JP3772895B2 - Portable information terminal and control method using game software executed in portable information terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention acquires position information using GPS, further obtains information such as azimuth and inclination using a magnetic sensor, and progress of game software based on such information (particularly position information and azimuth information). The present invention relates to a portable information terminal that controls the device.

Currently, portable game machines have built-in acceleration sensors (used in automobile airbags, PC game joysticks, etc.) in the game software cartridge, and can detect the tilt and acceleration of the game console itself. Thus, in a game in which a ball is rolled on a board surface such as a pinball, it is realized that the game machine body itself is tilted to operate the board surface or the ball.
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/kkkj/

  However, with an acceleration sensor, it is difficult to realize processing according to changes in the user's environment, that is, changes in the user's position, orientation (orientation), etc., in processing such as progress of game software.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a technique capable of realizing processing according to changes in the position and orientation (orientation) of a user in a portable information terminal capable of executing game software. It is.

The portable information terminal of the present invention according to claim 1 is a portable information terminal capable of executing game software, wherein the receiving means receives GPS signals, the positioning means obtains the current position from the received GPS signals, the geomagnetic sensor, , A table in which the relationship between the output of the geomagnetic sensor and the orientation is defined, orientation calculation means for obtaining an orientation in which the portable information terminal faces from the output of the geomagnetic sensor and the table, and an inclination of the portable information terminal Inclination calculating means, storage means for storing game software, and game processing means for executing the game software, wherein the game software is currently obtained from the positioning means, azimuth calculating means, and inclination calculating means. Any one of the position, the direction in which the portable information terminal faces and the inclination of the portable information terminal is a condition for determining the operation by the game software. Preset, and when the game processing means executes the game software, the game processing means receives any information of the obtained current position, the direction in which the portable information terminal faces, and the inclination of the portable information terminal, A process for determining whether the received information matches the information set as the condition is performed, and an operation by the game software is determined according to the determination.

Moreover, the present invention according to claim 2 is the portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the geomagnetic sensor outputs a plurality of values corresponding to components of an external magnetic field in an arbitrary direction of the portable information terminal. The azimuth calculating means calculates a azimuth from values corresponding to the plurality of external magnetic field components, and the inclination calculating means calculates an inclination from values corresponding to the plurality of external magnetic field components. Features.

The present invention described in claim 3 is a control method by game software executed in the portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the game software includes a current position required in the portable information terminal and Information on any one of the orientation of the portable information terminal and the inclination of the portable information terminal is preset as a condition for determining the operation by the game software, and the current position obtained in the portable information terminal A procedure for receiving any information of the orientation of the portable information terminal and the inclination of the portable information terminal; and a procedure for determining whether the received information matches the information set as the condition; And a procedure for determining an operation by the game software in accordance with the determination.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the portable information terminal according to the first or second aspect, the azimuth calculating means uses the azimuth (α) or azimuth angle change ( (Δα) is calculated, and the inclination calculating means calculates an inclination angle (β) or an inclination angle change (Δβ) as the inclination information.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the control method according to the fourth aspect, an azimuth (α) or azimuth angle change (Δα) is calculated as the azimuth information, and an inclination angle ( β) or change in tilt angle (Δβ) is calculated.

  According to the present invention, the current position is obtained from the received GPS signal, and the azimuth of the portable information terminal and the inclination of the portable information terminal are obtained from the output of the geomagnetic sensor, and the obtained current position, the portable information terminal Is performed to determine whether any of the orientation of the mobile information terminal and the tilt information of the portable information terminal matches information set as a condition for determining operation by the game software, and the game is performed according to the determination. Since the operation by the software is determined, the game software can realize a process according to a change in the user's environment, that is, a change in the position and orientation (orientation) of the user. That is, the portable information terminal of the present invention becomes a platform for game software that can experience an unprecedented feeling of operation, and newly provides such game software development opportunities to game software developers.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a mobile phone as an embodiment of the portable information terminal of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic front view thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit 20 and a magnetic sensor (geomagnetic sensor) 30, and uses these to obtain positional information and orientation of the mobile phone 1. Except for the point of having the function of acquiring information such as the tilt angle, etc., it is configured in the same way as a conventional general mobile phone.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 1 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body 10 having sides extending along the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis that are orthogonal to each other. In the example shown in this figure, when the main body 10 is in use, the X axis coincides with the left and right axes as the first predetermined axis of the main body 10, and the Y axis coincides with the vertical axis as the second predetermined axis of the main body 10. ing. Further, in this case, the third predetermined axis of the main body 10 serving as a reference for detecting an orientation α and an inclination angle β, which will be described later, is the Y axis (Y axis positive direction).

