JP2018056744A - Apparatus controller and apparatus control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology of enabling an apparatus to be controlled to give a predetermined effect to a user even if a posture of the head of a user changes.SOLUTION: An apparatus controller 100 includes: a reception unit 21 for receiving output signals of pressure sensors 200R, 200L installed on bedding; a determination unit 23 for determining a posture of the head of a user of bedding on the basis of an output signal; and an apparatus control unit 24 for controlling an apparatus to be controlled according to the posture of the head of the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for controlling a device.

Patent Document 1 describes an acoustic processing device that outputs a stereo sound corresponding to a sound signal from a speaker provided in a pillow section.
In this sound processing apparatus, when the user's head is held at a predetermined position of the pillow portion in a predetermined direction, stereo sound output from the speaker of the pillow portion is output from a predetermined position on the ceiling side. The sound signal is processed so that the user feels it.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-87899

  In the acoustic processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, even if the posture of the user's head changes, the processing on the sound signal does not change. For this reason, in this acoustic processing device, when the posture of the user's head changes, it becomes difficult for the user to obtain the effect of listening to the sound output from the speaker as a stereo sound. That is, this sound processing apparatus has a problem that when the posture of the user's head changes, a predetermined effect cannot be given to the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and it is a solution to provide a technique in which a control target device can give a predetermined effect to a user even if the posture of the user's head changes. To do.

  One aspect of the device control device according to the present invention is a receiving unit that receives an output signal of a pressure sensor installed in the bedding, a determination unit that determines the posture of the head of the user of the bedding based on the output signal, A device control unit that controls a device to be controlled according to the posture of the head.

  One aspect of the device control method according to the present invention receives an output signal of a pressure sensor installed in a bedding, determines the posture of the user of the bedding user based on the output signal, and according to the posture of the head To control the controlled device.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a device control system 1000 including a device control apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed an example of pressure sensor 200R and 200L. It is the figure which showed the state where the user E is facing right. It is the figure which showed the state where the user E is facing left. It is the figure which looked at the speaker part 502 from the bed 51 side. It is the figure which showed the apparatus control apparatus. It is the figure which showed an example of the head posture determination table. It is the figure which showed the example of the determination of the head attitude | position based on the head attitude | position determination table. It is the figure which showed an example of the apparatus control table. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the device control apparatus 100. It is the figure which showed an example of the apparatus control table. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a speaker unit 5021. It is the figure which showed an example of the apparatus control table. It is the figure which showed the pillow 5022 with a speaker. It is the figure which showed an example of the apparatus control table. It is the figure which showed the example which determines the attitude | position of the head H using the pressure sensor 200R. It is the figure which showed an example and output signals DS-R and DS-L when leftward movement occurred.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the size and scale of each part are appropriately different from the actual ones. The embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention. For this reason, the technically preferable various restrictions are attached | subjected to this embodiment. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these forms unless otherwise specified in the following description.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a device control system 1000 including a device control apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The device control system 1000 includes the device control apparatus 100, pressure sensors 200R and 200L, and an audio device 500.

  The pressure sensors 200R and 200L are, for example, sheet-like piezoelectric elements. The pressure sensors 200 </ b> R and 200 </ b> L are disposed below the pillow 52 disposed on the bed 51. The pillow 52 is an example of bedding. The bedding is not limited to a pillow and can be changed as appropriate. The bedding may be, for example, the bed 51 or a mattress. When the bed 51 is used as the bedding, the pressure sensors 200R and 200L are arranged under the mattress portion of the bed 51 that faces the pillow 52. When a mattress is used as the bedding, the pressure sensors 200R and 200L are arranged under the mattress portion facing the pillow 52 in the mattress.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the pressure sensors 200R and 200L.
The pressure sensor 200 </ b> R is located at the center of the pillow 52 when the user E is in a supine state on the bed 51 (hereinafter referred to as “a supine state”) such that the head H is placed on the center of the pillow 52. Are also arranged in a region on the right side of the user E (hereinafter referred to as “right region”).
The pressure sensor 200 </ b> L is disposed in a region (hereinafter referred to as “left region”) on the left side of the user E with respect to the center of the pillow 52 when the user E is in the supine state.

