JP5305410B2 - pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointing device which prevents erroneous detection to improve detection precision in the moving direction. <P>SOLUTION: This pointing device includes a position detecting part having a plurality of first sensors each for outputting a signal in response to a distance to a target object, and for outputting a positional signal indicating a position of the target object with the plurality of first sensors, a proximity detecting part having a second sensor for outputting a signal in response to the distance to the target object, and for comparing the signal output from the second sensor with a determined threshold value to detect whether the target object is near or not, and a signal processing circuit for detecting a moving direction and a moving amount, based on a change of the positional signal output from the position detecting part, and for outputting the detected moving direction and moving amount, when detecting the proximity of the target object by the proximity detecting part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pointing device.

  Among coordinate input devices for various digital devices such as computers, so-called pointing devices, there are pointing devices that do not have a movable part that causes malfunction and can perform non-contact input. One example of such a pointing device is one using an infrared sensor (Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-350946 A

  Since the pointing device using the infrared sensor described above always detects far infrared rays, a user's hand or finger is moved to the detection range of the infrared sensor in order to input the direction in which the user moves the cursor (pointer). Then, far infrared rays radiated from human hands or fingers are detected, and the pointer movement unintended by the user occurs before the movement of the pointer intended by the user is input. In addition, the infrared sensor detects far-infrared rays emitted from a person's hand or finger when the user moves the hand or finger from the detection range of the infrared sensor after inputting the intended pointer movement direction. As a result, the movement of the pointer unintended by the user occurs. The above pointing device has a problem that it is difficult to input only the movement of the pointer intended by the user without causing these erroneous detections.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pointing device that prevents erroneous detection and improves detection accuracy in the moving direction.

(1) In order to solve the above problem, the present invention includes a sensor unit having a plurality of first sensors that output signals according to a distance from a target object, and the signal output from the sensor unit is the target A position detection unit that outputs a position signal indicating the position of the object, and a second sensor that outputs a signal according to a distance from the target object, and a signal output by the second sensor A proximity detector that detects whether or not the target object is close by comparing with a threshold voltage, and detects a moving direction and a moving amount from a change in a position signal output by the position detector, and the proximity detector Comprises a signal processing circuit that outputs the detected moving direction and the moving amount when the proximity of the target object is detected.
Accordingly, since the range in which the movement of the target object is detected is limited by the configuration in which the proximity detection unit is provided, the detection of the movement direction of the target object and the erroneous detection of the movement amount can be prevented.

(2) Further, in the present invention described above, when the proximity detection unit detects the proximity of the target object, the voltage of the position signal output from the position detection unit is monotonously increased or monotonously decreased. It is characterized by doing.
Thereby, the position of the target object can be uniquely detected.

(3) Further, according to the present invention, in the invention described above, the plurality of first sensors are arranged in a line, and the second sensor is arranged between at least two of the first sensors. It is characterized by being.
Thereby, it can detect without biasing to one direction which detects the movement of a target object.

(4) Further, according to the present invention, in the invention described above, each of the plurality of first sensors includes a first direction column and a second direction column intersecting the first direction column. The second sensor is disposed at a point where the first direction column and the second direction column intersect, and the position detection unit includes the first direction and the second direction. The position signal is output with respect to each of the directions.
Thereby, the detection of the movement direction on a plane and the detection of the movement amount can be performed.

(5) Further, according to the present invention, in the above-described invention, the signal processing circuit is configured to output the first sensor based on a signal output from the position detection unit and a signal output from the second sensor. It is characterized in that a movement direction and a movement amount in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the is arranged are detected.
Thereby, the movement direction and the movement amount in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first sensor is arranged can be detected by the change in the signal output from the second sensor of the proximity detection unit.

(6) Further, according to the present invention, in the above-described invention, the signal processing circuit calculates an absolute value of a signal output from the position detection unit and adds a signal output from the second sensor and a signal by addition. A position signal synthesizing unit that performs synthesis, and a position that detects a movement direction and a movement amount in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first sensor is arranged based on the level of the signal synthesized by the position signal synthesis unit And a determination unit.
Thereby, the detection accuracy of the movement direction can be improved by detecting the movement direction based on the signal obtained by synthesizing the signal output from the position detection unit and the signal output from the second sensor.

(7) Further, in the above-described invention, the present invention includes a temperature sensor that measures temperatures between the detection range of the second sensor and the vicinity of the detection range, and according to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. The threshold voltage is set.
Thereby, the change in the signal output from the sensor due to the temperature change can be corrected to prevent erroneous output detection.

(8) In the present invention described above, in the above-described invention, either one or both of the first sensor and the second sensor may detect an amount of far infrared rays emitted from the target object. A corresponding signal is output.
Thereby, the movement of the target object which radiates | emits far infrared rays, such as a human body or a part of human body, can be detected.

(9) Moreover, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-described invention, the sensor section includes two thermopiles connected in series in opposite directions as the plurality of first sensors.
Thereby, the position of the target object can be detected by the electromotive force of the thermopile that detects the far infrared ray radiated from the target object.

