JPH04233443A - Bending detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a construction of a bending sensor which allows the measuring of a plurality of parts. CONSTITUTION:This bending detector comprises a flexible base member with a shape of a flat plate lengthened in one way and a U-shaped distortion sensor in which an input terminal and an output terminal of sensor part are arranged adjacent to each other with the input terminal and the output terminal connected electrically. At least two above U-shaped strain sensors are arranged on the same surface or two surfaces of the base member. In addition, the shape and layout position of the above-mentioned two U-shaped strain sensors are differentiated to enable the detection of bending at least at two points in a longitudinal direction of the base member.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bending detection method and a detector for detecting a bending location and obtaining an output for each location, and is suitable for use in, for example, a musical tone control device.

0002

[Prior Art] Natural musical instruments include, for example, the piano,
Typically, the generation of musical sounds is controlled by playing strings or keyboards, as typified by the guitar. By the way, if it were possible to control the generated musical sounds based on actions other than playing, it would be possible to move away from the traditional feeling of playing a musical instrument, and enjoy new playing methods and new performance effects. It becomes possible to obtain.

[0003] From this perspective, the present applicant has proposed a musical tone control device in which a sensor for detecting body movements is attached to a part of the human body, and the generation of musical tones is controlled based on the detection from this sensor. are doing. As a conventional bending sensor used in such a device, the applicant has proposed, for example, a sensor whose overall view is shown in FIG. In the figure, the bending sensor 1 is roughly divided into a main body part 2, a base end part 3, and a cord 4. The main body part 2 has an elongated plate shape, and a strain sensor 5 is provided inside thereof. Inside the main body part 2, a strain sensor 5 (corresponding to a sensor part) is appropriately connected to a lead wire (corresponding to a lead part, not shown),
The lead wire is connected to the cord 4 via the proximal end 3. The bending sensor 1 is attached to a necessary part of the performer's body, and when the body is bent, the strain sensor 5 detects the bending, generates a predetermined detection signal, and outputs it to the outside through the cord 4.

[0004] For example, if one wants to know which part of the body is bent and how much it is bent using the bending sensor shown in FIG. 8, the sensor is installed according to the part that is bent.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the past, the bending of each finger as a whole was measured using a finger sensor, and in this case, it was difficult to determine whether the bending occurred at the second or third joint of the finger. Or maybe it was bent by both, I couldn't tell. Therefore, when trying to detect bending in multiple parts with a conventional bending sensor, it is necessary to install one bending sensor for each part, which increases the number of parts and increases the wire routing. Problems such as the increasing complexity of

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to simplify the configuration of a bending sensor capable of measuring a plurality of parts.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention as set forth in claim 1 provides a flexible base member having a flat plate shape long in one direction, an input end and a sensor. A bending detector comprising: a U-shaped strain sensor, the output ends of which are electrically connected, and the input end and the output end are arranged adjacent to each other; In addition to arranging two U-shaped strain sensors, the shapes and positions of the two U-shaped strain sensors are different so that bending can be detected at at least two locations in the longitudinal direction of the base member. do.

In the invention according to claim 2, the at least two strain sensors include a first strain sensor that includes a region to be measured, and a region to be measured within a measurement range of the first strain sensor. The detection means includes a second strain sensor whose measurement range is the remaining part except for the part to be measured, and the detection means detects the difference between the output of the first strain sensor and the output of the second strain sensor as the measurement range of the part to be measured. It is characterized in that it is detected as the amount of bending.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the at least two strain sensors are both electrically connected to the detection means at one proximal end of the base member.

0010

[Operation] In the invention described in claim 1, output signals from at least two strain sensors provided on the same base member are inputted to the detection means, and when the strain sensor is bent together with the base member, the A predetermined detection signal is detected corresponding to the bent portion and the amount of bending. Therefore, since two strain sensors having different lengths or positions are provided on the same base member, the function as a sensor is simplified.

[0011] Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 2, among the output signals of the plurality of strain sensors, the difference between the output of the first strain sensor and the output of the second strain sensor including the part to be measured is This is the amount of bending of the part to be measured. Therefore, it is possible to detect only the amount of bending of a portion to be measured within the measurement range of the first strain sensor without being influenced by portions of the measurement range that are not to be measured.

Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 3, the outputs of at least two strain sensors provided on the base member having a long shape in one direction are electrically connected to the detection means at the base end of the base member. are doing. Therefore, the wiring of the detector wire is simplified, and the lead wire is connected at the base end, which is less deformed by bending, so the connection is stable and the durability is improved.