When the user E is on his / her back, both the pressure sensors 200R and 200L receive pressure from the head H of the user E as shown in FIG. In this case, the pressure change generated by the user's E heartbeat, breathing, and body movement (in this embodiment, such as turning over, the posture change of the person in bed is referred to as body movement), etc. The pressure sensors 200R and 200L detect biometric information included.
For this reason, each of the output signal DS-R of the pressure sensor 200R and the output signal DS-L of the pressure sensor 200L is caused by a component caused by the pressure received from the head H and biological information (biological information of the user E). And ingredients.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the user E rotates from the supine position to the right direction of the user E and changes to the right direction, the pressure sensor 200R receives pressure from the head H, but the pressure sensor 200L No pressure from H.
For this reason, the output signal DS-R of the pressure sensor 200R includes a component caused by the pressure received from the head H and a component caused by biological information. On the other hand, the output signal DS-L of the pressure sensor 200L does not include either a component caused by the pressure received from the head H or a component caused by biological information.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the user E rotates from the supine position to the left direction of the user E and changes to the left direction, the pressure sensor 200L receives pressure from the head H, but the pressure sensor 200R No pressure from H.
For this reason, the output signal DS-L of the pressure sensor 200L includes a component caused by the pressure received from the head H and a component caused by biological information. On the other hand, the output signal DS-R of the pressure sensor 200R does not include either a component due to the pressure received from the head H or a component due to biological information.

Returning to FIG. 1, the audio device 500 is an example of a control target device and a sound output device. The audio device 500 includes an audio control unit 501 and a speaker unit 502.
The audio control unit 501 outputs sound such as music from the speaker unit 502. The speaker unit 502 includes speakers 502a to 502d. The speakers 502 a to 502 d are arranged so as to emit sound toward the bed 51.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram of the speaker unit 502 viewed from the bed 51 side. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the speaker 502a is arranged at a position shifted upward in the vertical direction from the speaker 502b. The speakers 502c and 502d are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as “horizontal direction”). The speaker 502c is disposed so as to be closer to the right hand side of the user E than the speaker 502d when the user E is in the supine state.

Returning to FIG. 1 again, the device control device 100 is, for example, a portable terminal, a personal computer, or a dedicated device for device control. The device control apparatus 100 determines the posture of the head E of the user E based on the output signal DS-R of the pressure sensor 200R and the output signal DS-L of the pressure sensor 200L. The device control apparatus 100 controls the sound image of the stereo sound output from the speaker unit 502 according to the posture of the head H of the user E.
1 to 4 show a configuration in which the output signals DS-R and DS-L are transmitted to the device control apparatus 100 by wire, but one or both of the output signals DS-R and DS-L are wireless. May be transmitted.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram mainly showing the device control apparatus 100 in the device control system 1000. The device control apparatus 100 includes a storage unit 1 and a processing unit 2.

  The storage unit 1 is an example of a computer-readable recording medium. Furthermore, the storage unit 1 is a non-transitory recording medium. The storage unit 1 is, for example, a known arbitrary type recording medium such as a semiconductor recording medium, a magnetic recording medium, or an optical recording medium, or a recording medium in which these recording media are combined. In this specification, “non-transient” recording media are all computer-readable except for recording media such as transmission lines that temporarily store transitory propagating signals. However, this does not exclude volatile recording media.

The storage unit 1 stores a program 11, a head posture determination table 12, and a device control table 13.
The program 11 defines the operation of the device control apparatus 100. The program 11 may be provided in the form of distribution via a communication network (not shown) and then installed in the storage unit 1.

The head posture determination table 12 stores the relationship between the output signal DS-R and the output signal DS-L and the head posture in association with each other.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the head posture determination table 12. In the head posture determination table 12 shown in FIG. 7, as the head posture, supine, leftward, and rightward are used. FIG. 8 shows an example of determining the posture of the head based on the head posture determination table 12, specifically, an example of determination of supine and leftward.

The device control table 13 stores the head posture and setting information in association with each other.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the device control table 13. The device control table 13 shown in FIG. 9 shows setting information (a speaker that outputs R (right) of stereo sound) and a speaker that outputs L (left) of stereo sound for each head posture. Information). Hereinafter, R (right) of stereo sound is also referred to as “R sound”, and L (left) of stereo sound is also referred to as “L sound”.

  The processing unit 2 is a processing device (computer) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processing unit 2 reads and executes the program 11 stored in the storage unit 1, thereby realizing a receiving unit 21, a biological information acquisition unit 22, a determination unit 23, and a device control unit 24.

The receiving unit 21 receives the output signal DS-R of the pressure sensor 200R and the output signal DS-L of the pressure sensor 200L. The receiving unit 21 includes a receiving unit 21R corresponding to the pressure sensor 200R and a receiving unit 21L corresponding to the pressure sensor 200L.
The receiving unit 21R receives the output signal DS-R of the pressure sensor 200R. The output signal DS-R is output from the reception unit 21R to the biological information acquisition unit 22 and the determination unit 23.
The receiving unit 21L receives the output signal DS-L of the pressure sensor 200L. The output signal DS-L is output from the reception unit 21L to the biological information acquisition unit 22 and the determination unit 23.

