JPH0650758A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an input device whose operating property is excellent by generating a prescribed signal to be input according to the action or the like of a human being. CONSTITUTION:An input device is constituted so as to be provided with a detection means 1 wherein, regarding an arbitrary movement inside a space, its physical displacement, its movement speed or its acceleration is detected, with an information generation means 5 wherein position designation information is generated on the basis of a detection output by the detection means and with a transmission means 8 wherein the position designation information generated by the information generation means is transmitted as input information for a prescribed apparatus.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device for inputting operation information and the like to a predetermined device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an input device for operating information, for example, a remote commander for audio / visual equipment, a mouse used for a computer device, an operation section for a game device, etc. are widely known.

[0003]

However, conventional input devices have not always been optimal as means for humans to use and operate. That is, the human interface is not excellent.

There is also a problem that the more diverse the operation contents, the more complicated the operation of the input device, and the more difficult it becomes to operate various devices using the input device. For example, in a remote commander for an A / V device, the number of operation keys increases as the function of the device increases, and the user may not know which key to press when he / she wants to perform a certain operation. Further, in the case of a mouse as a computer input device, an operating space on a desk or the like is required to move the lower rotating body, and it may not be easy to operate.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has excellent operability by generating a predetermined signal to be input in response to human motion or the like. An object is to provide an input device.

For this purpose, as an input device, detection means for detecting the physical displacement of an arbitrary movement in space,
An information generating means for generating position specifying information based on the detection output of the physical displacement information by the detecting means, and a transmitting means for transmitting the position specifying information generated by the information generating means as input information to a predetermined device. To

Further, the detecting means is a detecting means for detecting the moving speed at the time of the arbitrary movement in the space, and the information generating means generates the position designation information based on the detection output of the moving speed by the detecting means. I will let you.

Further, the detecting means is a detecting means for detecting the acceleration at the time of the arbitrary movement in the space, and the information generating means generates the position designation information based on the detected output of the acceleration by the detecting means. To

Further, in these configurations, a plurality of detecting means are provided, and the information generating means generates the position designation information on the multidimensional coordinate corresponding to the arbitrary movement in the space based on the detection output of each detecting means. Configure to allow.

Further, the detecting means is held in a floating state in the input device, and for example, regardless of the angle state of the input device, the detecting means is always in a constant position state with respect to the direction of gravity. To be maintained.

[0011]

By outputting the position designation information obtained by detecting the physical position displacement of the input device, the moving speed, or the acceleration as the operation information, the action of the human being on the input device itself becomes the input operation. For example, it is possible for a user to hold the input device and shake it horizontally or vertically or rotate it as a predetermined operation.

Further, even when the user tilts and holds the input device during such an operation, the detecting means is held in a floating state in the input device and always maintains a constant position in the direction of gravity. By doing so, it is possible to obtain the position specification information that correctly corresponds to the movement of the user's hand (the hand holding the input device).

[0013]

1 to 7, the basic configuration of a remote commander using an angular velocity sensor will be described as an embodiment of the input device of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the internal configuration of the remote commander, and 1 shows a vibration gyro as an angular velocity sensor.

The vibrating gyro has a characteristic that when a rotating angular velocity is applied to a vibrating object, a Coriolis force is generated in a direction perpendicular to the vibration, and the Coriolis force F is expressed as follows. F = 2mvω (m: mass, v: velocity, ω: angular velocity) Therefore, the angular velocity ω is proportional to the Coriolis force F, and the rotational angular velocity can be detected by detecting the Coriolis force F.

A driving piezoelectric ceramic 1a and a detecting piezoelectric ceramic 1b are attached to the vibrating gyro 1, and an alternating signal which is an oscillation output of the oscillator 2 is applied to the driving piezoelectric ceramic 1a. Vibration gyro 1 in this state
Is rotated in the direction of Ω ₀ , Coriolis force F is applied to the detecting piezoelectric ceramic 1b, and a voltage E is generated.

The minute voltage obtained from the detecting piezoelectric ceramic 1b is amplified by the amplifier 3 and supplied to the A / D converter 4.
It is regarded as digital data. 5 is a CPU 5a and a ROM 5
b shows a control unit formed by a microcomputer having a RAM 5c, and a command signal to be transmitted is stored in the ROM 5b or the RAM 5c. Reference numeral 6 indicates a clock oscillator.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an enter key provided as an operation key on the remote commander 10 as shown in FIG. 4, and operation information of the enter key 7 is also supplied to the control section 5. The control unit 5 reads out and outputs an enter command from the ROM 5b or the RAM 5c in accordance with the operation of the enter key 7, and supplies it to the transmission unit 8.

