JP2020056692A - Virtual reality system, progression direction guidance system, control method for virtual reality system, and control method for progression direction guidance system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a virtual reality system with which it is possible to guide a user by smell.SOLUTION: The virtual reality system comprises: a head-mounted display device; a gas output device having a plurality of gas output units for outputting a gas so as to guide a user in a prescribed direction by smell; a position acquisition unit for acquiring the position of the user; a direction acquisition unit for acquiring the direction which the user faces; a data storage unit for storing a gas output database in which the direction which the user faces at the position and a gas output unit selected in accordance with the direction at the position are associated, the gas output unit being selected so as to guide the user in a direction receding from the outer edge of a prescribed real space; and an output control unit for causing a gas to be outputted by an extracted gas output unit using the gas output unit extracted from the gas output database in accordance with the position acquired by the position acquisition unit and the direction acquired by the direction acquisition unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a virtual reality system, a traveling direction guidance system, a method for controlling a virtual reality system, and a method for controlling a traveling direction guidance system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, air tactile sensation presenting means for generating an airflow and applying the generated airflow to a person to present an air sensation, scent presenting means for generating a scented airflow and presenting a scent, video information and sound There is a scented video presentation device including: a reproducing unit that reproduces a content including at least one of the information and the scent information associated with at least one of the video information and the sound information.

  The air tactile presenting means presents the airflow at the timing indicated in the scent information during reproduction of at least one of the video information and the sound information by the reproducing means, and presents the air tactile sense, and the scent presenting means, After the air tactile presentation means presents the air tactile sense, the scented airflow is generated to present the scent (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-162378 A

  By the way, the conventional scented video presentation device does not guide the user using the smell.

  Accordingly, it is an object to provide a virtual reality system, a traveling direction guidance system, a control method of the virtual reality system, and a control method of the traveling direction guidance system, which can guide a user by smell.

  A virtual reality system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a head-mounted display device that a user wears on the head and displays an image of a virtual space, and guides the user in a predetermined direction with a predetermined smell. A plurality of gas output units for outputting a gas having the predetermined smell, a position obtaining unit for obtaining a position of the user in a predetermined real space having a finite size, and the use in the predetermined real space. Direction obtaining unit for obtaining a direction in which the user faces, a position of the user in the predetermined physical space, a direction in which the user faces in the position, and a gas output unit selected according to the direction in the position. Wherein the gas output unit is selected to guide the user in a direction away from the outer edge of the predetermined real space. Using a data storage unit that stores a gas output database, a position obtained by the position obtaining unit, and a gas output unit that is extracted from the gas output database according to the direction obtained by the direction obtaining unit. And an output control unit for causing the gas output unit to extract the gas.

  It is possible to provide a virtual reality system, a traveling direction guidance system, a control method of a virtual reality system, and a control method of a traveling direction guidance system that can guide a user by smell.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a virtual reality system 100. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating redirection in a virtual reality system 100. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an outer edge area 11 and a central area 12 of the room 10. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a virtual reality system 100. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure of a gas output database stored in a memory 155. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed by the control device. It is a figure which shows the head mounted display apparatus 110 and gas output apparatus 130A by a modification. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method of feedback control according to a gas concentration detected by a gas sensor 120. It is a figure showing gas output device 130B by a modification. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a smartphone terminal 200 used in the traveling direction guidance system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a traveling direction guidance system 500. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a process executed by a control device of the smartphone terminal 200.

  Hereinafter, embodiments to which a virtual reality system, a traveling direction guidance system, a control method of a virtual reality system, and a control method of a traveling direction guidance system of the present invention are applied will be described.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an arrangement of the virtual reality system 100. FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of the virtual reality system 100.

  The virtual reality system 100 includes a head mounted display device 110, a plurality of gas output devices 130, a position detection device 140, and a control device 150. The position detection device 140 has a light emitting unit 140A and a light receiving unit 140B. The virtual reality system 100 is used inside a room 10 surrounded on all sides by a wall 10A. The room 10 is an example of a predetermined real space having a finite size.

  The head mounted display device 110 is a non-transmissive head mounted display device mounted on the head of the user 1 of the virtual reality system 100. The gas output device 130, the light emitting unit 140A of the position detection device 140, and the control device 150 are arranged in plurals inside the room 10 (such as the floor or the wall 10A). A plurality of light receiving units 140B are provided on the surface of the head mounted display device 110.

  Although the virtual reality system 100 actually wears the head mounted display device 110 and walks in a narrow finite space, when walking while watching the image of the virtual reality space, the sense of walking in a vast space is obtained. It is a system that produces. In order to generate such an illusion, the virtual reality system 100 moves the user 1 in a direction having an angle in a horizontal plane with respect to a straight traveling direction in the virtual reality space. That is, the user 1 moves obliquely to the straight traveling direction in the virtual reality space. The virtual reality system 100 uses a technique called redirection to generate the illusion as described above.

  In order to provide the user 1 with such an experience, in the virtual reality system 100, the head mounted display device 110 and the control device 150 can perform data communication by wireless communication, and can perform position detection with the plurality of gas output devices 130. The light emitting unit 140A of the device 140 is connected to the control device 150 by a cable. Note that the head mounted display device 110 and the control device 150 may be connected by wireless communication.

  In the virtual reality system 100, an image displayed on the head mounted display device 110 by the control device 150 and a plurality of gases are displayed in accordance with the position of the user 1 detected by the position detection device 140 and the direction in which the user 1 faces. And controlling gas injection by any of the output devices 130.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating redirection in the virtual reality system 100. In the left half of FIG. 2, the traveling direction recognized by the user 1 in the virtual space (virtual reality space) is indicated by an arrow, and in the right half, the traveling direction of the user 1 in the real space is indicated by an arrow.

  The head-mounted display device 110 displays a target (target point) indicated by an asterisk (*) at substantially the center of the scenery of the virtual space. The virtual reality system 100 is instructed to walk so as to follow a target emitting a predetermined smell.