  The biological information acquisition unit 22 acquires biological information including each component of heartbeat and body movement from the output signal DS-R and the output signal DS-L. For example, the biological information acquisition unit 22 includes, from each of the output signal DS-R and the output signal DS-L, a frequency component corresponding to a human heartbeat frequency range and a frequency component corresponding to a human body motion frequency range. , Extract. The biometric information acquisition unit 22 generates biometric information including these frequency components. The biological information acquisition unit 22 may acquire biological information from either the output signal DS-R or the output signal DS-L. In this case, only one of the output signal DS-R and the output signal DS-L may be supplied to the biological information acquisition unit 22.

  Based on the output signal DS-R and the output signal DS-L, the determination unit 23 determines the posture of the head E of the user E (hereinafter also simply referred to as “the posture of the head H”). In the present embodiment, the determination unit 23 determines the posture of the head H with reference to the head posture determination table 12.

  The device control unit 24 controls the audio control unit 501 according to the posture of the head H and the biological information. The device control unit 24 includes an estimation unit 241 and an audio device control unit 242.

The estimation unit 241 estimates the stage of sleep of the user E in three stages.
In general, during a period from a resting state to deep sleep, a person tends to have a longer heart cycle and a smaller fluctuation of the heart cycle. In addition, body movements decrease as sleep becomes deeper. Therefore, the estimation unit 241 determines the stage of sleep of the user E based on the biological information acquired by the biological information acquisition unit 22 based on the change in the heartbeat period and the number of body movements per unit time. The estimation is made by dividing into the second stage and the third stage. Here, sleep becomes deeper in the order of the first stage, the second stage, and the third stage.
When the biological information acquisition unit 22 also acquires a respiratory component as biological information, the estimation unit 241 uses the user E based on the change in the respiratory cycle, the change in the heartbeat cycle, and the number of body movements per unit time. The sleep stages may be estimated by dividing into the first stage, the second stage, and the third stage. Incidentally, a person tends to have a long respiratory cycle and a small fluctuation of the respiratory cycle from a resting state to deep sleep.

  When a person is active, most of the brain waves are β waves. When a person relaxes, an α-wave brain wave begins to appear. The frequency of the α wave is 8 Hz to 14 Hz. For example, when a person enters the floor and closes his eyes, alpha waves begin to appear. And when a person relaxes more, the α wave gradually increases. The stage until the person relaxes and the α wave begins to increase corresponds to the first stage. That is, the first stage is a stage before the α wave becomes dominant.

  Furthermore, when a person's state goes to sleep, the proportion of α waves increases in the person's brain waves. However, over time, the α wave decreases, and the θ wave that appears when a person is in a meditation or slumber state begins to appear. The steps so far correspond to the second step. That is, the second stage is a stage before the θ wave becomes dominant. The frequency of the θ wave is 4 Hz to 8 Hz.

  Thereafter, the θ wave becomes dominant, and the person's state becomes almost asleep. As sleep progresses further, a δ wave that appears when a person is in deep sleep begins to appear. The steps so far correspond to the third step. That is, the third stage is a stage before the δ wave becomes dominant. The frequency of the δ wave is 0.5 Hz to 4 Hz.

The audio device control unit 242 controls the audio control unit 501 according to the posture of the head H and the sleep stage of the user E.
The audio device control unit 242 refers to the device control table 13 (see FIG. 9), and outputs a speaker that outputs L sound (stereo left (L) sound) and R sound (stereo left (L) sound) according to the posture of the head H. And a speaker that outputs stereo light (R).
In addition, the audio device control unit 242 controls the volume of sound output from the audio device 500 according to the sleep stage of the user E. For example, the audio device control unit 242 decreases the volume as the sleep stage is deeper.

Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the device control apparatus 100. The device control apparatus 100 repeats the operation shown in FIG.
When the receiving unit 21R receives the output signal DS-R and the receiving unit 21L receives the output signal DS-L (step S1), the output signal DS-R is output to the biological information acquisition unit 22 and the determination unit 23, and the output signal The DS-L is output to the biological information acquisition unit 22 and the determination unit 23.

  When receiving the output signal DS-R and the output signal DS-L, the biological information acquisition unit 22 acquires biological information from the output signal DS-R and the output signal DS-L (step S2). The biological information acquisition unit 22 outputs the biological information to the estimation unit 241.

  Upon receiving the biological information, the estimating unit 241 estimates the stage of sleep of the user E based on the biological information in three stages (step S3). The estimation unit 241 outputs the sleep stage of the user E to the audio device control unit 242.

