JP3137854B2 - Relative angle detector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a relative angle detecting device, and more particularly, to a light source disposed on a main body of a controlled information processing device such as a computer or a game device, and a portable input device. The relative angle with the divided light receiving element
The present invention relates to a relative angle detection device that displays the detection result on a display unit of a controlled information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A light source is disposed on a main body side of a controlled information processing apparatus such as a computer or a game apparatus, and a divided light receiving element is disposed on a portable input device side. The relative angle between the light source and the divided light receiving element, that is, the relative angle between the controlled information processing device and the portable input device is detected based on the electric signal received by the light receiving element and obtained by the divided light receiving element. A relative angle detecting device for displaying the result on the display unit of the controlled information processing device has already been proposed by the same applicant as the present applicant (hereinafter, referred to as “applicable”).
This relative angle detection device is referred to as a previously proposed relative angle detection device).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a proposed relative angle detection device, in which the controlled information processing device is a computer.

As shown in FIG. 3, a computer (controlled information processing apparatus) 21 is a CRT for displaying an image.
(Cathode tube) 23, a light emitting unit 22 having a light source, and a light signal receiving unit 24, which are arranged on the periphery of the CRT 23, for example, above the CRT 23. The portable input device 25 is of an elongated rectangular parallelepiped type having an overall shape, and is provided with a detection unit (not shown) on the front surface. The detection unit includes, for example, a divided light receiving element 26 including four-division light receiving units 26a to 26d made of photodiodes, a diaphragm unit having a rectangular opening, and a visible light cut filter disposed on the front side of the divided light receiving element 26, respectively. (Neither is shown).
In the four divided light receiving units 26a to 26d, the light receiving unit 26b
And 26d are currents such that their output currents are added.
The light receiving section 26a is connected to a voltage (IV) converter 27a.
And 26c are currents so that their output currents are added.
Connected to voltage (IV) converter 27b. The light receiving units 26a and 26b are connected to a current / voltage (IV) converter 27c so that their output currents are added, and the light receiving units 26c and 26d are connected to a current so that their output currents are added. -It is connected to the voltage (IV) converter 27d. I
The outputs of the -V converters 27a to 27d are respectively connected to the fixed contact terminal side of a one-circuit four-contact changeover switch 28, and the movable contact terminal of the changeover switch 28 is connected to the input of the signal processing unit 30. The changeover switch 28 is connected to a switch changeover controller 29, and under the control of the switch changeover controller 29, the contact is changed. The signal processing unit 30 includes therein a variable gain amplifier, a band pass filter (BPF) circuit, a peak holding circuit, for example, a sample hold (S /
H) A circuit and an analog / digital (A / D) converter are provided, and the output is connected to the control unit 32. Signal processing unit 3
The output of the BPF circuit within 0 is connected to the input of the waveform shaping circuit 31, and the output of the waveform shaping circuit 31 is connected to the control unit 32. The control unit 32 is connected to the switch switching controller 29 and the optical signal transmission unit 33, respectively.

In this case, in three directions represented by right-angled three-dimensional coordinates, the length direction of the portable input device 25 is defined as a Z-axis direction, and two directions orthogonal to the Z-axis are defined as an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction, respectively. In the case of the direction, the four divided light receiving units 26a to 26d constituting the divided light receiving element 26 include the light receiving units 26a and 26d.
b, the light receiving portions 26c and 26d are arranged so as to be arranged in the X-axis direction, respectively, and the light receiving portions 26a and 26c and the light receiving portions 26b and 26d are arranged so as to be arranged in the Y-axis direction.

The proposed relative angle detecting device having the above-described structure operates as follows.