  In the virtual space, the user 1 walks in a straight line toward the target. The straight traveling direction is the front direction of the user 1. The user 1 walks toward the target while sniffing.

  At this time, the virtual reality system 100 injects a predetermined gas from at least one of the plurality of gas output devices 130 to the user 1 from a direction having an angle α in a horizontal plane with respect to the straight traveling direction. Let the smell reach.

  The user 1 feels as if going straight toward the target displayed on the head-mounted display device 110, but actually proceeds while gradually turning in the direction of the angle α with respect to the straight running direction. On the right side of FIG. 2, the traveling direction of the user 1 in the real space does not reach the direction indicated by the clockwise angle α with respect to the straight traveling direction, but by gradually changing the direction, the user 1 becomes It will proceed in the direction of α.

  By adjusting the angle α according to the position and direction of the user 1 inside the room 10, the user 1 can continue walking inside the room 10 without touching the wall 10A.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an outer edge area 11 and a central area 12 of the room 10. FIG. 3 shows the gas output device 130, but the head mounted display device 110, the gas sensor 120, and the position detection device 140 are omitted. FIG. 3 shows an XY coordinate system which is rectangular coordinates.

  The room 10 has, for example, a rectangular shape in plan view, and the outer edge area 11 shown in gray is an area within a predetermined distance (for example, 1 m) from the wall 10A. The central area 12 is a central area of the room 10 that is not included in the outer peripheral area 11, and a boundary between the outer peripheral area 11 and the central area 12 is a boundary 11A. The range where the outer edge area 11 and the central area 12 exist is represented by XY coordinates.

  Here, the outer edge area 11 and the central area 12 of the room 10 are arranged in a matrix along the X axis and the Y axis as shown by broken lines as an example, for use in a database described later with reference to FIG. Are divided into 100 rectangular areas (F (X1, Y1) to F (X100, Y100)).

In addition, in order to use the data in a database described later with reference to FIG. 5, the direction in which the user 1 faces is a range of 30 degrees (D1 to D12) obtained by dividing 360 degrees around the user 1 into 12 as shown by a broken line. Are divided into D1 is a range of 30 degrees centered on the front front of the user 1. The user 1 wears the head-mounted display device 110 while smelling from one of the gas output devices 130. Move in the direction indicated by the dashed arrow.

  When the position of the user 1 is within the central region 12, the virtual reality system 100 uses a plurality of gas outputs so as to smell from the direction of the target displayed on the head-mounted display device 110 without using redirection. A predetermined gas is injected from any of the devices 130.

  When the position of the user 1 enters the outer edge area 11 across the boundary 11A from the central area 12, the virtual reality system 100 uses the redirection and uses the direction of the target displayed on the head mounted display device 110 (the straight traveling direction). ), A predetermined gas is injected from any of the plurality of gas output devices 130 so as to smell from the direction of the angle α (see FIG. 2). In this way, the angle α is controlled so that the user 1 returns to the central area 12 again without touching the wall 10A.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of the virtual reality system 100. The light receiving unit 140B of the position detecting device 140 is attached to the head mounted display device 110. The head-mounted display device 110 and the control device 150 are connected by a network 50. The network 50 is, for example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), but may be the Internet or the like. The plurality of gas output devices 130 and the plurality of light emitting units 140A of the position detection device 140 are connected to the control device 150 by cables. Note that the plurality of gas output devices 130 and the plurality of light emitting units 140A of the position detection device 140 may be connected by wireless communication.

  The head mounted display device 110 has a control unit 111, a communication unit 112, and a memory 13. The control unit 111 displays an image including the target based on a video control signal received by the communication unit 112 from the control device 150 via the network 50. Further, the control unit 111 transmits light reception data indicating the amount of light received by the plurality of light receiving units 140B of the position detection device 140 to the control device 150 via the communication unit 112. The memory 113 stores programs, data, and the like necessary for the head mounted display device 110 to perform image display processing, transmission processing for transmitting received light data to the control device 150, and the like.

  The gas output device 130 is a diffuser that is connected to the control device 150 via a cable and that injects a gas having a predetermined odor according to an injection control signal received from the control device 150. The plurality of gas output devices 130 are arranged inside the room 10 and are assigned IDs (Identifiers). The gas output device 130 is an example of a gas output unit.

  The position detection device 140 has a plurality of light emitting units 140A arranged inside the room 10 and a plurality of light receiving units 140B arranged on the surface of the housing of the head mounted display device 110.

  Each of the plurality of light emitting units 140A irradiates a predetermined pattern and a predetermined amount of infrared light inside the room 10. Each of the plurality of light receiving units 140B receives infrared light and outputs data representing the amount of received light to the control unit 111 of the head mounted display device 110. An ID is assigned to the plurality of light receiving units 140B.

  The control unit 111 transmits the received light data in which the IDs and the received light amounts of the plurality of light receiving units 140B are combined to the control device 150 via the communication unit 112 and the network 50. The received light data indicates the amount of received light detected by the plurality of light receiving units 140B.

  The control device 150 includes a main control unit 151, a position estimation unit 152, an output control unit 153, a communication unit 154, and a memory 155. The control device 150 is realized by a PC (Personal Computer) including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an input / output interface, and an internal bus. Is done.

  The main control unit 151, the position estimation unit 152, the output control unit 153, and the communication unit 154 show, as functional blocks, the functions of the programs executed by the control device 150. The memory 155 functionally represents the memory of the control device 150.

  The main control unit 151 is a processing unit that performs processing other than the processing executed by the position estimation unit 152, the output control unit 153, and the communication unit 154, and controls the control processing of the control device 150. The main control unit 151 transmits an image control signal for controlling an image displayed on the head-mounted display device 110 to the head-mounted display device 110 according to the position and the facing direction of the user 1 estimated by the position estimating unit 152. . As a result, an image corresponding to the direction in which the user 1 is facing is displayed on the head-mounted display device 110.

