The operator performs a predetermined gesture operation in a predetermined gesture region set in the three-dimensional space based on an image capturing unit that continuously captures the three-dimensional space and a captured image captured by the image capturing unit. When the predetermined gesture operation is performed in the predetermined gesture region, the operation target device performs an operation specified by a combination of the predetermined gesture region and the predetermined gesture operation. Gesture recognition means for outputting a control signal for causing the gesture region to move in the three-dimensional space in at least two coordinate axis directions. It is obtained by dividing into a plurality of regions along the, characterized in that.
The operation input device according to a second aspect of the invention is characterized in that the gesture region is obtained by dividing the three-dimensional space into a plurality of regions along three coordinate axis directions.
In the operation input device according to a third aspect of the present invention, a steering wheel of a vehicle is arranged in the three-dimensional space, and the gesture region has the three-dimensional space as an origin at the center point of the steering wheel. It is divided along a substantially vertical axis substantially along the vertical direction and a substantially longitudinal axis substantially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the space along the substantially vertical axis is an inner space of the steering wheel. The space is divided into a circumferential region, an outer edge region of the steering wheel, and an upper region above the outer edge region, and the space along the substantially front-rear axis is a front region where the steering wheel is a surface facing the driver; The steering wheel is divided into a rear surface region that is a mounting surface to the vehicle body.
In the operation input device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a steering wheel of a vehicle is arranged in the three-dimensional space, and the gesture region has the three-dimensional space as an origin at a center point of the steering wheel. Divided along a substantially vertical axis substantially along the vertical direction, a substantially longitudinal axis substantially along the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a substantially vehicle width direction axis substantially along the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, The space along the substantially vertical axis is divided into an inner circumferential region of the steering wheel, an outer edge region of the steering wheel, and an upper region above the outer edge region, and the space along the substantially longitudinal axis is The steering wheel is divided into a front region that is a surface facing the driver and a rear region that is a mounting surface of the steering wheel to the vehicle body. Space along the substantially vehicle transverse axis, said and one of the car-side side area from the center point of the steering wheel, is divided from the center point to the other car side side region, it is characterized.
The operation input device according to a fifth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the operation target device is an in-vehicle device in the vehicle.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the operator's gesture in the three-dimensional space is recognized and the operation input is accepted, whether or not a predetermined gesture operation is performed in advance and whether the predetermined gesture operation is performed. The content of the operation input (the operation of the operation target device) is specified based on the selected area. Therefore, compared with the case where a gesture is performed in a single space that is not divided into regions, it is possible to reduce the possibility of erroneously recognizing a simple operation with no intention of operation input as a gesture of operation input. In addition, since the gesture region is obtained by dividing the three-dimensional space into a plurality of regions along at least two coordinate axis directions, the position where the gesture operation is performed can be specified in more detail, and the recognition rate of operation input is improved. Can be made. Further, the types of operation inputs can be increased by combining the gesture operation and the gesture area.
According to the invention of claim 2, since the three-dimensional space is divided into a plurality of regions along the three coordinate axis directions, the three-dimensional space can be divided into more regions, and each coordinate axis of the three-dimensional space It is easy to specify the movement along the line, and the range of the gesture movement can be widened.
According to the third aspect of the invention, the operator can easily recognize the coordinate axis direction based on the steering wheel of the vehicle, and the gesture operation can be performed easily and accurately.
According to the invention of claim 4, since the three-dimensional space is also divided into regions substantially along the axis in the vehicle width direction, it becomes easy to set operation inputs in accordance with the arrangement of the in-vehicle device in the vehicle and its operation unit, Operation input using gestures can be easily performed intuitively.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to operate the in-vehicle device without using the input unit or the like during driving of the vehicle that requires gaze ahead, and it is possible to improve safety during driving of the vehicle.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the operation input apparatus 10 concerning embodiment. 2 is a front view of a steering wheel 20. FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the steering wheel 20 (viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2). It is a table | surface which shows the content of the operation identification database 148 typically. It is explanatory drawing which shows the gesture of operation input typically. It is explanatory drawing which shows the gesture of operation input typically. It is explanatory drawing which shows the gesture of operation input typically. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure performed by the operation input device 10. 12 is an example of setting an area in a three-dimensional space in the second embodiment. It is a table | surface which shows the content of the operation identification database 148 typically. It is explanatory drawing which shows the gesture of operation input typically. It is explanatory drawing which shows the gesture of operation input typically. It is another example of area setting in a three-dimensional space.