(10) Further, in the present invention described above, the sensor unit includes, as the plurality of first sensors, two bolometers connected in series between two reference potential points, The potential of the connection point between the bolometers is output.
Thereby, the position of the target object can be detected by a change in the resistance value of the bolometer that detects the far infrared rays emitted from the target object.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection and improve the detection accuracy of the moving direction.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the pointing device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram illustrating an example of a correspondence relationship between the position of a target object and signals in the pointing device 100 in the present embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the movement of the pointer on the screen of the external apparatus with which the pointing device 100 in this embodiment was connected, for example, a computer. It is the schematic which shows the structural example in the case of using a bolometer for the sensor part 11 in this embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the pointing device 200 in 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the pointing device 300 in 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the arrangement | positioning of the infrared sensors 1a-1e in this embodiment, and the correspondence of a moving direction. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of 200 A of pointing devices in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the process which synthesize | combines the signal which the position signal synthetic | combination part 41 of this embodiment performs. It is a figure which shows the characteristic of 200 A of pointing devices of 4th Embodiment by contrast with the pointing device of 1st-3rd embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of 300 A of pointing devices in 5th Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the arrangement | positioning of the infrared sensors 1a-1e in this embodiment, the correspondence of a moving direction, and the example of pointing device 300A use.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a pointing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the pointing device 100 according to the first embodiment. The pointing device 100 detects a far infrared ray emitted from the hand or the finger when the user moves the hand or the finger holding the part of the human body such as the hand or the finger, thereby moving the moving direction and the pointing device 100. This is a device that determines the amount of movement, outputs the determined direction and amount of movement to various digital devices such as a computer, and moves the cursor in the same manner as a mouse or a trackball.

The pointing device 100 includes a position detection unit 10, a proximity detection unit 12, and a signal processing circuit 4.
The position detection unit 10 includes a sensor unit 11 and an amplifier circuit 2a. The sensor unit 11 outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of detected far-infrared radiation radiated from a part of a human body such as a hand or a finger (hereinafter referred to as a target object) to the amplifier circuit 2a. The amplifier circuit 2 a amplifies the signal output from the sensor unit 11 and outputs the amplified signal Vout 1 to the signal processing circuit 4. The sensor unit 11 includes an infrared sensor 1a and an infrared sensor 1b.

  The infrared sensors 1a and 1b are, for example, thermopiles, and the generated electromotive force increases as the amount of detected far infrared rays increases. That is, if the far infrared ray emitted from the target object is constant, the electromotive force of the infrared sensors 1a and 1b changes according to the distance from the target object. In addition, the infrared sensors 1a and 1b have their negative electrodes connected (in series in the reverse direction) so that the polarity of the generated electromotive force is reversed, and the respective positive electrodes are connected to the amplifier circuit 2a. That is, when the sensor unit 11 detects far infrared rays, a potential difference is generated between the two positive electrodes connected to the amplifier circuit 2a.

  The proximity detection unit 12 includes an infrared sensor 1c, an amplifier circuit 2c, and a comparator circuit 3. Similar to the infrared sensors 1a and 1b, the infrared sensor 1c outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of detected far infrared rays emitted from the target object to the amplifier circuit 2c. The amplifier circuit 2c amplifies the signal output from the infrared sensor 1c and outputs the amplified signal Vout2 to the comparator circuit 3. The comparator circuit 3 determines whether or not the voltage of the signal Vout2 output from the amplifier circuit 2c is greater than a predetermined threshold voltage Vth. If the voltage of the signal Vout2 is greater than the threshold voltage Vth, the target object approaches. H (High) level signal Vout3 is output to the signal processing circuit 4, and when the voltage of the signal Vout2 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vth, it is determined that the target object is not in proximity, and L (Low ) Level signal Vout3 is output to the signal processing circuit 4.

When the signal Vout3 output from the comparator circuit 3 is at the H level, the signal processing circuit 4 detects the moving direction of the target object according to the change in the signal Vout1 indicating the position of the target object input from the position detection unit 10. The movement amount is calculated, and the detected movement direction and the calculated movement amount are output to a connected external device (not shown). Further, when the signal Vout3 is at the L level, the signal processing circuit 4 does not detect the movement direction of the target object and does not calculate the movement amount, and does not output the movement direction and the movement amount to an external device.
Here, the infrared sensor 1c is disposed between the position of the infrared sensor 1b and the position of the infrared sensor 1a. That is, the infrared sensor 1b, the infrared sensor 1c, and the infrared sensor 1a are arranged in this order. By arranging in this way, a region where each of the infrared sensors 1a and 1b detects far infrared rays and a region where the infrared sensor 1c detects far infrared rays can be overlapped in the same manner, and the detection of the moving direction can be performed 1 It can be performed stably without being biased in the direction.

  FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram showing an example of the correspondence relationship between the position of the target object and the signal in the pointing device 100 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, the horizontal axis direction indicates the position in the one-dimensional direction, and the vertical axis direction indicates the level of each signal and the relationship with the infrared sensors 1a to 1c. In FIG. 2, the infrared sensor 1b, the infrared sensor 1c, and the infrared sensor 1a are arranged in this order in the left-right direction (X-axis direction), and the positions are indicated by positions P2 to P4. When the target object moves from the position P1 through the position P5 (direction A) along the direction in which the infrared sensors 1a to 1c are arranged, the signals Vout1 to Vout3 change as follows. Note that the amount of far infrared rays emitted from the target object is assumed to be constant.

(Signal Vout1)
When the target object reaches the position P1, the infrared sensor 1b starts to detect far infrared rays emitted from the target object, and the voltage of the signal Vout1 increases.
When the position of the target object is between the position P1 and the position P2, the voltage of the signal Vout1 increases as the far infrared ray detected by the infrared sensor 1b increases.
When the target object reaches the position P2, the infrared sensor 1b and the target object face each other, and the infrared sensor 1b detects the far-infrared radiation radiated from the target object most, so the voltage of the signal Vout1 becomes maximum.