[0013]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the bending sensor 11 is roughly divided into a main body part 12, a base end part 13, and a lead wire 14. The main body portion 12 (corresponding to a base member) is made of a flexible member and has an elongated plate shape. Moreover, strain sensors 15 and 16 are provided on one surface (single surface), and the strain sensor 15 is arranged long, and the strain sensor 16 is arranged short, and both are provided on the same surface. Each sensor 15, 16 has uniform electrical resistance characteristics in the longitudinal direction. However, it is not necessary that the sensors 15 and 16 have exactly the same characteristics. The bending sensor 11 is attached to a necessary part of the performer's body, and when the body is bent, the strain sensors 15 and 16 generate a predetermined detection signal corresponding to the bending, and output it to the outside through the lead wire 14. The ends of the strain sensors 15 and 16 are connected to a lead wire 14 as an output extraction section 14a, and the lead wire 14 is connected to the detector 1.
7 is connected. Note that the steps of forming the strain sensors 15 and 16 and the lead wire 14 on the main body portion 12 are performed in the same step. The detector 17 detects the output signals of the strain sensors 15 and 16, performs processing to detect the bent portion, and outputs the processing results to the microcomputer 18. here,
Details of the detector 17 are shown in FIG. 2, and the detector 17 has constant current sources 21 and 22 and an A/D converter 23. The strain sensors 15 and 16 are connected in series to each constant current source 21 and 22, respectively, and the output is taken out from the upstream side of each constant current source 21 and 22 and supplied to the A/D converter 23, which performs A/D conversion. and output to the microcomputer 24. Note that [Output 1] and [Output 2] shown in the figure will be described later. The microcomputer 24 performs the following processing to determine the location of the bend based on the detection result of the bend detected by the detector 17, and also performs the arithmetic processing necessary for controlling the musical tones. A control signal for controlling the generation of musical tones accompanying the movement of is generated and output to the sound source 25.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body portion 12 is divided into a portion A and a portion B, and the amount of bending detected by the strain sensor 15 is outputted as [output 1].
, when the amount of bending detected by the strain sensor 16 is [output 2], the amount of bending of part A = [output 1] - [output 2] the amount of bending of part B =
[Output 2] A bending part detection process is performed. The detector 17 and the microcomputer 18 constitute a detection means 19.

The sound source 25 not only physically generates the necessary musical tones, but also applies necessary processing to the generated musical tones based on control signals from the microcomputer 18 and outputs the processed musical tones to the sound system 26. , sound system 2
6, the generated musical tones are transmitted to the outside as sounds.

In the above configuration, the bending sensor 11 is attached to a necessary part of the performer's body, and when the body is bent, the strain sensors 15 and 16 detect the bending and generate a predetermined detection signal. Based on the detection signal, the sound system 26 finally transmits a generated musical sound corresponding to the movement of the body to the outside as a sound. This process will be described later.

Here, when the bending sensor 11 shown in FIG. 1 is attached to the body of a human (performer) and trying to find out which part of the body is bent and how much, the strain sensors 15 and 16 bend the body. The site is detected. Specifically, when the main body 12 is divided into a part A and a part B as shown in FIG.
Bending amount of portion B=bending amount detected by strain sensor 16 Bending amount of portion A=(bending amount detected by strain sensor 15)−(bending amount detected by strain sensor 16). Therefore, detection can be performed according to the bent part of the body.

Next, a configuration in which the above-described bending angle detector is applied to an electronic musical instrument will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. In this example, the volume is controlled by using the amount of bending of part A as the amount of bending of the first joint of the finger. Further, the reverberation depth is controlled by using the bending amount of the B portion as the bending amount of the second joint of the finger. In FIG. 4, 20-1 to 20-5 are bending angle detectors 20 for detecting the bending angles of portions A of the thumb to little finger of the right hand, respectively;
-11 to 20-15 are bending angle detectors for detecting the bending angle of the B part of each finger from the thumb to little finger of the right hand; 20-6 to 2;
0-10 is a bending angle detector that detects the bending angle of the A section of each finger from the thumb to little finger of the left hand, 20-16 to 20-20
is a bending angle detector that detects the bending angle of the B part of each finger from the thumb to the little finger of the left hand. These are each constituted by a plurality of bending sensors 51 housed in each of 111a to 111e of the glove-shaped wearing device 110 shown in FIG. 3, a detection circuit shown in FIG. 2, and the like.