  Exemplary embodiments of an operation input device according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an operation input device 10 according to the embodiment.
The operation input device 10 according to the embodiment is mounted on a vehicle (not shown), recognizes an operator's gesture in the three-dimensional space S, and inputs an operation input to the in-vehicle device 30 (operation target device) in the vehicle. Accept.
In the present embodiment, the three-dimensional space S is a cabin space in the vehicle, and particularly refers to a space where the steering wheel 20 in the vicinity of the driver's seat is arranged.
In the present embodiment, the surrounding space is divided into a plurality of regions (gesture regions) with reference to the steering wheel 20, and the operation content is identified according to what gesture (gesture operation) is performed in which region. To do.
That is, when an operation input using a gesture is performed, the operation input device 10 specifies the content of the operation input based on the gesture operation and the gesture area indicating the position where the gesture operation is performed.
In this way, by specifying the reference member (steering wheel 20) in the space in the space, it is easy for the operator (driver) to recognize the reference position of the gesture and to perform the operation. At the same time, the gesture recognition rate in the operation input device 10 can be improved.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the steering wheel 20, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the steering wheel 20 (viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2).
As shown in FIG. 2, the steering wheel 20 includes an annular grip portion 22, a center portion 24 disposed in the center of the grip portion 22, and a center portion extending from the center portion 24 in the left and right radial directions. 24 and a plurality of spoke portions 26 for connecting the grip portion 22 to each other.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the steering wheel 20 is disposed via a column cover 32 from an instrument panel 31 formed to extend in the width direction in front of the vehicle interior.
The steering wheel 20 is connected to the upper end of the steering shaft 34 in the column cover 32. The steering shaft 34 is rotatably supported in a cylindrical steering column 36 and extends from the column cover 32 to the instrument panel 31.
The steering column 36 is provided with a tilt device 38 that changes the angle of the steering wheel 20 in the instrument panel 31.

In the present embodiment, the gesture region is specified by dividing the three-dimensional space S around the steering wheel 20 into a plurality of regions along at least two coordinate axis directions.
In the first embodiment, the three-dimensional space S is set to the origin O as the center point of the steering wheel 20, and the X axis, which is a substantially vertical axis substantially along the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the substantially longitudinal direction substantially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A gesture region is specified by dividing along the Z-axis.
Here, “almost along the up-down direction and the front-rear direction of the vehicle” means that the steering wheel 20 is often inclined with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle as shown in FIG. When the coordinate axis is set based on the ring, it means that the vehicle does not strictly follow the vertical direction or the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 2, the space along the substantially vertical axis (X axis) is divided into an inner peripheral region X1 of the steering wheel 20, an outer edge region X2 of the steering wheel 20, and an upper region X3 above the outer edge region X2. The
The outer edge region X2 is, for example, a region from the upper end 22A of the grip portion 22 of the steering wheel 20 up to about several centimeters (about the height of the fist of the operator).
In the present embodiment, the regions X1 to X3 are set only in the space above the origin O. This is because the space below the origin O is difficult to enter the operator's field of view and is difficult to operate.
However, as shown in FIG. 13A, the regions X1 to X3 may be set in a space below the origin O. Further, as shown in FIG. 13B, the regions X1 to X3 set in the space above the origin O and the regions X1 to X3 (regions X1 ′ to X3 ′) set in the space below the origin O are separated. It may be set as a region.
Further, the space substantially along the longitudinal axis (Z-axis) is divided into a front region Z1, which is a surface where the steering wheel 20 faces the driver, and a rear region Z2, which is a mounting surface of the steering wheel 20 to the vehicle body. Is done.

Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the operation input device 10 includes an imaging unit 12 and a gesture identification unit 14.
The photographing means 12 continuously photographs a three-dimensional space. Continuous shooting refers to shooting a group of images (video data) in which the behavior (gesture) of the operator in a three-dimensional space can be recognized.
The photographing means 12 is, for example, an infrared camera, and can photograph a video in a three-dimensional space even at night. Further, the photographing means 12 may be composed of a plurality of cameras (stereo cameras or the like).
The installation position of the photographing unit 12 is arbitrary, but the steering wheel 20 and the above-described regions X1 to X3, Z1, and Z2 are positions that can be included in the photographing range.

The gesture identification unit 14 identifies whether or not the operator has performed a predetermined gesture operation in a predetermined gesture region set in the three-dimensional space S based on the captured image captured by the imaging unit 12. When a predetermined gesture operation is performed in a predetermined gesture region, a control signal that causes the operation target device to perform an operation specified by a combination of the predetermined gesture region and the predetermined gesture operation is output.
The gesture identification unit 14 is configured by a processing unit such as a vehicle ECU. The vehicle ECU includes a CPU, a ROM that stores and stores a control program, a RAM as an operation area of the control program, an EEPROM that holds various data in a rewritable manner, an interface unit that interfaces with peripheral circuits, and the like. When the CPU executes the control program, the CPU functions as the gesture identification unit 14.
The gesture identification unit 14 includes an operation identification unit 140, a region identification unit 142, an operation content identification unit 144, and a device control unit 146.
Further, the gesture identification unit 14 records an operation identification database (DB) 148 for identifying the operation content depending on what gesture operation is performed in which region around the steering wheel 20.

FIG. 4 is a table schematically showing the contents of the operation identification database 148.
In the table of FIG. 4, for three types of operation inputs (first operation input to third operation input), a region where gesture is performed (each region of a substantially vertical axis and a substantially front-rear axis) 1481, a gesture operation 1482. An operation target device 1483 and an operation content 1484 are shown.
The first operation input is a gesture operation in which the hand is held with respect to the steering wheel 20 in the inner peripheral region X1 and the front region Z1 of the steering wheel 20.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the gesture is to open the operator's hand H directly to the steering wheel 20.
5 to 7, FIG. A is a front view of the steering wheel 20, and FIG. B is a side view of the steering wheel 20.
The operation target device 30 of the first operation input is a small lamp and a tail lamp of the vehicle, and the operation content is turned on and off, that is, when this gesture is performed with the small lamp and the tail lamp turned off, the small lamp and the tail lamp. Is turned on, and when this gesture is performed in a state where the small lamp and the tail lamp are lit, the small lamp and the tail lamp are turned off.

The second operation input is a gesture operation that changes the operator's hand from goo (fist) to par (opens the palm) in the upper region X3 and the rear surface region Z2 of the steering wheel 20.
That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the operator's hand H is positioned in an area near the instrument panel 31 above the steering wheel 20, and the shape of the hand H is changed from goo to par.
The operation target device 30 of the second operation input is a vehicle headlamp, and the operation content is turned on and off, that is, when this gesture is performed with the headlamp turned off, the headlamp is turned on. If this gesture is performed while is lit, the headlamp is turned off.

The third operation input is to perform a gesture operation for moving the operator's hand from the front surface region Z1 of the inner peripheral region X1 of the steering wheel 20 to the rear surface region Z2.
That is, as shown in FIG. 7, it is a gesture for putting a hand over the inner periphery of the steering wheel 20.
The operation target device 30 of the third operation input is a vehicle headlight, and the operation content is switched between high and low in the headlight irradiation direction when this gesture is performed with the headlight turned on ( When this gesture is performed in a state where the headlight is turned off), passing lighting (instant high beam lighting) is performed.

Returning to the description of FIG. 2, the action identifying unit 140 identifies whether or not the operator has performed a predetermined gesture action in the three-dimensional space based on the photographed image photographed by the photographing unit 12. .
In the present embodiment, the operator is a driver, and the part that performs the operation is the hand H. The action identifying means 140 identifies a hand appearing in a captured image using a known image recognition technique (pattern recognition technique), and further, based on how the position of each point of the hand changes over time, Recognize hand gestures. Then, it is identified whether or not a gesture operation that matches the gesture operation 1482 (predetermined gesture operation) recorded in the operation identification DB 148 has been performed.