Now, when the operator holds the portable input device 25 in his / her hand and turns the detection unit side to the direction of the CRT 23 (the direction of the light emitting unit 22), the infrared light of the frequency f emitted from the light source of the light emitting unit 22. The reference light of the area is incident on the detection unit of the portable input device 25. Then, the incident reference light is first
After the visible light component is removed by a visible light cut filter (not shown), and then the amount of light incident is adjusted by a stop (not shown), the light is applied to four divided light receiving units 26a to 26d constituting the divided light receiving element 26. Irradiated. At this time, the four-divided light receiving unit 26a
To 26d are irradiated with rectangular spot light, and current outputs I _LU , I _RU , I _LD , and I _RD corresponding to the irradiation area of the spot light are output from the four-divided light receiving units 26a to 26d.
Each of the current outputs I _LU , I _RU , I _LD , and I _RD includes a frequency f which is a main component of the reference light. Next, these current outputs I _LU , I _RU , I _LD , I _RD
Is the sum of the current outputs (I _RU + I _RD ) obtained by the pair of light receiving sections 26a and 26c arranged in the Y-axis direction is the IV converter 2.
7a, another set of light receiving units 26 similarly arranged in the Y-axis direction.
The sum (I _LU + I _LD ) of the current outputs obtained by b and 26d is added to the IV converter 27b by the sum of the current outputs obtained by a pair of light receiving sections 26a and 26b arranged in the X-axis direction. (I _LU +
I _RU ) is the I-V converter 27c, and the sum (I _LD + I _RD ) of the current outputs obtained by the other pair of light receiving sections 26c and 26d also arranged in the X-axis direction is the I-V converter. 27d. Each of the IV converters 27a to 27d converts the input current into a voltage, and generates a light receiving output voltage V1 to V4 in channel 1 to channel 4, respectively.
Subsequently, the light receiving output voltages V1 to V4 are changed by the changeover switch 28.
At this time, the changeover switch 28 is operated by the switch changeover controller 29 operating in response to the channel changeover signal supplied from the control unit 34, so that the movable contacts are changed to the channel 1, channel 2, and channel 3 at a predetermined cycle. , Channel 4,
Channel 1, channel 2,... Are switched in this order. Therefore, the light receiving output voltages V1 to V4 become time division output voltages selected in a time division manner by the changeover switch 28, and this time division output voltage is supplied to the subsequent signal processing unit 30. The time-division output voltage supplied to the signal processing unit 30 is amplified by the variable gain amplifier 30 with a gain corresponding to the gain control voltage supplied from the control unit 32,
Unnecessary frequency components other than the frequency f are removed in the BPF circuit. Further, the signal of the frequency f obtained at the output of the BPF circuit is sampled and held (held) in S / H, and then the sampling voltage is converted into a digital signal in the A / D converter, and this digital signal is It is supplied to the control unit 32 as angle data.

In the signal processing section 30, the signal of frequency f obtained at the output of the BPF circuit is converted into a waveform shaping circuit 31.
The waveform shaping circuit 31 cooperates with the control unit 32, and after the channel of the changeover switch 28 is switched,
The control unit 32 generates a trigger pulse or the like that is output at the same time as the peak voltage when the signal of the frequency f has become stable, and the control unit 32 responds to the trigger pulse and the like.
A timing pulse or the like for instructing start / end of sampling is supplied to the / H circuit, and a timing pulse or the like for instructing start / end of digital conversion is supplied to the A / D converter.

For this reason, the S / H circuit starts sampling the signal of frequency f obtained at the output of the BPF circuit by the timing pulse supplied from the control unit 32,
The sampling voltage obtained by this sampling is held. This sampling voltage is a peak voltage in a stable state showing an amplitude peak of one signal cycle after a signal of frequency f obtained at the output of the BPF circuit has passed through a plurality of cycles after channel switching by the changeover switch 29 is performed. become. Next, the A / D converter converts the sampling voltage held in the S / H circuit into a digital signal by a timing pulse supplied from the control unit 32, and converts the digital signal to the control unit 32 as relative angle data. Supplied.

The control unit 32 calculates relative angle data sequentially supplied in accordance with the changeover of the changeover switch 28. The calculation includes light receiving output voltages V1, V2, V3, and V.
4 is V1p, V2p, V3p, and V4p, respectively, where {(V1p−V2p) / (V1p + V2p)},
And {(V3p−V4p) / (V3p + V4p)}, and the tilt angle θx of the portable input device 25 in the X-axis direction is obtained by the former calculation, and the Y angle of the device 25 is calculated by the latter calculation. The inclination angle θy in the axial direction is obtained. Next, the control unit 32 generates a coordinate signal by performing coordinate calculation converted into a distance on the XY coordinate of the display surface of the CRT 23 based on the obtained angles θx and θy, and outputs the coordinate signal to the optical signal transmitting unit. 33. Optical signal transmission unit 33
Transmits the coordinate signal on an optical signal to the optical signal receiving unit 24 of the computer 21, and the optical signal receiving unit 24 places the coordinate signal at a required position on the display surface of the CRT 23 based on the coordinate signal in the received optical signal. It is displayed in the form of a cursor mark or the like.