On the other hand, the determination unit 23 determines the posture of the head H based on the output signal DS-R and the output signal DS-L (step S4).
In step S4, the determination unit 23 refers to the head posture determination table 12, and determines the posture of the head H corresponding to the states of the output signal DS-R and the output signal DS-L.
For example, when the difference (hereinafter referred to as “level difference”) between the level (voltage level) of the output signal DS-R and the level (voltage level) of the output signal DS-L is within a predetermined value, the determination unit 23 “Backward” is determined as the posture of the head H (see FIG. 2).
When the level of the output signal DS-L increases and the level of the output signal DS-L increases and the level difference exceeds a predetermined value, the determination unit 23 determines “leftward” as the posture of the head H (see FIG. 4). .
When the level of the output signal DS-L is increased and the level of the output signal DS-R is increased and the level difference exceeds a predetermined value, the determination unit 23 determines “right” as the posture of the head H (see FIG. 3). .
When determining the posture of the head H, the determination unit 23 outputs the posture of the head H to the audio device control unit 242.

The audio device control unit 242 controls the audio device 500 based on the posture of the head H and the stage of sleep of the user E (step S5).
In step S5, first, the audio device control unit 242 refers to the device control table 13 and sets a speaker that outputs L sound and a speaker that outputs R sound.
For example, in step S5, when the posture of the head H is supine, the audio equipment control unit 242 outputs supine setting information indicating that the L sound is output from the speaker 502d and the R sound is output from the speaker 502c. The data is output to the audio control unit 501.
When the posture of the head H is leftward, the audio device control unit 242 outputs left setting information indicating that the R sound is output from the speaker 502 a and the L sound is output from the speaker 502 b to the audio control unit 501.
When the posture of the head H is rightward, the audio device control unit 242 outputs right direction setting information indicating that the L sound is output from the speaker 502 a and the R sound is output from the speaker 502 b to the audio control unit 501.

In step S5, the audio device control unit 242 decreases the volume as the sleep stage is deeper.
For example, when the sleep stage is the first stage, the audio device control unit 242 outputs a first volume instruction signal indicating the first level as the volume to the audio control unit 501.
When the sleep stage is the second stage, the audio device control unit 242 outputs a second volume instruction signal indicating the second level as the volume to the audio control unit 501.
When the sleep stage is the third stage, the audio device control unit 242 outputs a third volume instruction signal indicating the third level as the volume to the audio control unit 501.
Here, the first level is higher than the second level, and the second level is higher than the third level.

Upon receiving the setting information on the back, the audio control unit 501 supplies an L (left) sound signal corresponding to the L sound to the speaker 502d and an R (right) sound signal corresponding to the R sound to the speaker 502c. Supply. For this reason, L sound is output from the speaker 502d, and R sound is output from the speaker 502c.
When the user E is on his back, the speaker 502c that outputs R sound is positioned on the right ear side of the user E, and the speaker 502d that outputs L sound is positioned on the left ear side of the user E. For this reason, the user E can recognize the sound output from the audio device 500 as a stereo sound.

Upon receiving the left-facing setting information, the audio control unit 501 supplies an R sound signal to the speaker 502a and supplies an L sound signal to the speaker 502b. For this reason, R sound is output from the speaker 502a, and L sound is output from the speaker 502b.
When the user E is facing left, the speaker 502a that outputs R sound is positioned on the right ear side of the user E, and the speaker 502b that outputs L sound is positioned on the left ear side of the user E. For this reason, the user E can recognize the sound output from the audio device 500 as a stereo sound.

Upon receiving the right-facing setting information, the audio control unit 501 supplies an L sound signal to the speaker 502a and an R sound signal to the speaker 502b. For this reason, the L sound is output from the speaker 502a and the R sound is output from the speaker 502b.
When the user E is facing right, the speaker 502a that outputs L sound is positioned on the left ear side of the user E, and the speaker 502b that outputs R sound is positioned on the right ear side of the user E. For this reason, the user E can recognize the sound output from the audio device 500 as a stereo sound.

  In addition, when receiving the first volume instruction signal, the audio control unit 501 sets the volume levels of the L sound signal and the R sound signal to the first level. Therefore, when the state of the user E is in the first stage, the audio control unit 501 can output a stereo sound having a first level volume to the user E.

  Upon receiving the second volume instruction signal, the audio control unit 501 sets the volume levels of the L sound signal and the R sound signal to the second level (second level <first level). For this reason, when the state of the user E is in the second stage, the audio control unit 501 can output a stereo sound having the second level volume to the user E.

  Upon receiving the third volume instruction signal, the audio control unit 501 sets the volume levels of the L sound signal and the R sound signal to the third level (third level <second level). Therefore, when the state of the user E is in the third stage, the audio control unit 501 can output a stereo sound having a third level of volume to the user E.

  Thus, the volume of the sound output from the audio device 500 decreases as the user E sleeps deeper. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the user E who has started to sleep will be awakened by the sound from the audio device 500.

  When the receiving unit 21 does not receive the output signals DS-R and DS-L in step S1 (step S1: NO), the operation illustrated in FIG. 10 ends.