The area identification unit 142 identifies which of the plurality of areas X1 to X3, Z1, and Z2 the position where the predetermined gesture operation is performed belongs.
The region identification unit 142 performs the gesture operation in any of the plurality of regions X1 to X3, Z1, and Z2 based on the relative relationship between the position of the steering wheel 20 in the captured image and the position of the operator's hand during the gesture operation. Identify what happened.

The operation content specifying unit 144 specifies the content (operation content) of the operation input to the operation target device 30 based on the predetermined gesture operation and the area where the predetermined gesture is performed.
The operation content specifying unit 144 determines whether the combination of the type of gesture action identified by the action identifying unit 140 and the area identified by the area identifying unit 142 matches the operation input recorded in the operation identification DB 148. If they match, the operation content to the operation target device 30 corresponding to the operation input is specified.
For example, when the gesture motion identified by the motion identification unit 140 is a gesture motion (gesture motion in the first operation input) that holds the hand over the steering wheel 20, the region identified by the region identification unit 142 is the steering wheel. In the case of the 20 inner peripheral area X1 and the front area Z1, it is determined that the first operation input has been performed, and it is specified that the small lamp and tail lamp of the vehicle are turned on or off.
Further, even when a gesture operation of holding the hand over the steering wheel 20 (the gesture operation of the first operation input) is performed, the region identified by the region identification unit 142 is the upper region X3 of the steering wheel 20. Or the rear area Z2 or the like, it is determined that there is no operation input because there is no corresponding operation input.
In other words, the operation content specifying unit 144 matches the combination of the gesture action identified by the action identifying unit 140 and the area identified by the area identifying unit 142 with any of the operation inputs recorded in the operation identification DB 148. Only when it is recognized as a valid operation input.

The device control means 146 outputs a control signal that causes the operation target device 30 to perform an operation corresponding to the operation content, that is, an operation specified by a combination of a predetermined gesture region and a predetermined gesture operation.
For example, when the first operation input is performed, the device control unit 146 outputs a control signal for switching on / off the small lamp and tail lamp of the vehicle.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure performed by the operation input device 10.
The operation input device 10 repeats the process shown in FIG. 8 while the vehicle is traveling.
First, the vehicle interior space around the steering wheel 20 is photographed by the photographing means 12 (step S800).
The motion identification unit 140 analyzes the captured image captured by the imaging unit 12, and determines whether or not the operator has performed a gesture operation (predetermined gesture operation) recorded in the operation identification DB 148 (step S802).
When the predetermined gesture operation is not performed (step S802: No), the process returns to step S800 and the subsequent processing is repeated.
When a predetermined gesture operation is performed (step S802: Yes), the region where the predetermined gesture operation is performed is specified by the region identification unit 142 (step S804).
Next, the operation content specifying unit 144 determines whether or not the combination of the predetermined gesture action and the area where the predetermined gesture is performed matches any one of the operation inputs recorded in the operation identification DB 148 (Step S1). S806).
If it does not match any of the operation inputs (step S806: No), the process returns to step S800 and the subsequent processing is repeated.
If it matches any of the operation inputs (step S806: Yes), the operation target device 30 and the control content are specified (step S808), and the device control means 146 outputs a control signal to the operation target device 30. (Step S810).
In FIG. 8 and the above description, the gesture identification region is identified by the region identification unit 142 after identifying that the predetermined gesture operation has been performed by the motion identification unit 140. However, the present invention is not limited to this. You may identify whether predetermined gesture operation | movement was performed after identifying. For example, it may be identified whether a predetermined gesture operation has been performed while constantly tracking the position of the operator's hand.