[0019] The bending angle detectors 20-1 to 20-20
The detection voltages VS outputted from the respective A/D converters 121-1 to 121-20 are supplied to the A/D converters 121-1 to 121-20. The A/D converters 121-1 to 121-20 are the bending angle detectors 20
It converts the detection voltages VS supplied from -1 to 20-20 into digital data of predetermined bits, and the data obtained thereby is supplied to the multiplexer 122. Multiplexer 122 selects two channels based on a channel select signal CS provided to its select terminal.
A/D converter 121-1 to 121 for 0 channels
-20, one of the data output from each is selected and output. Also, 124 is a CPU (central processing unit)
, 125 is a ROM in which programs used by the CPU 124 are stored, and 126 is a RAM used as a work area. The CPU 124 sequentially changes the channel select signal CS supplied to the multiplexer 122, scans the output data of the A/D converters 121-1 to 121-20 at high speed, and converts the obtained data for each channel into the volume Data AMP1 to AMP10,
Sequential RA as reverb data AMP11 to AMP20
Store in M126. In addition, 127 is a TG (tone generator) that generates musical tone signals for 10 channels in a time-division manner.
C1 to E2), which are levels corresponding to volume data AMP1 to AMP10 for each channel supplied from the CPU 124, and are reverb data AMP11 to AMP.
A musical tone signal having a reverb depth corresponding to 20 is sequentially supplied to the sound system 128. Sound system 128 is T
an amplifier that amplifies the musical tone signal supplied from the G127;
It consists of a speaker driven by a musical tone signal amplified by this amplifier.

Next, the operation of the electronic musical instrument configured as described above will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when the power switch (not shown) is turned on, the CP
After performing initial settings in step SP1, U124 proceeds to step SP2 and sets a value i indicating the channel to be processed to 1. Next, proceed to step SP3,
A channel select signal CS for specifying the bending angle detector 120-1 that detects the bending angle of the first joint of the right thumb is supplied to the multiplexer 122, thereby allowing the data supplied from the bending angle detector 120-1 to be It is stored in the RAM 126 as volume data AMP1. Then, the process proceeds to the next step SP4, and it is determined whether or not the value i is i>11. If the value i is determined to be less than or equal to 10, 10 is added to the value i in step SP5, and the process proceeds to step SP3. return. In step SP3, the reverb depth AMP(i+1
0) is stored in the RAM 126, and the process proceeds to step SP4. In step SP4, since the value i is i>10 at this time, the process proceeds to the next step SP6. In step SP6, 10 is subtracted from the value i, and in step SP7, the volume data A
In order to make MPC the bending amount of part A, [volume data AM
PCi-reverb data AMP(i+10)], stores the volume data AMPCi, and proceeds to the next step SP8.
Proceed to. In step SP8, volume data AMP1 and reverb data AMP1 are provided for the first channel of TG127.
Supply 1. As a result, the sound system 128 produces a musical tone with the pitch of C1 assigned to the first channel, a volume corresponding to the bending amount of the A section of the right thumb, and a reverberation depth corresponding to the bending amount of the B section. sound from the speaker. In this case, the deeper the first joint of the finger is bent, the greater the value of the volume data AMPi becomes, and the volume emitted from the sound system 128 also increases accordingly. Further, as the second joint of the finger is bent more deeply, the value of the reverb data AMP11 becomes larger, and accordingly, the reverberation of the sound emitted from the sound system 128 becomes deeper. Next, the process proceeds to step SP9, where the value i indicating the channel to be processed is incremented by 1, and the process proceeds to step SP10. In this step SP10, it is determined whether the value i is i>10, and i>1
If it is determined that i is 0, the process advances to the next step SP11, and if it is determined that i is 10 or less, the process returns to step SP3. As a result, until it is determined that i>10 in step SP10, the
~Step SP9 is repeatedly executed, and after processing for 10 channels is executed, other processing is executed at step SP11, and the process returns to step SP2 again.

As described above, by bending the thumb to little finger of the right hand and the thumb to little finger of the left hand, the pitch becomes C.
It changes from 1 to E2, and the deeper the first joint of each finger is bent, the louder the pitch corresponding to each finger will be pronounced.
Furthermore, the deeper the second joint of each finger is bent, the deeper the reverberation of the pitch corresponding to each finger becomes. In this application example,
The pitch is specified depending on which finger is bent, and the volume and reverb depth are changed depending on the amount of bending of the first and second joints of each finger. Parameters may also be controlled. Furthermore, the rate of change per unit time in the resistance values of the resistors 15 and 16 (corresponding to strain sensors) may be determined, and various tone parameters may be controlled according to the speed at which each finger is bent.