Next, the configuration of the mobile phone 1 will be specifically described.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a CPU (central processing unit), and the operation of each unit of the mobile phone 1 by executing various control programs (including application programs such as game programs (hereinafter referred to as game software)). To control.
Reference numeral 12 denotes a RAM (Random Access Memory) in which a work area of the CPU 11, a storage area for downloaded music data and accompaniment data, a mail data storage area for storing received e-mail data, and the like are set. Is done. The processing of the CPU 11 relating to the function that characterizes the mobile phone 1 of the present embodiment will be described in detail in the operation description of the mobile phone 1 described later.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a ROM (Read Only Memory). The ROM 13 includes various telephone function programs for controlling transmission and reception executed by the CPU 11, mail transmission / reception function programs for controlling transmission / reception of e-mails, programs for assisting music reproduction processing, application programs such as game software, and the like. A program for assisting the position calculation processing of the mobile phone 1 in the GPS unit 20 described below, a program for calculating the azimuth and inclination angle of the mobile phone 1 facing the magnetic sensor 30, and a pre-recorded music piece Various data such as data and accompaniment data are stored.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a communication unit which demodulates a signal received by an antenna provided in the communication unit 14 and modulates a signal to be transmitted to supply the antenna. The incoming signal demodulated by the communication unit 14 is decoded by an audio CODEC (coder / decoder) 15, and the audio signal input from the microphone is digitized and compressed and encoded by the audio CODEC 15. The voice CODEC 15 performs high-efficiency compression coding / decoding of voice data by using, for example, a CELP (Code Excited LPC) system or an ADPCM (Adaptive Differential PCM Coding) system.

  Reference numeral 16 denotes a music reproducing unit which outputs an audio signal (incoming signal) from the audio CODEC 15 from an ear speaker or reproduces selected music data and outputs it as a ring tone or a holding tone. Note that the ring tone is output from the back loudspeaker, and the hold tone is mixed with the incoming signal and output from the ear speaker.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), which is a display that displays a menu corresponding to a telephone function, an e-mail transmission / reception function, or various buttons such as dial buttons.
Reference numeral 18 denotes an input / output I / F (interface), which is used to connect to various external devices.
Reference numeral 19 denotes an operation input unit, which is input means for detecting input from various buttons (not shown) including dial buttons “0” to “9” provided on the main body 10 of the mobile phone 1. is there.

  Reference numeral 20 denotes a GPS unit. An antenna provided in the GPS unit 20 receives signals transmitted from GPS satellites (multiple positioning systems) constituting the GPS (Global Positioning System), and receives signals received from the GPS satellites. Based on the demodulated signal, the position of the current location of the mobile phone 1 is calculated, and the position information (latitude / longitude) is obtained. The processing for calculating the position of the current location is the same as the processing performed in a conventional navigation system or the like. The GPS unit 20 may further include a gyroscope or a compass so that position information can be acquired even in a place where radio waves from GPS satellites do not reach.

Reference numeral 21 denotes an AD converter, which is connected to an X-axis magnetic sensor 31 and a Y-axis magnetic sensor 32 of the magnetic sensor 30 described below, and each of the X-axis magnetic sensor 31 and the Y-axis magnetic sensor 32 is connected. The output value is AD converted and supplied to the CPU 11.
As shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic sensor 30 is held inside the mobile phone 1 so as to be substantially parallel to the front surface of the mobile phone 1 (a plane parallel to the XY plane). As shown, the X-axis magnetic sensor 31 indicating a value corresponding to the external magnetic field (geomagnetic) component in the X-axis (left and right axis of the main body 10) direction, and the external magnetic field in the Y-axis (up-and-down axis of the main body 10) direction. And a Y-axis magnetic sensor 32 indicating a value corresponding to the component (details will be described later).
The cellular phone 1 includes the functional blocks described above, and each functional block exchanges data and commands via the bus 40.