As described above, whether or not the operation input device 10 according to the embodiment has performed a predetermined gesture operation in advance when recognizing an operator's gesture in the three-dimensional space S and receiving an operation input. The content of the operation input (the operation of the operation target device 30) is specified based on the area where the predetermined gesture operation is performed.
Therefore, compared with the case where a gesture is performed in a single space that is not divided into regions, it is possible to reduce the possibility of erroneously recognizing a simple operation with no intention of operation input as a gesture of operation input.
In addition, since the gesture region is obtained by dividing the three-dimensional space into a plurality of regions along at least two coordinate axis directions, the position where the gesture operation is performed can be specified in more detail, and the recognition rate of operation input is improved. Can be made.
Further, the types of operation inputs can be increased by combining the gesture action and the gesture area.
In addition, the operation input device 10 is based on the vehicle steering wheel 20 so that the operator can easily recognize the direction of the coordinate axis, and the gesture operation can be performed easily and accurately.
Further, the operation input device 10 can operate the in-vehicle device 30 without using an input unit or the like during driving of a vehicle that requires a forward gaze, and can improve safety during driving of the vehicle.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the three-dimensional space S around the steering wheel 20 is set in two coordinate axis directions, that is, the center point of the steering wheel 20 is the origin O, and the X axis, which is a substantially vertical axis substantially along the vertical direction of the vehicle. A gesture region is formed by dividing along the Z axis, which is a substantially longitudinal axis substantially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
In the second embodiment, the three-dimensional space S around the steering wheel 20 is divided into a plurality of regions along the three coordinate axis directions to form a gesture region. That is, in addition to the above-described X axis that is the substantially vertical axis and Z axis that is the substantially front-rear direction axis, the image is divided along the Y axis that is the substantially vehicle width direction axis substantially along the vehicle width direction of the vehicle.
In the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 9 is a region setting example in the three-dimensional space in the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 9, in the second embodiment, when the steering wheel 20 is viewed from the front, the steering wheel 20 is divided into an inner peripheral region X1, an outer edge region X2, and an upper region X3 along a substantially vertical axis (X axis). In addition, a space along the substantially vehicle width direction axis (Y axis) is defined as a region on the vehicle side from the center point (origin O) of the steering wheel 20 (the right region located on the right side as viewed from the operator in FIG. 9). Y1) and an area on the other vehicle side from the center point (origin O) (left area Y2 located on the left side as viewed from the operator in FIG. 9).
Note that the substantially longitudinal axis (Z-axis) of the vehicle is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
By setting the regions along the three axes in the three-dimensional space as described above, more gestures used for operation input can be set. In addition, since the difference in motion between gestures used for operation input becomes large, the recognition rate of operation input can be improved.

FIG. 10 is a table schematically showing the contents of the operation identification database 148.
In FIG. 10, six types of operation inputs (first operation input to sixth operation input) are recorded, and the first operation input to third operation input are the same as those in FIG. The operation input No. 4 to the sixth operation input are gesture contents substantially along the vehicle width direction axis.
The fourth operation input is a gesture operation in which the operator's hand is moved from the right region Y1 to the left region Y2 along the outer edge region X2 of the steering wheel 20, and is then returned to the right region Y1.
That is, as shown in FIG. 11A, the gesture is a reciprocation of the operator's right hand H in the vehicle width direction along the outer edge of the steering wheel 20.
The operation target device 30 of the fourth operation input is a left turn lamp as viewed from the operator, and the operation content is lit. This simulates the operation of rotating the steering wheel 20 to the left when the operator performs a left turn operation.

The fifth operation input is a gesture operation in which the operator's hand is moved from the left region Y2 to the right region Y1 along the outer edge region X2 of the steering wheel 20, and is then returned to the left region Y2. .
In other words, as shown in FIG. 11B, the gesture is a reciprocation of the left hand H of the operator in the vehicle width direction along the outer edge of the steering wheel 20.
The operation target device 30 of the fifth operation input is a right turn lamp as viewed from the operator, and the operation content is lit. This simulates the operation of rotating the steering wheel 20 to the right when the operator performs a right turn operation.

The sixth operation input is a gesture operation for moving the index finger of the left hand (left region Y2) of the operator in the rear surface region Z2 of the steering wheel 20.
That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the gesture is a reciprocating gesture by raising the index finger while grasping the steering wheel 20 with the left hand H of the operator located in the left region Y2.
The operation target device 30 of the sixth operation input is a wiper, and the operation content is switched between operation and non-operation, that is, when this gesture is performed in a state where the wiper is not in operation, the wiper is operated. If this gesture is performed in the activated state, the wiper is deactivated.
In the sixth operation input, a gesture with the left hand is generally performed in many cases where the wiper operation lever (operation unit) is arranged on the left rear side of the steering wheel 20, and the gesture and the operation content are intuitive. It is because it is easy to connect.