  When the position of the target object is between the position P2 and the position P4, since the distance between the infrared sensor 1b and the target object is increased, the electromotive force generated by the infrared sensor 1b gradually decreases. On the other hand, since the distance between the infrared sensor 1a and the target object approaches, the electromotive force generated by the infrared sensor 1a gradually increases. Since the infrared sensors 1a and 1b are connected in reverse polarities, the voltage of the signal Vout1 gradually decreases as the target object approaches the infrared sensor 1a.

When the target object reaches the position P4, the infrared sensor 1a and the target object face each other, and the infrared sensor 1a detects the far-infrared radiation that the target object radiates most, so that the electromotive force of the infrared sensor 1a becomes the highest and the signal The voltage of Vout1 is minimized.
When the target object reaches the position P5, the infrared sensor 1a does not detect far infrared rays emitted from the target object, and the voltage of the signal Vout1 becomes 0V.

(Signal Vout2)
When the position of the target object is between position P1 and position P3, the infrared sensor 1c starts to detect far infrared rays emitted by the target object, and the voltage of the signal Vout2 increases as the target object approaches the infrared sensor 1a.
When the target object reaches the position P3, the infrared sensor 1c and the target object face each other, the electromotive force of the infrared sensor 1c becomes the highest, and the voltage of the signal Vout2 becomes the maximum.
When the position of the target object is between position P3 and position P4, as the distance between the infrared sensor 1c and the target object increases, the voltage of the signal Vout2 decreases and the position of the target object is outside the detection range of the infrared sensor 1c. Then, the voltage of the signal Vout2 is 0V.

(Regarding signal Vout3)
When the target object reaches the position P2, the signal Vout2 becomes larger than the threshold voltage Vth, so that the signal Vout3 becomes H level.
When the target object reaches the position P4, the signal Vout2 becomes equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vth, so that the signal Vout3 becomes L level.
Here, a section in which the signal Vout3 is at the H level is a position detection effective range, and the signal processing circuit 4 is a section in which the movement direction of the target object is determined and the movement amount of the target object is calculated.

Here, the threshold voltage Vth is set such that the signal Vout3 is at the H level in a section where the change in the voltage of the signal Vout1 monotonously decreases. In the range where the voltage of the signal Vout1 monotonously decreases, the position of the target object can be uniquely detected by the voltage of the signal Vout1. In FIG. 2, a threshold is set corresponding to a position including the maximum value and the minimum value of the voltage of the signal Vout1, corresponding to the position P2 to the position P4. However, it may be a section where the voltage of the signal Vout1 decreases monotonously. For example, the threshold voltage Vth may be set so that the signal Vout3 becomes H level in a section included in the section from the position P2 to the position P4.
Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration of the sensor unit 11 in which the voltage of the signal Vout1 monotonously decreases, but the configuration in which the voltage of the signal Vout1 monotonously increases by connecting the positive electrodes of the infrared sensors 1a and 1b to each other. It is good.

  As described above, since the signals Vout1 to Vout3 change according to the position of the target object, the signal processing circuit 4 moves in the A direction if the change amount of the signal Vout1 is negative when the signal Vout3 is at the H level. Conversely, if the change amount of the signal Vout1 is positive, it is determined that the signal Vout1 is moving in the B direction, and the movement amount is calculated from the change amount of the signal Vout1. Further, the signal processing circuit 4 outputs the determined moving direction and the calculated moving amount to an external device connected via an output terminal.

  In the pointing device 100, the signal processing circuit 4 determines the moving direction and calculates the moving amount only when the signal Vout3 output from the proximity detecting unit 12 is at the H level (when the target object is in the position detection effective range). It is the structure to perform. In other words, the pointing device 100 determines the position detection effective range by setting the threshold voltage Vth, and determines the movement direction of the target object and calculates the movement amount only in the position detection effective range. .

  As a result, the signal processing circuit 4 determines the moving direction only by detecting the target object with the infrared sensor 1a, 1b by moving the pointer to the pointing device 100 while the user tries to move the pointer. The signal processing circuit 4 determines the moving direction and calculates the moving amount only when the target object is in the position detection effective range without calculating the moving amount. As a result, the pointing device 100 detects the movement direction and the movement amount unintended by the user by inputting the movement direction and the movement amount after the user moves a hand or a finger to the position detection section. False detection can be prevented.

  Further, only when the target object is in the position detection effective range, the signal processing circuit 4 detects the movement direction and calculates the movement amount. Therefore, when the target object is not in the position detection effective range, the supply of power is stopped. By doing so, it is possible to save power. Further, when the target object is not within the position detection effective range, the power supply to the infrared sensors 1a and 1b and the amplifier circuit 2a can be stopped to further save power. As a result, the battery that supplies power to the pointing device 100 can be downsized, and the input device having the pointing device 100 can be downsized.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the movement of a pointer on an external apparatus, for example, a computer screen, to which the pointing device 100 according to the present embodiment is connected. The pointing device 100 is connected to information indicating the detected moving direction and moving amount by detecting the moving direction and moving amount of the target object along the X axis arranged in the order of the infrared sensors 1b, 1c, and 1a. Output to an external device. The connected external device moves the pointer on the screen according to the moving direction and the moving amount output from the pointing device 100.

  As described above, the pointing device 100 can be used as a non-contact input device by being connected to an external device, for example, various digital devices such as a computer. As a result, it is possible to provide an input device that does not have a movable part, and it is possible to eliminate malfunctions caused by the presence of the movable part, an increase in cost, and restrictions on downsizing of the input device. Become. By using the pointing device 100, a miniaturized input device with low cost and low power consumption can be realized.

