JP2021152539A - Object detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an object detection device capable of detecting hands appropriately in response to their movement, and effectively preventing erroneous detection of the hands when they are located in positions in which the detection is not required.SOLUTION: An object detection device includes: a first emission section 1A1, a second emission section 1A2, and a light reception part 1B that each have areas for detecting hands spatially and each detect hands if hands are present within the areas when distance to the hands becomes equal to or less than a threshold distance within the corresponding areas; and a sensor driver 10 for setting a threshold distance for an area C to a threshold distance corresponding to prescribed wipe operation of hands when detecting that the hands are present within an area A and an area B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present application belongs to the technical fields of an object detection device, an object detection method, an object detection program, and an information recording medium. More specifically, it belongs to the technical field of an object detection device and an object detection method for detecting an object having a plurality of detection means, a program for the object detection device, and an information recording medium in which the program is recorded.

For example, when operating an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle, the movement of a person's hand is detected by a so-called proximity sensor such as an infrared sensor in consideration of the fact that the inside of the vehicle is not large and driving safety, etc. The in-vehicle device is controlled according to the content. Examples of the in-vehicle device in this case include a navigation device and an audio device.

More specifically, conventionally, for example, a plurality of proximity sensors are arranged in a row, and each proximity sensor indicates that the hand is moved in the direction in which the proximity sensors are arranged while holding a person's hand against the arranged proximity sensors. By detecting with, it was performed to execute a specific operation associated with the movement in advance.

As another example showing the configuration of the conventional proximity sensor, for example, there is a proximity sensor disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.

Here, in general, when a person holds his / her hand and moves his / her hand in the left-right direction, for example, it can be said that the movement of the hand usually tends to be arcuate around the person's body. For example, when a proximity sensor detects the movement of a hand and attempts to operate the in-vehicle device, when a person at an oblique position with respect to the proximity sensor moves the hand from the oblique direction, the movement is close. It can be said that the movement tends to gradually move away from a position close to the sensor. Further, for example, when a person in a position in front of the proximity sensor moves his / her hand from that position, the movement is a movement of moving from a distant position → a near position → a distant position when viewed from the proximity sensor. It can be said that it is easy.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-212145

However, in the conventional proximity sensor, the threshold distance as a reference when detecting the presence of a human hand is the same for each of the arranged proximity sensors. Therefore, there is a problem that accurate detection can be performed as a proximity sensor only in an unnatural case such as moving a hand while maintaining an equidistant distance with respect to the arranged proximity sensors.

On the other hand, as described above, when detecting the presence of a hand moving in a locus that is not equidistant with respect to the arranged proximity sensors, if the threshold distance is lengthened in order to detect a hand at a farther position, the original value is increased. There is a problem that even a hand in a position that is not desired to be detected is erroneously detected.

Therefore, this application has been made in view of each of the above problems, and one example of the problem is that the object can be appropriately detected in response to the movement of an object such as a human hand, and the object does not need to be detected. An object detection device and an object detection method that can effectively prevent erroneous detection when the position is different, a program for the object detection device, and an information recording medium on which the program is recorded. To provide.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 has a plurality of detection regions for detecting the object when the distance to the object is equal to or less than a threshold distance, and is arranged in a straight line. And after the object is detected in the first region of the detection region, the threshold distance of the third region, which is another detection region, is set longer than the threshold distance of the first region. Then, the threshold distance of the second region, which is another detection region between the first region and the third region, is longer than the threshold distance of the first region, and the threshold distance of the third region. It is provided with a setting means for setting shorter.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 7 has a plurality of detection regions for detecting the object when the distance to the object is equal to or less than the threshold distance, and the plurality of objects are arranged in a straight line. In the object detection method executed in the object detection device including the detection means of the above, after the object is detected in the first region of the detection region, the threshold distance of the third region which is the other detection region is determined. The threshold distance of the second region, which is another detection region between the first region and the third region, is set to be longer than the threshold distance of the first region. It includes a setting step of setting the distance longer than the distance and shorter than the threshold distance of the third region.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 8 has a plurality of detection regions for detecting the object when the distance to the object is equal to or less than the threshold distance, and is arranged in a straight line. The computer included in the object detection device including the detection means such as the light receiving unit of the above is made to function as the setting means according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