Further, the control section 5 reads out an up command or a down command from the ROM 5b or the RAM 5c in accordance with the digital data of the voltage E input from the A / D converter 4, and supplies it to the transmission section 8. The angular velocity ω applied to the vibration gyro 1 and the generated voltage E have a proportional relationship as shown in FIG. 2, and the control unit 5 converts the input voltage E (digital data) into voltage values Va, Vb, Vc, Vd, for example. By comparing, it is possible to output the command code according to the operation performed by the user on the remote commander 10.

For example, the vibrating gyro 1 is arranged in the remote commander 10 so that the voltage E rises due to the angular velocity when the remote commander 10 is swung upward, and the voltage E decreases due to the angular velocity when the remote commander 10 is swung downward. If so, the control unit 5 determines the command code to be generated, for example, according to the flowchart of FIG.

When the enter key 7 is pressed, an enter command is unconditionally generated (F101 → F102). In other cases, the input voltage E (digital data) is converted into voltage values Va, Vb, Vc. , Vd. And V
If c <E <Vd, that is, if the remote commander 10 is swung upward, the up command is read from the ROM 5b or the RAM 5c (F103 → F104). Also, Va <
If E <Vb, that is, if the remote commander 10 is shaken downward, the down command is read (F105 → F1
06).

The command code thus generated from the control unit 5 is subjected to a predetermined modulation process in the transmission unit 8 and is output to a predetermined device by an infrared signal or a radio wave. The voltage E input in the control unit 5 is
However, if Vb ≦ E ≦ Vc, the command code is not generated, but this is set as a dead zone so that the command code is not output when the user touches or carries the remote commander 10 for a while. It is what

The remote commander 10 outputs only three types of command codes, an enter command, an up command, and a down command. In this case, for example, the receiving device side of the command code corresponds to the input command having the configuration shown in FIG. By providing the control unit integrally with or separately from the device to be operated, various kinds of operations can be executed.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 21 is a remote commander 1.
A receiving unit that receives a command code transmitted from 0 through infrared rays or radio waves, converts it into an electric signal and demodulates it, and an input control unit by a microcomputer that performs control based on the command code received and demodulated by the receiving unit 21. And has a CPU 22a, a ROM 22b, and a RAM 22c. Further, under the control of the control unit 22, a graphic 23 supplies a predetermined character to a display unit (for example, a CRT) 24 that is integrally formed with the device or is connected separately, and performs a display operation. The controller. Reference numeral 25 is a clock oscillator.

The control unit 22 is the graphic controller 2
3, the VT as shown in FIG.
The operation contents and the cursor K corresponding to the R, the CD player, the television receiver and the like are displayed. Then, the control unit 22 responds to the CR command according to the up command or the down command supplied from the remote commander 10.
Move the cursor K on the T screen.

Then, the user selects the remote commander 1
For example, if the enter key 7 is pressed when the cursor K is moved to a position on the screen corresponding to the playback button of the VTR while swinging 0 up and down, this "V
A command code indicating "TR: reproduction" is read from the ROM 22b or the RAM 22c, supplied to the transmission unit 26, and transmitted to a VTR device (not shown) as a modulation signal by an infrared signal, for example. Alternatively, when the input command corresponding control unit of FIG. 5 is provided in the VTR device, "VTR:
The command code "reproduction" is supplied from the terminal 27 to a predetermined operation control unit to execute the reproduction operation.

That is, the control unit 22 holds coordinate data corresponding to the display areas of various operation contents on the display screen of the CRT 24, stores actual command codes, and positions of up commands or down commands. When the cursor K is moved according to the designation information, the coordinate position currently designated by the cursor K is grasped. Then, it is determined that the designation of the coordinate position is determined by the input of the enter command, and the command code held as the command code corresponding to the coordinate position is read and output to the transmission unit 26 or the terminal 27. It is done like this.

Therefore, the user can operate various devices by shaking the remote commander up and down while moving the cursor K while looking at the screen of the CRT 24 and pressing the enter key 7 at a required position. The key operation for is very simple. Further, since the movement of the cursor K is linked to the movement of the user's hand, the operation means is remarkably excellent as a so-called human interface. Of course, the number of operation keys may be the minimum number, the confusion of the operation due to the increase of the keys can be completely eliminated, and the operation can be performed while watching the screen, so that the operation is not bothered.