  According to the present embodiment, the device control unit 24 controls the audio device 500 according to the posture of the head H. For this reason, even if the posture of the head H changes, the audio device 500 can give a predetermined effect to the user E (in this case, an effect of supplying stereo sound to the user E).

The biological information acquisition unit 22 acquires the biological information of the user E based on the output signals DS-R and DS-L.
For this reason, compared with the case where the biometric information of the user E is acquired based on a signal different from both the output signals DS-R and DS-L, the number of signals received by the device control apparatus 100 can be reduced.
Further, the pressure sensors 200R and 200L used for determining the posture of the head H can be used as sensors for detecting biological information. For this reason, the configuration can be simplified.

  The device control unit 24 controls the audio device 500 based on the biological information acquired by the biological information acquisition unit 22. For this reason, it becomes possible to control the audio apparatus 500 according to the state of the user E.

Note that the determination unit 23 may determine the posture of the head E of the user E using a head posture determination model generated by machine learning.
For example, the determination unit 23 outputs the output signals DS-R and DS-L when the user E is facing up, the output signals DS-R and DS-L when the user E is facing left, and the user E facing the right. The head posture is determined by performing machine learning using the output signals DS-R and DS-L when the user E is lying and the output signals DS-R and DS-L when the user E is prone as learning data. Generate a model. The head posture determination model is a model representing the relationship between the combination of the output signals DS-R and DS-L and the posture of the head H of the user E.
And the determination part 23 determines the attitude | position of the user's E head H according to the combination of output signal DS-R and DS-L using a head attitude | position determination model in step S4. When this head posture determination model is used, the posture of the head H of the user E is determined as one of “upward”, “leftward”, “rightward”, and “prone”. In this case, the head posture determination table 12 can be omitted.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the device control table 13 that is used when it is determined that the posture of the head H is “upwardly”, “leftward”, “rightward”, or “depression”.
In addition to the information stored in the device control table 13 shown in FIG. 9, the device control table 13 shown in FIG. 11 shows a correspondence relationship between the posture of the head H “Depression” and the setting information “Depression setting information”. The indicated information is stored. The prone setting information indicates that the R sound is output from the speaker 502d and the L sound is output from the speaker 502c.

In step S <b> 5, the audio device control unit 242 outputs the prone setting information to the audio control unit 501 when the posture of the head H is prone. Upon receiving the prone setting information, the audio control unit 501 supplies an R sound signal to the speaker 502d and supplies an L sound signal to the speaker 502c. For this reason, the R sound is output from the speaker 502d, and the L sound is output from the speaker 502c.
When the user E is on his / her back, the speaker 502d that outputs the R sound is positioned on the right ear side of the user E, and the speaker 502c that outputs the L sound is positioned on the left ear side of the user E. For this reason, the user E can recognize the sound output from the audio device 500 as a stereo sound.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment, a speaker having speakers 502a and 502b arranged in the vertical direction and speakers 502c and 502d arranged in the horizontal direction is used as the speaker unit 502. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, a speaker unit including three speakers is used as the speaker unit 502.

  The second embodiment is the first in that the speaker unit provided with the three speakers shown in FIG. 12 is used as the speaker unit 502 and the device control table shown in FIG. 13 is used as the device control table 13. Different from the embodiment. Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment. The determination unit 23 determines the posture of the head H from “upwardly”, “leftward”, “rightward”, and “downside down”.

  The speaker unit 5021 illustrated in FIG. 12 includes speakers 5021a, 5021c, and 5021d. The speaker 5021c and the speaker 5021d are arranged in the horizontal direction. The speaker 5021a is disposed at a position shifted upward in the vertical direction from the midpoint of the interval between the speakers 5021c and 5021d.

The device control table 13 illustrated in FIG. 13 stores information indicating that the speaker 5021c is set as a speaker that outputs an R sound and that the speaker 5021d is set as a speaker that outputs an L sound as the supine setting information. .
The device control table 13 shown in FIG. 13 sets information indicating that the speaker 5021a is set as a speaker that outputs R sound and the speakers 5021c and 5021d are set as speakers that output L sound as left-facing setting information. Remember.
The device control table 13 shown in FIG. 13 sets information indicating that the speaker 5021a is set as a speaker that outputs L sound and the speakers 5021c and 5021d are set as speakers that output R sound as rightward setting information. Remember.
The device control table 13 illustrated in FIG. 13 stores information indicating that the speaker 5021c is set as a speaker that outputs L sound and the speaker 5021d is set as a speaker that outputs R sound as prone setting information. .

  The audio device control unit 242 outputs the supine setting information illustrated in FIG. 13 to the audio control unit 501 when the posture of the head H is supine. When the posture of the head H is leftward, the audio device control unit 242 outputs the leftward setting information illustrated in FIG. 13 to the audio control unit 501. When the posture of the head H is rightward, the audio device control unit 242 outputs the rightward setting information illustrated in FIG. 13 to the audio control unit 501. When the posture of the head H is prone, the audio equipment control unit 242 outputs the prone setting information illustrated in FIG. 13 to the audio control unit 501.