In addition, although the sensor part 11 shown in FIG. 1 showed the structure which used the thermopile as an example, you may use the bolometer from which resistance value changes according to the quantity of the far infrared rays to detect.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example when a bolometer is used for the sensor unit 11 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, two bolometers that are infrared sensors 1a and 1b are connected in series between a reference potential point that supplies a positive potential Vref and a reference potential point that supplies a negative potential -Vref. The potential at the connection point of the two bolometers is used as an output to the amplifier circuit 2a (FIG. 1). With this configuration, the sensor unit 11 configured by a bolometer can output a signal having a waveform similar to that when a thermopile is used.
In FIG. 4, two reference potential points for supplying the positive potential Vref and the negative potential -Vref are used. However, the output potential changes according to the change in the resistance value of the two bolometers 11a and 11b. Two reference potential points may be used.

Second Embodiment
Next, FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the pointing device 200 in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the pointing device 200 includes a position detection unit 10, a proximity detection unit 13, and a signal processing circuit 4. Further, the pointing device 200 has the same configuration except that the configuration of the proximity detection unit 13 is different from that of the pointing device 100 of the first embodiment of FIG. 1, and corresponding portions have the same reference numerals (1a to 1c). 2a, 2c, 4, 10, 11), and the description thereof is omitted.

  The proximity detection unit 13 includes an infrared sensor 1c, an amplifier circuit 2c, a comparator circuit 5, a temperature sensor 6, and a threshold generation circuit 7. The temperature sensor 6 measures the detection range of the infrared sensor 1 c and the temperature in the vicinity of the detection range, and outputs temperature information indicating the measured temperature to the threshold value generation circuit 7. The threshold generation circuit 7 calculates the threshold voltage Vth from the temperature information output from the temperature sensor 6, and outputs the calculated threshold voltage Vth to the comparator circuit 5. The comparator circuit 5 compares the threshold voltage Vth output from the threshold generation circuit 7 with the signal Vout2 output from the amplifier circuit 2c. If the signal Vout2 is greater than the threshold voltage Vth, the comparator circuit 5 performs signal processing on the signal Vout3 at H level. On the other hand, when the signal Vout2 is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage Vth, an L level signal Vout3 is output to the signal processing circuit 4.

Here, the threshold voltage Vth calculated by the threshold generation circuit 7 corresponds to a temperature drift in which the detection range of the infrared sensor 1c and the temperature in the vicinity of the detection range increase due to a disturbance or the like, and the voltage output from the infrared sensor 1c increases. Calculate the voltage. When the temperature drift occurs, the position detection effective range becomes wide. Therefore, the threshold voltage Vth is calculated so as to make the position detection effective range constant by increasing the threshold voltage Vth according to the degree of temperature drift. For example, the threshold voltage Vth is calculated and set so that the position of the target object corresponding to the maximum value and the minimum value of the signal Vout1 falls within the position detection effective range.
Disturbances include far-infrared rays radiated from other than the user's hands and fingers, indoors due to heating appliances and lighting devices, etc., and radiation from objects heated by sunlight etc. outdoors. The far infrared rays that are generated.

With the above-described configuration, the pointing device 200 detects a temperature change due to a detection range of the infrared sensor 1c and a disturbance in the vicinity of the detection range, and calculates a threshold voltage Vth for setting a position detection effective range according to the detected temperature change. Thus, even if a temperature drift due to disturbance occurs, it is possible to accurately detect the movement direction and the movement amount of the target object.
In the present embodiment, correction by temperature drift is performed only for the threshold voltage Vth, but it may be performed for the output signal Vout1 of the amplifier circuit 2a.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the pointing device 300 in the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the pointing device 300 includes position detection units 10 a and 10 b, a proximity detection unit 12, and a signal processing circuit 8. The pointing device 300 includes two position detection units 10a and 10b, thereby detecting a movement direction and calculating a movement amount along two axes, for example, a perpendicular direction and a horizontal direction orthogonal to each other.

  The pointing device 300 has the same configuration except that the pointing device 300 includes two position detection units 10a and 10b as compared with the pointing device 100 of the first embodiment in FIG. (1a to 1c, 2a, 2b, 3, 12) are attached and the description thereof is omitted. Note that the position detection unit 10a is obtained by changing the reference numeral from 10 to 10a to be distinguished from the newly provided position detection unit 10b, and the configuration is the same as the position detection unit 10 in the first embodiment. Therefore, the explanation is also omitted. The movement detection unit 10 a and the proximity detection unit 12 each output a signal to the signal processing circuit 8.

  The position detection unit 10b includes two infrared sensors 1d and 1e and an amplification circuit 2b, similarly to the position detection unit 10a. The infrared sensors 1d and 1e are connected to each other so that the polarity of the generated electromotive force is reversed, the respective positive electrodes are connected to the amplification circuit 2b, and the generated electromotive force is amplified by the amplification circuit 2b. The signal is output to the signal processing circuit 8 as a signal Vout4. Further, the signal Vout4 output from the position detection unit 10b has the same characteristics as the signal Vout1 shown in FIG. 2, and the voltage of the signal Vout4 in the position detection effective range depends on the position of the target object, as with the signal Vout1. Increases monotonically or decreases monotonically.