In the case of such a remote control system, it is not always necessary to provide the enter key 7 on the remote commander 10. That is, the control unit 22 on the receiving side displays the cursor K on the coordinate data.
As the user knows the movement of
It is also possible to determine that it is enter when the display portion of the operation content of "R: Playback" is reciprocated up and down several times. In this case, the remote commander 10 has no operation keys at all. be able to.

Further, since there is a difference in the operation (up and down swing) of the remote commander 10 depending on each user, the output sensitivity of the up command and the down command may be varied. For example, a volume is provided on the amplifier 3 of the remote commander 10 for adjustment, or the receiving side controller 22 adjusts the coefficient of the coordinate movement amount in response to an up command and a down command as coordinate movement information in the control unit 22. You should be able to.

The above is the basic configuration of the input device using the vibration gyro as the angular velocity sensor. As an application example, as shown in FIG. 7, the vibration gyro 1 is arranged in the vertical direction y and the horizontal direction in the remote commander 10. As the movement information (angular velocity) detecting means corresponding to x, it is conceivable to provide two units (1x, 1y) in the orthogonal direction. That is, the angular velocity ω _x when the remote commander 10 is swung up and down is detected, an up command or a down command is output, and the angular velocity ω _y when the remote commander 10 is swung left and right is detected. The left move command or the right move command is output.

The control unit 22 on the receiving side recognizes this as vertical movement and horizontal movement of the designated coordinate position (= coordinates corresponding to the display position of the cursor K), and if the above operation is performed, further input is made. Operability will be improved.

When only the enter command, the up command and the down command are required as the information to be input to the predetermined device, or in addition to this, only the left move command and the right move command are input, the input as shown in FIG. It is not necessary to provide a command corresponding control unit, and the command code transmitted from the remote commander 10 in the command receiving side device may be used directly as the device control code. In this case, for example, the mouse can be used as an input device having the same function as a mouse that can be placed in a personal computer, and unlike a mouse that uses the rotation operation of a roller as input information, movement information can be input without touching the input device on a desk or the like. There is also an advantage that it can be converted into and transmitted.

As another embodiment of the input device of the present invention, the position designation information may be generated by using the detection output of the acceleration sensor. The configuration of the input device is almost the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and an acceleration sensor is provided instead of the angular velocity sensor.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, three units of acceleration sensors are provided in the remote commander 10 as an input device. That is, an acceleration sensor 11x that detects acceleration in a displacement operation in the left-right direction (x direction) of the remote commander 10, an acceleration sensor 11y that detects acceleration in a displacement operation in the up-down direction (y direction), and a front-back direction (z direction). And an acceleration sensor 11z for detecting the acceleration in the displacement operation of. Then, Remote Commander 10
A predetermined command code can be output in response to the up / down, left / right, and front / rear movements performed by the user. Of course, the number of acceleration sensors to be mounted may be set according to the operation target device, and may be 1 or 2 units, or 4 units or more.

Further, as a detecting means for detecting the physical displacement, an inclination sensor 12 may be provided as shown in FIG. In this case, based on the inclination of the remote commander 10 in the vertical direction θ _y detected by the inclination sensor 2, a predetermined command code is generated and output.

Further, as the detecting means for detecting the physical displacement, a metal ball 14 moving on the rail 13 as shown in FIG. 10 can be considered. That is, by tilting the input device in either direction, the metal ball 14 is moved to the rail 1
Roll on 3 in either direction of terminals 15a, 15b,
The contact of the terminal 15a or 15b is closed. Terminal 15a or 1
The control unit 5 takes in information as to which one of 5b is closed, generates a predetermined command signal according to the information, and outputs it from the transmission unit 8.

By the way, the above various detection means detect the physical displacement of the input device, the angular velocity in the predetermined direction, and the acceleration, and output the position designation information based on them, but the user inputs the input device itself. It is almost uncommon to always hold and operate the machine correctly in the horizontal and vertical directions.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when an input device is designed to detect displacement information in the x and y directions and the user holds it in an inclined state and shakes the input device horizontally, the displacement in the x direction is detected. The information and the displacement information in the y direction are combined and detected, and for example, when an input command correspondence control unit as shown in FIG. 5 is provided for operation, the cursor K moves diagonally on the screen. That is, the correspondence between the user operation and the input information cannot be taken correctly. For this reason, it is desirable that the detection means always maintain a constant directionality regardless of the inclination of the input device.

