JP4900423B2 - Electrical equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric device used by being worn on a user's body.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an electric device that is used while being worn on a user's body, an input interface that is used while being worn on a finger is known.
For example, an input interface including a touch pad for vertical scrolling that is long in the circumferential direction on an annular base that is attached to the index finger of the user, and a tact switch for horizontal scrolling adjacent to the touch pad. Is known (see Patent Document 1). In this input interface, the touch pad and the tact switch are operated with the thumb adjacent to the index finger on which the base is mounted.

  In addition, the input interface used by being worn on the user's body is an input interface that can detect a keystroke operation on an arbitrary supporting object such as a desk, and includes an impact sensor, a sound sensor, an acceleration sensor, or a muscle. Based on a detection signal of a detection device such as an electric sensor, there is known one that analyzes timing when a user strikes a supporting object with a fingertip and determines input information (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2006-302204 A JP-A-7-121294

However, the conventional input interface has the following problems.
For example, in the input interface described in Patent Document 1, since a small touchpad or tact switch attached to the index finger must be operated with the thumb, the operability is poor, and further, the thumb needs to be moved finely and accurately. Therefore, there is a problem that a burden is applied to the thumb.

  In addition, since the input interface described in Patent Document 2 is to determine input information by detecting a user's operation of hitting a supporting object, it can be used for keyboard input or the like where the operation of hitting is main. There has been a problem that it is not suitable for other uses because an operation other than tapping such as a long press cannot be detected and the input pattern is limited.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and provides a technique for detecting a user's body movement by a novel method and a highly convenient electric device (particularly, an input interface) using the technique. For the purpose.

  An electrical device of the present invention made to achieve such an object is an electrical device that is used by being mounted on a user's body, and detects that two body parts have been brought into contact with or separated from each other by a user's body movement. To do.

  In this electrical device, a closed conductor path of a closed ring is formed by contact through the body surface of two body parts that can be contacted and separated (contact between the thumb and the index finger, contact between the right hand and the left hand, etc.). An annular body that is mounted on the body part so that the circumferential direction is orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the conductor path, and has an annular signal applying medium in which a coil is wound around the annular core.

  In the state where the conductor path is formed, the signal applying means generates a magnetic field in the circumferential direction of the annular core constituting the signal applying medium by passing a current through the coil constituting the signal applying medium. Thus, an electric signal is generated in the circumferential direction of the conductor path.

  Further, the electrical device of the present invention is a body part where the conductor path is formed, and is attached to a part different from the signal application medium, and measuring means for measuring a physical quantity of an electrical signal generated in the body part; Detecting means for detecting contact and separation of two body parts due to a user's body movement based on the physical quantity of the electric signal measured by the measuring means.

  In the state where the two body parts are separated from each other, the closed ring-shaped conductor path is not formed. Therefore, even if the signal applying medium is excited by the signal applying means, the body part forming the conductor path has no electromagnetic wave. An electrical signal does not flow by induction. On the other hand, in the state where the two body parts are in contact with each other and a closed annular conductor path is formed, an electric signal (current) flows in the circumferential direction of the conductor path by electromagnetic induction.

Therefore, if the physical quantity of the electrical signal is measured by the measuring means, as a result, contact and separation between the two body parts can be detected.
According to the electric device having such a configuration, for example, processing corresponding to contact / separation of fingers or contact / separation of both hands can be performed by switching processing to be executed based on the detection result of the detection unit. . Therefore, the user can operate the device with a simple physical exercise.

  In addition, according to the electric device of the present invention, it is possible to function as an analog input interface by measuring the time during which two body parts are in contact with each other or the time during which they are separated. Therefore, by applying this principle and configuring an electric device so as to detect a temporal pattern of contact / separation, a large amount of information input can be realized through the electric device like a Morse signal.

  In addition, according to the present invention, compared with a conventional device including a touch pad and a tact switch, a fine finger operation such as carrying a finger to a specific place is unnecessary, operability is good, and use The burden on the user can be reduced. Furthermore, it is possible to detect an operation in which the user picks or releases an object. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a new operation-sensing input interface excellent in operability.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since it is possible to detect the delicate movement of the user's finger without wearing a glove or the like, the usability is good, and furthermore, the device configuration is simple, There is also an advantage that the product can be configured in a small size.

  In addition, as a method of applying an electrical signal to the user's body, in addition to the method using electromagnetic induction as in the present invention, an electrode is brought into contact with the body part of the user and the body of the user is directly passed through this electrode. A method of applying an electrical signal to the electrode is also conceivable, but in the method of applying an electrical signal through the electrode, the contact area changes according to the contact state between the electrode and the skin, thereby changing the contact resistance and flowing through the user's body. A change occurs in the electrical signal. For this reason, depending on the contact state between the electrode and the skin, it is necessary to detect the contact / separation by detecting a weak electric signal, and there is a limit to improving accuracy.

  On the other hand, if an electrical signal is applied to the user's body using electromagnetic induction as in the present invention, there is no need to consider changes in contact resistance, and a stable electrical signal is always applied to the user's body. It is possible to detect contact / separation between two body parts with high accuracy.

  In addition, the above-mentioned measuring means can have a configuration that includes a pair of electrodes that come into contact with the user's body and measures the voltage between the pair of electrodes as a physical quantity of the electrical signal. In this case, the detection means can be configured to detect contact when the voltage measurement value by the measurement means exceeds the reference value, and to detect separation when the voltage measurement value by the measurement means falls below the reference value. (Claim 2).

  Further, the measurement means may be configured to measure a current flowing along the circumferential direction of the conductor path in the body part to which the measurement means is attached as a physical quantity of the electrical signal. In this case, the detection means can be configured to detect contact when the current measurement value by the measurement means exceeds the reference value, and to detect separation when the current measurement value by the measurement means falls below the reference value. (Claim 3).

  Furthermore, when current measurement is performed, the measuring means can be configured as follows. That is, the measuring means is an annular body mounted on the user's body so that the circumferential direction is orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the conductor path, and an annular measuring body having a coil wound around the annular core. A magnetic field is generated in the circumferential direction of the annular core constituting the measurement body by the current flowing along the conductor path, and an electric signal flows through the coil constituting the measurement body due to electromagnetic induction generated thereby. Can be used to measure the current flowing through the body part surrounded by the measuring body (claim 4). For example, the measuring means can be configured to measure the current flowing through the body part surrounded by the measuring body by measuring the voltage generated at both ends of the coil constituting the measuring body.