  When the signal Vout3 output from the comparator circuit 3 is at the H level, the signal processing circuit 8 detects the moving direction of the target object according to the change in the signal Vout1 indicating the position of the target object input from the position detection unit 10a. The movement amount is calculated, and the movement direction of the target object is detected and the movement amount is calculated according to the change in the signal Vout4 indicating the position of the target object input from the position detection unit 10b. The signal processing circuit 8 outputs the detected movement direction and the calculated movement amount to an external device (not shown) connected thereto. When the signal Vout3 is at the L level, the signal processing circuit 8 moves to an external device without detecting the moving direction of the target object and calculating the moving amount, like the signal processing circuit 4 of the first embodiment. Neither direction nor movement amount is output.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the correspondence between the arrangement of the infrared sensors 1a to 1e and the movement direction in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7A, the infrared sensors 1a to 1e are arranged in the order of the infrared sensors 1b, 1c, and 1a along the X-axis direction, and the infrared sensors 1d, 1c, and 1e along the Y-axis direction. Arranged in this order. With this configuration, the signal processing circuit 8 performs detection in the A direction or B direction along the X axis and calculation of the movement amount from the signal Vout1, and detection of the C direction or D direction along the Y axis from the signal Vout4. The amount of movement is calculated.

  FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram showing the movement of the pointer on the screen of an external device, for example, a computer, to which the pointing device 300 is connected. The pointing device 300 detects the moving direction and the moving amount of the target object along the X axis arranged in the order of the infrared sensors 1b, 1c, and 1a, and the Y axis arranged in the order of the infrared sensors 1d, 1c, and 1e. Along with this, the movement direction and movement amount of the target object are detected, and information indicating the detected movement direction and movement amount is output to a connected external device. The connected external device moves the pointer on the screen according to the moving direction and the moving amount output from the pointing device 300.

  In this way, by using the pointing device 300 that detects the moving direction of the target object and calculates the moving amount with respect to the two axes by the infrared sensors 1a to 1e, various digital devices such as an external device such as a computer are used. The pointer can be freely moved on the screen of the device.

  In FIG. 7A, the infrared sensors 1a to 1e are arranged in a cross shape. However, if the movement of the target object in two different directions on the plane can be detected, the infrared sensors 1a to 1e are arranged in an X shape. Alternatively, the infrared sensor 1c is arranged at a point where two directions intersect.

<Fourth embodiment>
FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the pointing device 200A in the fourth embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the pointing device 200A includes a position detection unit 10, a proximity detection unit 13, and a signal processing circuit 4A. The position detection unit 10 and the proximity detection unit 13 have the same configuration as the position detection unit 10 and the proximity detection unit 13 of the second embodiment, and corresponding portions have the same reference numerals (1a to 1c, 2a, 2c, 5, 6, 7, 10, 13) are omitted.
As in the first embodiment, the infrared sensors 1a, 1b, and 1c are arranged side by side so that the infrared sensors 1a and 1b of the position detection unit 10 sandwich the infrared sensor 1c of the proximity detection unit 13. . Hereinafter, a direction in which the infrared sensors 1a to 1c are arranged side by side is referred to as an X-axis direction.

The signal processing circuit 4A includes a signal Vout1 output from the position detection unit 10, a signal Vout2 output from the amplification circuit 2c of the proximity detection unit 13, and a signal Vout3 output from the comparator circuit 5 of the proximity detection unit 13. Is entered. Further, the signal processing circuit 4 includes a position signal synthesis unit 41 and a position determination unit 42.
The position signal synthesis unit 41 calculates the absolute value of the signal Vout1 input from the position detection unit 10, and amplifies the absolute value calculated by a predetermined coefficient α. Then, the position signal synthesis unit 41 synthesizes the signal Vout2 input from the amplifier circuit 2c and the signal amplified by the coefficient α by addition to generate a signal Vz.

  The position determination unit 42 detects the movement direction of the object and calculates the movement amount based on the signal Vout1 input from the position detection unit 10 and the signal Vz generated by the position signal synthesis unit 41, and detects the detected movement. Information indicating the direction and the calculated movement amount is output. Specifically, as in the signal processing circuit 4 of the first embodiment, the position determination unit 42 detects the movement direction and calculates the movement amount in the direction in which the infrared sensors 1a to 1c are arranged based on the signal Vout1. . Further, the position determination unit 42 detects whether the object is moving in the direction of approaching or moving away from the infrared sensors 1a to 1c by increasing or decreasing the signal Vz generated by the position signal combining unit 41. , And the amount of movement in that direction. That is, the position determination unit 42 detects the movement direction and calculates the movement amount in the normal direction (hereinafter referred to as the Z-axis direction) in the direction in which the infrared sensors 1a to 1c are arranged side by side.

Further, the position determination unit 42 selects whether or not to detect the movement direction of the object and calculate the movement amount according to the signal Vout3 input from the comparator circuit 5. Specifically, when the signal Vout3 input from the comparator circuit 3 is at the H level, the position determination unit 42 performs the above-described movement direction detection and movement amount calculation. In addition, the position determination unit 42 outputs the detected movement direction and the calculated movement amount to an external device connected via the output terminal. When the signal Vout3 is at the L level, the above-described movement direction detection and movement amount are output. Is not calculated, and is not output to a connected external device.

  Hereinafter, the process of combining signals performed in the position signal combining unit 41 and the calculation of the movement direction and the movement amount in the Z direction performed by the position determination unit 42 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a signal combining process performed by the position signal combining unit 41 of the present embodiment. In the figure, the horizontal axis indicates the position of the object, and the vertical axis indicates the level of each signal. The figure also shows the relationship of arrangement of the infrared sensors 1a to 1c in the horizontal axis (X-axis) direction. The infrared sensor 1a corresponds to the position P4, the infrared sensor 1b corresponds to the position P2, and the infrared sensor 1c corresponds to the position P3.
The waveform shown in the figure is that the object is from the position P1 to the position P5 or from the position P5 to the position P1 in the X-axis direction parallel to the direction in which the infrared sensors 1a to 1c are sequentially arranged. The waveform when moved is shown.