Upon receiving the supine setting information shown in FIG. 13, the audio control unit 501 supplies an R sound signal to the speaker 5021c and supplies an L sound signal to the speaker 5021d. For this reason, the R sound is output from the speaker 5021c, and the L sound is output from the speaker 5021d.
When the user E is on his back, the speaker 5021c that outputs R sound is positioned on the right ear side of the user E, and the speaker 5021d that outputs L sound is positioned on the left ear side of the user E. For this reason, the user E can recognize the sound output from the audio device 500 as a stereo sound.

Upon receiving the leftward setting information shown in FIG. 13, the audio control unit 501 supplies an R sound signal to the speaker 5021a and supplies an L sound signal to the speakers 5021c and 5021d. For this reason, the R sound is output from the speaker 5021a, and the L sound is output from the speakers 5021c and 5021d.
When the user E is facing left, the speakers 5021c and 5021d that output R sound are positioned on the right ear side of the user E, and the speaker 5021a that outputs L sound is positioned on the left ear side of the user E. For this reason, the user E can recognize the sound output from the audio device 500 as a stereo sound.

Upon receiving the rightward setting information shown in FIG. 13, the audio control unit 501 supplies the L sound signal to the speaker 5021a and supplies the R sound signal to the speakers 5021c and 5021d. For this reason, L sound is output from the speaker 5021a, and R sound is output from the speakers 5021c and 5021d.
When the user E is facing right, the speaker 5021a that outputs L sound is located on the left ear side of the user E, and the speakers 5021c and 5021d that output R sound are located on the right ear side of the user E. For this reason, the user E can recognize the sound output from the audio device 500 as a stereo sound.

Upon receiving the prone setting information shown in FIG. 13, the audio control unit 501 supplies the L sound signal to the speaker 5021c and supplies the R sound signal to the speaker 5021d. For this reason, L sound is output from the speaker 5021c, and R sound is output from the speaker 5021d.
When the user E is on his / her back, the speaker 5021d that outputs the R sound is positioned on the right ear side of the user E, and the speaker 5021c that outputs the L sound is positioned on the left ear side of the user E. For this reason, the user E can recognize the sound output from the audio device 500 as a stereo sound.

Even when three speakers are used as in this embodiment, the user E can recognize the sound output from the audio device 500 as a stereo sound.
Note that, when the speakers 5021c and 5021d output L sound and the speaker 5021a outputs R sound, and when the speakers 5021c and 5021d output R sound and the speaker 5021a outputs L sound, the speakers 5021c and 5021d. The volume of the sound output from each of these may be smaller than the volume of the sound output from the speaker 5021a.

<Third Embodiment>
In the third embodiment, a pillow (hereinafter, referred to as “pillow with speaker”) 5022 including two speakers shown in FIG. 14 is used as the speaker unit 502, and a pillow 5022 with speaker is used instead of the pillow 52. The apparatus control table 13 is different from the first embodiment in that the apparatus control table shown in FIG. 15 is used. Hereinafter, the third embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment. The determination unit 23 determines the posture of the head H from “upwardly”, “leftward”, “rightward”, and “downside down”.

The pillow with speaker 5022 shown in FIG. 14 includes speakers 5022R and 5022L.
The speaker 5022R is an area that is closer to the right ear of the user E than the center of the pillow 5022 when the user E is lying on the bed 51 so that the head H is placed on the center of the pillow 5022 with the speaker. (Hereinafter referred to as “right ear side region”).
The speaker 5022L is an area on the left ear side of the user E with respect to the center of the pillow 5022 when the user E is lying on the bed 51 so that the head H is placed on the center of the pillow 5022 with the speaker. (Hereinafter referred to as “left ear side region”).

  The device control table 13 shown in FIG. 15 includes, for each posture of the head H, volume setting information regarding volume, delay setting information regarding delay, frequency characteristic setting information regarding frequency characteristics, and output speakers regarding output speakers as setting information. And setting information.

  The setting information shown in FIG. 15 includes the distance between the speaker 5022R and the right ear of the user E (hereinafter referred to as “first distance”) and the distance between the speaker 5022L and the left ear of the user E (hereinafter referred to as “second”). It is set based on the relative relationship between the distance and the distance. Here, the relative relationship between the first distance and the second distance changes according to the posture of the head H.