In this way, in this embodiment, when detecting a portion subjected to bending, each strain sensor 15, 16 and the lead wire 1
4 is firmly connected to the end portion of the main body portion 12 near the base end portion 13 by the connecting portion 14a, so that the connection between the two can be made stable. Further, since the strain sensors 15, 16 and the lead wire 14 are formed in the same process, the trouble of attaching a plurality of sensors to the body is avoided compared to the conventional method. Furthermore, the strain sensors 15 and 16 are arranged on the surface of the flexible main body 12, and the lead wire 14 is connected to the main body 12 near the base end 13 by a connecting portion 14a.
Because the lead wire 1 is held firmly at the end, it resists bending.
4 can be ensured, and the resistance value of the lead wire 14 can be prevented from changing against bending.

Next, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the arrangement of the sensor section of the strain sensor is changed. That is, in FIG. 6(a), the main body part 3
1 (corresponding to a base member), strain sensors 32 to 34 are arranged concentrically, and each strain sensor 32 to 34 has a sensor portion 32a to 34a and a lead portion 32b to 34b, respectively. However, the other three lead portions 32b to 34b are combined into one from the middle. The ends of each of the lead parts 32b to 34b are connected to the lead wire 14 as in the first embodiment. On the other hand, what is shown in FIG. 6(b) is (
In contrast to the example a), the lead portions are grouped together. That is, the strain sensor 4 is installed in the main body 41 (corresponding to the base member).
2 to 44 are arranged concentrically, and each strain sensor 42 to 44 has a sensor part 42a to 44a and a lead part 42b, respectively.
~44b. However, the other lead portion 42b
-44b, all three from the middle are combined into one. The manufacturing process of each part and the connections are performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Therefore, even when the strain sensors 32 to 34 and 42 to 44 are arranged in this manner, each part of the body can be detected by the same method as in the first embodiment described above.
A similar effect can be obtained.

Next, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 mainly shows an overall view of the bending sensor, and in the figure, the bending sensor 51 is roughly divided into a main body part 52, a base end part 53, and a lead wire 54. The main body portion 52 (corresponding to the base member) includes two sets of strain sensors 55,
56 are provided. A sensor portion 55a of the strain sensor 55 is disposed at a portion C in the figure, and the sensor portion 55a is connected to a lead portion 55c by a connecting portion 55b and guided to the lead wire 54. On the other hand, the sensor portion of the strain sensor 56 is disposed at a portion D in the figure, and is connected to the lead wire 54 as it is. The manufacturing process and connections of each part are performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment, the sensor section 5
Although the stability of the connection between 5a and lead part 55c is poor,
The parts C and D can be detected by the small sensor sections of two sets of strain sensors 55 and 56, respectively, and the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0025]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, since two strain sensors having different lengths or positions are provided on the same base member, it becomes possible to easily measure a plurality of parts. At the same time, the function as a sensor is simplified, and the number of parts can be reduced. Furthermore, the wiring of the wire of the detection means is simplified, and the lead wire is connected at the base end, which is less deformed by bending, so that the connection can be stabilized and durability can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the detector of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a bending angle detector according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic musical instrument using the bending angle detector according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the electronic musical instrument in the same embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the arrangement of strain sensors according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the arrangement of strain sensors according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional bending sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 51: Bending sensor, 12, 31, 41, 52: Main body (base member), 13, 53: Base end, 14, 54
:Lead wire, 15, 16, 32-34, 42-44, 5
5, 56: Strain sensor, 17: Detector, 18: Microcomputer, 19: Detection means, 25: Sound source, 26: Sound system

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A flexible base member having a flat plate shape elongated in one direction, an input end and an output end of a sensor portion are electrically connected, and the input end and output end are arranged adjacent to each other. and a U-shaped strain sensor, wherein at least two of the U-shaped strain sensors are arranged on the same surface or both sides of the base member, and at least two locations in the longitudinal direction of the base member. A bending detector characterized in that the two U-shaped strain sensors are different in shape and arrangement position so as to be able to detect bending. 2. The at least two strain sensors include a first strain sensor that includes a portion to be measured, and a first strain sensor that covers the remaining portion of the measurement range of the first strain sensor excluding the portion to be measured. A second strain sensor is included as a measurement range, and the detection means detects the difference between the output of the first strain sensor and the output of the second strain sensor as the amount of bending of the part to be measured. The bending detector according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The bending detector according to claim 1, wherein said at least two strain sensors are both electrically connected to said detection means at one proximal end of said base member.