  The position estimating unit 152 is a head-mounted display device that the user 1 wears based on the light receiving data that collects the IDs and the light receiving amounts of the plurality of light receiving units 140B received from the control unit 111 of the head mounted display device 110. The position of 110 and the direction in which it faces are estimated. The position and the direction of the head-mounted display device 110 are the position and the direction of the user.

  The light emitting unit 140A and the light receiving unit 140B of the position detecting device 140, and the position estimating unit 152 are an example of a position acquiring unit that acquires the position of the user and an example of a direction acquiring unit that acquires the direction in which the user faces. It is.

  The output control unit 153 outputs an injection control signal for controlling gas injection by any one of the plurality of gas output devices 130 according to the position and the facing direction of the user 1 estimated by the position estimating unit 152. Output to the output device 130. As a result, the gas output device 130 that has received the injection control signal injects gas according to the injection amount indicated by the injection control signal.

  As an example, the communication unit 154 performs wireless communication via the network 50 according to a standard such as WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), transmits a video control signal to the head-mounted display device 110, and transmits the ID and the amount of received light of the plurality of light receiving units 140B. Are received from the head-mounted display device 110.

  The memory 155 stores programs and data necessary for the control device 150 to perform control processing. As one of such data, the position of the user 1 in the room 10, the direction of the user at the position, and one or a plurality of gas output devices 130 selected according to the direction at the position. There is a database associated with. The memory 155 is an example of a data storage.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the data structure of the gas output database stored in the memory 155. The gas output database includes, as an example, the outer peripheral area 11 and the central area 12 of the room 10 shown in FIG. 3, and 100 rectangular areas (see FIG. 3) arranged in a matrix along the X axis and the Y axis (see FIG. 3). This is a database that is divided into F (X1, Y1) to F (X100, Y100), and associates the direction in which the user 1 faces, the gas output device 130, and the output intensity with the position representing each region.

  Each of the 100 regions includes only one of the outer edge region 11 and the central region 12, and the curved portions at the four corners of the boundary 11A have a shape obtained by deforming a rectangle according to the curved shape of the boundary 11A. .

  The directions in which the user 1 faces are D1 to D12, each of which has a range of 30 degrees obtained by dividing 360 degrees around the user 1 into 12 parts. As an example, D1 to D12 are allotted 30 degrees clockwise from the positive direction of the Y axis in plan view.

  The plurality of gas output devices 130 are identified by IDs (G1 to G12). The output intensity is set to one of three levels (L1 to L3).

  When the position of the user 1 is included in any one of the regions F (X1, Y1) to F (X100, Y100), and the direction in which the user 1 faces is included in any one of D1 to D12. , The gas output device 130 determines one of G1 to 12, and the output intensity determines one of three levels (L1 to L3).

  Here, FIG. 5 shows a data format determined by one gas output device 130 when the position of the user 1 and the direction in which the user 1 faces are determined. A gas output device 130 may be assigned. For example, in the case where the gas output device 130 does not exist in a certain direction at a certain position of the user 1, the gas is output from two gas output devices 130 on both sides of the certain direction in a certain position. By doing so, it is only necessary to be able to provide the odor from a certain direction at a certain position. In such a case, by adjusting the output intensity of the two gas output devices 130, the direction in which the odor is provided can be changed by two gas directions with respect to the central direction of the two gas output devices 130. The output device 130 can be biased to either side.

  Here, the direction in which the user 1 faces, the gas output device 130, and the output intensity are associated with the position where the gas output database represents each of the regions arranged in a matrix in the outer edge region 11 and the central region 12. The form that is a database has been described. However, the gas output database does not include data on the central region 12, and only the outer edge region 11 is a database in which the direction in which the user 1 faces, the gas output device 130, and the output intensity are associated with the position representing each region. There may be.

  Further, here, a description will be given of a mode in which the gas output intensity is determined in advance in one of three stages (L1 to L3). However, the gas output intensity is changed from the position of the user 1 according to the position. The distance may be set to be larger as the distance to the gas output device 130 selected from the gas output database is shorter. In this case, the gas output intensity may be set according to the distance from the position of the user 1 to the selected gas output device 130 without including the gas output intensity data in the gas output database. . For example, according to the distance from the position of the user 1 to the gas output device 130 selected, five levels of output intensities are allocated, and by selecting the output intensity according to the distance, the output intensity from the position of the user 1 is selected. The output intensity may be set to be greater as the distance to the selected gas output device 130 is shorter. A high gas output intensity corresponds to a strong smell.

  In this way, the user 1 can recognize by smell that the stronger the smell, the shorter the distance to the gas output device 130.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing executed by control device 150. The process shown in FIG. 6 is repeatedly executed at a predetermined control cycle. Apart from the processing illustrated in FIG. 5, the main control unit 151 generates a video control signal according to the position and the facing direction of the user 1 estimated by the position estimation unit 152 and transmits the video control signal to the head-mounted display device 110. , But the description is omitted here.

  When the user 1 operates the keyboard or the like of the control device 150 to input a command to start the process, the main control unit 151 starts the process.

  The main control unit 151 displays a target character and a message requesting the setting of the odor on the monitor (step S1). As a result, the target character and the smell are selected by the user 1 and input by the keyboard or the like. As an example, assume that the target of the star character and the smell of mint have been selected.

  The position estimating unit 152 estimates the position and direction of the user 1 based on the received light data (step S2).

  The main control unit 151 causes the head-mounted display device 110 to display a message requesting the user 1 to walk following the target (step S3).

  The main controller 151 determines whether the user 1 has started moving based on the position of the user 1 estimated by the position estimator 152 (step S4). Whether the movement has been started may be determined based on whether or not the position estimated in step S2 in the current control cycle has changed from the position estimated in step S2 in the immediately preceding control cycle.