For example, when the user E is on his back, the difference between the first distance and the second distance is smaller than when the user E is facing right or left. Therefore, the difference between the time until the sound output from the speaker 5022R reaches the right ear of the user E and the time until the sound output from the speaker 5022L reaches the left ear of the user E is the user. E is smaller than when it is facing right or left.
For this reason, when the user E is lying on the back, the volume setting information indicates no correction, the delay setting information indicates no delay, the frequency characteristic setting information indicates no correction, and the output speaker setting information outputs R sound from the speaker 5022R. This indicates that the output L sound is output from the speaker 5022L.

When the user E is facing left, the first distance is longer than the second distance. For this reason, in order to improve the deterioration of the stereo sound due to the difference between the first distance and the second distance, the volume setting information reduces the volume of the R sound by the first predetermined level and the volume of the L sound. 2 Indicates that the value is increased by a predetermined level.
The delay setting information indicates that a delay is added to the R sound for the first time and no delay is added to the L sound.
Since the R sound is likely to reach the right ear of the user E directly from the pillow 5022 with the speaker, the frequency characteristic setting information is high considering the characteristics of the pillow 5022 with the speaker for the R sound. This indicates that the range is increased and no correction is made for the L sound.
The output speaker setting information indicates that the R sound is output from the speaker 5022R and the L sound is output from the speaker 5022L.

  When the user E is facing right, the second distance is longer than the first distance. Therefore, each of the volume setting information, the delay setting information, and the frequency characteristic setting information indicates a setting content opposite to the setting content when the user E is facing left. The output speaker setting information is the same as the setting contents when the user E is facing left.

  When the user is prone, each of the volume setting information, the delay setting information, and the frequency characteristic setting information indicates the same setting contents as when the user E is on his back. The output speaker setting information indicates that the R sound is output from the speaker 5022L and the L sound is output from the speaker 5022R.

The audio device control unit 242 sets the setting information (volume setting information, delay setting information, frequency characteristic setting information, and output speaker) according to the posture of the head H among the setting information illustrated in FIG. Setting information) is output to the audio control unit 501.
Upon receiving the setting information from the audio device control unit 242, the audio control unit 501 outputs a stereo sound according to the setting information.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to make the user E hear the stereo sound by controlling the volume, delay, and frequency characteristics of the stereo sound.

<Modification>
The above embodiment can be variously modified. Specific modifications are exemplified below. Two or more aspects arbitrarily selected from the following examples can be appropriately combined as long as they do not contradict each other.

<Modification 1>
In each embodiment, the posture of the head H is determined using a plurality of pressure sensors (the pressure sensor 200R and the pressure sensor 200L). On the other hand, the posture of the head H may be determined using one pressure sensor.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of determining the posture of the head H using the pressure sensor 200R.
In this example, the determination unit 23 compares the output signal DS-R of the pressure sensor 200R with the first threshold value and the second threshold value (first threshold value <second threshold value), and based on the comparison result, the posture of the head H Determine.
Specifically, when the level of the output signal DS-R is lower than the first threshold, the determination unit 23 determines that the head H is not on the pressure sensor 200R and the head H is facing left. When the level of the output signal DS-R is equal to or higher than the first threshold and lower than the second threshold, the determination unit 23 determines that half of the head H is above the pressure sensor 200R and the head H is in the supine position. When the level of the output signal DS-R is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, the determination unit 23 determines that the entire head H is above the pressure sensor 200R and the head H is facing right.

<Modification 2>
In the third embodiment, the device control unit 24 controls one or two of the volume, delay, and frequency characteristics of the stereo sound output from the speaker 5022R and the speaker 5022L according to the posture of the head H. Thus, the sound image of the stereo sound output from the speakers 5022R and 5022L may be controlled.

<Modification 3>
The device to be controlled is not limited to an audio device and can be changed as appropriate. For example, the control target device may be an air conditioner, a fan, a lighting device, a lift bed, or a care device.
For example, when an air conditioner or a fan is used as the control target device, the setting information corresponding to the posture of the head includes the air direction of the air conditioner or the fan so that the wind from the air conditioner or the fan does not directly hit the user E's face. Information to change is used. Conversely, as the setting information corresponding to the posture of the head, information for changing the air direction of the air conditioner or the fan so that the wind from the air conditioner or the fan directly hits the face of the user E may be used.

<Modification 4>
The biological information acquisition unit 22 and the estimation unit 241 may be omitted. In this case, step S2 and step S3 in FIG. 10 are omitted. When the receiving unit 21R receives the output signal DS-R and the receiving unit 21L receives the output signal DS-L in step S1, step S4 is executed.

