JP3142713B2 - Coordinate detection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coordinate detecting device, and more particularly to a coordinate detecting device suitable for a game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a game machine aiming at a target displayed on a display with a pistol and competing for a hit result, it has been conventionally determined whether or not the target has been hit using an optical coordinate detection device. Things are known. In this apparatus, an optical sensor is provided on a pistol, and when a player fires the pistol toward a target on a display (switch ON), light from the target is received by the optical sensor and output from the optical sensor. Based on the detected current, virtual plane coordinates are calculated based on the time difference from the start of the raster signal of the display. Therefore, by comparing the virtual plane coordinates of the pistol thus calculated with the actual plane coordinates of the target displayed on the display, it is possible to determine whether or not the target has been hit.

[0003]

However, since the above-mentioned conventional coordinate detecting device is configured so that light from a target on the display is received by an optical sensor, the device may be used when the brightness of the display is low or when the pistol is used. For example, when is operated at a position distant from the display, the amount of light received by the optical sensor is reduced, and there is a problem that it is difficult to accurately detect coordinates required for game determination.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a coordinate detection device with high detection accuracy.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an operating body having a display, a light emitting unit installed near the display, and an optical sensor divided in directions orthogonal to each other. An angle calculating means for calculating a rotation angle of an axis intersecting a dividing direction of the divided parts based on a light receiving area of light emitted from the light emitting part to each divided part of the optical sensor; When the body is aimed at a reference target on the display, based on the plane coordinates of the reference target and the angle obtained by the angle calculation means, a distance calculation unit that calculates a distance from the operating body to the display, When the operating body is rotated, the axis is displayed on the display based on the angle obtained by the angle calculation means and the distance obtained by the distance calculation means. Coordinate operation means for calculating surface coordinates, and comparing the coordinate data of the operating tool obtained by the coordinate calculating means with the plane coordinates of a moving target on the display, whereby the orientation of the operating tool is shifted. It is characterized in that it is configured to determine whether or not it matches the target.

[0006]

When the operating tool is operated toward the reference target displayed on the display at the time of the initial setting, the light emitted from the light emitting unit is applied to each divided unit of the optical sensor.
The angle calculation means calculates a rotation angle of the operating tool with respect to the display based on the detected current output from each of the division units. Here, since the plane coordinates of the reference target on the display are known, the distance calculating means calculates the distance from the operating tool to the display based on the coordinates and the angle obtained by the angle calculating means.

When the operating tool is operated after aiming at the moving target on the display after the initial setting is completed, the rotation angle of the operating tool with respect to the display changes. Is calculated in the same manner as above. At this time, since the distance from the operating tool to the display has already been obtained, the coordinate calculation means calculates virtual plane coordinates of the operating tool on the display based on these angles and distances. Further, since the plane coordinates of the moving target on the display are known, the determining means compares the virtual plane coordinates of the operating tool with the actual plane coordinates of the moving target, and displays the result as appropriate means such as display or voice. Output using.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a game machine using a coordinate detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a computer main body, 2 is a display of the computer main body 1, and 3 is a computer main body. 1 is a control box connected via a cable, 4 is an infrared LED as a light emitting unit installed on the upper surface of the computer main body 1, 5 is a pistol as an operating body operated by a player, and Is provided with an optical sensor 6 for receiving infrared light emitted from the LED 4 and a trigger 7 for generating a switch signal.
The data detected by the optical sensor 6 is transmitted to the control box 3 via a cable. As will be described later, the control box 3 uses the display 2 according to the inclination of the pistol 5 based on the data. The above virtual plane coordinates are calculated, and the calculation result is transmitted to the computer main body 1. Computer body 1
On the side, the coordinates of the target 8 displayed on the display 2 are compared with the virtual plane coordinates of the pistol 5, and the player correctly operates the pistol 5 toward the target 8 as shown in FIG. In this case, a "hit" is notified to the player by a display on the display 2 or a sound from a speaker.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a detection structure of the optical sensor 6, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the optical sensor 6. As shown in these figures, a rectangular shape is provided in front of the optical sensor 6. A diaphragm unit 9 having an opening is provided. The optical sensor 6 is composed of a four-division photodiode having four divided light-receiving portions 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d. The set of the divided light-receiving portions 6a and 6c and the set of 6b and 6d are divided in the X direction. The set of 6a and 6b and the set of 6c and 6d are divided in the Y direction. The infrared light emitted from the LED 4 is
The light passes through the aperture of the aperture unit 9 and is irradiated on the optical sensor 6 as rectangular spot light S. The spot light S is set to have a size that does not deviate from the light receiving detection areas of the four divided light receiving sections 6a to 6d. A filter (not shown) is provided.