In this case, when the operator appropriately moves the detection unit of the portable input device 25 held in his hand substantially in parallel with the display surface of the CRT 23, or changes the angle with respect to the display surface appropriately, The tilt angle θx in the X-axis direction and the tilt angle θy in the Y-axis direction of the portable input device 25 change as needed, and the position of the cursor mark displayed on the display surface of the CRT 23 also changes as needed. .

[0012]

Generally, according to this type of relative angle detecting device, when the operator operates the portable input device 25, the position where the portable input device 25 is operated is determined by the computer ( Since the distance and the direction to the controlled information processing device 21 are not always constant, the intensity of the reference light from the computer 21 incident on the detection unit of the portable input device 25 is also undefined, and the portable input device The voltage level of each channel of the time-division output voltage obtained at 25 also greatly changes each time.

For this reason, in the known relative angle detecting device (of course, the proposed relative angle detecting device is also included), the time-division output voltage is time-divisionally changed so as to cope with a large change in the voltage level of each channel. The electric circuit gain of the signal processing unit 30 is controlled according to the maximum voltage level of each channel of the output voltage. More specifically, the variable gain control amplifier in the signal processing unit 30 is controlled by a gain control signal. Gain control means for controlling the amplification gain of each channel so that the voltage level of each channel of the time-division output voltage is within a predetermined range. The light amount of the light emitting unit 22 of the computer 21 is controlled in accordance with the largest one. Specifically, a light amount control code is transmitted from the portable input device 25 to the computer 21 side. The computer 21 controls the amount of light emitted from the light emitting section 22 according to the received light amount control code, and provides light amount control means for setting the voltage level of each channel of the time-division output voltage within a predetermined range. I have.

However, in the known relative angle detecting device (including the previously proposed relative angle detecting device), when the gain of the electric circuit of the signal processing unit 30 is controlled by the gain control signal, the movable range of the gain control signal, That is, there is a problem in that the dynamic range is naturally limited, and the range in which the portable input device 25 can operate the computer (controlled information processing device) 21 is limited. When controlling the light emission amount of the light emitting unit, not only the movable range of the light amount control code, that is, the dynamic range has a limit naturally, but also the transmission frequency of the light amount control code has a limit naturally, and a desired control response speed is obtained. There is a problem that can not be obtained.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to increase the operable range by a portable input device and to control a gain and a light emission amount at a relatively high speed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a relative angle detecting device capable of making a response.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a controlled information processing device and a portable input device, wherein the controlled information processing device has a plurality of light sources. A light-emitting unit, a display unit, and a light-receiving unit, wherein the portable input device includes a divided light-receiving element that receives light from the light-emitting unit, and a plurality of currents that convert an output current of the divided light-receiving element into a voltage. A voltage conversion unit, a switching circuit for time-divisionally selecting the output voltages of the plurality of current / voltage conversion units in a predetermined cycle, and converting the output voltage to the time-division output voltage; processing the time-division output voltage; And a control unit that calculates and calculates the relative angle data to form a coordinate signal, and transmits the coordinate signal to the light receiving unit. Of the voltage level A control signal is generated to control an electric circuit gain of the signal processing unit, and a light amount control code corresponding to a voltage level represented by the relative angle data is generated and transmitted to the light receiving unit. The apparatus includes means for controlling the amount of light emitted from the light emitting unit in accordance with the received light amount control code, and performing control of the electric circuit gain in preference to control of the amount of emitted light.

[0017]

In the above means, the control of the electric circuit gain of the signal processing unit and the control of the light emission amount of the light emitting unit are performed in combination. In this case, the control of the electric circuit gain is executed with priority and the electric circuit gain is controlled. After the circuit gain is stabilized, the amount of light emitted from the light emitting unit is controlled. For example, the control of the electric circuit gain uses an eight-stage gain control signal from 0 to 7 generated by the control unit.
When the digital signal value obtained by the A / D converter exceeds a predetermined digital upper limit, the level of the gain control signal is decreased by one step, while the digital signal value obtained by the A / D converter is reduced. Is smaller than a predetermined lower limit, the gain control signal is controlled so as to increase by one step. Also, when the level of the gain control signal becomes the lowest 0 level,
Alternatively, if the digital signal value of the A / D converter exceeds the digital upper limit value even when the gain control signal reaches the 0 level,
The control unit periodically generates a command code for lowering the level of the light amount control code by one. On the other hand, when the gain control signal reaches the maximum of seven levels, or when the gain control signal becomes seven levels Even when the digital signal value of the A / D converter falls below the digital lower limit value, a command code for increasing the number of light amount control code steps by one is periodically generated.

