JP3012115B2 - Operability evaluation device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an evaluation device for virtually displaying the shape of a product on a screen in order to evaluate the design and function of the product at the stage of product design and trial production, and more particularly to an operation unit for the product. The operability of the product can be evaluated by virtually displaying the situation when the user operates.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, when designing a product or the like, it has been widely performed to display the shape of the product on a screen using a CAD system by a computer and correct the product into a better shape while adding an evaluation. In particular, recently, by using three-dimensional graphics, the appearance of a product to be created can be three-dimensionally displayed, and through such display, the shape of the product can be sufficiently studied at a stage before trial production.

As shown in FIG. 6, this conventional CAD system includes an input means 61 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a shape storage means for storing graphic data representing the outer shape of a product.
62, a shape position description means 63 for converting the graphic data according to the input position of the input means 61, and a display means for displaying the outer shape of the product on the screen based on the converted coordinate data
64 and.

When the “direction” and “position” are input from the input means 61 as data, the shape and position description means 63 of this device
The graphic data read from the shape storage means 62 is subjected to conversion (translation or rotation) according to the input data. And
The converted data is supplied to the display means 64, and the display means 64
Displays the outer shape of the product based on the given graphic data.

Therefore, when the user moves the input means 61, the object on the display means 64 changes its position and orientation in accordance with the movement, and the user operates the input means 61 from any direction. It is possible to check the appearance of the object.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing how a conventional CAD system is used to check the appearance of a product.

[0007]

However, in the conventional apparatus, only the appearance of the product can be confirmed at the design stage, and the state in which the product is functioning and the state when the operation component is operated is displayed. Can not. Therefore, in order to evaluate the operability of a product, it is necessary to actually make a prototype of the product. This is a huge waste of time and money.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and provides an operability evaluation apparatus capable of evaluating the usability and operability of a product without making a prototype of the product. The purpose is.

[0009]

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided an operability evaluation apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional figure representing a virtual state of an object on a screen, wherein a position of a first object in a three-dimensional space is inputted. First position input means, first position / shape description means for creating three-dimensional graphic data representing the first object corresponding to the position, and second position input means for inputting the position of the second object in a three-dimensional space. Position input means, second position / shape description means for creating three-dimensional graphic data representing a second object corresponding to this position, and setting a state when the three-dimensional graphic represented by the second object is functioning Function setting means for detecting a three-dimensional figure represented by a first object and a three-dimensional figure represented by a second object; and a three-dimensional figure represented by a second object when the detecting means detects interference. Display the function status of It is provided and an operation state editing means for controlling the fit.

Also, a control signal generating means for generating a control signal in accordance with the function state of the three-dimensional figure represented by the second object is provided, and under the control of the operating state editing means, the control signal is generated from the control signal generating means. It is configured to generate.

[0011]

For this reason, when the first object is brought into contact with the second object, the operated state of the three-dimensional figure represented by the second object is displayed on the screen.

[0012] Therefore, the user is required to connect the first object to the second object.
The user can feel the touch when the user makes contact with another object, and visually recognize the virtual state at that time on the screen.

When the first object is brought into contact with the second object, a control signal is output, and the same operation as actually occurring at that time occurs. Therefore, the user can evaluate the product in an actual state.

[0014]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 4 (a), for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), an operability evaluation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a position input means for measuring the three-dimensional position of a finger of a hand. 11 is attached, and a part model 23 (a position input means for measuring a three-dimensional position is embedded in the model 23) which takes a shape of a product to be manufactured is picked up and operated. When the place where the unit is to be installed is simulated with a finger, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), a virtual situation is displayed on the screen as if the operation unit of the actual product is being operated with a finger. Can be displayed.

As shown in FIG. 1, this operability evaluation device includes a position input means 1 for measuring a three-dimensional position of a first object corresponding to a finger, and a operability evaluation device corresponding to a model 23 which is a model of the outer shape of a product. Position input means 2 for inputting a three-dimensional position of two objects;
Position / shape description means 3 for creating graphic data representing the outer shape of the first object, position / shape description means 4 for creating graphic data representing the outer shape of the second object, and operations installed on the second object Function setting means 5 for setting the installation position of parts and movements associated with operation, etc., and contact state detecting means for checking the contact state between the first object and the second object and detecting an operation part to be installed at the contact position 6, an operation state editing means 7 for controlling a display indicating an operation state of the operation component, and a display means 8 for displaying the first object and the second object.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the first object position input means 1 is a magnetic sensor 12 fixed to a mounting part 11 on a finger. By detecting the strengths of the generated magnetic field in the x, y, and z directions, the current position and orientation in the three-dimensional space are measured.

The second object is, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), a model 23 which is a model of the outer shape of the product. As the position input means 2, a magnetic sensor 24 is embedded inside the model 23. The current position and orientation of the model 23 are measured by detecting the intensity of the magnetic field generated from the magnetic generator 10.

When the operator simulates the operation of the product, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the user attaches the mounting portion 11 to which the magnetic sensor is fixed to a finger and the model 23 in which the magnetic sensor is embedded. Grab by hand. Then, the positions and orientations of the finger and the model 23 are measured by the sensors 12 and 24, and the measurement data is stored in the position / shape description means 3 and the second object of the first object.
It is sent to the position / shape description means 4 of the object.

The first and second object position / shape description means 3 and 4 hold coordinate data (initial values) of vertices of a surface constituting the outer shape of each object as graphic data.

The function setting means 5 includes data relating to functions set by the operator, that is, the number of operation components such as operation buttons and sliders, the surface of the product on which the operation components are arranged, the shape of the operation component, and the product surface. It holds data on the position of the above operation component, the shape when the operation component is functioning, and the like, and supplies these data to the position / shape description means 4 of the second object.