In each of the divided light receiving sections 6a to 6d, a detection current proportional to the irradiation area of the spot light S is obtained, and is processed by a circuit described later. The detected currents obtained from the divided light receiving units 6a to 6d are ia, ib, ic, and id, the length of the spot light S in the X-axis direction is m, the length in the Y-axis direction is n, the optical sensor 6 and the aperture unit. Assuming that the distance from 9 is h,
The inclination (θx) of the pistol 5 in the X direction and the inclination (θ
y) ^{is, θx = tan ~ 1 (m} / 2h) [(ia + ic) - (ib
+ Id)] / [(ia + ib + ic + id)] …………
…… θy = tan ~ ¹ (n / 2h) [(ia + ib)-(ic
+ Id)] / [(ia + ib + ic + id)] …………
…… is required.

Next, a method for calculating virtual plane coordinates of the pistol 5 on the display 2 when the pistol 5 is operated in an arbitrary direction of the display 2 will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 4, point A indicates the position of the LED 4 and point B indicates the position of the optical sensor 6. Point P is virtual plane coordinates of the pistol 5 on the display 2, and specifically, is a point at which an axis orthogonal to the center of the opening of the aperture unit 9 intersects the display 2. Now, as an initial setting operation, a target is displayed at an arbitrary reference position on the display 2 (hereinafter referred to as a reference target), and when the pistol 5 is operated toward the reference target, the P point at that time and the reference target are compared. The plane coordinates are equal. Wherein X pistol 5, Y direction inclination [theta] x _0, [theta] y _0, the plane coordinates of the reference targets When _{(x 0, y 0),} θx 0, θy 0 above, determined by the formula, x _0, Since y ₀ is known from the raster signal, the distance L between the display 2 and the pistol 5 can be calculated from the values of θx ₀ and θy ₀ and x ₀ and y ₀ .

For example, in the Y-axis direction, as is apparent from FIG. 5, θy ₀ = α + β tan α = U / L tan β = V / L. From these equations, tan θy ₀ = tan (α + β) = (tan α + tan β) ) / (1−tan α · tan β) = (U / L + V / L) / (1−UV / L ² ). When this expression is rearranged, L (1−UV / L ² ) tan θy ₀ = U + V = y ₀ and (1−UV / L ² ) ≒ 1, so that Ltan θy ₀ = y ₀ is simplified. Can be expressed. Therefore, by substituting θy ₀ obtained by the above equation and the known y ₀ into this equation,
The distance L is determined. Similarly, in the case of the X-axis direction, Ltan θx ₀ = x ₀ can be simply expressed as follows.
The distance L can be obtained by substituting x ₀ and a known x ₀ .

After the distance L between the display 2 and the pistol 5 is determined in the initial setting operation in this manner, a target displayed on the display 2 (hereinafter referred to as a moving target) moves, and the moving target When the pistol 5 is rotated to aim at, the plane coordinates of the point P change according to the inclination of the pistol 5. Here, since the plane coordinates of the point P at the time of initial setting are equal to the plane coordinates of the reference target (x ₀ , y ₀ ), the X and Y directions of the point P with respect to this reference value (x ₀ , y ₀ ) Assuming that the displacement amounts are Δx and Δy, respectively, Δx = xx− ₀ = L (tan θx−tanx ₀ )...
Δy = y−y ₀ = L (tan θy−tany ₀ )...
Is required. On the other hand, since the plane coordinates of the moving target are known from the raster signal, the plane coordinates of the point P obtained by the above equation and the plane coordinates of the moving target are compared to determine whether the direction of the pistol 5 hits the moving target. It is determined whether or not.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a processing circuit used in the above-described coordinate detecting device. In FIG.
PU, 11 is a driver, 12 is a filter / AMP unit, 1
Numeral 3 denotes an AMP and numeral 14 denotes an A / D converter, and portions corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the trigger 7 of the pistol 5 is operated and a switch signal is generated, the CPU 10 drives the driver 11 at a predetermined timing and activates the LED 4 by the switch signal. When the LED 4 is activated, the infrared light emitted from the LED 4 is applied to the optical sensor 6 as spot light S. The four divided light receiving portions of the optical sensor 6 output a current value proportional to the irradiation area of the spot light S, and the detection current output in this way is obtained by extracting only the frequency component of the pulse emission by the filter / AMP portion 12. After being amplified by AMP13,
The signal is input to the A / D converter 14. The detected current converted to a digital value by the A / D converter 14 is sent to the CPU 10, and the angle calculating means incorporated in the CPU 10 calculates the X value of the pistol 5 from these current values based on the above-described equation.
The inclinations θx and θy between the direction and the Y direction are calculated. At the time of the initial setting operation, the distance calculating means built in the CPU 10 calculates the plane coordinates (x ₀ , y ₀ ) of the reference target displayed on the display 2, the X direction of the pistol 5 at that time, and Y
The distance L between the display 2 and the pistol 5 is calculated based on the direction inclinations θx ₀ and θy ₀ . Further, at the time of the game, the coordinate calculating means incorporated in the CPU 10 obtains the initial and current inclinations θx ₀ , θy ₀ , θx, θy of the pistol 5 determined by the angle calculating means, and the distance calculating means. Based on the value of the distance L, the reference value (x
₀ , y ₀ ), the displacement amounts Δx, Δy of the pistol 5 are calculated.