  In the present embodiment, the mobile phone 1 represents a mobile phone such as a so-called CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) method or a PDC (Personal Digital Cellular System) method or a PHS (registered trademark) (Personal Handyphone System) terminal. Shall be referred to as In the present embodiment, a mobile phone is illustrated as an embodiment of the present invention. However, the portable information terminal of the present invention is not limited to this mobile phone, and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant): It also includes a mobile computer including a portable terminal called “information equipment”, a portable game machine, and the like. Further, in these cases, when the communication means is provided, the communication means may be built in, or the communication means may be connected from the outside.

Here, the magnetic sensor 30 will be described in detail. The magnetic sensor 30 is formed on a substrate 30a, four GMR elements (giant magnetoresistive effect elements) 31a to 31d formed on the substrate 30a, and the substrate 30a, as shown in FIG. 3 which is a plan view thereof. The four GMR elements 32 a to 32 d and the control circuit 33 are provided. Each of the GMR elements 31a to 31d and 32a to 32d is a known film including a free layer whose magnetization direction changes according to an external magnetic field, a conductive spacer layer, and a pinned layer whose magnetization direction is fixed (pinned). As shown in FIG. 4, the resistance value R changes according to the angle θ formed by the magnetization direction of the pinned layer and the magnetization direction of the white layer.
The directions of the fixed magnetizations of the pinned layers of the GMR elements 31a to 31d and 32a to 32d are as shown by arrows in FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows an equivalent circuit of the magnetic sensor 30. Also in FIG. 5, the fixed magnetization directions of the fixed layers of the GMR elements 31 a to 31 d and 32 a to 32 d are indicated by arrows in blocks representing the elements. As shown in FIG. 5, the control circuit 33 includes output processing circuits 33a and 33b and constant voltage circuits 33c and 33d.

  In the X-axis magnetic sensor 31, the GMR elements 31a to 31d are full-bridge connected, and the coupling point P1 between the GMR element 31d and the GMR element 31b and the coupling point P2 between the GMR element 31a and the GMR element 31c are respectively The constant voltage circuit 33c is connected to a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and a constant voltage V is applied between the coupling points P1 and P2. Further, the coupling point P3 between the GMR element 31a and the GMR element 31d and the coupling point P4 between the GMR element 31b and the GMR element 31c are connected to the output processing circuit 33a.

  The output processing circuit 33a receives the potential difference Vx between the coupling points P3 and P4, normalizes the potential difference Vx, and outputs the normalized value to the AD converter 21 as the output Sx of the X-axis magnetic sensor 31. Yes. Note that normalization is the actual output Sx (or Y-axis magnetic sensor 32) of the X-axis magnetic sensor 31 (or Y-axis magnetic sensor 32) when the front surface (XY plane) of the mobile phone 1 is parallel (horizontal) to the ground surface. The output Sy) is divided by the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the output Sx (or output Sy). As a result of such a configuration, the output Sx of the X-axis magnetic sensor 31 has a value (substantially proportional value) corresponding to the component of the external magnetic field (magnetic field) in the X-axis direction, as shown in FIG. It has come to show.

  In the Y-axis magnetic sensor 32, like the X-axis magnetic sensor 31, GMR elements 32 a to 32 d are connected by full bridge connection. A coupling point P5 between the GMR element 32a and the GMR element 32c and a coupling point P6 between the GMR element 32b and the GMR element 32d are connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the constant voltage circuit 33d, respectively. A constant voltage V is applied between them. Further, a coupling point P7 between the GMR element 32a and the GMR element 32d and a coupling point P8 between the GMR element 32c and the GMR element 32b are connected to the output processing circuit 33b. The output processing circuit 33b receives the potential difference Vy between the coupling points P7 and P8, normalizes the potential difference Vy, and outputs the normalized value to the AD converter 21 as the output Sy of the Y-axis magnetic sensor 32. Yes. As a result of such a configuration, the output Sy of the Y-axis magnetic sensor 32 is a value (substantially proportional value) corresponding to the component of the external magnetic field (magnetic field) in the Y-axis direction, as shown in FIG. It has come to show.