  If the measurement means is configured in this way and the physical quantity (current) of the electric signal flowing through the user's body is measured using electromagnetic induction without using the electrode, the measurement result changes depending on the contact state between the electrode and the skin. Therefore, contact / separation between two body parts can be detected with higher accuracy.

  In addition, in the above-described electrical device, contact / separation between two body parts is detected by measuring a physical quantity of an electrical signal flowing through the user's body, but the impedance of the coil may be used. . That is, when two conductor parts are in contact with each other to form the conductor path, a current due to electromagnetic induction is generated in the user's body, but no current is generated in the user's body when the body parts are separated. Therefore, the impedance of the coil changes. Using such a phenomenon, contact and separation are detected.

  Specifically, the electrical apparatus includes the signal applying unit, and at least one of a current I flowing in a coil constituting the signal applying medium included in the signal applying unit and a voltage V across the coil constituting the signal applying medium. By measuring, impedance detection means for measuring the impedance of the coil constituting the signal application medium, and detection for detecting contact and separation of two body parts due to the user's body movement based on the impedance measured by the impedance measurement means And means (claim 5).

  When the current I (amplitude) is constant, the impedance can be measured to the extent that the voltage V is measured. When the voltage V (amplitude) is constant, the current I is measured. Impedance can be measured to the extent.

  Also with the electrical device configured as described above, the contact and separation between two body parts due to the user's body movement can be detected well, and the same effect as the above-described electrical device can be obtained.

  The detecting means detects the contact between the two body parts when the impedance (absolute value or real part) measured by the impedance measuring means falls below the reference value, and the impedance (absolute value) measured by the impedance measuring means. Alternatively, when the real part) exceeds the reference value, the separation of the two body parts can be detected.

  In addition, the electrical device of the present invention may be configured to measure the power consumption (effective power or apparent power) of the coil instead of the impedance and detect contact / separation between the two body parts.

  That is, the electric device includes the signal applying unit, and measures at least one of the current I flowing through the coil constituting the signal applying medium of the signal applying unit and the voltage V across the coil constituting the signal applying medium. A power consumption measuring means for measuring the power consumption of the coil, and a detection means for detecting contact and separation of the two body parts due to the user's body movement based on the power consumption of the coil measured by the power consumption measuring means And may be configured to include (claim 6).

  As with the impedance measurement, when the current I (amplitude) is constant, the power consumption of the coil can be measured by measuring the voltage V, and when the voltage V (amplitude) is constant. If the current I is measured, the power consumption of the coil can be measured.

  Also with the electrical device configured as described above, the contact and separation between two body parts due to the user's body movement can be detected well, and the same effect as the above-described electrical device can be obtained.

  When the power consumption of the coil measured by the power consumption measurement means exceeds the reference value, the detection means detects the contact between the two body parts, and the power consumption of the coil measured by the power consumption measurement means is the reference value. If it is less than, it can be set as the structure which detects separation | spacing of two body parts.

  In addition, the electric device of the present invention described above may be configured to include a process execution unit that executes a process corresponding to the detection result based on the detection result of the detection unit. Based on the above, an operation signal output unit that outputs an operation signal corresponding to the user's physical movement to an external device may be provided.

  If the operation signal output means is provided in the electric device of the present invention, the electric device can be configured as a highly convenient input interface capable of operating an external device. The external device and the electric device of the present invention may be connected by wire, but it is preferable from the viewpoint of convenience to be connected wirelessly.

It is the permeation | transmission perspective view (a) of the body-mounted input device 1, and explanatory drawing (b) showing the arrangement | positioning aspect of a coil, an electrode, etc. at the time of mounting | wearing with a finger. It is explanatory drawing (a) regarding the operating principle of the body-worn type input device 1, and the equivalent circuit schematic (b) of a measurement system. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the body-mounted input device 1 and the remote operation system 100. FIG. It is a flowchart showing the process which the control part 17 performs. It is the figure which showed the example which uses the body mounting type input device 1 as a bracelet. It is explanatory drawing (a) regarding the structure of the body-worn type input device 2, and the equivalent circuit schematic (b) of a measurement system. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the body-mounted input device 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing (a) regarding the structure of the body-worn type input device 3, and the equivalent circuit schematic (b) of a measurement system. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the body-mounted input device 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the body-mounted input device 4. FIG. It is explanatory drawing showing the correspondence of the pressure at the time of a finger contact, and a measured value, and the correspondence of a slide direction and a measured value.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First embodiment]
FIG. 1A is a transparent perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of the body-mounted input device 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement mode of coils, electrodes, and the like when the body-mounted input device 1 is worn on a user's finger.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the body-worn input device 1 of this embodiment is worn on a user's finger, and the tip of the finger on which the body-worn input device 1 is worn is the same user's finger. A contact / separation from another body part (see FIG. 2A) is detected, and a command based on the detection result is input to the external device 110 (see FIG. 3).

  The body-worn input device 1 includes a pair of signal application media 11 (see FIG. 1B) configured by an annular body in which a coil 11b is wound around an annular core 11a and a pair of annular electrodes. Each of the measurement electrodes 13a and 13b is provided and integrated in a ring main body 10 as an annular body constituting the outer shape of the body-mounted input device 1 while being insulated from the ring main body 10. Has been.

  Specifically, the signal applying medium 11 and the measurement electrodes 13a and 13b are provided in the ring body 10 so as to be arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals along the axis of the finger to be worn.

  In other words, the signal applying medium 11 is provided in the ring main body 10 so as to be arranged in an external region of the region X surrounded by the pair of measurement electrodes 13a and 13b. The measurement electrodes 13a and 13b have inner surfaces facing the inner side of the ring with respect to the ring body 10 so that the body-mounted input device 1 is in contact with the user's body surface (finger surface) when the body-mounted input device 1 is worn on the finger. The ring body 10 is fixed in an exposed state.