In order to solve the above problems, in the invention according to claim 9, the object detection program according to claim 8 is recorded readable by the computer.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline structure of the object detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram and the like which show the outline structure of the proximity sensor which concerns on 1st Example, (a) is the block diagram, and (b) is a figure which illustrates the detection area. It is a flowchart which shows the detection process which concerns on 1st Example. It is a figure explaining the detection process which concerns on 1st Example, (a) is the explanatory diagram (i), and (b) is the explanatory diagram (ii). It is a figure explaining the detection process which concerns on the 1st modification, (a) is the explanatory diagram (i), and (b) is the explanatory diagram (ii). It is a figure explaining the detection process which concerns on the 2nd modification, (a) is the explanatory diagram (i), and (b) is the explanatory diagram (ii). It is a block diagram and the like which show the outline structure of the proximity sensor which concerns on 2nd Example, (a) is the block diagram, and (b) is a figure which illustrates the detection area.

Next, a mode for carrying out the present application will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of the object detection device according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the object detection device S according to the embodiment is composed of a plurality of detection means 1, 1 and a setting means 10.

In this configuration, each detection means 1 has a detection region for spatially detecting the object H, and when the distance to the object H is equal to or less than the threshold distance in the corresponding detection region, the object H If it exists in the detection area, it is detected respectively. Then, when the setting means 10 detects that the object H exists in one detection area, the setting means 10 sets the threshold distance for the other detection area to the movement of the object H preset with respect to the plurality of detection areas (FIG. 1). In the case of, set the threshold distance corresponding to the movement indicated by the white arrow). That is, in the case shown in FIG. 1, in the setting means 10, for example, the object H exists in the detection region of the detection means 1 at the top in FIG. 1, in response to the preset downward movement of the object H in FIG. Then, when it is detected, the threshold distance for the detection region of the other detection means 1 is set to the threshold distance corresponding to the downward movement of the object H.

As described above, according to the operation of the object detection device S according to the embodiment, when the presence of the object H is detected in one detection area, the threshold distance for the other detection area is set to the default object H. Since the distance is changed to the threshold distance corresponding to the movement of the object H, the object H can be appropriately detected in response to the movement, and it is possible to effectively prevent the erroneous detection of the object H at a position that does not need to be detected.

Next, specific examples corresponding to the above-described embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7. Each of the examples described below is an example when the present application is applied to a proximity sensor that detects the movement of a human hand as an object.

(1) First Example First, the first embodiment corresponding to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. Note that FIG. 2 is a block diagram or the like showing the outline configuration of the proximity sensor according to the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the detection process according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the detection process according to the first embodiment. It is a figure explaining the detection process. At this time, in FIG. 2, for each of the constituent members of the embodiment corresponding to each constituent member in the object detection device S according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the same member number as each constituent member in the object detection device S is used. ing.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the proximity sensor S1 according to the first embodiment is a proximity sensor that detects a human hand as an object by infrared rays. Even a proximity sensor that uses ultrasonic waves for detection is appropriate as an example. Specifically, the proximity sensor S1 according to the first embodiment has a first light emitting unit 1A1 and a second light emitting unit 1A2, and a first light emitting unit 1A1 and a second light emitting unit, which emit infrared rays for detection alternately in a time-divided manner. The light receiving unit 1B that receives infrared rays that are alternately emitted from the unit 1A2 and reflected by the object H, the first light emitting unit 1A1, the second light emitting unit 1A2, and the light receiving unit 1B are driven and the threshold distance according to the first embodiment. The output means according to the present application that outputs, for example, a predetermined command corresponding to the detection result of the hand movement state by the sensor driver 10 as an example of the setting means according to the embodiment and the proximity sensor S1 according to the first embodiment. It is composed of a CPU 20 as an example. At this time, the first light emitting unit 1A1 is an example of one of the detection means 1 according to the embodiment, and the second light emitting unit 1A2 is another example of the detection means 1 according to the embodiment.