As described above, according to the above-mentioned means, the control of the electric circuit gain of the signal processing unit and the control of the light emission amount of the light emitting unit are used together, and the control of the electric circuit gain is executed with priority. Therefore, quick response in the control of the electric circuit gain is ensured, and the control of the electric circuit gain and the control of the amount of emitted light substantially increase the dynamic range at the time of the gain adjustment.

According to the above means, the control of the electric circuit gain of the signal processing unit and the control of the amount of light emitted from the light emitting unit can be performed at a high level, for example, when the level of the gain control signal is four.
Below the stage, the performance of the electric circuit portion is stabilized, and the operational feeling can be improved over a wide range.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a relative angle detecting device according to the present invention, and shows an example in which a controlled information processing device is a computer.

Here, when comparing the configuration difference between the relative angle detecting device of the present embodiment and the above-mentioned proposed relative angle detecting device, the relative angle detecting device of the present embodiment has a light amount control section on the computer side. On the other hand, the proposed relative angle detection device does not have the light amount control unit, and the relative angle detection device of the present embodiment derives the gain control signal and the light amount control code from the control unit. Is configured as
The proposed relative angle detection device is only the point that such a gain control signal and light amount control code are not derived, but in order to clarify the configuration of the present embodiment, the configuration of the relative angle detection device of the present embodiment is described. Will be described overall including the same parts as those of the configuration of the previously proposed relative angle detection device.

As shown in FIG. 1, a computer (controlled information processing apparatus) 1 includes a CRT (cathode ray tube, ie, display unit) 3 for displaying an image and a peripheral portion of the CRT 3, for example, above the CRT 3. The light emitting unit 2 includes a light emitting unit 2 having a plurality of light sources (not shown), a light amount control unit 2 ′ for controlling the light emitting state of the plurality of light sources, and an optical signal receiving unit 4. In this case, the light emitting unit 2 is connected to the light amount control unit 2 ′,
The light amount control unit 2 ′ is connected to the optical signal receiving unit 4. The portable input device 5 is of an elongated rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a detection unit (not shown) on the front surface. The detection unit is, for example, a four-division light receiving unit 6 composed of a photodiode.
a divided light receiving element 6 provided with
And a stop section having a rectangular opening and a visible light cut filter (both not shown). In the four-divided light receiving sections 6a to 6d, the light receiving sections 6b and 6d are connected to a current / voltage (IV) converter 7a so that their output currents are added.
And 6c are connected to a current / voltage (IV) converter 7b so that their output currents are added. Also, the light receiving unit 6
a and 6b are currents so that their output currents are added.
The light receiving units 6c and 6c are connected to a voltage (IV) converter 7c.
d is connected to a current / voltage (IV) converter 7d so that their output currents are added. Each IV converter 7
Outputs a to 7d are separately connected to the fixed contact terminal side of a one-circuit four-contact changeover switch 8, and the movable contact terminal of the changeover switch 8 is connected to the input of the signal processing unit 10. The changeover switch 8 is connected to a switch changeover controller 9, and under the control of the switch changeover controller 9, the contact is changed. Although not shown, the signal processing unit 10 includes a variable gain amplifier, a band-pass filter (BPF) circuit, a peak holding circuit, for example, a sample hold (S / H) circuit,
An analog / digital (A / D) converter is provided, and the output is connected to the control unit 12. BP in the signal processing unit 10
The output of the F circuit is connected to the input of the waveform shaping circuit 11, and the output of the waveform shaping circuit 11 is connected to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 includes a switch switching controller 9 and an optical signal transmission unit 13
, The gain control signal to the variable gain amplifier in the signal processing unit 10, the light quantity control code to the optical signal transmission unit 1,
3 respectively.

In this case, with respect to three directions represented by right-angled three-dimensional coordinates, the length direction of the portable input device 5 is defined as a Z-axis direction, and two directions orthogonal to the Z-axis are defined as an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction, respectively. In the direction, the four-divided light receiving units 6a to 6d constituting the divided light receiving element 6 include the light receiving units 6a and 6b,
c and 6d are arranged so as to be arranged in the X-axis direction, respectively.
Further, the light receiving units 6a and 6c and the light receiving units 6b and 6d are arranged so as to be arranged in the Y-axis direction.