  Next, when the mobile phone 1 configured as described above obtains the orientation α (deg) of the vertical axis (Y axis) of the mobile phone 1 and the inclination angle β (deg) of the vertical axis from the horizontal plane. Will be described. The azimuth α is, for example, “0 or 360 (deg)” when the vertical axis direction (Y-axis positive direction) of the mobile phone 1 is facing south, and “90 (deg)” when facing the west. It is defined to be “180 (deg)” when facing north and “270 (deg)” when facing east.

  When the mobile phone 1 rotates in a horizontal plane, the output Sx of the X-axis magnetic sensor 31 changes in a sine wave shape, and the output Sy of the Y-axis magnetic sensor 32 changes in a sine wave shape whose phase differs from the output Sx by 90 °. Accordingly, the trajectories of the output Sx and the output Sy are substantially elliptical trajectories centered on the origin, as shown by the solid line in FIG. However, since the geomagnetism is not horizontal and is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane by an angle corresponding to the location on the earth, if the mobile phone 1 is tilted from the horizontal plane by an inclination angle β, the direction of the geomagnetism and the Y of the mobile phone 1 are determined. The angle formed by the positive axis direction changes, and the effect appears in the output Sy.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when the mobile phone 1 is rotated about the axis J in the vertical vertical direction while being inclined from the horizontal plane by the inclination angle β1, the locus of the output Sx and the output Sy is as shown in FIG. And the center of the locus moves in the positive direction of the output Sy. Further, when the mobile phone 1 is rotated about the axis J in a state where the mobile phone 1 is tilted by the tilt angle β2 larger than the tilt angle β1, the traces of the output Sx and the output Sy are short as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. The axis becomes a shorter ellipse and the center further moves in the positive direction of the output Sy.

  In other words, if the angle of the geomagnetism with respect to the horizontal plane is constant, that is, if the position (latitude, longitude) where the mobile phone 1 exists is constant, the values of the output Sx and the output Sy (Sx, Sy) are constant. Since the locus is drawn, the azimuth α and the inclination angle β can be specified from the values (Sx, Sy). Therefore, in the present embodiment, the relationship between the output value (Sx, Sy) and the azimuth α and the inclination angle β when the mobile phone 1 is assumed to be within a range in which the geomagnetic inclination is substantially constant is measured in advance. These relationships are prepared as a conversion table and stored in the ROM 13. Then, when obtaining the actual azimuth α and the inclination angle β, the azimuth α and the inclination angle β are determined from the actual output values (Sx, Sy) and the conversion table stored in the ROM 13.

  As described above, the azimuth α and the inclination angle β are determined. As indicated by a point K in FIG. 7, two or more sets of the azimuth α and the inclination angle β are set for the same output value (Sx, Sy). (Α, β) may exist. In this case, the set (α, β) of the azimuth α and the inclination angle β in which the value (Sx, Sy) may occur is used in the assumed usage state of the mobile phone 1. A plurality of ranges are obtained, and the average value of the plurality of sets (α, β) is adopted as the value of the conversion table. The range of the usage state that can be assumed by the mobile phone 1 is, for example, 0 to 360 (deg) for the direction α and 0 to 45 (deg) for the inclination angle β. An example of the conversion table obtained in this way is shown in the following table. In this example, the rotation angle γ around the vertical axis (Y axis) of the mobile phone 1 is 0 (deg), but the rotation angle γ is also changed within a predetermined angle range, and the output value at that time It is also possible to obtain a plurality of relationships between (Sx, Sy), azimuth α, and inclination angle β (α, β) and average them to obtain a value in the conversion table. An example of this conversion table is shown below.

Next, the processing of the CPU 11 when calculating the azimuth α and the inclination angle β or the azimuth angle change Δα and the inclination angle change Δβ will be described.
In the present embodiment, an azimuth / tilt angle calculation mode for calculating an azimuth and an inclination angle and an angle change calculation mode for calculating an angle change are provided. These modes are set to any one according to a request from the game software, and the calculated value is given to the requested game software. Hereinafter, processing in the azimuth / tilt angle calculation mode and processing in the angle change calculation mode will be described in order.

