JPH08122070A - Inclination detection device and input device using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To achieve an accurate detection by obtaining a sufficient quantity of reception light at a light reception part in a device for detecting inclination by receiving a reference light from a light source by the light reception part. CONSTITUTION: Light reception parts 23 and 24 which are inclined to a meridian passing through a center axis O are provided at a detection part 20 provided at an operation device 13 such as a remote controller. When the center shaft O is inclined to reference light L such as infrared light transmitted from a device body, etc., the quantity of light received by the light reception part 23 differs from that received by the light reception part 24. By obtaining the difference, amount of inclination θx can be detected. For example, by inclining the operation device 13 and transmitting the information of the amount of inclination θx at this time to a device body such as a computer, a cursor mark can be moved on the screen of the device body and the screen can be scrolled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inclination detecting device for detecting a relative position between a reference light source and a detecting portion having a light receiving element, and in particular, it has a simple structure and can obtain a high light receiving detection output. The present invention relates to a tilt detection device and an input device using the tilt detection device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an input device for a computer, an AV device, a game device, etc., a code type controller with a joystick or the like has been generally used. The controller with the above joystick is suitable for the operation of moving the character on the screen and the operation instruction in the action game, but it is not suitable for the operation of putting the cursor on the button appearing anywhere on the screen. is there. Also, since this type of controller is of a cord type, it can only be operated near the screen. Therefore, Japanese Patent Application No. 5-317479, which is a prior application, proposes a light source that emits reference light on the device body side and a light receiving element on the operating device side.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show the structure of the detecting section in this type of input device. 10 is a perspective view of the detection unit, and FIG. 11 is a plan view of FIG. The detection section is provided with divided light receiving sections 1a and 1b arranged on a plane. A diaphragm plate 2 arranged with a minute gap d is arranged in front of the divided light receiving portions 1a and 1b, and a rectangular opening 2a is formed in the diaphragm plate 2. Computer or A
A light source that emits the reference light L is fixedly arranged on the device body side of the V device, the game device, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 11, the central axis O of the detector is shown.
Is inclined with respect to the direction of the reference light L, the opening 2a
The light flux having a rectangular cross-section that passes through and is irradiated on the divided light receiving portions 1a and 1b is displaced with respect to the central axis O. By obtaining the difference in the amount of received light between the light receiving portion 1a and the light receiving portion 1b at this time, the inclination amount θx of the reference light L with respect to the central axis O is obtained.
Is detected. This detected amount is applied to the main body of the device,
A cursor or the like can be moved on the screen by converting x into coordinate values on the screen of the apparatus body. Further, by using the four-division light receiving unit, the tilt amount θx between the central axis O and the reference light L and the tilt amount θy orthogonal thereto can be obtained.

[0005]

When the inclination detecting device shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is used as an input device such as a computer, it becomes possible to input coordinates to the input device as if operating a cordless remote controller. In addition, the range of applications will be widened, and it will be extremely promising as an input device for various future devices. However, in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, since the tilt amount θx is obtained by the difference in the amount of received light between the divided light receiving portions 1a and 1b, the opening area of the opening 2a is reduced and both divided light receiving portions are reduced. The light should always be made to partially hit the 1a and 1b. Therefore, the entire light receiving surface of each of the divided light receiving portions 1a and 1b cannot be used for detection, the amount of light received detected by the light receiving portions 1a and 1b is small, and the detection output is also small. When the detection output is small, the influence of external noise becomes large.