Therefore, for example, detecting means (vibration gyro 1
x, 1y) are fixed in an orthogonal state as shown in FIG. 11, and a shaft J is attached to the upper part of a vibrating gyro 1x arranged in a vertical state to detect an angular velocity in the left-right direction (x direction).
Is inserted and held by the bearing 15. That is, the detecting means is mounted in the input device in a floating state. Then, the input device (remote commander 10) shown in FIG.
As described above, the internal detection means (vibration gyros 1x, 1y) always maintains a constant direction state with respect to the gravity direction regardless of the tilt state of the remote commander 10. As a result, correct operation information can be output regardless of how the user holds the input device. It should be noted that the floating structure is not limited to the shaft support method as described above.

As a usage example in various embodiments of the present invention, of course, as described above, the input device of the present invention is equivalent to a remote commander for electronic equipment such as AV equipment and an air conditioner, or a mouse corresponding to a personal computer. Although it can be adopted as an input device, it can also be adopted as an operation unit for a game machine. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the screen of the racing game and the steering wheel are displayed on the display screen, and the steering wheel is operated by swinging the input device 10 having the built-in angular velocity sensor in the left-right direction.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, the virtual reality (artificial reality) device is configured as an input device incorporating three units of acceleration sensors for generating displacement information in the three-dimensional directions of x, y and z. , Data of the movement of the user's hand holding the input device as movement amounts in the x, y, and z directions. Based on this input information, the main body device side can display a simulated screen on the display device so that the hand moves in space.

Further, it is also preferable to adopt it as a pointing device. For example, when a presenter gives a presentation using a large screen image, a conventional rod antenna type pointer or a laser pointer using laser light does not reach the position desired by the pointer,
The operation is difficult when the presenter disturbs the screen or wants to continue to show a predetermined part on the screen while explaining. Here, by adopting the present invention as a pointing device and moving the cursor K as a pointer on the screen in accordance with the movement of the input device so as to indicate a predetermined portion, the above inconvenience is solved.

Although the above-described various embodiments have been described as wireless input devices for the operated device, they may be wired input devices.

[0044]

As described above, the input device of the present invention outputs the position designation information obtained by detecting the physical position displacement of the input device, the moving speed, or the acceleration as the operation information. A predetermined signal to be input is generated in response to a human motion or the like, which has an effect of being realized as an input device having excellent operability and human interface.

Further, since the detecting means is held in the input device in a floating state so as to always maintain a constant position with respect to the direction of gravity, the user may hold the input device while tilting it during operation. However, it is possible to obtain the position specification information that correctly corresponds to the movement of the user's hand (the hand holding the input device).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment using an angular velocity sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between an angular velocity and a voltage output in the angular velocity sensor of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a command code determination operation based on angular velocity detection according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a remote commander according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an input command correspondence control unit corresponding to the remote commander of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation content display example by the input command correspondence control unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement state of the angular velocity sensor according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment using the acceleration sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment using the tilt sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment using an angular displacement sensor using a metal ball according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a floating structure of the detection means in the example.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a fixed position holding state of the detecting means in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a case where the input device of the embodiment is adopted as an operation unit of a game machine.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram when the input device of the embodiment is adopted as a position displacement information input means of a virtual reality system.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram when the input device of the embodiment is adopted as a pointing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,1x, 1y Vibration gyro 5 Control unit 7 Enter key 10 Remote commander 11x, 11y, 11z Accelerometer 12 Inclination sensor 14 Metal ball

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A detection means for detecting a physical displacement of an arbitrary movement in space, an information generation means for generating position designation information based on a detection output by the detection means, and an information generation means for generating the position designation information. And a transmission means for transmitting the position designation information as input information to a predetermined device. 2. A detecting means for detecting a moving speed at the time of arbitrary movement in space, an information generating means for generating position designation information based on a detection output by the detecting means, and the information generating means. An input device, comprising: transmitting means for transmitting the generated position designation information as input information for a predetermined device. 3. A detection means for detecting an acceleration at the time of an arbitrary movement in space, an information generation means for generating position designation information based on a detection output by the detection means, and a generation means for the information generation means. An input device, comprising: transmitting means for transmitting the specified position designation information as input information to a predetermined device. 4. A plurality of units of the detection means are provided, and the information generation means generates position designation information on multidimensional coordinates corresponding to an arbitrary movement in space based on a detection output of each detection means. The input device according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the input device is configured as described above. 5. The detection unit is configured to be held in a floating state in the input device so that a constant position state is always maintained in the gravity direction. The input device according to claim 2, claim 3, or claim 4.