In this way, in addition to setting the region for performing the gesture operation based on the position of the original operation unit of the operation target device 30, the region for performing the gesture operation may be set based on the position of the operation target device 30.
For example, when adjusting the air volume of the air conditioning outlets provided on the left and right sides of the driver's seat, the adjustment of the right air conditioning outlet is set to perform a predetermined gesture operation in the right region Y1, and the adjustment of the left air conditioning outlet For example, it may be set to perform a predetermined gesture operation in the left region Y2.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the three-dimensional space S is divided into a plurality of regions along the three coordinate axis directions, the three-dimensional space S can be divided into more regions. It becomes easy to specify the motion along each coordinate axis of the three-dimensional space S, and the width of the gesture motion can be widened.
Further, in the second embodiment, since the three-dimensional space S is also divided into regions substantially along the vehicle width direction axis, it becomes easy to set an operation input in accordance with the arrangement of the in-vehicle device in the vehicle and its operation unit, Operation input using gestures can be easily performed intuitively.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Operation input device, 12 ... Imaging | photography means, 14 ... Gesture identification means, 140 ... Action identification means, 142 ... Area identification means, 144 ... Operation content specification means, 146 ... Apparatus control means, 148 …… Operation identification database, 20 …… Steering wheel, 22 …… Grip part, 22A …… Upper end part, 24 …… Center part, 26 …… Spoke part, 30 …… In-vehicle device (operation target device), O …… Origin, X1... Inner circumferential area, X2... Outer edge area, X3... Upper area, Y1... Right area, Y2 ... Left area, Z1.

Claims (5)

An operation input device that recognizes an operator's gesture in a three-dimensional space and receives an operation input to an operation target device,
Photographing means for continuously photographing the three-dimensional space;
Based on a photographed image photographed by the photographing means, it is identified whether or not the operator has performed a predetermined gesture operation in a predetermined gesture area set in the three-dimensional space, and the predetermined gesture area And a gesture identifying means for outputting a control signal for causing the operation target device to perform an action specified by a combination of the predetermined gesture area and the predetermined gesture action when the predetermined gesture action is performed. ,
The gesture region is obtained by dividing the three-dimensional space into a plurality of regions along at least two coordinate axis directions.
An operation input device characterized by that. The gesture region is obtained by dividing the three-dimensional space into a plurality of regions along three coordinate axis directions.
The operation input device according to claim 1. A steering wheel of a vehicle is arranged in the three-dimensional space,
The gesture region has a substantially vertical axis substantially along the vertical direction of the vehicle with the center point of the steering wheel as an origin in the three-dimensional space, and a substantially longitudinal axis substantially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Divided,
The space along the substantially vertical axis is divided into an inner peripheral region of the steering wheel, an outer edge region of the steering wheel, and an upper region above the outer edge region,
The space along the substantially longitudinal axis is divided into a front region, which is a surface where the steering wheel faces the driver, and a rear region, which is a mounting surface of the steering wheel to the vehicle body.
The operation input device according to claim 1. A steering wheel of a vehicle is arranged in the three-dimensional space,
The gesture region includes a substantially vertical axis substantially along the vertical direction of the vehicle with the center point of the steering wheel as an origin in the three-dimensional space, a substantially longitudinal axis substantially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the vehicle Divided substantially along the vehicle width direction axis substantially along the vehicle width direction,
The space along the substantially vertical axis is divided into an inner peripheral region of the steering wheel, an outer edge region of the steering wheel, and an upper region above the outer edge region,
The space along the substantially longitudinal axis is divided into a front region, which is a surface where the steering wheel faces the driver, and a rear region, which is a mounting surface of the steering wheel to the vehicle body,
The space along the substantially vehicle width direction axis is divided into a region on one vehicle side from the center point of the steering wheel and a region on the other vehicle side from the center point.
The operation input device according to claim 2. The operation target device is an in-vehicle device in the vehicle.
The operation input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

Images