  When determining that the user 1 has started moving (S4: YES), the main control unit 151 determines whether the user 1 is in the outer edge area 11 based on the position of the user 1 estimated by the position estimation unit 152. It is determined whether or not it is (step S5). Whether the user 1 is inside the outer edge area 11 may be determined based on whether the position of the user 1 is included in the outer edge area 11.

  If it is determined in step S5 that the main control unit 151 is located in the outer edge area 11 (S5: YES), the output control unit 153 is based on the position and the direction of the user 1 estimated by the position estimation unit 152. Data indicating the gas output device 130 and the output intensity is extracted from the gas output database, and the gas is injected into the gas output device 130 indicated by the extracted data at the output intensity indicated by the extracted data (step S6).

  In step S6, since the user 1 is in the outer edge region 11, one or a plurality of gas output devices 130 are set so that the smell reaches the user 1 from a direction having an angle α in a horizontal plane with respect to the straight traveling direction. Selected and gas is injected. As a result, the user 1 walks while changing the direction toward the direction of the angle α.

  If it is determined in step S4 that the user 1 has not started moving (S4: NO), the main control unit 151 returns the flow to step S2.

  If the main controller 151 determines in step S5 that the object is not in the outer edge area 11 (S5: NO), the flow proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the output control unit 153 extracts data representing the gas output device 130 and the output intensity from the gas output database based on the position and the facing direction of the user 1 estimated by the position estimation unit 152, and extracts the extracted data. Is caused to inject gas at the output intensity indicated by the extracted data (step S7).

  When step S6 or S7 ends, the main control unit 151 determines whether to end the processing (step S8). The process is terminated when the user 1 inputs a termination command to the control device 150.

  When determining that the processing is not to be ended (S8: NO), the main control unit 151 returns the flow to step S5. On the other hand, when determining that the process is to be ended (S8: YES), the main control unit 151 ends a series of processes.

  As described above, the data indicating the gas output device 130 and the output intensity are extracted from the gas output database based on the position and the facing direction of the user 1, and the extracted data represents the gas output device 130 represented by the extracted data. By injecting the gas with the output intensity, the user 1 can smell the direction of the target and recognize it.

  Therefore, it is possible to provide the virtual reality system 100 and the virtual reality system control method that can guide the user 1 by smell.

  Further, when the position of the user 1 is within the central area 12, the gas output device 130 is selected so that the target is provided with the odor from a straight traveling direction. However, when the target is in the outer edge area 11, the target 1 is set so as not to touch the wall 10 </ b> A (so as to move away from the wall 10 </ b> A) from a direction at an angle α with respect to a certain straight traveling direction. The gas output device 130 is selected to provide the odor.

  Therefore, in the real space, the user 1 gradually changes the direction of the angle α with respect to the straight traveling direction, but the user 1 is in the straight traveling direction in the virtual space displayed on the head mounted display device 110. The feeling of walking towards the target is provided. That is, by using redirection, it is possible to provide a feeling of walking a vast place in a room 10 having a finite size.

  Further, since the virtual reality system 100 can realize such redirection without using both hands, the hands can be moved in the virtual space without using both hands without blocking.

  Further, in the virtual reality system 100, the odor stimulus due to the smell is made unconsciously with the breathing of the user 1, and there is no need to use both hands to obtain the redirection effect. Therefore, a conscious activity is not required to obtain the redirection effect, the user can concentrate on the content provided by the head mounted display device 110, and can realize a high sense of reality.

  In the above, the configuration showing the target has been described on the head mounted display device 110. However, an image showing the route from the departure point to the destination on a map is displayed, and the direction to the destination is guided by scenting. You may do so.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a head-mounted display device 110 and a gas output device 130A according to a modification.

  In FIG. 7, one gas sensor 120 is mounted on each of the left and right sides below the head mounted display device 110. Therefore, the two gas sensors 120 are arranged on the left and right sides of the nose, respectively, with the user 1 wearing the head mounted display device 110.

  The gas sensor 120 is, for example, a gas sensor using a metal oxide semiconductor, a crystal oscillator or a gas sensor in which a functional organic film is applied to a stress detection mechanism. As the gas sensor 120, an appropriate type of gas sensor may be selected according to the type of gas having an odor used for guiding the user 1.

  The gas output device 130A is of a wearable type, and includes gas output units 131A, 131B, 131C, 131D, and a belt 132A. The belt 132A is of a type in which the user 1 passes through the neck and hangs on both shoulders. When the user 1 wears the belt 132A, the gas output units 131A, 131B, 131C, and 131D are arranged on the front side (in front of the chest) of the user 1 such that the belts 132A are arranged at equal intervals from right to left. Attached to.

  The gas output units 131A, 131B, 131C, 131D have a configuration in which a communication function is added to a diffuser such as the gas output device 130 shown in FIG. The gas output units 131A, 131B, 131C, and 131D are connected to the control device 150 by wireless communication such as a LAN, and inject gas by an injection control signal transmitted from the control device 150.

  The user 1 may be guided by smell by using the gas output device 130A as described above instead of the plurality of gas output devices 130 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a method of feedback control according to the gas concentration detected by the gas sensor 120.

  The gas sensor 120 may be affected by airflow around the nose of the user 1. Such an airflow may be caused by the breath of the user 1, the wind of an air conditioner, or the like.

  For example, when a predetermined amount of gas is injected from the gas output unit 131C under the condition that the left and right gas sensors 120 are not affected by the airflow, as shown in FIG. 8A, the right gas sensor 120 and the left gas sensor Suppose that the detection amount of H.120 has changed. The detection of the right gas sensor 120 is delayed by the time T1 from the detection of the left gas sensor 120. This is because the gas output section 131C is on the left side.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, when the left and right gas sensors 120 inject a predetermined amount of gas from the gas output unit 131C under the condition affected by a predetermined amount of airflow, as shown in FIGS. It is assumed that the detection amounts of the right gas sensor 120 and the left gas sensor 120 have changed. Note that the airflow is different in FIGS. 8B and 8C.