  The CPU 11 of the mobile phone 1 repeatedly executes the routine (program) shown in FIG. 9 every elapse of a predetermined time. First, in step S901, when the predetermined timing comes, the CPU 11 reads the output Sx of the X-axis magnetic sensor 31 and the output Sy of the Y-axis magnetic sensor 32.

  Next, the CPU 11 proceeds to step S902, reads out the conversion table shown in Table 1 from the ROM 13, and based on the output values Sx, Sy read in step S901 and the conversion table, the actual orientation α and the actual inclination are obtained. Find the angle β. For example, when (Sx, Sy) is (−0.35, +0.08), the azimuth α is obtained as 256 (deg), and the inclination angle β is obtained as 1 (deg).

  Next, the CPU 11 proceeds to step S903, and determines whether or not the current mode is the angle change calculation mode. Since it is now the azimuth / tilt angle calculation mode, the CPU 11 makes a “No” determination here and proceeds to step S904 to pass the azimuth α and the inclination angle β obtained in step S902 to the game software (for example, in a subroutine) This routine is terminated once.

  Next, the case of the angle change calculation mode will be described. Also in this case, the CPU 11 starts processing at a predetermined timing, executes step S901 and step S902, obtains the current azimuth α and inclination angle β as in the azimuth / inclination angle calculation mode, and returns to step S903. move on.

  Since it is now the angle change calculation mode, the CPU 11 makes a “Yes” determination in step S903 to proceed to step S905. In step S905, it is determined whether or not this routine is executed for the first time after shifting to the angle change calculation mode. Since this routine is executed for the first time after shifting to the angle change calculation mode, the CPU 11 determines “Yes” in the determination in step S905, and proceeds to step S906. In this step S906, the current azimuth α obtained in the previous step S902 is temporarily stored in the RAM 12 as the reference azimuth α0 and the current inclination angle β as the reference inclination angle β0.

  If this state continues, the CPU 11 starts the processing of this routine again, and executes steps S901 and S902 to obtain the current direction α and the current inclination angle β. Then, “Yes” is determined in the determination in step S903, and the process proceeds to step S905. Since this stage is not the stage at which this routine is executed for the first time after shifting to the angle change calculation mode, the CPU 11 makes a “No” determination in step S905 to proceed to step S907. In this step S907, a value obtained by subtracting the reference azimuth α0 temporarily stored in the RAM 12 in step S906 from the current azimuth α is set as an azimuth change (lateral rotation change angle) Δα, and similarly, the current inclination A value obtained by subtracting the reference inclination angle β0 temporarily stored in the RAM 12 in step S906 from the angle β is calculated as an inclination angle change (vertical rotation change angle) Δβ. Next, the CPU 11 proceeds to step S908, and transfers the azimuth angle change Δα and the tilt angle change Δβ calculated in step S907 to the game software (for example, as a return value of a subroutine), and once ends this routine.

  Through the above routine, the azimuth α and the inclination angle β or the azimuth angle change Δα and the inclination angle change Δβ are obtained and given to the game software. Based on these values, the game software controls the progress of the game and the movement of characters appearing in the game. For example, the character displayed on the LCD 17 may be moved in the X-axis and Y-axis directions by an amount or speed corresponding to the azimuth α and the tilt angle β or further the azimuth angle change Δα and the tilt angle change Δβ, respectively. The background displayed on the LCD 17 is scrolled.

  Next, an example of the operation flow of the game software in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

When the game software is executed, first, various initial settings are made in step S101, and the process proceeds to step S102. Here, the above-described angle change calculation mode or azimuth / tilt angle calculation mode is also initially set.
In step S102, operation information input by the user using the operation input unit 19 is acquired, and the process proceeds to step S103.
In step S103, the latitude / longitude of the current position is calculated from the GPS unit 20, and the process proceeds to step S104. The latitude / longitude calculation of the current position is not processed on the game software side, and the position information obtained by the control program on the mobile phone 1 side is given to the game software.

In step S104, the routine for calculating the azimuth α and the inclination angle β or the azimuth angle change Δα and the inclination angle change Δβ described above is executed, and the process proceeds to step S105.
In step S105, the calculated current position and azimuth α, inclination angle β or azimuth angle change Δα and inclination angle change Δβ, and operation information input by the user are set as initial settings (step S101). Judgment is made whether the specified conditions or conditions set separately are met.