The CPU 10 stores the thus calculated displacement amounts Δx and Δy in the data memory as virtual coordinate data of the pistol 5 on the display 2,
This coordinate data is transmitted to the computer main body 1 via the external interface. The determination means built in the computer main body 1 compares the coordinate data with the plane coordinates of the moving target, and when it is determined that both are within a predetermined range, the display data on the display 2 or the sound from the speaker is used. The player is notified of the "hit", and when it is determined that both are outside the predetermined range, the "off" is similarly notified.

Next, referring to FIG. 7 and FIG.
Will be described. Here, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the initial setting operation, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the game operation.

As shown in FIG. 7, before starting the game, initialization is performed, and a distance L between the display 2 and the pistol 5 is calculated. In this initial setting operation, first, a reference target is displayed at an arbitrary reference position on the display 2, so that the player turns the pistol 5 toward the reference target, then pulls the trigger 7 and sends a switch signal to the CPU 1.
0 (S-1). When a switch signal is sent to the CPU 10, the LED 4 emits light, and the infrared light emitted from the LED 4 irradiates the optical sensor 6, so that the angle calculation means is output from the four divided light receiving units of the optical sensor 6. Of the pistol 5 in the X and Y directions based on the current value
x ₀ and θy ₀ are calculated (S-2). Next, the distance calculation means calculates the distance L between the display 2 and the pistol 5 based on the plane coordinates (x ₀ , y ₀ ) of the reference target displayed on the display 2 and the values of θx ₀ , θy _0. (S-3). Since the distance L obtained in S-3 fluctuates somewhat due to the hand shake of the player, n = N is determined in S-4, and if the number has not reached N times, the process returns to S-1 to perform the above operation. Repeatedly, when the number of times reaches N, the calculated data is averaged in S-5, and the value is stored in the data memory.

After the initial setting operation is completed in this way, the game is started with the distance L between the display 2 and the pistol 5 kept constant. As shown in FIG. 8, in this game operation, first, the player aims at a moving target moving on the display 2, and pulls the trigger 7 while rotating the pistol 5 toward the moving target (S-). 6). When the trigger 7 is triggered and a switch signal is generated, the angle calculation means calculates the inclinations θx and θy of the pistol 5 in the X and Y directions at that time, as in the initial setting operation (S-7). Next, based on the values of θx, θy obtained in this way and the values of θx ₀ , θy ₀ , L already obtained in the initial setting operation, the coordinate calculating means sets the reference values (x ₀ , y ₀ ) with respect to the displacement amount Δx, Δy of the pistol 5
Is calculated (S-8). The displacement amounts Δx and Δy calculated in S-8 are the pistols 5 on the display 2.
Is stored in the data memory as virtual coordinate data of
The CPU 10 transmits the coordinate data to the computer main body 1 via the external interface.