  In FIG. 1B, the pair of measurement electrodes 13 a and 13 b are arranged closer to the tip side of the finger than the signal application medium 11, but the measurement electrodes 13 a and 13 b are more than the signal application medium 11. It may be arranged on the base side of the finger. That is, when the body-mounted input device 1 is used while being worn on a finger, the orientation of the body-mounted input device 1 is not questioned.

  In the body-worn input device 1, the signal applying medium 11 generates an electric current in the coil 11b when an alternating voltage is applied to both ends of the coil 11b from the applying unit 12, and thereby varies in the circumferential direction of the annular core 11a. To form a magnetic field. That is, the body-mounted input device 1 according to the present embodiment is arranged in the axial direction of the finger on which the body-mounted input device 1 is mounted, which is perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the annular core 11a, by electromagnetic induction caused by the varying magnetic field. By measuring the generated electrical signal, contact and separation between the finger on which the body-mounted input device 1 is mounted and other body parts are detected.

  FIG. 2A is a diagram for explaining the detection principle of finger contact / separation in the body-mounted input device 1. In the following, this principle will be described, but for the sake of simplicity, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), with the body-worn input device 1 being worn on the index finger, the user's physical movement causes the index finger to Consider the case where the thumb is touched / separated.

  In this case, in the state where the index finger and the thumb are separated from each other, the closed body-shaped conductor path passing through the axial direction of the body-mounted input device 1 (ring body 10) is not formed on the user's body (in other words, In this case, since the distal end side of the finger on which the body-worn input device 1 is worn is insulated), even if a fluctuating magnetic field is generated in the signal applying medium 11, electromagnetic induction is applied to the wearing finger of the body-worn input device 1. The electrical signal (current) due to is not generated.

Therefore, an electrical signal is not generated in the body part (part corresponding to the region X) sandwiched between the measurement electrodes 13a and 13b, and the voltage measurement value between the measurement electrodes 13a and 13b becomes zero.
On the other hand, when the index finger and the thumb are in contact with each other, a closed conductor path having a closed ring shape is formed by the thumb, the index finger, and a body part that connects the thumb and the index finger at the base of the thumb and the index finger.

  For this reason, due to the fluctuating magnetic field of the signal applying medium 11, an electrical signal due to electromagnetic induction is applied to the wearing finger of the body-mounted input device 1 (specifically, the axial direction of the finger orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the annular core 11a). Current) flows, and a voltage greater than zero is measured between the measurement electrodes 13a and 13b.

In the present embodiment, by utilizing such a phenomenon, it is detected that the finger is touched / separated by the user's body movement based on the voltage measurement value between the measurement electrodes 13a and 13b.
FIG. 2B is an equivalent circuit diagram of a measurement system in the body-mounted input device 1. However, in FIG. 2B, the resistance of the user's body part through which the electrical signal generated in the user's body by electromagnetic induction propagates is expressed in a lumped constant system for the sake of simplicity.

  Specifically, the resistance R11 shown in FIG. 2B represents the electrical resistance of the body part from the measurement electrode 13a to the tip of the thumb, and the resistance R12 is the electrical resistance of the body part from the tip of the index finger to the measurement electrode 13b. A resistance R13 represents an electrical resistance between the measurement electrodes 13a and 13b. The switch SW represents contact / separation between the index finger and the thumb.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, inductance exists in the user's body. Therefore, when the index finger and the thumb are separated from each other, an electrical signal does not flow to the user's body due to electromagnetic induction, but when the index finger and the thumb are in contact, a closed circuit is formed, Electromagnetic signals flow through the user's body due to electromagnetic induction. In the present embodiment, due to such a phenomenon, the voltage generated in the measurement electrodes 13a and 13b is measured by the voltage measurement unit 14, and it is detected that the finger is touched / separated by the user's body movement.

  In addition, although the example which contacts / separates the front-end | tip part of the index finger with which the body-mounted input device 1 was mounted | worn above was demonstrated above, the front-end | tip part of the index finger with which the body-mounted input device 1 was mounted | worn is Not only the thumb but also the middle finger may be contacted, the other palm may be contacted, or the body may be contacted. That is, the user contacts / separates the body part on the terminal side (fingertip side) with respect to the other body part from the body part to which the body-mounted input device 1 is attached, so that the body-mounted input device of this embodiment is used. 1 can be used.

  Even if such physical exercise is performed, a closed conductor path is formed in the user's body, and an electric signal flows due to electromagnetic induction. Contact / separation between parts can be detected.

  Next, the detailed configuration of the body-mounted input device 1 and the configuration of the remote operation system 100 using the body-mounted input device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the body-mounted input device 1 and the remote control system 100.

  The body-mounted input device 1 of the present embodiment includes a signal application medium 11 having the above-described configuration, an application unit 12 that applies an AC signal (AC voltage) to the signal application medium 11, measurement electrodes 13a and 13b, and this measurement application. A voltage measurement unit 14 that measures the voltage between the electrodes 13a and 13b, a control unit 17, and a wireless transmission unit 19 are provided.

  In the body-mounted input device 1, the application unit 12 is driven at a constant voltage or a constant current, and applies an AC signal (AC voltage) to both ends of the coil 11 b of the signal application medium 11. The applied signal may be a triangular wave, a sine wave, a rectangular wave, a sawtooth wave, or the like.

The voltage measuring unit 14 is configured to measure the voltage between the measurement electrodes 13 a and 13 b and to input this voltage measurement value (effective value) to the control unit 17.
Then, the control unit 17 determines the contact / separation of the finger based on the voltage measurement value input from the voltage measurement unit 14, and uses a command based on the determination result as an operation signal for the external device 110, as a wireless transmission unit. 19 through the external device 110. The wireless transmission unit 19 is controlled by the control unit 17 to transmit the command to the external device 110 wirelessly.

  Specifically, the controller 17 inputs (transmits) a command based on the determination result to the external device 110 through the wireless transmission unit 19 by periodically and repeatedly executing the process illustrated in FIG. To do.