<Modification 5>
For example, the user E may shift in the back direction of the user E while facing left (when the user E is on his back).
FIG. 17 shows the output signal DS-R of the pressure sensor 200R and the pressure sensor 200L when the user E shifts in the back direction of the user E while facing left (when it is referred to as “move leftward”). It is the figure which showed an example with the output signal DS-L. As shown in FIG. 17, when the leftward movement occurs, the output signal DS-R and the output signal DS-L have a discontinuous period (the level of the output signal changes abruptly rather than smoothly. Period) occurs. For this reason, the determination unit 23 may determine that the user E has moved leftward when the discontinuous period as illustrated in FIG. 17 has occurred, and may determine that the posture of the head H is leftward.
In addition, when the user E shifts to the back direction of the user E while facing right during bedtime (hereinafter referred to as “move to the right”), the output signal DS-R and the output signal DS-L include A discontinuous period occurs. For this reason, the determination unit 23 generates a discontinuous period after the situation in which the relationship between the output signal DS-R and the output signal DS-L corresponds to the right direction, and then the level of the output signal DS-R and the output signal DS-L When the difference in level is within a predetermined value, the user E may determine that he has moved rightward and determine that the posture of the head H is rightward.

<Modification 6>
All or a part of the receiving unit 21, the biological information acquiring unit 22, the determining unit 23, and the device control unit 24 may be realized by a dedicated electronic circuit.

<Modification 7>
In the embodiment described above, the processing unit 2 of the device control apparatus 100 controls the audio device 500, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, some functions of the device control device 100 are provided in an arbitrary server device connected to a communication network (on a so-called cloud), and an information processing device connected to the server device via the communication network is provided. A configuration may be employed in which the output signals of the pressure sensors 200R and 200L are transmitted to the server device, and the server device causes the information processing device to control the audio device 500 via a communication network.

The following aspects can be understood from at least one of the above-described embodiments and modifications.
One aspect of the device control device according to the present invention is a receiving unit that receives an output signal of a pressure sensor installed in the bedding, a determination unit that determines the posture of the head of the user of the bedding based on the output signal, A device control unit that controls a device to be controlled according to the posture of the head.
According to this aspect, even if the posture of the user's head changes, the control target device can give a predetermined effect to the user.

As one aspect of the device control device described above, the control target device is a sound output device that outputs stereo sound using a plurality of speakers, and the device control unit is configured to output the plurality of sounds according to the posture of the head. It is desirable to control the sound image of the stereo sound output from the speaker.
According to this aspect, even if the posture of the user's head changes, the user can hear stereo sound.

As one aspect of the device control apparatus described above, the device control unit controls at least one of volume, delay, and frequency characteristics of stereo sound output from the plurality of speakers according to the posture of the head. It is desirable.
According to this aspect, by controlling at least one of the volume, delay, and frequency characteristics of stereo sound output from a plurality of speakers, the user can hear stereo sound.

As one aspect of the device control device described above, it is preferable that the device control device further includes an acquisition unit that acquires the user's biological information based on the output signal.
According to this aspect, it is possible to acquire the biological information of the user from the output signal of the pressure sensor used for determining the posture of the user's head. Therefore, the output signal of the pressure sensor can be used more efficiently than in the case where the biological information of the user is acquired based on a signal different from the output signal of the pressure sensor.

As one aspect of the device control device described above, the device control device further includes an acquisition unit that acquires the user's biological information based on the output signal, and the device control unit further includes the sound output device based on the biological information. It is desirable to control.
According to this aspect, the sound output device can be controlled based on the user's biological information.

One aspect of the device control method according to the present invention receives an output signal of a pressure sensor installed in a bedding, determines the posture of the user of the bedding user based on the output signal, and according to the posture of the head To control the controlled device.
According to this aspect, even if the posture of the user's head changes, the control target device can give a predetermined effect to the user.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Apparatus control apparatus, 1 ... Memory | storage part, 11 ... Program, 12 ... Head posture determination table, 13 ... Equipment control table, 2 ... Processing part, 21, 21R, 21L ... Receiving part, 22 ... Biometric information acquisition part, 23 ... determining unit, 24 ... device control unit, 241 ... estimating unit, 242 ... audio device control unit, 200R, 200L ... pressure sensor, 500 ... audio device, 501 ... audio control unit, 502 ... speaker.

Claims (5)

A receiving unit for receiving an output signal of a pressure sensor installed in the bedding;
A determination unit that determines a posture of the head of the user of the bedding based on the output signal;
A device control unit that controls a device to be controlled in accordance with the posture of the head. The device to be controlled is a sound output device that outputs stereo sound using a plurality of speakers,
The device control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device control unit controls a sound image of stereo sound output from the plurality of speakers according to the posture of the head.   The device control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the device control unit controls at least one of a volume, a delay, and a frequency characteristic of stereo sound output from the plurality of speakers according to the posture of the head. . An acquisition unit that acquires the user's biological information based on the output signal;
The device control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the device control unit further controls the sound output device based on the biological information. Receive the output signal of the pressure sensor installed in the bedding,
Determine the posture of the user of the bedding based on the output signal;
A device control method for controlling a control target device according to the posture of the head.