The determining means incorporated in the computer main body 1 compares the coordinate data with the plane coordinates of the moving target in S-9, and when it is determined that both are within a predetermined range, the processing proceeds to S-10. In step S-11, "hit" is displayed on the display 2, and in step S-11, the "hit" is notified to the player by voice from the speaker. In S-9, when it is determined that the coordinate data of the pistol 5 and the plane coordinates of the moving target are out of the predetermined range, S-
In 12, “out” is displayed on the display 2,
In S-13, the player is notified of the "out" from the speaker by voice. Note that the determination of the range in S-9 may be changed according to the display area of the display 2, the distance L between the display 2 and the pistol 5, and the like.
It is also possible to widen the range determined as “hit” as the distance L increases.

The coordinate detecting device according to the above embodiment is an LED
4 is received by an optical sensor 6 and a pistol 5
Calculating means for calculating the inclinations θx and θy of the distance between the pistol 5 and the display 2 based on the plane coordinates of the reference target on the display 2 and the inclination of the pistol 5 obtained by the angle calculating means at the time of initial setting. L, and a displacement amount Δx of the pistol 5 with respect to the reference position at the time of initial setting based on the inclination of the pistol 5 obtained by the angle calculating means and the distance L obtained by the distance calculating means during a game. , Δy are calculated, and these angle calculation, distance calculation and coordinate calculation are performed using data from a set of optical elements composed of the LED 4 and the optical sensor 6. The influence of variations in the characteristics of the optical element is reduced, and the detection accuracy can be improved. Further, the infrared light emitted from the LED 4 is divided into four divided light receiving portions 6a, 6b, 6c,
6d, the influence of disturbance light such as sunlight is reduced, and the decrease in the amount of light received by the optical sensor 6 is reduced. Therefore, when the brightness of the display 2 is low or the pistol is Even when operated at a position distant from the display, it is possible to accurately detect coordinates required for determining a game.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The light emitted from the light emitting unit installed near the display is received by the optical sensor provided on the operating body, and based on the light receiving area applied to each divided unit of the optical sensor, the light is emitted in the direction of division of these divided units. Angle calculation means for calculating the rotation angle of the intersecting axes; and when the operating tool is pointed at a reference target on a display, the operation is performed based on the plane coordinates of the reference target and the angle obtained by the angle calculation means. Distance calculating means for calculating a distance from a body to the display, and when the operating tool is rotated, the axis of the axis is determined based on the angle obtained by the angle calculating means and the distance obtained by the distance calculating means. Coordinate calculating means for calculating plane coordinates on the display, wherein the coordinate data of the operating tool determined by the coordinate calculating means and the movement target of the moving target on the display are provided. Since it is configured to determine whether the direction of the operating tool matches the moving target by comparing the coordinates with the plane coordinates, it is possible to suppress the adverse effect on the detection accuracy due to disturbance light, characteristic variation of the optical element, and the like. Thus, it is possible to provide a coordinate detection device with high detection accuracy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a game machine using a coordinate detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a detection structure of an optical sensor provided in the coordinate detection device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the optical sensor.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view schematically showing a principle of detecting a coordinate of a pistol.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a principle of distance detection at the time of initial setting.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a processing circuit used in the coordinate detection device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an initial setting operation.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a game operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Computer main body 2 Display 3 Control box 4 LED (light-emitting part) 5 Pistol (operating body) 6 Optical sensor 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d Split light-receiving part 7 Trigger 8 Target 9 Aperture part 10 CPU 11 Driver 12 Filter / AMP part 13 AMP 19 Waveform shaping unit 14 A / D converter

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A63F 13/00-13/12 A63F 9/02 F41G 3/26 G06F 3/03 G06F 3/033

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An operating body having a display, a light-emitting unit installed near the display, an optical sensor divided in a direction orthogonal to each other, and light emitted from the light-emitting unit being divided by each of the light sensors. Angle calculating means for calculating a rotation angle of an axis intersecting in a dividing direction of these divisions based on a light receiving area irradiated on the section, and when the operating tool is pointed at a reference target on the display, the reference target Distance calculating means for calculating a distance from the operating tool to the display based on the plane coordinates of the angle and the angle obtained by the angle calculating means, and the distance calculating means calculating the distance when the operating tool is rotated. Coordinate calculating means for calculating plane coordinates of the axis on the display based on the angle and the distance obtained by the distance calculating means; By comparing the coordinate data of the operating tool obtained by the means with the plane coordinates of the moving target on the display, it is configured to determine whether the orientation of the operating tool matches the moving target. A coordinate detecting device characterized by the above-mentioned.