  Next, when it is determined in step S105 that the conditions are met (Y determination), a game progress process is executed in the next step S106. Here, the processes programmed for each game, such as display screen control, BGM / sound effect control, condition change, score calculation, etc., are executed. A process of advancing the game is performed in accordance with the position and orientation α, and further the tilt angle β or the azimuth angle change Δα and the tilt angle change Δβ, and the operation information input by the user. Then, the process proceeds to step S107. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S105 that the conditions do not match (determination of N), the process proceeds to step S107.

Next, in step S107, other processing such as timing is executed, and the process proceeds to step S108.
In the determination in step S108, it is determined whether or not the game is over. Here, it is determined whether or not a predetermined end condition is satisfied, such as whether the time is over, and when it is determined that the game is ended, the game software is ended. On the other hand, if it is determined that the game has not ended, the process returns to step S102, and the processing from step S102 is executed again.
Step S103 is a step for achieving the functions of the positioning means, and step S104 is a step for achieving the functions of the direction calculation means and the inclination calculation means.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, position information (latitude / longitude), azimuth information (azimuth α, azimuth angle change Δα), and tilt information (tilt angle β, tilt angle change Δβ) are stored. Since it can be given to the game software, the game software executed on the mobile phone 1 according to the above embodiment uses these pieces of information as conditions for controlling the progress of the game. RPG (role-playing game) where the game doesn't progress if it doesn't meet the direction of the game, a game with a story that is limited to the region, a game where the character grows according to the movement (movement amount) of the user, Makes it possible to create an unprecedented game in which the language (dialect) changes.

  In the present embodiment, a conversion table in which the relationship between the output value (Sx, Sy), the azimuth α, and the inclination angle β of the magnetic sensor 30 is prepared in advance, and this conversion table and the actually obtained value ( Sx, Sy) are used to obtain the actual azimuth α and the inclination angle β. Therefore, even when the vertical axis of the mobile phone 1 is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane, the mobile phone 1 can acquire the azimuth α with high accuracy and the inclination angle β. Further, the azimuth α and the inclination angle β may be calculated with higher accuracy by using the magnetic sensor 30 as a three-axis configuration.

  In the angle change calculation mode, the change amount of the azimuth α and the inclination angle β can be acquired, so that the mobile phone 1 is rotated around the vertical vertical axis (the axis J) or along the horizontal direction. By rotating around the axis, the amount of change in rotation can be detected, and various functions based on the amounts of change in rotation Δα and Δβ can be given to game software executed on the mobile phone 1.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes a configuration that does not depart from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, one conversion table is stored in the ROM 13 in advance. However, when the mobile phone 1 is present at a different position (when the geomagnetic gradient is different), the same corresponding to the position is used. A conversion table may be stored in the ROM 13 and an appropriate conversion table may be read according to the position of the mobile phone 1 obtained by the GPS unit 20. In addition, the mobile phone 1 can be configured to acquire the conversion table (value) from an information center or the like at a remote location via the communication unit 14. In this way, the storage capacity of the ROM 13 can be reduced.

  Further, in this case, the information regarding the current position specified by the GPS unit 20 may be transmitted to an information center or the like to obtain a conversion table (value) corresponding to the specified position from the information center. . In this way, even when the mobile phone 1 is used in a wide range and the inclination of the geomagnetic direction with respect to the horizontal plane changes, the orientation α and the inclination angle β of the mobile phone 1 can be accurately obtained. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the magnetic sensor 30 is configured by a GMR element. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the magnetic sensor 30 may be configured by using another magnetoresistive element such as a magnetic tunnel effect element. .