  In FIG. 8B, the detection of the right gas sensor 120 is later than the detection of the left gas sensor 120 by time T2 (> T1). In FIG. 8C, the detection of the right gas sensor 120 is The time T3 (<T1) is behind the detection of the gas sensor 120 on the left side.

  When the delay time increases as in FIG. 8B, for example, by injecting gas from the gas output unit 131A or 131B on the right side of the gas output unit 131C, T2 in FIG. The correction may be performed so as to be equal to T1 in FIG.

  When the delay time is small as in FIG. 8C, for example, by injecting gas from the gas output unit 131D on the left side of the gas output unit 131C, T3 in FIG. The correction may be performed so as to be equal to T1 in FIG.

  When performing the correction while injecting the gas at the gas output unit 131C, the timing and how much gas is injected from any of the gas output units 131A, 131B, and 131D is checked by an experiment or the like and is made into a database. The output control unit 153 may perform the correction according to the outputs of the left and right gas sensors 120.

  More specifically, under the condition that the left and right gas sensors 120 are not affected by airflow, a predetermined amount of gas is output from each of the gas output units 131A to 131D or a plurality of gas output units among the gas output units 131A to 131D. When the gas is injected, the distribution characteristics of the gas detected by the right gas sensor 120 and the left gas sensor 120 may be converted into a database as a target value and stored in the memory 113.

  When injecting gas from any of the gas output units 131A to 131D, the outputs of the left and right gas sensors 120 are compared with the corresponding gas detection amounts (target values) in the database, and the left and right gas sensors 120 are detected. The output control unit 153 may correct the amount of gas injected from any of the gas output units 131A to 131D by feedback control so that the output of the gas output unit becomes equal to the target value.

  By performing such feedback control, the influence of the airflow around the left and right gas sensors 120 can be offset, and the influence of the airflow can be suppressed to guide the user 1 in an appropriate direction.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a gas output device 130B according to a modification. The gas output device 130B is a wearable type, and includes a tank 131T, a pipe 132B, a control unit 133B, and shutoff valves 134B, 135B, 136B, 137B, 138B. The gas output device 130B has a belt similar to the belt 132A of the gas output device 130A shown in FIG. 7, but is omitted in FIG.

  The gas output device 130B is arranged in front of the user 1 (in front of the chest). A gas having a predetermined smell is sealed in the tank 131T. A pipe 132B is connected to the tank 131T. The pipe 132B branches from the tank 132E to five output units 132B1, 132B2, 132B3, 132B4, 132B5. The pipe 132B is an example of a gas pipe.

  As shown in FIG. 9, five shutoff valves 134B, 135B, 136B, 137B, 138B are inserted in series into the pipe 132B. The opening and closing of the shutoff valves 134B, 135B, 136B, 137B, 138B are controlled by the control unit 133B. The control unit 133B opens and closes the shutoff valves 134B, 135B, 136B, 137B, 138B based on the injection control signal received by wireless communication from the output control unit 153 of the control device 150 (see FIG. 4).

  The control unit 133B opens or closes each of the shut-off valves 134B, 135B, 136B, 137B, and 138B, so that gas is output from one or more of the output units 132B1, 132B2, 132B3, 132B4, and 132B5. Can be injected.

  In addition, the control unit 133B controls the degree of opening and closing of each of the shutoff valves 134B, 135B, 136B, 137B, and 138B, so that injection is performed from one or more of the output units 132B1, 132B2, 132B3, 132B4, and 132B5. The amount of gas to be supplied can be adjusted.

  In addition, the control unit 133B may open and close each of the shutoff valves 134B, 135B, 136B, 137B, and 138B in accordance with the movement or direction of the user 1 to intermittently inject the gas. For example, when the user 1 is moving while looking only at the target and the traveling direction, the presentation of the odor is temporarily stopped, and when the user 1 turns to another direction, the user 1 momentarily moves in the direction of the target. The odor may be presented to impress the direction in which the target exists, and may be presented intermittently in accordance with the change in the direction in which the user 1 faces, so that the odor is again presented immediately after the target is facing. . Thereby, the fragrance necessary for presenting the odor can be reduced, and the unnecessary diffusion of the odor substance into the real space and the adaptation of the user 1 to the odor can be minimized.

  By using the gas output device 130B as described above instead of the plurality of gas output devices 130 shown in FIG. 1, the user 1 may be guided by smell.

<Embodiment 2>
Here, a traveling direction guidance system according to Embodiment 2 and a control method of the traveling direction guidance system will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a smartphone terminal 200 used in the traveling direction guidance system according to the second embodiment. The smartphone terminal 200 has a display panel 210. The display panel 210 is integrated with the touch panel. The smartphone terminal 200 includes a navigation device, a GPS (Global Positioning System) device, and a gyro. The navigation device has map data.

  The smartphone terminal 200 searches for a route between the departure place A and the destination B by the navigation function, and displays the route and the current location on the display panel 210 based on the position data detected by the GPS device and the gyro.

  In FIG. 10, the route between the starting point A and the destination B is displayed on the display panel 210 on the map. The route is inside the guidance area indicated by the dashed line. In addition, above and below the guidance area, there are warning areas indicated by alternate long and short dash lines. A GUI (Graphic User Interface) button for selecting between the odor of the guidance area and the odor of the warning area is displayed below the map. The user 1 can select the smell of the guidance area and the smell of the warning area on the touch panel.

  Here, the guidance area is an area including the route searched by the navigation device, and includes all the routes searched between the departure point A and the destination B and the periphery of the route (a range of 50 m outside the route). ). The warning area is an area outside the guidance area, and is an area largely deviating from the route. As an example, the warning area is an area 100 m away from the guidance area.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the traveling direction guidance system 500. The traveling direction guidance system 500 includes the smartphone terminal 200 and the gas output device 130A.