In this configuration, the first light emitting unit 1A1, the second light emitting unit 1A2, and the light receiving unit 1B are specifically arranged on a flat base B as shown in FIG. 2 (b). With this arrangement, the first light emitting unit 1A1 and the light receiving unit 1B form the detection region A1 as the proximity sensor S1, and the light receiving unit 1B and the second light emitting unit 1A2 form the detection area A2 as the proximity sensor S1. It is formed. At this time, as described above, the sensor driver 10 alternately emits infrared rays for detection from the first light emitting unit 1A1 and the second light emitting unit 1A2 in a time-division manner. Then, the sensor driver 10 that also drives the light receiving unit 1B detects whether or not the light receiving unit 1B has received infrared rays at a timing corresponding to the emission timing of each of the first light emitting unit 1A1 and the second light emitting unit 1A2. , Detects whether the hand to be detected exists in the detection area A1 or the detection area A2 (that is, the presence or absence of movement of the hand in the left-right direction).

Here, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the detection area A1 and the detection area A2 are formed so as to partially overlap each other. Therefore, for example, the region A illustrated in FIG. 2B is a region in which a hand can be detected by the first light emitting unit 1A1 and the light receiving unit 1B in FIG. 2B, and is also exemplified in FIG. 2B. The region C is a region in which the hand can be detected by the second light emitting unit 1A2 and the light receiving unit 1B in FIG. 2B. The central region B in FIG. 2B is a region where the hand can be detected by the first light emitting unit 1A1, the second light emitting unit 1A2, and the light receiving unit 1B. Therefore, by these, the front surfaces of the first light emitting unit 1A1, the second light emitting unit 1A2, and the light receiving unit 1B are divided into three areas A to C, and for these areas, whether or not there is a hand in the area. Is detected separately. Specifically, using the threshold distances set for each of the regions A to C, whether or not there is a hand at a position closer to the threshold distance when viewed from the base B on which the first light emitting unit 1A1 and the like are arranged. Is detected for each region. The hand detection operation for each region will be described in detail later. Then, when it is detected that the hand is located closer than the threshold distance in each of the areas A to C, the sensor driver 10 outputs a detection signal indicating that the hand is detected to the CPU 20. As a result, the CPU 20 outputs, for example, a command corresponding to the detected position of the hand and its movement based on the detection signal.

Next, the operation of the proximity sensor S1 according to the first embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. In each of the embodiments described below, when the proximity sensor S1 according to the embodiment is present on the right side when viewed from a person, for example, the right hand is moved from the area A toward the area C ( The so-called wipe operation) is detected (see, for example, FIG. 4A). Further, when the proximity sensor S1 according to the embodiment is present on the left side when viewed from a person, it is detected that, for example, the left hand is moved from the area C toward the area A (see, for example, FIG. 4B). ).

In the proximity sensor S1 according to the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, three threshold distances are set by the sensor driver 10 for each of the regions A to C exemplified in FIG. 2 (b). ing. At this time, the first threshold distance is set to be the closest to the base B, and the distance from the base B is set to increase in the order of the second threshold distance and the third threshold distance. The data of these threshold distances may be stored non-volatilely in the sensor driver 10, or may be configured so that the sensor driver 10 reads out the data stored non-volatilely in the CPU 20. Further, the interval between the second threshold distance and the third threshold distance is set to be longer than the interval between the first threshold distance and the second threshold distance, as illustrated in FIG. Then, when there is a reaction indicating the presence of a hand at a position closer to the base B than any threshold distance in each region, it is detected by the sensor driver 10.

In such a state, as shown in FIG. 3, the sensor driver 10 monitors whether or not the power of the proximity sensor S1 is turned on (step S1). If the power is not turned on in the monitoring in step S1 (step S1; NO), the sensor driver 10 continues the monitoring as it is. On the other hand, when the power is turned on in the monitoring of step S1 (step S1; YES), the sensor driver 10 drives the first light emitting unit 1A1, the second light emitting unit 1A2, and the light receiving unit 1B (step S2), and further, the area A. In any of the regions C, it is confirmed whether or not there is a reaction indicating the presence of the hand H (step S3). If there is no reaction in any of the regions in the confirmation of step S3 (step S3; NO), the sensor driver 10 continues to monitor the reaction.