Further, the light receiving portions 1a and 1a are more than the light irradiation area.
If the area of b is reduced, for example, the entire surface of the light receiving portion 1b falls within the irradiation area of the light flux in the state of FIG. In this case, even if the inclination of the central axis O changes, the amount of light received by the light receiving section 1b does not change, and it becomes substantially impossible to detect the inclination amount θx. Further, in FIG. 11, if the light flux that has passed through the aperture 2a deviates from one of the divided light receiving portions 1a, the light receiving output of the light receiving portion 1a becomes zero, and the tilt amount θx cannot be detected. Therefore, the divided light receiving unit 1
It is necessary to use an element having a large light receiving area as a and 1b, and an expensive light receiving element must be used.
Further, when the central axis O and the reference light L are inclined at an angle, the difference in the amount of received light between the divided light receiving portions 1a and 1b is different from that between the light receiving surfaces of the divided light receiving portions 1a and 1b and the diaphragm plate 2. It depends on the distance d. The positional deviation between the center of the opening 2a and the center O also affects the detection accuracy. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the processing accuracy of the diaphragm plate 2, and it is necessary to position the divided light receiving portions 1a and 1b and the diaphragm plate 2 with high accuracy, which makes assembly work difficult.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and uses a light source for reference light and a light-receiving element so that the entire light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element can be used for detection to increase the detection output. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inclination detecting device and an input device using the same, which can be obtained and can be easily assembled.

[0008]

In the inclination detecting device of the present invention, the light source for emitting the reference light and the detecting section are arranged at a distance from each other, and the detecting section is provided with a pair arranged with the central axis O interposed therebetween. And a light receiving surface of each light receiving portion is located on a surface intersecting with each other and is arranged at an angle with respect to a meridional plane including the central axis O. By obtaining the difference in the amount of received light, the amount of inclination of the central axis O with respect to the direction of the light source is detected.

Further, in the tilt detecting apparatus of the present invention, the light source for emitting the reference light and the detecting section are arranged at a distance from each other, and the detecting section has a first pair which is arranged with the central axis O interposed therebetween. Light receiving portions and a second light receiving portion are provided, and the light receiving surfaces of the respective light receiving portions of the first set are located on the surfaces intersecting each other and each has a meridional surface including the central axis O. The light receiving surfaces of the respective second light receiving portions of the second set are positioned on the surfaces intersecting with each other, and the light receiving surfaces of the second light receiving portions of the second set are positioned at an angle with respect to the meridional surface orthogonal to the meridional surface. Therefore, by obtaining the difference in the amount of received light from the first set of light receiving units and the difference in the amount of received light from the second set of light receiving units, the amount of tilt of the central axis with respect to the direction of the light source is detected. It is characterized by that.

Further, the input device of the present invention uses any one of the above tilt detecting devices, wherein the light source is arranged on one side of the device body having a screen and the movable operating device and the detecting part on the other side, By obtaining the difference in the amount of light received by the light receiving portion, the amount of tilt between the device main body and the operating device is detected, and the screen display is changed according to this amount of tilt, for example, the cursor mark moves.

[0011]

In the above means, for example, the light source that emits the reference light is
The detection unit is fixed to the main body of a computer, an AV device, a game device, or the like, and the detection unit is provided on the operating device (controller) side. The detection unit is provided with a pair of light receiving units arranged on an intersecting surface having an angle with respect to the meridional plane including the central axis O, and an electric circuit is configured to obtain a difference in the amount of light received by both light receiving units. Has been done. When both light receiving parts face the same angle with respect to the meridional plane that includes the line connecting the light source and the detection part, the irradiation angles of the reference light on the light receiving surfaces of both light receiving parts become equal, and the amount of light received by both light receiving parts (reception output) ) Are equal. When the operating device is oriented so as to have an angle with respect to the meridional surface, the irradiation angle of the reference light with respect to the light-receiving surface of each light-receiving portion forming a pair changes, and a difference in the amount of light received by both light-receiving portions occurs. By obtaining this difference, the tilt angle of the central axis O of the detection unit with respect to the direction of the light source can be calculated.

The same applies to the case where the detection unit is provided on the apparatus main body side and the reference light source is provided on the moving side of the operating device or the like.