The position / shape description means 3 of the first object is
When the measurement data is input from the object position input means 1, the held graphic data is subjected to data processing such as translation and rotation according to the measured position and orientation of the first object. Is sent to the display means 8.

A position / shape description means 4 for the second object
Configures the figure data of the product on which the operation parts are arranged by combining the held figure data and the data input from the function setting means 5, and
Data processing is performed in accordance with the measurement data input from the position input means 2 of the object, and graphic data representing a state in which the operation component is not functioning among the processed data is first sent to the display means 8.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the display screen displays a simulated finger corresponding to the first object and a product corresponding to the second object on which the operation parts are installed. Is displayed on the screen in the same way when the user moves his finger or the model.

In FIG. 3, the remote controller of the VCR is taken as an example, and the remote controller (second object) on the screen is used.
2 shows a state in which buttons having various functions specified by the function setting means 5 are arranged.

The buttons on the remote controller can be operated by the first object. To do this, see FIG.
As shown in (a), the finger on which the position input means 1 (11) is attached is used to place a button on the surface of the model 23 of the second object so that the first object overlaps the button on the second object on the display screen. Press the scheduled position.

At this time, the contact state detecting means 6 calculates the distance between the surface in the graphic data of the first object and the surface in the graphic data of the second object, and interferes with the overlapping position of the surfaces where the distance becomes zero. The button is detected as a position, the button located at the interference position is checked, and transmitted to the operating state editing means 7.

The operation state editing means 7 receiving the button information instructs the second object position / shape description means 4 to transmit image data indicating the operation state of the corresponding button. The object position / shape description means 4 sends to the display means 8 image data indicating the pressed state of the operated button.

As a result, the screen of the display means 8 is displayed as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), a situation is displayed in which the pseudo finger is pressing a button on the remote control.

The operation state of the operation component can be expressed by highlighting the corresponding operation component in a color brighter than the other components, or by displaying a description explaining the operation on the screen.

With such a display, the user can confirm which button of the remote controller he has pressed.

If it is determined that the position or shape of the button arranged on the second object is inappropriate by performing such an operation, the description of the operation component given to the function setting means 5 is changed. By doing so, they can be changed immediately. The operator can change the position, shape, and the like of the button as many times as necessary until satisfactory operability is obtained.

Further, the first object may be an object other than the finger as long as it causes a new movement of the other member in the contact state.

(Second Embodiment) In the operability evaluation apparatus of the second embodiment, when virtually operating an operation part of a product, an operation state is displayed on a screen and an operation accompanying the operation actually occurs. It is configured to be.

As shown in FIG. 5, the apparatus comprises a control signal generating means 9 for generating a control signal corresponding to the type of the pressed operation component, and an apparatus activated by the control signal.
13 and. When the product to be manufactured is a video remote controller, the device 13 is provided with a video device operated by the remote controller. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment (FIG. 1).

The manner of operation by the operator is the same as in the first embodiment. When a button on the surface of the remote control model 23 is pressed with the finger on which the position input unit 1 is mounted, the button to be placed at the position where the contact state detecting unit 6 is pressed is checked, and the operation state editing unit 7 is checked. To the position / shape description means 4 for the second object.
It instructs transmission of image data indicating the operation state of the corresponding button and instructs the control signal generation means 9 to generate a control signal when the corresponding button is pressed.

When the pressed button is, for example, a play button, a signal for starting the play is output from the control signal generating means 9, and the video device 13 starts the play operation accordingly.

As described above, in this apparatus, when a button of a product is virtually operated, the state is displayed on the screen, and at the same time, the operation by the button operation is reproduced. Therefore, the operator can feel the situation when the button is operated, and can evaluate the product according to the actual situation.

[0038]

As is apparent from the above description of the embodiment, in the operability evaluation apparatus of the present invention, the operating state of the operating section of the product to be developed is confirmed on a three-dimensional image, and at the same time, It is possible to confirm the feel and operability when operating the operation unit.

Further, since the operation at the time of operating the operation unit can be simulated in accordance with the actual situation, accurate operability can be evaluated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an operability evaluation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a position input unit in the operability evaluation device of the embodiment,

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a product operation method (a) using the apparatus according to the embodiment, and a display screen (b) thereof;

FIG. 4 shows an operation (a) for evaluating the operability of a product using the apparatus of the embodiment, and a screen (b) thereof;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an operability evaluation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional CAD system;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an appearance of a conventional system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 First object position input means 2 Second object position input means 3 First object position / shape description means 4 Second object position / shape description means 5 Function setting means 6 Contact state detection means 7 Operation state editing means 8, 64 display means 9 control signal generation means 10 magnetic generation device 11 mounting part 12, 24 sensor 13 video device 23 model 61 input means 62 shape storage means 63 shape / position description means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on front page (72) Inventor Masao Kato 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. In-house (56) References JP-A-6-309402 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/50 H04Q 9/00 301

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An operability evaluation apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional figure representing a virtual state of an object on a screen, comprising: first position input means for inputting a position of a first object in a three-dimensional space; First position / shape description means for creating three-dimensional figure data representing the corresponding first object; second position input means for inputting the position of the second object in a three-dimensional space; Second position / shape description means for creating three-dimensional figure data representing the second object; function setting means for setting the function state of the three-dimensional figure representing the second object; and three-dimensional figure representing the first object Detecting means for detecting interference between the object and a three-dimensional figure represented by a second object, and performing control for displaying a functional state of the three-dimensional figure represented by the second object when the detecting means detects the interference. Operation status editing means Operability evaluation apparatus characterized by providing. 2. A control signal generating means for generating a control signal in accordance with a function state of a three-dimensional figure represented by the second object, and a control signal from the control signal generating means under the control of the operating state editing means. The operability evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operability evaluation apparatus generates the operability.