  FIG. 9A is a waveform diagram showing the absolute value of the signal Vout1 calculated from the signal Vout1 input to the position signal synthesis unit 41. FIG. Here, the waveforms S <b> 1 to S <b> 3 indicate waveforms when the distances of the objects to the infrared sensors 1 a to 1 c are different. A waveform S1 indicates a waveform when the object is closest to the infrared sensors 1a to 1c among the waveforms S1 to S3. A waveform S3 indicates a waveform when the object is farthest from the infrared sensors 1a to 1c among the waveforms S1 to S3. A waveform S2 shows a waveform when the object is located between a position corresponding to the waveform S1 and a position corresponding to the waveform S3. That is, the waveforms S <b> 1 to S <b> 3 indicate waveforms when the distance in the Z-axis direction is different from the direction in which the infrared sensors 1 a to 1 c are arranged side by side.

  FIG. 9B is a waveform diagram of the signal Vout2 output according to the position of the object from the amplifier circuit 2c. Each of the waveforms S4 to S6 corresponds to each of the waveforms S1 to S3 in FIG. The waveform S4 is a waveform obtained when the object moves the same as when the waveform S1 is obtained. Waveform S5 is a waveform obtained when the object moves the same as when waveform S2 is obtained. The waveform S6 is a waveform obtained when the object moves in the same way as when the waveform S3 is obtained.

  FIG. 9C is a diagram illustrating the waveform of the signal Vz output from the position signal synthesis unit 41. The waveform S7 is a waveform obtained by multiplying the waveform S1 by the coefficient a and adding it to the waveform S4. The waveform S8 is a waveform obtained by multiplying the waveform S2 by the coefficient α and adding it to the waveform S5. The waveform S9 is a waveform obtained by multiplying the waveform S3 by the coefficient α and adding it to the waveform S6. Here, a case where the coefficient α is “0.25”, for example, is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 9C, the signal Vz generated by the position signal synthesis unit 41 is a flat section in which the level hardly changes regardless of the movement of the object in the X-axis direction by appropriately selecting the coefficient α in advance. Can be provided between the position P2 and the position P4. In this flat section, the level of the signal Vz changes when the object moves in the Z-axis direction. Then, the position determination unit 42 detects a change in the level of the signal Vz output from the position signal synthesis unit 41 to detect the movement direction and the movement amount of the object on the Z axis.

  Specifically, the position determination unit 42 detects that the object is approaching the infrared sensors 1a to 1c when a change in which the level of the signal Vz is increased occurs, and based on the amount of change in the level of the signal Vz. To calculate the amount of movement in the Z-axis direction. Further, when a change in which the level of the signal Vz is reduced occurs, the position determination unit 42 detects that the object is moving away from the infrared sensors 1a to 1c, and based on the amount of change in the level of the signal Vz The amount of movement in the direction is calculated. For calculating the movement amount, a table in which the movement amount corresponding to the change of the signal Vz is stored in advance is provided in the position determination unit 42, and the movement amount corresponding to the change amount of the signal Vz is read from the table. The amount may be calculated.

FIG. 9D is a diagram illustrating a waveform of the signal Vz output from the position signal synthesis unit 41 when the coefficient α is set to a value larger than FIG. 9C. The waveform S10 is a waveform obtained by multiplying the waveform S1 by the coefficient α and adding it to the waveform S4. The waveform S11 is a waveform obtained by multiplying the waveform S2 by the coefficient α and adding it to the waveform S5. The waveform S12 is a waveform obtained by multiplying the waveform S3 by the coefficient α and adding it to the waveform S6. Here, the case where the coefficient α is, for example, “1.0” is shown.
As shown in the figure, the interval between the waveforms S10 to S12 can be increased by increasing the coefficient α. That is, the amount of change in the signal Vz caused by the movement of the object in the Z-axis direction can be increased, and the detection sensitivity of the movement of the object in the Z-axis direction can be increased.

If the coefficient α is increased, a minimum point of the level of the signal Vz is generated at the position P3, and a flat section is not formed. Whether the object moves in the Z-axis direction or the object moves in the X-axis direction. May be difficult to distinguish.
In this case, for example, the difference between the maximum value of the signal Vz and the minimum value at the position P3 is calculated in advance for each distance from the X axis where the infrared sensors 1a to 1c are arranged to the object, and this difference is calculated. The threshold is used to determine whether or not movement has occurred in the Z-axis direction. And the position determination part 42 determines with the target object having moved to the Z-axis direction, when the variation | change_quantity in the unit time of the signal Vz exceeds this threshold value. Thereby, the determination of the movement of the object in the X-axis direction and the movement of the object in the Z-axis direction can be performed without error.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing characteristics of the pointing device 200A of the fourth embodiment in comparison with the pointing devices of the first to third embodiments.
FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating three positions Pz1, Pz2, and Pz3 in which the object is a human finger and the distances between the infrared sensors 1a to 1c and the finger are different. The distance to the infrared sensors 1a to 1c is closer to the Z-axis direction in the order of position Pz1, position Pz2, and position Pz3. Hereinafter, the case where the finger is moved from the initial position P0 obtained by moving the finger parallel to the X-axis direction from the position Pz2 will be described as an example.