  That is, the control unit 17 determines whether or not the voltage measurement value input from the voltage measurement unit 14 exceeds a predetermined threshold (S110), and determines that it exceeds the threshold (Yes in S110). It is determined that the finger is in contact, and a predetermined first command to be transmitted to the external device 110 when the finger is touched is transmitted to the external device 110 through the wireless transmission unit 19 (S120). If it is determined that the voltage measurement value input from the voltage measurement unit 14 is equal to or less than the threshold value (No in S110), it is determined that the finger is separated and transmitted to the external device 110 when the finger is separated. The predetermined second command to be transmitted is transmitted to the external device 110 through the wireless transmission unit 19 (S130). Note that the control unit 17 may be configured not to execute the process of S130.

  In contrast to the configuration of the body-mounted input device 1, the external device 110 in the remote operation system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a wireless reception unit 111 and a control unit 113. The external device 110 receives the command transmitted in a wireless form from the body-mounted input device 1 through the wireless reception unit 111, and the control unit 113 executes processing corresponding to the command. For example, the external device 110 outputs a video signal for grasping or releasing an object in the virtual space through a display screen (not shown) based on a command received from the body-mounted input device 1.

  The remote operation system 100 according to the present embodiment performs processing corresponding to the movement of the finger of the user wearing the body-mounted input device 1 by the external device 110 according to such a processing procedure. Realize the operation.

However, the process illustrated in FIG. 4A performed by the control unit 17 is an example, and the control unit 17 may be configured to periodically and repeatedly execute the process illustrated in FIG. 4B, for example. .
That is, the control unit 17 determines whether or not the voltage measurement value input from the voltage measurement unit 14 exceeds a predetermined threshold (S210), and if the voltage measurement value is equal to or less than the threshold ( When the determination is made that the voltage measurement value exceeds the threshold value (Yes in S210), the state flag indicating contact / separation of the finger is set to OFF indicating that the finger is separated (S220). Then, by determining whether or not the state flag is off, it is determined whether or not it is immediately after touching the finger (S230). If the state flag is off (Yes in S230), the external device 110 A predetermined command for turning on / off the power is output through the wireless transmission unit 19 to remotely control the external device 110 (S240), and the status flag is switched to ON indicating that the finger is touching ( S2 0), if the state flag is ON (at S230 No), it may be a configuration for performing a process of maintaining the ON state flag without sending the command.

If the control unit 17 is configured in this manner, for example, it is possible to turn on / off the power of the external device 110 only by performing an operation of bringing the index finger into contact with the thumb.
In addition, the control unit 17 measures the finger contact time by measuring the time when the voltage measurement value exceeds the threshold, and switches the command input to the external device 110 according to the finger contact time. It may be made. Further, a pattern of finger contact / separation may be recorded, and a command corresponding to the input pattern may be output to the external device 110. Various modes can be considered for the algorithm for determining the command to be input to the external device 110 based on the voltage measurement value input from the voltage measurement unit 14.

  In the present embodiment, the body-mounted input device 1 has a ring shape for mounting on a finger. However, the body-mounted input device 1 may be enlarged and formed into a bracelet shape that can be mounted on an arm. . In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the external device 110 can be remotely operated by, for example, an operation of connecting and releasing both hands.

  Although the first embodiment has been described above, the correspondence between this embodiment and “Claims” is as follows. That is, the electric device described in “Claims” corresponds to the body-mounted input device 1 in this embodiment, the signal applying unit corresponds to the signal applying medium 11 and the applying unit 12, and the measuring unit is This corresponds to the measurement electrodes 13 a and 13 b and the voltage measurement unit 14.

  In addition, the detection unit corresponds to the processing of S110 or S210 executed by the control unit 17, and the operation signal output unit corresponds to the processing of S120, S130, S240, etc. executed by the control unit 17.

[Second Example]
Next, the body-mounted input device 2 according to the second embodiment will be described. However, the body-worn input device 2 of the second embodiment is a voltage measurement at a point where voltage measurement is performed by the measurement electrodes 13a and 13b and the voltage measuring unit 14 in the body-worn input device 1 of the first embodiment. The configuration is basically the same as that of the body-mounted input device 1 according to the first embodiment except that a configuration for performing current measurement is provided instead. Therefore, in the following, regarding the body-worn input device 2 of the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and description of these same components will be appropriately described. Omitted.

FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the body-mounted input device 2 of the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the body-mounted input device 2 according to the present embodiment includes a signal applying medium 11 and is configured by an annular body in which a coil 23c is wound around an annular core 23b. The measurement coil 23a is provided. The signal applying medium 11 and the measurement coil 23a are provided in a ring main body 10 as an annular body constituting the outer shape of the body-mounted input device 2 in a state insulated from the ring main body 10. And integrated.

  Further, the signal applying medium 11 and the measurement coil 23a are arranged in parallel along the axis of the ring main body 10 (in other words, along the axis of the finger to be worn) at a predetermined interval. .

  In this body-worn input device 2, the electric signal (current) generated in the wearing finger of the body-worn input device 2 due to electromagnetic induction due to the fluctuating magnetic field generated by the signal application medium 11 is the same principle of electromagnetic induction. Is measured by the measuring coil 23a, and it is detected that the finger is touched / separated by the user's physical movement.

  FIG. 6B is an equivalent circuit diagram of a measurement system in the body-mounted input device 2. A resistance R10 shown in FIG. 6B represents an electrical resistance of a conductor path formed in the user's body by contact between the wearing finger of the body-worn input device 2 and another body part. The switch SW expresses contact / separation between the wearing finger of the body-worn input device 2 and another body part.

  Similar to the first embodiment (see FIG. 2A), when the body-mounted input device 2 of the present embodiment is mounted on a user's finger, the mounting finger and other body of the body-mounted input device 2 When the tip of the wearing finger of the body-worn input device 2 is insulated from the part, the electric signal does not flow to the user's body due to electromagnetic induction even by the fluctuating magnetic field generated by the signal applying medium 11. However, when the wearing finger of the body-worn input device 2 and another body part are in contact with each other, a closed conductor path is formed in the user's body, and an electric signal flows through the user's body by electromagnetic induction. It will be.

  Therefore, when the wearing finger of the body-worn input device 2 is in contact with another body part, a current is generated in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the measuring coil 23a (annular core 23b). Thus, a magnetic field is generated in the circumferential direction of the measuring coil 23a, and a voltage having a magnitude corresponding to the amount of electric current flowing through the user's body is generated at both ends of the coil 23c by electromagnetic induction.