The relative angle detecting device according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration operates as follows.

In this case, the difference between the operation of the relative angle detecting device of this embodiment and the operation of the previously proposed relative angle detecting device is that
2 is a signal processing unit 10 (variable gain amplifier) to which a gain control signal is supplied, and only a portion related to a light amount control unit 2 'and a light emitting unit 2 to which a light amount control code is supplied. In order to clarify the operation of the relative angle detection device, the operation of the relative angle detection device of the present embodiment will be described overall including the part that overlaps with the operation of the previously proposed relative angle detection device.

Now, when the operator holds the portable input device 5 in his / her hand and turns the detection unit side to the direction of the CRT 3 (the direction of the light emitting unit 2), the frequency f emitted from the plurality of light sources of the light emitting unit 2 is changed.
The reference light in the infrared region is incident on the detection unit of the portable input device 5. Then, the visible light component of the incident reference light is first removed by a visible light cut filter (not shown), and then the amount of light incident is adjusted by a diaphragm (not shown). Are irradiated to the four-divided light receiving units 6a to 6d. At this time, the four-divided light receiving units 6a to 6d include:
A rectangular spot light determined by the aperture of the aperture is irradiated,
Current outputs I _LU , I _RU , I _LD , and I _RD corresponding to the irradiation area of the spot light are output from the divided light receiving units 6a to 6d.
Each of these current outputs I _LU , I _RU , I _LD , and I _RD includes a frequency f which is a main component of the reference light.
These current outputs I _LU , I _RU , I _LD , I _RD are then:
The sum (I _RU + I _RD ) of the current outputs obtained by the pair of light receiving sections 6a and 6c arranged in the Y-axis direction is supplied to the IV converter 7a,
The sum (I _LU + I _LD ) of the current outputs obtained by the other pair of light receiving units 6b and 6d arranged in the axial direction is supplied to the IV converter 7b, respectively. The sum (I _LU + I _RU ) of the current outputs obtained by one set of light receiving units 6a and 6b is output to the IV converter 7c by another set of light receiving units 6c and 6d arranged in the X-axis direction. Sum of the obtained current outputs (I _LD + I _RD )
Are supplied to the IV converter 7d. Each of the IV converters 7a to 7d converts an input current into an output voltage, and generates a light-receiving output voltage V1 to V4 in a channel 1 to a channel 4 at each output. Subsequently, these received light output voltages V1 to V4 are supplied to a changeover switch 8. The changeover switch 8 is operated by a switch changeover controller 9 which operates in response to a channel changeover signal supplied from a controller 12.
, The movable contacts are switched in a predetermined cycle in the order of channel 1, channel 2, channel 3, channel 4, channel 1, channel 2,.... Therefore, the light receiving output voltages V1 to V4 are time-divisionally selected by the changeover switch 8 to become time-division output voltages, and this time-division output voltage is supplied to the subsequent signal processing unit 10. The time-division output voltage supplied to the signal processing unit 10 is first amplified by the variable gain amplifier with a gain according to the gain control signal supplied from the control unit 12, and then is unnecessary by the BPF circuit except for the frequency f. Frequency components are removed. Further, the signal of the frequency f obtained at the output of the BPF circuit is S
The sampling voltage is converted and converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter, and the digital signal is supplied to the control unit 12 as relative angle data.

The control unit 12 calculates the relative angle data sequentially supplied in accordance with the switching of the changeover switch 8.
This calculation is the same as that of the previously proposed relative angle detection device, in which the relative angle data (digital peak voltage) derived from the received light output voltages V1, V2, V3, V4 are respectively converted to V
1p, V2p, V3p, and V4p, ｛(V1p
−V2p) / (V1p + V2p)} and {(V3p
−V4p) / (V3p + V4p)}. Then, the tilt angle θx in the X-axis direction of the portable input device 5 is obtained by the former calculation, and the tilt angle θx of the portable input device 5 is calculated by the latter calculation.
Is determined in the Y-axis direction. The control unit 12 generates a coordinate signal by performing a coordinate calculation in terms of a distance on the XY coordinate of the display surface of the CRT 3 based on the obtained angles θx and θy, and transmits the coordinate signal. To the unit 13. The optical signal transmitting unit 13 transmits the coordinate signal on the optical signal to the optical signal receiving unit 3 of the computer 1, and the computer 1 performs the operation based on the coordinate signal in the optical signal received by the optical signal receiving unit 4. A display is made at a required position on the display surface of the CRT 3 in the form of a cursor mark or the like.