  FIG. 10B shows waveforms of the signal Vout1 and the signal Vout2 when the finger is moved in parallel to the X-axis direction from each of the positions Pz1 to Pz3 shown in FIG. The horizontal axis indicates the position of the finger, and the vertical axis indicates the level of each signal. The waveform V11 and the waveform V21 are waveforms when the finger is moved in parallel to the X-axis direction from the position Pz1. Waveform V12 and waveform V22 are waveforms when the finger is moved in parallel to the X-axis direction from position Pz2. Waveform V13 and waveform V23 are waveforms when the finger is moved in parallel to the X-axis direction from position Pz3.

When the operation a is performed in which the finger is moved in the right direction in FIG. 10A from the initial position P0 in the right direction, that is, in the direction approaching the infrared sensor 1a, the level of the signal Vout1 is as shown in FIG. It decreases on waveform V12 and the level of signal Vout2 increases on waveform V22.
Next, when the finger is moved in the direction away from the infrared sensors 1a to 1c in parallel with the Z-axis direction from the initial position P0, the level of the signal Vout1 decreases toward the waveform V11 as shown in FIG. The level of Vout2 decreases toward the waveform V21.

The pointing devices of the first to third embodiments can detect the movement in the Z-axis direction due to the operation b by detecting the decrease in the signal Vout1 and the signal Vout2. However, for the operation a, it cannot be determined whether the movement is in the Z-axis direction or the X-axis direction, and it is difficult to detect the movement in the Z-axis direction without error. . That is, it cannot be determined whether Vout2 has increased due to the finger moving in the X-axis direction or whether Vout2 has increased due to the finger moving in the Z-axis direction approaching the infrared sensors 1a to 1c.
On the other hand, the pointing device 200A of the present embodiment can detect the movement of the finger in the Z-axis direction based on the change in the signal Vz generated by the position signal synthesis unit 41.

  As described above, the pointing device 200A of the present embodiment generates the signal Vz from the signal Vout1 output from the position detection unit 10 and the signal Vout2 output from the proximity detection unit 13, and changes in the generated signal Vz Based on the above, the movement of the object in the Z-axis direction is determined. Thereby, in the pointing device of 1st-3rd embodiment, the movement of the target object of the Z-axis direction which is difficult to determine can be detected.

In order to prevent erroneous detection due to a change in the signal Vz due to a cause other than the movement of the object, for example, noise caused by a disturbance, a threshold value is set in advance, and the amount of change per unit time of the signal Vz exceeds this threshold value. It may be determined that the object has moved in the Z-axis direction.
Further, the coefficient α may be set in advance so as to have a section in which the level of the signal Vz is flat between the position P2 and the position P3 based on actual measurement according to an application operated by the pointing device 200A. Good. Further, the coefficient α may be set in advance based on the sensitivity of the determination with respect to the movement of the object of the pointing device 200A according to the characteristics of the infrared sensors 1a to 1c.

<Fifth Embodiment>
FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the pointing device 300A in the fifth embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the pointing device 300A includes position detection units 10a and 10b, a proximity detection unit 12, and a signal processing circuit 8A. The pointing device 300A includes two position detection units 10a and 10b, thereby detecting a movement direction and calculating a movement amount along two axes, for example, a perpendicular direction and a horizontal direction that are orthogonal to each other.
The pointing device 300A of the present embodiment has the same configuration and the same reference numerals (1a to 1c, 2a to 2c), except that the signal processing circuit 8A is different from the pointing device 300 of the third embodiment. 3, 10a, 10b, 12), and description thereof is omitted.

  The infrared sensors 1a to 1e are arranged side by side so that the infrared sensors 1a and 1b sandwich the infrared sensor 1c, as in the third embodiment. The infrared sensors 1d and 1e are arranged side by side so as to be orthogonal to the arrangement of the infrared sensors 1a, 1c and 1b so as to sandwich the infrared sensor 1c. Hereinafter, the direction in which the infrared sensors 1a, 1c, 1b are arranged side by side is referred to as the X-axis direction, and the direction in which the infrared sensors 1d, 1c, 1e are arranged side by side is referred to as the Y-axis direction. A direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is referred to as a Z-axis direction.

The signal processing circuit 8A includes a signal Vout1 output from the position detector 10a, a signal Vout4 output from the position detector 10b, a signal Vout2 output from the amplifier circuit 2c of the proximity detector 12, and a proximity detector The signal Vout3 output from the 12 comparator circuits 3 is input. The signal processing circuit 8A includes position signal combining units 41a and 41b and a position determination unit 43.
The position signal synthesizer 41a and the position signal synthesizer 41b have the same configuration as the position signal synthesizer 41 of the fourth embodiment. The position signal combining unit 41a combines the signal Vout1 and the signal Vout2 to generate the signal Vz1. The position signal combining unit 41b combines the signal Vout4 and the signal Vout2 to generate a signal Vz2. Here, the signal Vz1 is a signal generated based on signals output from the infrared sensors 1a, 1b, and 1c. The signal Vz2 is a signal generated based on signals output from the infrared sensors 1d, 1e, and 1c.

  Similarly to the signal processing circuit 8 of the third embodiment, the position determination unit 43 detects the movement direction of the object on the X axis and calculates the movement amount from the signal Vout1 input from the position detection unit 10a. From the signal Vout2 input from the detection unit 10b, the movement direction of the object on the Y axis is detected and the movement amount is calculated. Further, the position determination unit 43, based on the signal Vz1 generated by the position signal combining unit 41a and the signal Vz2 generated by the position signal combining unit 41b, similarly to the position determination unit 42 of the fourth embodiment, The movement direction is detected and the movement amount is calculated. Further, when the signal Vout3 input from the comparator circuit 3 is at the H level, the position determination unit 43 detects the movement direction and calculates the movement amount, and outputs the detected movement direction and the calculated movement amount to the output terminal. To an external device connected via On the other hand, when the signal Vout3 is at the L level, the position determination unit 43 does not detect the movement direction and calculate the movement amount, and does not perform output to a connected external device.