  The gas output device 130A is the same as that shown in FIG. 7, but has no communication function and is connected to the smartphone terminal 200 by a cable. Further, the gas output device 130A has a configuration capable of injecting two types of gases. The smells of the two gases are different.

  The smartphone terminal 200 includes a main control unit 211, a position acquisition unit 212A, a direction acquisition unit 212B, an output control unit 213, and a memory 215.

  The main control unit 211, the position acquisition unit 212A, the direction acquisition unit 212B, and the output control unit 213 show, as functional blocks, functions of a program executed by the control device of the smartphone terminal 200. The memory 215 functionally represents a memory of the control device of the smartphone terminal 200.

  The main control unit 211 is a processing unit that performs processing other than the processing executed by the position acquisition unit 212A, the direction acquisition unit 212B, and the output control unit 213, and controls the control processing of the control device of the smartphone terminal 200.

  The position acquisition unit 212A acquires data representing the position of the smartphone terminal 200 detected by the GPS device of the smartphone terminal 200.

  The direction obtaining unit 212 </ b> B obtains a direction in which the smartphone terminal 200 faces based on the direction detected by the gyro of the smartphone terminal 200.

  The position of the smartphone terminal 200 and the direction in which the smartphone terminal 200 faces are the position and direction of the user.

  The output control unit 213 controls the gas output from any one of the plurality of gas output units 131A, 131B, 131C, and 131D according to the position and the facing direction of the user 1 acquired by the position acquisition unit 212A and the direction acquisition unit 212B. An injection control signal for controlling injection is output to a corresponding gas output unit. As a result, the gas output unit (one or more of the gas output units 131A, 131B, 131C, 131D) that has received the injection control signal injects gas according to the injection amount indicated by the injection control signal.

  The memory 215 stores programs and data necessary for the control device of the smartphone terminal 200 to perform control processing. The memory 215 is an example of a data storage.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a process executed by the control device of the smartphone terminal 200.

  When the user 1 operates the touch panel of the smartphone terminal 200 and receives a command to start processing, the main control unit 211 starts processing.

  When the destination is set, the main control unit 211 searches for a route (step S21). The route search is performed using a navigation device. When the route search is performed, a guidance area and an alarm area are generated together with the route from the departure point A to the destination B (see FIG. 10).

  The main control unit 211 displays a message for setting the smell on the monitor for the guidance area and the alarm area (step S22). Since the gas output device 130A is capable of injecting two types of gases, the user 1 can set one of the two types of gas in the guidance area and set the other in the alarm area.

  Thus, the user 1 selects a scent for the guidance area and the warning area and inputs the scent using the keyboard or the like. As an example, it is assumed that the odor of mint is selected for the guidance area and the odor of coconut is selected for the alarm area.

  The position acquisition unit 212A and the direction acquisition unit 212B detect the position and the direction of the user 1 (step S23).

  The main control unit 211 determines whether or not the user 1 has started moving based on the position and the facing direction of the user 1 detected by the position acquisition unit 212A and the direction acquisition unit 212B (step S24).

  When determining that the user 1 has started moving (S24: YES), the main control unit 211 determines whether or not the user 1 is in the guidance area based on the position of the user 1 detected by the position acquisition unit 212A. Is determined (step S25).

  When the main control unit 211 determines that the vehicle is in the guidance area (S25: YES) in step S25, the output control unit 213 detects the position and orientation of the user 1 detected by the position acquisition unit 212A and the direction acquisition unit 212B. The gas output device 130 is selected based on the direction and the route data, and the gas for the guidance area is jetted from the selected gas output device 130 at a predetermined output intensity (step S26).

  In step S26, gas is injected from the gas output device 130 located in the direction in which the route to the destination is located among the plurality of gas output devices 130 in consideration of the direction in which the user is facing at the current location of the user 1. Perform processing.

  The main control unit 211 determines whether the vehicle has arrived at the destination (step S27). The process of step S27 is a process of determining whether the current position of the user 1 has reached the destination.

  When determining that the vehicle has arrived at the destination (S27: YES), the main control unit 211 ends a series of processing (END).

  On the other hand, when determining that the vehicle has not arrived at the destination (S27: NO), the main control unit 211 returns the flow to step S25.

  If it is determined in step S24 that the user 1 has not started moving (S24: NO), the main control unit 211 returns the flow to step S23.

  If the main control unit 211 determines in step S25 that the user is not in the guidance area (S25: NO), the main control unit 211 uses the user 1 based on the position of the user 1 detected by the position acquisition unit 212A. It is determined whether the person 1 is in the warning area (step S28).

  In step S28, when the main control unit 211 determines that the user 1 is in the warning area (S28: YES), the output control unit 213 outputs the user detected by the position acquisition unit 212A and the direction acquisition unit 212B. 1 based on the position and the direction in which the route is directed, and the route data, the gas for the warning area is supplied to the gas output device 130 that is located on the opposite side to the direction in which the route toward the destination exists among the plurality of gas output devices 130. Inject (step S29).

  In step S29, when the user 1 enters the warning area, the odor for the warning area is ejected from one or a plurality of gas output devices 130 in the direction opposite to the destination, so that the user 1 enters the warning area. This is a process of guiding the user 1 in a direction away from the destination by indicating the direction opposite to the destination by odor.

  The main control unit 211 determines whether or not the user 1 has changed direction based on the position and the facing direction of the user 1 detected by the position acquisition unit 212A and the direction acquisition unit 212B (step S30).

  The direction change means changing the traveling direction to a direction opposite to the moving direction of the user 1 (a returning direction) or a direction toward a destination.

  When determining that the user 1 has changed direction (S30: YES), the main control unit 211 returns the flow to step S25. Thus, it is determined whether the user 1 has returned to the guidance area.

  When determining that the user 1 has not changed direction (S30: NO), the main control unit 211 returns the flow to step S29. Since the user 1 is traveling further away from the guidance area without changing the direction, the gas for the warning area is injected in order to recognize that the direction is wrong (not heading to the destination). To do that.