  In the present embodiment, by utilizing such a principle, the current flowing through the user's body is measured by measuring the voltage across the coil 23c, and accordingly, the finger touches / separates due to the user's physical movement. Is detected.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the body-worn input device 2 includes a current sensor 23 including a measurement coil 23a and a measurement circuit 24 in addition to the signal application medium 11 and the application unit 12, and a control unit. 27 and a wireless transmission unit 19. As in the first embodiment, the application unit 12 applies an AC signal (AC voltage) to both ends of the coil 11 b of the signal application medium 11. The current flowing in the user's body (current in the direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the measuring coil 23 a) is measured by the technique, and the current measurement value (effective value) is input to the control unit 27.

  Based on the current measurement value (effective value) input from the current sensor 23, the control unit 27 determines that the finger is in contact when the current measurement value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. If the voltage measurement value is equal to or less than the threshold value, it is determined that the finger is separated.

  Specifically, in the process shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 27 determines whether or not the current measurement value input from the current sensor 23 exceeds a predetermined threshold value in S110 (or S210). The contact / separation of the finger is determined by executing the processing of the content replaced with the “determining” step.

Then, the control unit 27 transmits a command to the external device 110 through the wireless transmission unit 19 according to the determination result.
Note that the measurement circuit 24 included in the current sensor 23 can be specifically configured as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, the differential amplification is performed by amplifying a difference between signals input from both ends of the coil 23c, connected to both ends of the coil 23c constituting the measurement coil 23a, and outputting the amplified signal. A circuit 24a, and a rectifier 24b that rectifies and converts the output signal (AC signal) of the differential amplifier circuit 24a into a DC signal, and outputs the output signal from the rectifier 24b as a current measurement value. Can do.

  By configuring the measurement circuit 24 in such a configuration, the current sensor 23 has an effective value of the voltage generated at both ends of the coil 23c as a measured current value (current value flowing in the axial direction of the body part to which the measurement coil 23a is attached). (Effective value) and output.

  In the current sensor 23 of the present embodiment, the difference between signals input from both ends of the coil 23c is amplified, so that in-phase noise input from both ends of the coil 23c can be cut. As shown in FIG. 7B, a filter 24c that passes only a signal having the same frequency as the signal applied to the signal applying medium 11 is provided between the current sensor 23 and the rectifier 24b. It is more preferable that the noise signal that cannot be removed even by the dynamic amplifier circuit 24a is removed. FIG. 7B is a block diagram showing a configuration of a current sensor 23 according to a modification in which the filter 24c is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7C, the measurement circuit 24 includes a synchronous detector 24d between the differential amplifier circuit 24a and the rectifier 24b, and is applied to the signal application medium 11 by the synchronous detector 24d. Synchronous detection may be performed using the signal as a reference signal, and an output signal of the synchronous detector 24d may be input to the rectifier 24b to output a current measurement value. If the measurement circuit 24 is configured in this way, the noise signal can be dynamically removed even when the output frequency of the applied signal changes. The reference signal may be phase-adjusted by the phase adjuster 24e as necessary.

  The body-mounted input device 2 according to the second embodiment has been described above. The correspondence between the body-mounted input device 2 and the invention described in “Claims” is as follows. That is, the signal applying unit corresponds to the signal applying medium 11 and the applying unit 12, the measuring unit corresponds to the current sensor 23, the measuring body corresponds to the measuring coil 23a, and the detecting unit and the operation signal output unit are Corresponds to the control unit 27.

[Third embodiment]
Next, the body-mounted input device 3 according to the third embodiment will be described. However, in the following, as the configuration of the body-mounted input device 3 of the third embodiment, the configuration different from the body-mounted input device 1 of the first embodiment will be selectively described, and the description of the parts of the same configuration will be given. Omitted where appropriate.

  Unlike the first and second embodiments, the body-mounted input device 3 according to the present embodiment is not a method of measuring a physical quantity of an electric signal flowing through the user's body, but the impedance of the coil 11b constituting the signal applying medium 11. The contact / separation of the finger due to the user's physical movement is detected by the method of measuring the angle.

  FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the body-mounted input device 3. As shown in FIG. 8A, the body-mounted input device 3 of the present embodiment does not include the measurement electrodes 13a and 13b and the current sensor 23 for measuring the physical quantity of the electric signal flowing through the user's body, The signal applying medium 11 is provided in a ring main body 10 as an annular body constituting the outer shape of the body-mounted input device 3 so as to be insulated from the ring main body 10, and has an integrated simple configuration. ing.

  FIG. 8B is an equivalent circuit diagram of a measurement system in the body-mounted input device 3. A resistance R10 shown in FIG. 8B represents the electrical resistance of a conductor path formed in the user's body by contact between the wearing finger of the body-mounted input device 3 and another body part. The switch SW represents contact / separation between the wearing finger of the body-mounted input device 3 and another body part.

  Similar to the first embodiment (see FIG. 2A), when the body-mounted input device 3 of the present embodiment is mounted on a user's finger, the mounting finger and other body of the body-mounted input device 3 When the tip of the wearing finger of the body-worn input device 3 is insulated from the part, an electric signal flows to the user's body due to electromagnetic induction even by a fluctuating magnetic field generated by the signal applying medium 11. There is no.

  On the other hand, when the wearing finger of the body-mounted input device 3 is in contact with another body part, a closed conductor path is formed in the user's body, and an electric signal is transmitted to the user's body by electromagnetic induction. Will flow, so the impedance of the coil 11b changes.

  In the body-mounted input device 3 according to the present embodiment, the impedance measurement unit 33 measures the impedance of the coil 11b by using such a principle, thereby detecting finger contact / separation due to the user's body movement. .

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the body-mounted input device 3 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the body-worn input device 3 of this embodiment includes a signal application medium 11, an impedance measurement unit 33 that measures the impedance of a coil 11 b that constitutes the signal application medium 11, and an impedance measurement unit 33. Is controlled by the control unit 37 and the control unit 37 that determine the contact / separation of the finger based on the impedance measurement value (absolute value) input from the control unit 37 and transmit a command based on the determination result through the wireless transmission unit 19. A wireless transmission unit 19 that wirelessly transmits the command to the external device 110.