Here, more specifically, regarding the confirmation operation in step S3, for example, the light receiving intensity (or light receiving amount) when the sensor driver 10 receives infrared rays from the first light receiving unit 1A1 in the light receiving unit 1B is received. Stored in a memory (not shown) for a predetermined period longer than the time from the timing to the timing when the second light emitting unit 1A2 starts to emit light and then shorter than the time until the timing when the first light receiving unit 1A1 starts to emit light again. back. At this time, the light receiving intensity when the infrared rays from the first light receiving unit 1A1 are received by the light receiving unit 1B is simply referred to as the first light receiving intensity. Similarly, the light receiving intensity (or light receiving amount) when the infrared rays from the second light emitting unit 1A2 are received by the light receiving unit 1B is measured from the timing at which the light is received to the timing when the first light emitting unit 1A1 starts to emit light. It is stored in the memory (separately from the first light receiving intensity) for a predetermined period longer than the time and shorter than the time until the second light emitting unit 1A2 starts emitting light again. At this time, the light receiving intensity when the infrared rays from the second light emitting unit 1A2 are received by the light receiving unit 1B is simply referred to as the second light receiving intensity. Then, at the timing of step S3, the stored first light receiving intensity is a value equal to or greater than a predetermined value corresponding to any of the above threshold distances set for the region A (that is, any of the values set for the region A). When the hand exists at a position closer to the proximity sensor S1 than the above threshold distance) and the second light receiving intensity is zero or a value close to zero, it is detected that the hand exists in the region A. On the other hand, the stored second light receiving intensity is a value equal to or higher than a predetermined value corresponding to any of the above threshold distances set for the region C (that is, any of the above threshold distances set for the region C). When the hand exists at a position closer to the proximity sensor S1) and the first light receiving intensity is zero or a value close to zero, it is detected that the hand exists in the region C. Further, when the first light receiving intensity and the second light receiving intensity are both values equal to or more than a predetermined value corresponding to any of the above threshold distances set for the region B (that is, any of the above thresholds set for the region B). When the hand is located closer to the proximity sensor S1 than the distance), it is detected that the hand is present in the area B.

Then, when there is a reaction indicating the presence of the hand H in any region in the confirmation of step S3 (step S3; YES), the sensor driver 10 then causes the reaction to be the first threshold distance within the region A. It is determined whether or not the hand H is present at a closer position (step S4). In the determination of step S4, if the reaction is due to the presence of the hand H in the region A closer than the first threshold distance (step S4; YES), the hand H is at that time in FIG. 4 (a). ) Is located closer to the base B than the first threshold distance. Therefore, the sensor driver 10 then switches the threshold distance in the region B to the second threshold distance after a predetermined time has elapsed from the timing of "YES" in the determination in step S4, and is closer than the second threshold distance in the region B. It is determined whether or not the hand H exists at the position (step S5). The predetermined time in this case is, for example, a predetermined time determined experimentally or empirically (hereinafter, the same applies to the processes of steps S6, S10, and S11). In the determination of step S5, when the hand H is present in the region B closer than the second threshold distance (step S5; YES), the hand H is at that time in the region B illustrated in FIG. 4 (a). 2 It means that it exists at a position closer to the base B than the threshold distance. Therefore, the sensor driver 10 then switches the threshold distance in the region C to the third threshold distance after a predetermined time has elapsed from the timing of "YES" in the determination in step S5, and is closer than the third threshold distance in the region C. It is determined whether or not the hand H exists at the position (step S6). In the determination of step S6, when the hand H is present in the region C closer than the third threshold distance (step S6; YES), the hand H is at that time in the region C illustrated in FIG. 4 (a). 3 It means that it exists at a position closer to the base B than the threshold distance. When all the determinations from step S4 to step S6 are "YES", as a result, the hand H moves from the area A to the area while moving away from the base B, as illustrated by the solid arrow in FIG. 4 (a). It means that it has moved in the direction of C. Therefore, the sensor driver 10 determines that the hand H has moved from the area A to the area C (according to the locus indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. 4A) as illustrated in FIG. 4A (step S7). , The determination result to that effect is output to the CPU 20. As a result, the CPU 20 performs processing such as outputting a predetermined command associated with the movement of the hand H from the area A to the area C in advance. After that, the sensor driver 10 determines whether or not the power of the proximity sensor S1 is turned off (step S8). If the power is not turned off in the determination in step S8 (step S8; NO), the sensor driver 10 shifts to the monitoring in step S3. On the other hand, when the power is turned off in the determination in step S8 (step S8; YES), the sensor driver 10 ends the detection process according to the first embodiment.