  If the main control unit 211 determines in step S28 that the user 1 is not within the warning area (S28: NO), the main control unit 211 returns the flow to step S25. This is to determine whether the user 1 has returned to the guidance area.

  As described above, the user 1 is directed to the destination by injecting the gas for the guidance area or the warning area into the gas output device 130 based on the position and the direction of the user 1 and the route data based on the route data. The direction of the route can be recognized by smell.

  Therefore, it is possible to provide a traveling direction guidance system 500 that can guide the user 1 by smell, and a control method of the traveling direction guidance system 500.

  In the above description, a mode in which the output control unit 213 selects the gas output device 130 based on the position and direction of the user 1 detected by the position acquisition unit 212A and the direction acquisition unit 212B and the route data will be described. However, it is not necessary to use the direction of the user 1 detected by the direction acquisition unit 212B. In this case, the output control unit 213 selects the gas output device 130 based on the position of the user 1 detected by the position acquisition unit 212A and the route data and performs the processes of steps S26 and S29. Good.

  In step S26, at the current location of the user 1, it is determined that the user 1 is in the traveling direction up to the current location, and the gas that is located in the direction of the route to the destination among the plurality of gas output devices 130 is determined. The gas may be injected from the output device 130.

  In step S29, at the current location of the user 1, it is determined that the user 1 is facing the traveling direction to the current location, and one of the plurality of gas output devices 130 in the direction opposite to the destination is selected. The gas may be injected from the plurality of gas output devices 130.

  In the above description, the embodiment in which the traveling direction guidance system 500 includes the smartphone terminal 200 has been described, but instead of the smartphone terminal 200, a tablet-type computer, a game machine, or a transmissive head-mounted display device is included. May be.

  Also, in the above, the embodiment in which the traveling direction guidance system 500 includes the smartphone terminal 200 has been described. However, instead of the smartphone terminal 200, the non-transmissive head-mounted display device 110 according to the first embodiment is included, and a virtual space is provided. An image showing the route from the departure point to the destination in may be displayed on a map, and the direction to the destination may be guided by smell.

  Further, when the user 1 is in the warning area, a process of increasing the gas injection amount or increasing the injection frequency as the user 1 moves away from the destination may be added.

  As described above, the virtual reality system, the traveling direction guidance system, the control method of the virtual reality system, and the control method of the traveling direction guidance system according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

Regarding the above embodiment, the following supplementary notes are further disclosed.
(Appendix 1)
A head-mounted display device worn by the user on the head and displaying an image of the virtual space,
A plurality of gas output units that output a gas having the predetermined odor so as to guide the user in a predetermined direction with a predetermined odor;
A position acquisition unit that acquires the position of the user in a predetermined real space having a finite size,
A direction acquisition unit that acquires a direction in which the user faces in the predetermined physical space;
A gas output database associating the position of the user in the predetermined real space, a direction in which the user faces at the position, and a gas output unit selected according to the direction at the position. The gas output unit is selected to guide the user in a direction away from the outer edge of the predetermined real space, a data storage unit that stores a gas output database,
Using the gas output unit extracted from the gas output database according to the position acquired by the position acquisition unit and the direction acquired by the direction acquisition unit, the gas is extracted to the gas output unit. A virtual reality system, comprising: an output control unit for outputting.
(Appendix 2)
In the gas output database, the position of the user in the predetermined real space and the position of the user in an outer edge region in which the position of the user exceeds the boundary a predetermined distance before the outer edge of the predetermined real space outside. Is a database in which the direction in which the user faces and the gas output unit selected according to the direction at the position are associated with each other,
The virtual reality system according to claim 1, wherein the output control unit causes the extracted gas output unit to output the gas at the extracted output intensity when the position of the user is within the outer edge region.
(Appendix 3)
In the gas output database, the gas output unit guides the user in a direction away from an outer edge of the predetermined real space by guiding the user in a direction at a predetermined angle with respect to a direction in which the user faces. The virtual reality system according to claim 1 or 2, which is selected.
(Appendix 4)
The gas output database is a database further correlated with the output intensity at which the selected gas output unit outputs the gas,
The output control unit uses the gas output unit and the output intensity extracted from the gas output database according to the position acquired by the position acquisition unit and the direction acquired by the direction acquisition unit, and performs the extraction. The virtual reality system according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3, wherein the gas output unit outputs the gas at the extracted output intensity.
(Appendix 5)
The virtual reality system according to claim 4, wherein the output intensity is set to be larger as the distance from the position acquired by the position acquisition unit to the selected gas output unit is shorter.
(Appendix 6)
The virtual reality system according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of gas output units are of a wearable type.
(Appendix 7)
A tank for storing the gas,
A plurality of gas pipes connected to the tank;
A plurality of shut-off valves respectively provided in the plurality of gas pipes,
7. The virtual reality system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of gas output units are gas outlets of the plurality of gas pipes. 8.
(Appendix 8)
A gas sensor arranged around the nose of the user,
The data storage unit further stores data representing distribution characteristics of the gas output by the plurality of gas output units,
The output control unit may correct the amount of gas output from the plurality of gas output units so that the distribution characteristics are equal to the distribution characteristics of the gas detected by the gas sensor. The virtual reality system described in the section.
(Appendix 9)
A data storage unit for storing route data representing a route from the starting point to the destination on a map,
A display unit for displaying the route,
A plurality of gas output units that output gas having the predetermined odor so as to guide the user in a predetermined direction with the predetermined odor;
A position acquisition unit that acquires the position of the user,
Based on the position acquired by the position acquisition unit and the route data, select one of the plurality of gas output units and output the gas to the selected gas output unit. An output control unit;
(Appendix 10)
A head-mounted display device worn by the user on the head and displaying an image of the virtual space,
A plurality of gas output units that output gas having the predetermined odor so as to guide the user in a predetermined direction with the predetermined odor;
A position acquisition unit that acquires the position of the user in a predetermined real space having a finite size,
A direction acquisition unit that acquires a direction in which the user faces in the predetermined physical space;
A gas output database associating the position of the user in the predetermined real space, a direction in which the user faces at the position, and a gas output unit selected according to the direction at the position. A gas output unit, which is selected to guide the user in a direction away from the outer edge of the predetermined real space, and a data storage unit that stores a gas output database.
Using the gas output unit extracted from the gas output database according to the position acquired by the position acquisition unit and the direction acquired by the direction acquisition unit, the gas is extracted to the gas output unit. Control method of virtual reality system to output.
(Appendix 11)
A data storage unit for storing route data representing a route from the starting point to the destination on a map,
A display unit for displaying the route,
A plurality of gas output units for outputting a gas having the predetermined odor so as to guide the user in a predetermined direction with a predetermined odor;
A position acquisition unit for acquiring the position of the user, comprising:
Based on the position acquired by the position acquisition unit and the route data, select one of the plurality of gas output units and output the gas to the selected gas output unit. And control method of traveling direction guidance system.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 virtual reality system 110 head-mounted display device 120 gas sensor 130 gas output device 140 position detection device 150 control device 152 position estimation unit 153 output control unit 155 memory 200 smartphone terminal 210 display panel 212A position acquisition unit 212B direction acquisition unit 213 output control Part 215 Memory 500 Travel direction guidance system