  The impedance measuring unit 33 is driven by constant voltage or constant current and applies an AC signal (AC voltage) to both ends of the coil 11b constituting the signal applying medium 11, and an application unit 33a having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, A voltage measurement unit 33b that measures the voltage across the coil 11b and a current measurement unit 33c that measures the current flowing through the coil 11b are provided. The voltage V measured by the voltage measurement unit 33b and the current measurement unit 33c From the measured current I, the impedance of the coil 11 b is measured, and the measured impedance value (absolute value) is input to the control unit 37.

  As for the impedance Z of the coil 11b, with respect to its absolute value | Z |, the absolute value | Zoff | of the impedance Zoff when the finger is separated and the absolute value of the impedance Zon when the finger is in contact | Since the relationship | Zoff |> | Zon | is established with Zon |, the control unit 37 determines the contact / separation of the finger according to this relationship.

  Specifically, in the process shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 37 determines that the determination step of S110 (or S210) is “the impedance measurement value (absolute value) input from the impedance measurement unit 33 is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. The contact / separation of the finger is determined by executing the processing with the content replaced with the “determining whether or not”.

  When the impedance measurement value (absolute value) input from the impedance measurement unit 33 is less than or equal to the threshold value, it is handled that the finger is in contact, and an affirmative determination is made in S110 or S210, and the impedance input from the impedance measurement unit 33 If the measured value (absolute value) exceeds the threshold, the finger is handled as being separated, and a negative determination is made in S110 or S210.

And the control part 37 transmits a command to the external apparatus 110 through the wireless transmission part 19 according to this determination result.
The body-mounted input device 3 according to the third embodiment has been described above. If the internal impedance is ignored, the voltage across the voltage measurement unit 33b matches the voltage across the application unit 33a. Therefore, when the application unit 33a is driven at a constant voltage, the voltage measurement unit 33b is not provided, the impedance measurement unit 33 is provided with only the application unit 33a and the current measurement unit 33c, and the application unit 33a is applied to the coil 11b. The body-mounted input device 3 may be configured so as to obtain the impedance of the coil 11b from the voltage V to be measured and the current I measured by the current measuring unit 33c.

  When the application unit 33a is driven with a constant current, the current (amplitude) measured by the current measurement unit 33c takes a constant value. Therefore, in this case, the body-worn input device 3 is not provided with the current measurement unit 33c, and the impedance measurement unit 33 is provided with only the application unit 33a and the voltage measurement unit 33b to obtain the impedance of the coil 11b. It may be configured.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, the impedance measurement unit 33 measures the absolute value of the impedance of the coil 11b. However, the impedance measurement unit 33 measures the real part (that is, resistance) of the impedance of the coil 11b. It may be configured to.

  Also in this case, since the impedance measurement value is smaller when the finger is in contact than when the finger is separated, the contact / separation of the finger can be determined based on the principle described above. .

  The correspondence relationship between the body-mounted input device 3 of this embodiment and the invention described in “Claims” is as follows. That is, the signal applying unit corresponds to the signal applying medium 11 and the applying unit 33 a, the impedance measuring unit corresponds to the impedance measuring unit 33, and the detecting unit and the operation signal output unit correspond to the control unit 37.

[Fourth embodiment]
Next, the body-mounted input device 4 according to the fourth embodiment will be described.
The body-mounted input device 4 of the fourth embodiment is not a method of measuring a physical quantity of an electric signal flowing through the user's body, but a method of measuring the power consumed by the coil 11b constituting the signal application medium 11 by the user. It is configured to detect finger contact / separation due to body movement. The body-mounted input device 4 basically has the same configuration as that of the body-mounted input device 3 of the third embodiment except that a power measuring unit 43 is provided instead of the impedance measuring unit 33.

  Accordingly, in the following, as the configuration of the body-mounted input device 4 of the fourth embodiment, a configuration different from the body-mounted input device 3 of the third embodiment will be selectively described, and the description of the parts having the same configuration will be given. Omitted where appropriate.

  In the body-mounted input device 4 of the present embodiment, the signal applying medium 11 is placed in the ring body 10 as an annular body constituting the outer shape of the body-mounted input device 4, as in the third embodiment. Is provided in an insulated state and has a simple and integrated configuration (see FIG. 8A).

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, the body-mounted input device 4 includes a signal application medium 11, a power measurement unit 43 that measures the average power consumption of the coil 11 b that constitutes the signal application medium 11, and a power measurement unit. 43 is controlled by the control unit 47 and the control unit 47 which determine the contact / separation of the finger based on the measurement value of the average power consumption input from 43 and transmit a command based on the determination result through the wireless transmission unit 19. And a wireless transmission unit 19 that transmits the command to the external device 110 wirelessly. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the body-mounted input device 4.

  Similarly to the impedance measuring unit 33, the power measuring unit 43 is driven by constant voltage or constant current and applies an AC signal (AC voltage) to both ends of the coil 11 b constituting the signal applying medium 11. A voltage measuring unit 43b that measures the voltage across both ends of the coil 11b, and a current measuring unit 43c that measures the current flowing through the coil 11b, and the voltage V measured by the voltage measuring unit 43b and the current measuring unit 43c. From the measured current I, the average power consumption (active power or apparent power) of the coil 11 b is measured, and the measured value of the average power consumption is input to the control unit 47.

  The equivalent circuit diagram of the measurement system in the body-mounted input device 4 is the same as the equivalent circuit diagram (FIG. 8B) of the body-mounted input device 3 of the third embodiment. The difference from the body-worn input device 3 of the third embodiment is whether the impedance is measured or the average power consumption is measured from the measured values of the voltage across the coil 11b and the current flowing through the coil 11b.

  The control unit 47 to which the measured value of the average power consumption is input from the power measurement unit 43 configured as described above performs the determination step of S110 (or S210) in the process shown in FIG. By determining whether or not the measured value of the average power consumption exceeds a predetermined threshold value ”step, the touch / separation of the finger is determined.