In this case, the operator appropriately moves the detection unit of the portable input device 5 held in his hand substantially parallel to the display surface of the CRT 3 of the computer 1 or changes the angle with respect to the display surface as appropriate. The portable input device 5
Of the X-axis and θy of the Y-axis
Changes at any time, and the position of the cursor mark displayed on the display surface of the CRT 3 also changes at any time according to the change.

The operation of the relative angle detecting device of the present embodiment described above is almost the same as the operation of the previously proposed relative angle detecting device, but the operation of the control unit 12 described below is the same as that of the present embodiment. This is specific to the relative angle detection device of the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the steps of the control operations of the gain control and the light emission amount control performed by the control unit 12. However, in this flowchart, it is assumed that the gain control signal is set in eight steps G0 to G7, the light emission amount control code is set in five steps L0 to L4, and the total gain is the gain control signal and the light emission amount control. It is determined by the product of the codes, for example, G0 × L0, G7 × L4, and the like.

Prior to describing the flowchart of FIG. 2, the control unit 12 in the relative angle detecting device of the present embodiment will be described.
The basic control procedures at the time of the respective control operations of the gain control and the light emission amount control executed by the control unit are described below.

First, in order to avoid frequent gain switching, the overall gain set by the gain control signal and the light emission amount control code has an overlapping portion. Therefore, the switching of the total gain is performed through a process having hysteresis, and a plurality of operation stable points are generated.

Second, as for the electric circuit gain, the direct control in which the gain control signal is supplied from the control unit 12 to the signal processing unit 10 (variable gain control amplifier) is performed, whereas the light emission amount is controlled. , An indirect control in which a light amount control code is transmitted from the control unit 12 to the computer 1, and the computer 1 controls the amount of light emitted from the light emitting unit 2.
It is difficult for the computer 1 to determine the voltage level of the time-division output voltage (although the computer 1 may transmit the information code to the portable input device 5 side, but the overhead increases). , The electric circuit gain is set to be preferentially switched.

Third, the switching of the electric circuit gain is determined by the digital signal value of the channel having the maximum voltage level among the digital signals obtained by the A / D converter of the signal processing unit 10. When the digital signal value exceeds a predetermined digital upper limit value U _LT , the control unit 12 decreases the gain control signal step by step.
When the digital signal value is below the digital limit value D _LT a predetermined, the stage of the gain control signal is increased one by one.

Fourth, since the control system is characteristically stable when the gain control signal is at the level of four stages G4 or less, the amount of emitted light is controlled by the gain control signal at the level of four stages G4 or less. The light emission amount is controlled as described above.

Fifth, regarding feedback control of the amount of emitted light,
Since the control unit 12 cannot know the amount of light emitted from the light emitting unit 2 at each time, the control unit 12 transmits a light amount control code to the computer 1 and thereby sequentially changes the amount of light emitted from the light emitting unit 2.

Sixth, the control unit 12 determines the transmission condition of the light quantity control code when the electric circuit gain is stable. For example, when the gain control signal is at the level of the 0-step G0 and the electric circuit gain is stable,
Light amount control code (down code) that reduces the amount of emitted light
When the gain control signal is at any one of the five to seven levels G5 to G7 and the electric circuit gain is stable, a light quantity control code (up code) for increasing the light emission quantity is transmitted.

Seventh, in addition to the conditions described in the sixth aspect,
When the control unit 12 determines that the electric circuit gain is to be further reduced even when the electric circuit gain is at the lowest 0 stage G0, the control unit 12 transmits a light amount control code (down code) for reducing the emitted light amount. Even if the electric circuit gain is the highest seven stages G7, when it is determined that the electric circuit gain is further increased, the light amount control code (up code) for increasing the light emission amount is transmitted.

Eighth, when the portable input device 5 is very close to or far away from the computer 1, the control unit 12 can continue to transmit the light amount control code even if the condition continues. , Computer 1 CRT
3 so that the cursor displayed on the display 3 can be moved, the control unit 12 does not transmit the light amount control code continuously every time the transmission condition of the light amount control code Send at a frequency. However, in this case, CRT3
The moving speed of the cursor displayed at the top becomes apparently half.