Claims (11)

A head-mounted display device worn by the user on the head and displaying an image of the virtual space,
A plurality of gas output units that output gas having the predetermined odor so as to guide the user in a predetermined direction with a predetermined odor;
A position acquisition unit that acquires the position of the user in a predetermined real space having a finite size,
A direction acquisition unit that acquires a direction in which the user faces in the predetermined physical space;
A gas output database associating the position of the user in the predetermined real space, a direction in which the user faces at the position, and a gas output unit selected according to the direction at the position. The gas output unit is selected to guide the user in a direction away from the outer edge of the predetermined real space, a data storage unit that stores a gas output database,
Using the gas output unit extracted from the gas output database according to the position acquired by the position acquisition unit and the direction acquired by the direction acquisition unit, the gas is extracted to the gas output unit. A virtual reality system, comprising: an output control unit for outputting. In the gas output database, the position of the user in the predetermined real space and the position of the user in an outer edge region in which the position of the user exceeds the boundary a predetermined distance before the outer edge of the predetermined real space outside. Is a database in which the direction in which the user faces and the gas output unit selected according to the direction at the position are associated with each other,
The virtual reality system according to claim 1, wherein the output control unit causes the extracted gas output unit to output the gas at the extracted output intensity when the position of the user is within the outer edge region. .   In the gas output database, the gas output unit guides the user in a direction away from an outer edge of the predetermined real space by guiding the user in a direction at a predetermined angle with respect to a direction in which the user faces. 3. The virtual reality system according to claim 1, which is selected. The gas output database is a database further correlated with the output intensity at which the selected gas output unit outputs the gas,
The output control unit uses the gas output unit and the output intensity extracted from the gas output database according to the position acquired by the position acquisition unit and the direction acquired by the direction acquisition unit, and performs the extraction. 4. The virtual reality system according to claim 1, wherein the gas output unit outputs the gas at the extracted output intensity. 5.   5. The virtual reality system according to claim 4, wherein the output intensity is set to increase as the distance from the position acquired by the position acquisition unit to the selected gas output unit decreases.   The virtual reality system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of gas output units are of a wearable type. A tank for storing the gas,
A plurality of gas pipes connected to the tank;
A plurality of shut-off valves respectively provided in the plurality of gas pipes,
The virtual reality system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of gas output units are gas outlets of the plurality of gas pipes. A gas sensor arranged around the nose of the user,
The data storage unit further stores data representing distribution characteristics of the gas output by the plurality of gas output units,
8. The output control unit according to claim 1, wherein the distribution control unit corrects a gas amount output from the plurality of gas output units such that a distribution characteristic of the gas detected by the gas sensor becomes equal to the distribution characteristic of the gas detected by the gas sensor. 9. The virtual reality system according to claim 1. A data storage unit for storing route data representing a route from the starting point to the destination on a map,
A display unit for displaying the route,
A plurality of gas output units for outputting a gas having the predetermined odor so as to guide the user in a predetermined direction with a predetermined odor;
A position acquisition unit that acquires the position of the user,
Based on the position acquired by the position acquisition unit and the route data, select one of the plurality of gas output units and output the gas to the selected gas output unit. An output control unit; A head-mounted display device worn by the user on the head and displaying an image of the virtual space,
A plurality of gas output units that output gas having the predetermined odor so as to guide the user in a predetermined direction with a predetermined odor;
A position acquisition unit that acquires the position of the user in a predetermined real space having a finite size,
A direction acquisition unit that acquires a direction in which the user faces in the predetermined physical space;
A gas output database associating the position of the user in the predetermined real space, a direction in which the user faces at the position, and a gas output unit selected according to the direction at the position. A gas output unit is selected to guide the user in a direction away from the outer edge of the predetermined real space, and a data storage unit that stores a gas output database.
Using the gas output unit extracted from the gas output database according to the position acquired by the position acquisition unit and the direction acquired by the direction acquisition unit, the gas is extracted to the gas output unit. Control method of virtual reality system to output. A data storage unit for storing route data representing a route from the starting point to the destination on a map,
A display unit for displaying the route,
A plurality of gas output units for outputting a gas having the predetermined odor so as to guide the user in a predetermined direction with a predetermined odor;
A position acquisition unit for acquiring the position of the user, comprising:
Based on the position acquired by the position acquisition unit and the route data, select one of the plurality of gas output units and output the gas to the selected gas output unit. And control method of traveling direction guidance system.

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