In the determination of step S5, when the hand H does not exist in the region B closer to the second threshold distance (step S5; NO), or in the determination of step S6, the hand H is closer than the third threshold distance in the region C. When the hand H does not exist at the position (step S6; NO), it means that the hand H has moved away from the proximity sensor S1. Therefore, in these cases, the sensor driver 10 returns to step S3 and monitors the reaction.

On the other hand, in the determination of step S4, if the reaction confirmed in step S3 is not due to the presence of the hand H in the region A closer than the first threshold distance (step S4; NO), the sensor driver 10 Next, it is determined whether or not the reaction is due to the presence of the hand H at a position closer to the first threshold distance in the region C (step S9). In the determination of step S9, when the hand H is present in the region C closer than the first threshold distance (step S9; YES), the hand H is exemplified in FIG. 4 (b) at that time. It means that the region C exists at a position closer to the base B than the first threshold distance. Therefore, the sensor driver 10 then switches the threshold distance in the region B to the second threshold distance after a predetermined time has elapsed from the timing of "YES" in the determination in step S9, and is closer than the second threshold distance in the region B. It is determined whether or not the hand H exists at the position (step S10). In the determination of step S10, when the hand H is present in the region B closer than the second threshold distance (step S10; YES), the hand H is at that time in the region B illustrated in FIG. 4 (b). 2 It means that it exists at a position closer to the base B than the threshold distance. Therefore, the sensor driver 10 then switches the threshold distance in the region A to the third threshold distance after a predetermined time has elapsed from the timing of "YES" in the determination in step S10, and is closer than the third threshold distance in the region A. It is determined whether or not the hand H exists at the position (step S11). In the determination of step S11, when the hand H is present in the region A at a position closer than the third threshold distance (step S11; YES), the hand H is at that time in the region A illustrated in FIG. 4 (b). 3 It means that it exists at a position closer to the base B than the threshold distance. When all the determinations from step S9 to step S11 are "YES", as a result, the hand H moves from the area C to the area while moving away from the base B, as illustrated by the solid arrow in FIG. 4 (b). It means that it has moved in the direction of A. Therefore, the sensor driver 10 determines that the hand H has moved from the region C to the region A (according to the locus indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. 4 (b)) as illustrated in FIG. 4 (b) (step S12). , The determination result to that effect is output to the CPU 20. As a result, the CPU 20 performs processing such as outputting a predetermined command associated with the movement of the hand H from the area C to the area A in advance. After that, the sensor driver 10 shifts to the determination in step 8.

If the hand H does not exist in the region C at a position closer than the first threshold distance in the determination in step S9 (step S9; NO), the sensor driver 10 returns to step S3 to monitor the reaction. Further, when the hand H does not exist in the region B closer to the second threshold distance in the determination in step S10 (step S10; NO), or in the determination in step S11, the hand H is closer than the third threshold distance in the region A. When the hand H does not exist at the position (step S11; NO), it means that the hand H has moved away from the proximity sensor S1. Therefore, in these cases, the sensor driver 10 returns to step S3 and monitors the reaction.