  Regarding the average power consumption of the coil 11b, assuming that the application unit 43a is driven at a constant voltage or a constant current, the finger is in contact with the average power consumption Woff when the finger is separated. The relationship of Won> Woff is established between the average power consumption Won. In the present embodiment, the contact / separation of the finger is determined using such a relationship as described above.

Then, the control unit 47 transmits a command to the external device 110 through the wireless transmission unit 19 according to the determination result.
By the way, as in the third embodiment, in the body-mounted input device 4, when the internal impedance is ignored, the voltage across the voltage measurement unit 43b matches the voltage across the application unit 43a.

  Therefore, when the application unit 43a is driven at a constant voltage, the voltage measurement unit 43b is not provided, the power measurement unit 43 is provided with only the application unit 43a and the current measurement unit 43c, and the application unit 43a is applied to the coil 11b. The body-mounted input device 4 may be configured so as to obtain the average power consumption of the coil 11b from the voltage V to be measured and the current I measured by the current measuring unit 43c. The case where the application unit 43a is driven with a constant current is the same as in the third embodiment.

  In the above, the body-mounted input device 4 of the fourth embodiment has been described. However, the correspondence relationship between the body-mounted input device 4 of the present embodiment described above and the invention described in “Claims” is as follows. It is as follows. That is, the signal applying unit corresponds to the signal applying medium 11 and the applying unit 43 a, the power measuring unit corresponds to the power measuring unit 43, and the detecting unit and the operation signal output unit correspond to the control unit 47.

[effect]
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, according to the body-mounted input devices 1-4 of the said Example, the external apparatus 110 can be operated by simple body movements, such as finger contact / separation. For the user, the operation of the external device 110 is simple. In addition, since it is not necessary to operate a small tact switch or the like, there is an advantage that even if the user uses the body-mounted input devices 1 to 4 for a long time, fatigue does not easily accumulate.

  In addition, since the state of finger contact / separation can be detected, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to detect an operation in which the user picks or releases an object, and a new operation sense input interface is provided to the user. Can be provided.

  Furthermore, according to the body-mounted input devices 1 to 4, the signal applying means does not employ a method of applying an electrical signal through an electrode that contacts the user's body, and the user's body is electromagnetically induced. Since a method of applying an electrical signal to the electrode is employed, it is possible to detect contact / separation of a finger with higher accuracy than a method of applying a signal through an electrode.

  That is, when a signal is applied through the electrode, the contact resistance changes depending on the contact state between the electrode and the skin, and the amount of electric signal (current amount) input to the user's body changes. For this reason, when the electrode is not in proper contact with the skin, finger contact cannot be detected with high sensitivity. In addition, when applying a signal through electrodes, a signal is applied between a pair of electrodes, and the contact / separation of the finger is detected by utilizing the fact that the flow of an electrical signal changes depending on the contact / separation of the finger. Therefore, even when the finger is separated, a signal is applied to the user's body. For this reason, it is necessary to reduce the amount of electric signal (current amount) to be applied in consideration of the influence on the user's body.

  On the other hand, in the method of the above embodiment in which an electrical signal is applied to the user's body by electromagnetic induction, the electrical signal is applied to the user's body unless the finger is in contact with another body part to form a closed conductor path. Is not applied, the influence on the user's body is small compared to the case of using an electrode, and the amount of electric signal (current amount) to be applied can be increased.

Therefore, according to the body-mounted input devices 1 to 4 of the above embodiment, it is possible to detect finger contact / separation with higher accuracy than the technique of applying a signal to the user's body through the electrodes.
In particular, as in the second embodiment, if the electric signal flowing through the user's body is measured using the current sensor 23, the electrode does not need to be used on the measurement side, so that the electrode properly contacts the user's body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the detection accuracy of finger contact / separation from deteriorating.

[Others]
Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can take various forms. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which a command to be transmitted to the external device 110 is switched by contact / separation of a finger has been described. However, measurement values (voltage, current, impedance, and average power consumption) of each embodiment are The controller 17, 27, 37, 47 is configured to switch the command to be transmitted to the external device 110 according to the finger pressing force because it changes depending on the finger pressing force when the finger is in contact. May be.

  FIG. 11A is a diagram showing the correspondence between the pressure at the time of finger contact and the measured value. For example, when voltage measurement is performed as in the first embodiment, the voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit 14 increases as the pressure at the time of contact increases. Similarly, when current measurement is performed as in the second embodiment, the current measured by the current sensor 23 increases as the pressure at the time of contact increases.

  When impedance measurement is performed as in the third embodiment, the impedance measured by the impedance measurement unit 33 decreases as the pressure at the time of contact increases, and power measurement is performed as in the fourth embodiment. In this case, the average power consumption measured by the power measurement unit 43 increases as the pressure at the time of contact increases.

  Therefore, if the body-mounted input devices 1 to 4 are configured so as to transmit a command corresponding to the finger pressing force to the external device 110 using such a relationship, more complicated remote operation is possible. It becomes.

  In addition, the measured value of each Example also changes with the positional relationship between the finger contact position and the body-mounted input devices 1 to 4. Therefore, the control units 17, 27, 37, and 47 determine whether the user slides the finger away from the body-mounted input devices 1 to 4 based on the measurement value. The command to be transmitted to the external device 110 may be switched.

  FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between the slide direction and the measurement value. For example, when voltage measurement is performed as in the first embodiment, it is expected that the voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit 14 decreases as the contact position moves away from the apparatus. Similarly, when current measurement is performed as in the second embodiment, it is expected that the current measured by the current sensor 23 decreases as the contact position moves away from the apparatus.

  Further, when impedance measurement is performed as in the third embodiment, it is expected that the impedance measured by the impedance measurement unit 33 increases as the contact position moves away from the apparatus. In the case of performing measurement, it is expected that the average power consumption measured by the power measurement unit 43 decreases as the contact position moves away from the apparatus.

In addition, although not described above, the input interface for operating the external device 110 may be composed of a plurality of body-mounted input devices 1 to 4.
That is, the plurality of body-mounted input devices 1 to 4 constituting the input interface are configured to transmit different commands to the external device 110, respectively, and the plurality of bodies constituting the input interface are provided to the user's fingers. If the wearable input devices 1 to 4 are worn, the input interface can be configured so that a large number of commands can be transmitted to the external device 110 with a simple finger contact / separation operation.