  Further, in the above embodiment, the output Sx of the X-axis magnetic sensor 31 and the output Sy of the Y-axis magnetic sensor 32 are standardized, but before the standardization, the offsets of these outputs Sx and Sy have The values OFx and OFy may be subtracted from the respective outputs Sx and Sy, and the values obtained by subtracting the offset amounts OFx and OFy may be configured as the normal outputs Sx and Sy of the magnetic sensors 31 and 32, respectively. Such offset amounts OFx and OFy are caused by variations in the resistance values of the permanent magnet parts existing in the vicinity of the X-axis magnetic sensor 31 and the Y-axis magnetic sensor 32 and the GMR elements 3la to 31b and 32a to 32d. Yes, the mobile phone 1 can be rotated 180 degrees in the horizontal plane when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the average values of the outputs Sx and Sy at that time can be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, the X axis is the left and right axis as the first predetermined axis of the main body 10, and the Y axis is the second predetermined axis and the vertical axis as the third predetermined axis of the main body 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the first to third predetermined axes of the main body 10 are arbitrarily determined except that the first predetermined axis and the second predetermined axis intersect with each other with a predetermined angle θ (90 ° in the above embodiment). be able to.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile telephone which is one embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the mobile phone of the same embodiment. It is a schematic plan view of the magnetic sensor of the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the characteristic of each GMR element which comprises the magnetic sensor of the embodiment. It is an equivalent circuit diagram of the magnetic sensor of the same embodiment. (A) Output characteristic diagram of X-axis magnetic sensor, (B) Output characteristic diagram of Y-axis magnetic sensor. It is a locus diagram of the output value of a magnetic sensor when the mobile phone of the embodiment is rotated. It is the figure which showed the motion of the mobile telephone at the time of obtaining the locus map of FIG. It is a flowchart of the program (routine) which CPU of the same embodiment performs. It is an example of an operation flow of game software executed on the mobile phone of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mobile phone (portable information terminal), 10 ... Main body, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... RAM, 13 ... ROM, 14 ... Communication part, 15 ... Audio | voice CODEC, 16 ... Music reproduction part, 17 ... LCD, 18 ... I / F, 19 ... Operation input unit, 20 ... GPS unit, 21 ... AD converter (ADC), 30 ... Magnetic sensor (geomagnetic sensor), 31 ... X-axis magnetic sensor, 32 ... Y-axis magnetic sensor, 33 ... Control circuit, 40 …bus

Claims (5)

In a portable information terminal that can execute game software,
Receiving means for receiving GPS signals;
Positioning means for obtaining the current position from the received GPS signal;
A geomagnetic sensor,
A table in which the relationship between the output and orientation of the geomagnetic sensor is defined;
An azimuth calculating means for obtaining an azimuth facing the portable information terminal from the output of the geomagnetic sensor and the table ;
An inclination calculating means for obtaining an inclination of the portable information terminal;
Storage means for storing game software;
Game processing means for executing the game software,
In the game software, any one of the current position obtained from the positioning means, the azimuth calculating means, the inclination calculating means, the azimuth to which the portable information terminal is directed, and the inclination of the portable information terminal is determined by the game software. It is set in advance as a condition for determining the operation,
When the game processing unit executes the game software, the game processing unit receives information on any one of the obtained current position, an orientation that the portable information terminal faces, and an inclination of the portable information terminal, and the received information and the condition A portable information terminal that performs a process of determining whether or not the information set as is matched, and determines an operation by the game software according to the determination. The geomagnetic sensor is composed of a plurality of geomagnetic sensors that output a value corresponding to an external magnetic field component in an arbitrary direction of the portable information terminal,
The azimuth calculating means calculates a azimuth from values according to the plurality of external magnetic field components,
The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the inclination calculating unit calculates an inclination from a value corresponding to the plurality of external magnetic field components. A control method by game software executed in the portable information terminal according to claim 1,
In the game software, any one of the current position required in the portable information terminal, the direction in which the portable information terminal faces, and the inclination of the portable information terminal is preliminarily set as a condition for determining the operation by the game software. Is set,
A procedure for receiving information on any of the current position obtained in the portable information terminal, the direction in which the portable information terminal faces, and the inclination of the portable information terminal;
A procedure for determining whether the received information matches the information set as the condition;
And a procedure for determining an operation by the game software in accordance with the determination. A control method by game software executed in a portable information terminal.   The azimuth calculating means calculates azimuth (α) or azimuth angle change (Δα) as the azimuth information,
  The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the tilt calculating unit calculates a tilt angle (β) or a tilt angle change (Δβ) as the tilt information.   The azimuth (α) or azimuth angle change (Δα) is calculated as the azimuth information, and the tilt angle (β) or tilt angle change (Δβ) is calculated as the tilt information. Control method.

Images