As described above, according to the detection process according to the first embodiment, for example, when the presence of the hand H is detected in the area A, the threshold distances for the other areas B and C are set to the areas A to the area A to the area C. Since the threshold distance is changed to correspond to the default movement of the hand H with respect to C (that is, the wipe operation by the hand H in the case of the first embodiment), the hand H can be appropriately detected in response to the movement, and detection is unnecessary. It is possible to effectively prevent erroneous detection of the hand H at a different position.

Further, the first light emitting unit 1A1 and the second light emitting unit 1A2 and the light receiving unit 1B are linearly arranged, and the movement of the hand H is defined along the positions of the linearly arranged regions A to C. When it is detected that the hand H is present in the area A (or the area C; the same order hereinafter), the area B and the area C (or the area C) arranged in the direction of the wipe operation. Since the threshold distance for A) is set longer than the threshold distance for the region A (or region C), the hand H can be detected more appropriately in response to the wipe operation, and the position is not required to be detected. It is possible to more effectively prevent the erroneous detection of the hand H.

Further, since the CPU 20 outputs a command having the content corresponding to the detected movement of the hand H, for example, the movement of the hand H can be accurately detected and another device can be controlled.

The first embodiment can be applied in various ways.

For example, as in the first modification illustrated in FIG. 5, the threshold distance for the central region B is fixed at the first threshold distance, and only the threshold distance for the region C is adjusted to the wiping operation of the hand H. (In the case of the wipe operation illustrated in FIG. 5 (a)) or only the threshold distance for the area A (in the case of the wipe operation illustrated in FIG. 5 (b)) is configured to be the third threshold distance, respectively. You can also. At this time, in the case of the example shown in FIG. 5A, as a result, the threshold distance for the area A and the threshold distance for the area B are the first threshold distances, respectively. Further, in the case of the example shown in FIG. 5B, as a result, the threshold distance for the region C and the threshold distance for the region B are the first threshold distances, respectively.

In the case of the first modification described with reference to FIG. 5, since the threshold distance for the central region B is constant, the number of regions in which the threshold distance is set is reduced, so that the sensor driver 10 can be used. The processing load can be reduced.

Further, even when the threshold distance for the central region B is constant, the threshold distance for the central region B is constant at the second threshold distance as in the second modification illustrated in FIG. In the standby state before detecting the presence of the hand H, the threshold distance for the area A and the threshold distance for the area C are set to the first threshold distance shorter than the second threshold distance, respectively. Then, when it is detected that the hand H is present in the area A and the area B according to the default wipe operation, for example, corresponding to the wipe operation illustrated in FIG. 6A, the area C is described. The threshold distance can also be configured to be a third threshold distance that is longer than the second threshold distance for region B. Further, for example, when it is detected that the hand H is present in the area C and the area B so as to correspond to the wipe operation illustrated in FIG. 6B, the threshold distance for the area A is set for the area B. It can also be configured to have a third threshold distance that is longer than the second threshold distance.

In the case of the second modification described with reference to FIG. 6, the threshold distance for the region A and the threshold distance for the region C are set as the first threshold distance shorter than the second threshold distance for the region B during standby. When it is detected that the hand H is present in the area A (area C; the same order hereinafter) and the area B, the threshold distance for the area C (area A) is set to the second threshold value for the area B. Since the third threshold distance is set to be longer than the distance, the hand H can be detected more appropriately in response to the wipe operation while reducing the processing load as the sensor driver 10, and the hand H at a position where detection is unnecessary can be detected. Can be prevented more effectively from false detection.

(2) Second Example Next, a second embodiment, which is another embodiment corresponding to the embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG. 7. Note that FIG. 7 is a block diagram or the like showing an outline configuration of the proximity sensor according to the second embodiment. At this time, in FIG. 7, for each of the constituent members of the embodiment corresponding to each constituent member in the object detection device S according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the same member number as each constituent member in the object detection device S is used. ing.