As described above, according to the first to eighth procedures,
In the present embodiment, priority is given to the control of the electric circuit gain,
By causing the control of the amount of emitted light to follow the control, it is possible to perform a matrix-like total gain control.

Here, the control operation executed by the control unit 12 will be specifically described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S1, the control unit 1
2 selects a channel having the largest digital signal value based on the digital signal (relative angle data) obtained by the A / D converter of the signal processing unit 10.

Next, in step S2, the control unit 12
Determines whether the digital signal value of the channel selected in step S1 exceeds a predetermined digital upper limit _ULT . When it is determined that the digital signal value does not exceed the digital upper limit U _LT (N), the process proceeds to the next step S3, while it is determined that the digital signal value exceeds the digital upper limit U _LT . If (Y), the process moves to another step S6.

Next, in step S3, the control unit 1
Step 2 determines whether the digital signal value of the channel selected in step S1 is below the digital lower limit value _DLT . When it is determined that the digital signal value is not below the digital lower limit value _DLT (N), the next step S4
, While the digital signal value is the digital lower limit D
_When it is determined that the value is lower than _LT (Y), the process proceeds to another step S9.

Subsequently, in step S4, the control unit 12
Determines whether the electric circuit gain of the signal processing unit 10 (gain of the variable gain amplifier) is the lowest gain, that is, whether or not the gain control signal supplied to the signal processing unit 10 is the zero-step G0. When it is determined that the gain control signal is not the zero-step G0 (N), the process proceeds to the next step S5. On the other hand, when it is determined that the gain control signal is the zero-stage G0 (Y), the process proceeds to another step S8. Transition.

Subsequently, in step S5, the control unit 1
2 is a gain in which the electric circuit gain (gain of the variable gain amplifier) of the signal processing unit 10 is relatively large, that is, whether the gain control signal to be supplied to the signal processing unit 10 is one of five to seven stages G5 to G7. Determine whether or not. When it is determined that the gain control signal is not one of the five to seven stages G5 to G7 (N), the series of operations is terminated, while the gain control signal is one of the five to seven stages G5 to G7. (Y), the process proceeds to another step S11.

In step S6, the control unit 12
Determines whether the electric circuit gain of the signal processing unit 10 (gain of the variable gain amplifier) is the lowest gain, that is, whether or not the gain control signal supplied to the signal processing unit 10 is the zero-step G0. When it is determined that the gain control signal is not the zero-step G0 (N), the process proceeds to the next step S7, while when it is determined that the gain control signal is the zero-stage G0 (Y), the process proceeds to another step S8. Transition.

Next, in step S7, the control unit 1
2 lowers the electric circuit gain (gain of the variable gain amplifier) of the signal processing unit 10 by one step, and terminates this operation.

Next, in step S8, the control unit 12
When the conditions for generating the light amount control code (down code) are satisfied, the light amount control code (down code) is generated only once every two times, transmitted to the computer 1, and the operation is terminated.

Further, in step S9, the control unit 1
2 determines whether the electric circuit gain of the signal processing unit 10 (gain of the variable gain amplifier) is the highest gain, that is, whether or not the gain control signal supplied to the signal processing unit 10 is G7.
When it is determined that the gain control signal is not in the seven-stage G7 (N), the process proceeds to the next step S10, while when it is determined that the gain control signal is in the seven-stage G7 (Y), another step S11 is performed. Move to

Next, in step S10, the control unit 12 increases the electric circuit gain (gain of the variable gain amplifier) of the signal processing unit 10 by one step, and ends this operation.

Finally, in step S11, when the conditions for generating the light amount control code (up code) are satisfied, the control unit 12 generates the light amount control code (up code) only once every two times, and And the process is terminated.

The control of the amount of emitted light is performed by appropriately changing the number of light sources of the plurality of light sources in the light emitting section 2. For example, if the light emission amount control code has three levels L3 and n (n is an integer) light sources are lit at that time, every time an up code is supplied to the light amount control unit 2 ', The number of light sources to be lit is increased by several (two or four, etc.) each time, and the number of light sources to be lit (two or four) each time a down code is supplied to the light amount control unit 2 '. Or four).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control of the electric circuit gain in the signal processing unit 10 and the control of the light emission amount of the light emitting unit 2 are used together, and the control of the electric circuit gain is executed with priority. As a result, a quick response in controlling the electric circuit gain is secured, and the dynamic range in the gain adjustment is substantially expanded by using the control of the electric circuit gain and the control of the amount of emitted light. be able to.