  In addition, the body-mounted input device 2 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment need not be configured as a single device, and may be configured as a device separated for each function. That is, in the body-worn input devices 1 and 2, the signal applying medium 11 and the applying unit 12 are configured to be electrically independent from other components. You may isolate | separate into the 1st apparatus which consists of the signal application medium 11 and the application part 12, and the 2nd apparatus which consists of an other than that component.

  In this case, a plurality of first devices are prepared for the second device, and AC signals having different frequencies are applied from each first device, and the measurement electrodes 13a and 13b are applied to the second device. Alternatively, by providing means for separating the AC signal obtained through the current sensor 23 for each frequency, the second device can detect the contact / separation of a plurality of fingers, resulting in more commands. It can be transmitted to the external device 110.

  For example, if the second device is attached to the thumb and the first device is attached to the index finger and the middle finger, a number of commands can be received by the contact / separation operation between the index finger and the thumb and the contact / separation operation between the middle finger and the thumb. It can be transmitted to the external device 110.

  In the above embodiment, the body-mounted input devices 1 to 4 wirelessly output commands to the external device 110. However, the body-mounted input devices 1 to 4 output commands to the external device 110 by wire. It may be configured to.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2, 3, 4 ... Body-mounted input device, 10 ... Ring main body, 11 ... Signal application medium, 11a, 23b ... Annular core, 11b, 23c ... Coil, 12, 33a, 43a ... Application part, 13a, 13b ... Electrode for measurement, 14 ... Voltage measurement unit, 17, 27, 37, 47 ... Control unit, 19 ... Wireless transmission unit, 23 ... Current sensor, 23a ... Coil for measurement, 24 ... Measurement circuit, 24a ... Differential amplification circuit 24b ... rectifier, 24c ... filter, 24d ... synchronous detector, 24e ... phase adjuster, 33 ... impedance measuring unit, 33b, 43b ... voltage measuring unit, 33c, 43c ... current measuring unit, 43 ... power measuring unit, 100 ... Remote operation system, 110 ... External device

Claims (7)

An electrical device that is used by being worn on a user's body,
An annulus that is attached to a body part in which a closed and closed conductor path is formed by contact through the body surface of two body parts that can be contacted and separated so that the circumferential direction is orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the conductor path An annular signal applying medium having a coil wound around an annular core, and a current is passed through the coil constituting the signal applying medium to constitute the annular signal applying medium. In a state where the conductor path is formed by generating a magnetic field in the circumferential direction of the core, signal applying means for generating an electrical signal in the circumferential direction of the conductor path by electromagnetic induction;
A body part in which the conductor path is formed, and a measuring unit that is attached to a part different from the signal application medium and measures a physical quantity of an electrical signal generated in the body part;
Detecting means for detecting contact and separation of the two body parts due to a user's body movement based on a physical quantity of the electrical signal measured by the measuring means;
An electrical apparatus comprising: The measurement means has a pair of electrodes that contact a user's body, and is configured to measure a voltage between the pair of electrodes as a physical quantity of the electrical signal.
The detection means is configured to detect the contact when a voltage measurement value by the measurement means exceeds a reference value, and detect the separation when the voltage measurement value by the measurement means falls below a reference value. The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein The measuring means is configured to measure a current flowing along a circumferential direction of the conductor path in a body part to which the measuring means is attached as a physical quantity of the electrical signal,
The detection means is configured to detect the contact when a current measurement value by the measurement means exceeds a reference value, and detect the separation when the current measurement value by the measurement means falls below a reference value. The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein The measuring means is an annular body mounted on the user's body so that the circumferential direction is orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the conductor path, and an annular measuring body having a coil wound around the annular core. And a magnetic field is generated in the circumferential direction of the annular core constituting the measurement body by the current flowing along the conductor path, and an electric signal flows through the coil constituting the measurement body due to electromagnetic induction generated thereby. The electric device according to claim 3, wherein the electric device is configured to measure a current flowing through a body part surrounded by the measurement body. An electrical device that is used by being worn on a user's body,
An annulus that is attached to a body part in which a closed and closed conductor path is formed by contact through the body surface of two body parts that can be contacted and separated so that the circumferential direction is orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the conductor path An annular signal applying medium having a coil wound around an annular core, and a current is passed through the coil constituting the signal applying medium to constitute the annular signal applying medium. In a state where the conductor path is formed by generating a magnetic field in the circumferential direction of the core, signal applying means for generating an electrical signal in the circumferential direction of the conductor path by electromagnetic induction;
Impedance measuring means for measuring the impedance of the coil by measuring at least one of a current flowing in a coil constituting the signal applying medium and a voltage across the coil constituting the signal applying medium;
Detection means for detecting contact and separation of the two body parts due to a user's body movement based on the impedance measured by the impedance measurement means;
With
The detecting means detects the contact when the impedance measured by the impedance measuring means falls below a reference value, and detects the separation when the impedance measured by the impedance measuring means exceeds a reference value. Electrical equipment characterized by An electrical device that is used by being worn on a user's body,
An annulus that is attached to a body part in which a closed and closed conductor path is formed by contact through the body surface of two body parts that can be contacted and separated so that the circumferential direction is orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the conductor path An annular signal applying medium having a coil wound around an annular core, and a current is passed through the coil constituting the signal applying medium to constitute the annular signal applying medium. In a state where the conductor path is formed by generating a magnetic field in the circumferential direction of the core, signal applying means for generating an electrical signal in the circumferential direction of the conductor path by electromagnetic induction;
Power consumption measuring means for measuring the power consumption of the coil by measuring at least one of the current flowing through the coil constituting the signal application medium and the voltage across the coil constituting the signal application medium;
Based on the power consumption of the coil measured by the power consumption measuring means, detection means for detecting contact and separation of the two body parts due to a user's body movement;
With
The detection means detects the contact when the power consumption of the coil measured by the power consumption measurement means exceeds a reference value, and the power consumption of the coil measured by the power consumption measurement means takes a reference value. The electrical apparatus is configured to detect the separation when below. The operation signal output means which outputs the operation signal corresponding to a user's body movement with respect to an external device based on the detection result of the said detection means is provided. Electrical equipment.