In the first embodiment described above, the proximity sensor S1 that forms three regions A to C by the first light emitting unit 1A1, the second light emitting unit 1A2, and the light receiving unit 1B has been described. On the other hand, the proximity sensor according to the second embodiment forms three regions A to C similar to those in the first embodiment by providing two sets of a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, the proximity sensor S2 according to the second embodiment has a light emitting unit 1A and a light emitting unit 2A that emit infrared rays for detection, respectively, and a light receiving unit that is provided adjacent to the light emitting unit 1A. The unit 1B, the light receiving unit 2B provided adjacent to the light emitting unit 2A, the sensor driver 10 that drives the light emitting unit 1A and the light receiving unit 1B and sets the threshold distance according to the second embodiment, the light emitting unit 2A, and the light receiving unit 2A. A sensor driver 11 that drives the unit 2B and sets a threshold distance according to the second embodiment, and a CPU 20 that outputs, for example, a predetermined command corresponding to the moving state of the hand H by the proximity sensor S2 according to the second embodiment. It is composed of.

In this configuration, the light emitting unit 1A and the light receiving unit 1B are specifically installed at adjacent positions as shown in FIG. 7B, and the light emitting unit 2A and the light receiving unit 2B are also installed at adjacent positions. These are arranged on a flat base B. With this arrangement, the light emitting unit 1A and the light receiving unit 1B form the detection region A1 as the proximity sensor S2, and the light emitting unit 2A and the light receiving unit 2B form the detection area A2 as the proximity sensor S2. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the detection area A1 and the detection area A2 are formed so as to partially overlap as in the first embodiment. As a result, the proximity sensor S2 according to the second embodiment forms the same regions A to C as the proximity sensor S1 according to the first embodiment. Then, each of the sensor drivers 10 and 11 controls the threshold distance for each region so as to correspond to the predetermined wipe operation by the hand H, respectively, as in the first embodiment, and the detection signal according to the movement of the hand H. Is output to the CPU 20. Then, based on the detection signal, the CPU 20 outputs, for example, a command corresponding to the detected position of the hand H and its movement, as in the first embodiment.

The detection process according to the second embodiment described above can also have the same effect as the detection process according to the first embodiment.

In each of the above embodiments, a case where the hand H performs a wipe operation in which the hand H moves in one direction while moving away from the base B has been described (see FIGS. 4 to 6). On the other hand, for example, the hand H that moves in an arc shape when viewed from the base B in the plane including the base B (that is, the hand H approaches from the outside of the detection area A1, for example, and the proximity sensor S1 or the proximity sensor The presence of the hand H) may be detected by S2, and the movement of the hand H) moving away from the detection area A2 across the front surface of the proximity sensor S1 or the proximity sensor S2 may be detected. In this case, the threshold distances corresponding to the regions A and C are set longer than the threshold distances for the region B, respectively. Also in this case, by setting the threshold distance according to the movement of the arc-shaped hand H, it is possible to more reliably prevent erroneous detection of the hand H.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the presence of the hand H is detected by infrared rays without contact has been described, but in addition to this, the movement of the hand (finger) is detected by a touch sensor other than the resistive film type. The present application can also be applied in some cases. In this case, by making the threshold value for detecting finger contact variable for each predetermined area of the touch sensor according to the expected finger movement, it is possible to obtain the same effect as in each embodiment. can.

Further, a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is recorded on a recording medium such as a flexible disk or a hard disk, or acquired via a network such as the Internet, and read out to a general-purpose microcomputer or the like. It is also possible to make the microcomputer or the like function as the sensor driver 10 and the CPU 20 according to the embodiment.

1 Detection means 1A, 2A Light emitting unit 1A1 First light emitting unit 1A2 Second light emitting unit 1B, 2B Light receiving unit 10 Setting means (sensor driver)
11 Sensor driver 20 CPU
S Object detector H Object (hand)
S1, S2 Proximity sensor A1, A2 detection area

Claims (1)

A plurality of detection means each having a detection region for detecting the object when the distance to the object is equal to or less than the threshold distance, and arranged in a straight line,
When the object is detected in one of the detection areas, the threshold distance of the other detection areas arranged linearly in the set direction of movement of the object is set to the threshold distance of the one of the detection areas. Setting means to set longer than the threshold distance,
An object detection device comprising.

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