  When the movement direction on the Z axis detected based on the signal Vz1 is different from the movement direction on the Z axis detected based on the signal Vz2, the detection of the movement direction and the movement amount is performed based on a predetermined selection direction. I do. Specifically, it is determined that the object has moved in the Z-axis direction when the movement directions detected from the signal Vz1 and the signal Vz2 match. Further, when the movement amount calculated from the signal Vz1 is different from the movement amount calculated from the signal Vz2, the average value thereof may be used as the movement amount in the Z-axis direction.

With the above-described configuration, the pointing device 300A includes the detection of the movement direction in the X-axis direction and the calculation of the movement amount of the object on which the infrared sensors 1a, 1c, and 1b are arranged, and the infrared sensors 1d, 1c, and 1e. Detection of the movement direction and calculation of the movement amount of the object in the Y-axis direction and detection of the movement direction and calculation of the movement amount in the Z-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction can be performed with high accuracy.
Note that, in the pointing device 300A of the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 6 and the threshold value generation circuit 7 may be provided to reduce the influence of temperature drift due to disturbance as in the proximity detection unit 13 of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the arrangement of the infrared sensors 1a to 1e, the correspondence relationship in the movement direction, and a usage example in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12A, the direction arranged in the order of the infrared sensors 1b, 1c, 1a is defined as the X-axis direction, and the direction arranged in the order of the infrared sensors 1e, 1c, 1d is defined as the Y-axis direction. The direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is taken as the Z-axis direction.
FIG. 12B is a schematic diagram showing the movement of the pointer on the screen of an external device, for example, a computer, to which the pointing device 300A is connected. The computer can move the pointer in the A to D directions on the screen based on the movement direction and the movement amount on the X axis and the Y axis output from the pointing device 300A. In addition, the computer can detect a click and double-click operation based on the movement direction and movement amount on the Z axis output from the pointing device 300A. Then, the pointing device 300A detects the movement of an object such as a finger and outputs the information to a computer, thereby moving the pointer as with an input device such as a mouse to display an icon displayed on the screen. The operation such as selecting can be performed.

  In the first, third, and fifth embodiments, the proximity detection unit 12 includes the infrared sensor 1c. However, the proximity detection unit 12 may be configured using a non-contact capacitance sensor that can detect the proximity of the target object instead. Good. In the first to fifth embodiments, the sensor unit 11 includes the infrared sensors 1a and 1b. Instead, an element that outputs a signal corresponding to the distance to the target object, for example, a non-contact type You may comprise using an electrostatic capacitance sensor etc.

  The present invention can be applied to an apparatus that detects a moving direction and calculates a moving amount using a non-contact type sensor.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e ... Infrared sensor 2a, 2b, 2c ... Amplifying circuit 3, 5 ... Comparator circuit 4, 4A, 8, 8A ... Signal processing circuit 6 ... Temperature sensor, 7 ... Threshold generation circuit 41, 41a , 41b ... position signal synthesis unit 42, 43 ... position determination unit 100, 200, 300, 200A, 300A ... pointing device

Claims (10)

A position detector that includes a sensor unit having a plurality of first sensors that output signals according to the distance to the target object, and that outputs a signal output by the sensor unit as a position signal indicating the position of the target object;
Whether the target object is close by comparing a signal output from the second sensor with a predetermined threshold voltage, and having a second sensor that outputs a signal according to the distance to the target object A proximity detector for detecting whether or not,
Signal processing for detecting the moving direction and the moving amount from the change of the position signal output by the position detecting unit, and outputting the detected moving direction and the moving amount when the proximity detecting unit detects the proximity of the target object A pointing device comprising: a circuit. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein when the proximity detection unit detects the proximity of the target object, the voltage of the position signal output from the position detection unit monotonously increases or monotonously decreases. The plurality of first sensors are arranged in a line,
The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor is disposed between at least two of the first sensors. The plurality of first sensors are respectively arranged in a first direction column and a second direction column intersecting the first direction column,
The second sensor is disposed at a point where the first direction column and the second direction column intersect,
The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the position detection unit outputs the position signal in each of the first direction and the second direction. Based on the signal output from the position detector by the signal processing circuit and the signal output from the second sensor, the moving direction and moving amount in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first sensor is disposed The pointing device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the pointing device is detected. The signal processing circuit is
A position signal combining unit that calculates an absolute value of a signal output from the position detection unit and combines the signal output from the second sensor and a signal by addition;
A position determination unit that detects a movement direction and a movement amount in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first sensor is arranged based on a level of the signal synthesized by the position signal synthesis unit. The pointing device according to claim 5. A temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the detection range of the second sensor and the vicinity of the detection range;
The pointing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the threshold voltage is set according to a temperature measured by the temperature sensor. The first sensor or the second sensor outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of detected far-infrared rays radiated from the target object, either or both. The pointing device according to claim 7. The sensor unit is
The pointing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plurality of first sensors includes two thermopiles connected in series in opposite directions. The sensor unit is
As the plurality of first sensors, two bolometers connected in series between two reference potential points,
The pointing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a potential at a connection point between the two bolometers is used as an output.

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