According to the present embodiment, the signal processing unit 10
In combination with the control of the electric circuit gain and the control of the amount of light emitted from the light emitting section 2, the performance of the electric circuit portion is stabilized at a high level, for example, at a stage where the level of the gain control signal is four or less. Operability can be improved over a long period of time.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the controlled information processing apparatus 1 is a computer has been described as an example. However, the controlled information processing apparatus 1 according to the present invention is limited to a computer. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a game device or an AV device.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the four-divided light receiving units 6a to 6d are used as the divided light receiving elements 6 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this case, and can be similarly applied to a case where there are six divided light receiving units or another number of divided light receiving units. However, when the number of divided light receiving portions of the divided light receiving element 6 is set to a number other than 4, the number of current / voltage (IV) converters 7a to 7d is changed according to the set number. It is.

Further, in the above embodiment, the gain control signal is set to eight stages G0 to G7, and the light amount control code is set to L0.
In the above description, the gain control signal and the light amount control code according to the present invention are not limited to the five stages of L4, but can be set as appropriate.

[0060]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the control of the electric circuit gain of the signal processing unit 10 and the control of the light emission amount of the light emitting unit 2 are performed in combination. Since the control of the electric circuit gain of the processing unit 10 is performed with priority and the light emission amount of the light emitting unit 2 is controlled after the electric circuit gain is stabilized, the control of the electric circuit gain is performed. In this case, a quick response can be ensured at the same time, and the effect that the dynamic range at the time of gain adjustment can be substantially expanded by using the control of the electric circuit gain and the control of the amount of emitted light in combination. is there.

According to the present invention, the control of the electric circuit gain of the signal processing unit 10 and the control of the amount of light emitted by the light emitting unit 2 are used together to stabilize the performance of the electric circuit part at a high level. Thus, there is an effect that the operational feeling can be improved over a wide range.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a relative angle detecting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of each control operation of a gain control and a light amount control executed by a control unit in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a relative angle detection device that has already been proposed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 computer (controlled information processing device) 2 light emitting unit 2 ′ light amount control unit 3 CRT (display unit) 4 optical signal receiving unit 5 portable input device 6 divided light receiving elements 6 a to 6 d 4 divided light receiving units 7 a to 7 d Voltage (IV) converter 8 Switch (switching circuit) 9 Switch switching controller 10 Signal processing unit 11 Waveform shaping circuit 12 CPU (control unit) 13 Optical signal transmitting unit

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01B 11/00-11/30 G06F 3/03 330 G06F 3/033 310 G06F 13/00 351 G06T 7/60

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] The controlled information processing apparatus includes a light-emitting unit having a plurality of light sources, a display unit, and a light-receiving unit. The portable input device includes: a plurality of light receiving elements that receive light from the light emitting unit; a plurality of current / voltage converting units that convert an output current of the light receiving element into a voltage;
A switching circuit for time-divisionally selecting an output voltage of the voltage conversion unit in a predetermined cycle and converting the output voltage to the time-division output voltage, a signal processing unit for processing the time-division output voltage and generating relative angle data, A control unit for calculating and calculating data to form a coordinate signal and transmitting the coordinate signal to the light receiving unit, wherein the control unit generates a gain control signal corresponding to a voltage level represented by the relative angle data. While controlling the electric circuit gain of the signal processing unit, generates a light amount control code according to the voltage level represented by the relative angle data and transmits it to the light receiving unit, and the controlled information processing device receives A relative angle detecting device, wherein the light emission amount of the light emitting section is controlled according to a light intensity control code, and the control of the electric circuit gain is performed prior to the control of the light emission amount. 2. The gain control signal is supplied to a variable gain amplifier for amplifying the time-division output voltage in the signal processing unit, whereby a signal amplification gain of the variable gain amplifier is controlled by the gain control signal. The relative angle detection device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The light amount control code is supplied to a control circuit unit of the light emitting unit, whereby the number of light emitted by the plurality of light sources is selected to control the amount of light emitted by the light emitting unit. Item 7. The relative angle detecting device according to Item 1.