In the second means, the detecting section is provided with a first pair of light receiving sections and a second pair of light receiving sections. In this case, it is possible to detect the tilt angle of the central axis O of the detection unit with respect to each of the meridional plane including the line connecting the light source and the detection unit and the meridional plane orthogonal to this. That is, when the axis extending in the arrangement interval direction between the light source and the detection unit is the Z axis and the orthogonal axes intersecting with the Z axis are the X axis and the Y axis, the inclination amount of the detection unit in the X axis direction and the Y axis It is possible to detect both the amount of tilt in the axial direction, or both the amount of movement in the X-axis direction and the amount of movement in the Y-axis direction.

When the above tilt detecting device is used for a device body having a screen and an operating device, it is possible to detect the tilt angle with respect to the direction of the light source when the operating device freely moves within the space.
By giving this detection information to the apparatus main body side, the screen display of the apparatus main body can be changed. For example, it is possible to move the cursor mark image on the screen or scroll the image on the screen.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an input device using an inclination detecting device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a structure of a detection unit and a circuit structure, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a structure of the detection unit.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 is a CRT screen provided on a device body such as a computer, an AV device, or a game device. A light emitting device 11 is fixed on the CRT screen 10, and the light emitting device 11 is provided with an infrared LED as a light source 12 for emitting the reference light L. Reference numeral 13 denotes a wireless or cord-connected operating device (remote control device or controller). A detection unit 20 is provided at the tip of the operating device 13. 2 and 3, CR
A detection unit 20 that can detect the tilt amount θx in the X-axis direction with respect to the T screen 10 and the light source 12 is shown.

In FIG. 1, an axis (horizontal axis connecting the CRT screen 10 and the operating device 13) extending in the direction in which the distance between the light source 12 and the detector 20 is separated is a Z axis, and an axis orthogonal to the Z axis is an X axis. And Y axis. Further, the central axis of the detection unit 20 provided in the operation device 13 is indicated by O. Furthermore, a line connecting the light source 12 and the center of the detection unit 20 is indicated by the P axis. The P axis is the direction in which the reference light L from the light source 12 is emitted as substantially parallel light.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the central axis O extending forward from the detecting section 20 is included in the meridian plane including the P axis and the Y axis, and the central axis O is parallel to the Z axis. It shows the state. The detection unit 20 has a support surface 2 formed at a predetermined angle α with respect to a meridional plane including a central axis O and a vertical axis (Y axis).
1 and 22 are provided. An angle α formed by the supporting surfaces 21 and 22 with a meridian plane including the central axes O and Y is greater than 0 degree and less than 90 degrees. For example, α is 30 degrees, 4
For example, 5 degrees or 60 degrees. The supporting surfaces 21 and 22 are surfaces intersecting with each other. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, when the central axis O is located in the meridian plane including the axes P and Y, the supporting surfaces 21 and 22 have the same angle α with respect to the meridian plane. In position. Further, in the state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, both supporting surfaces 21 and 22 are (90
-Α) degrees angular position.

A pair of light receiving portions 2 is provided on both supporting surfaces 21 and 22.
3 and 24 are attached. The light receiving parts 23 and 24 are
For example, a photodiode. The light receiving portions 23 and 24 have planar light receiving surfaces 23a and 24a, respectively.
3a and 24a are inclined at the same angle α with respect to the meridional plane including the central axis O and the Y axis. In addition, the light receiving surfaces 23a and 2
The surface area of 4a is the same. Further, in order to prevent noise due to natural light from being superimposed on the received light output of the reference light L, it is preferable to provide a visible light cut filter 25 in front of the light receiving units 23 and 24.

The circuit shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2 is housed inside the operating device 13. This circuit includes a light receiving unit 23
A current / voltage converter 26 for converting the received light output current photoelectrically converted into a voltage, a current / voltage converter 27 for converting the received light output current of the light receiver 24 into a voltage, both current / voltage converters 2
It has an adder circuit 28 for adding the voltages from 6 and 27, and a differential circuit 29 for finding the difference between the voltage from the current / voltage converter 26 and the voltage from the current / voltage converter 27. The added voltage from the adder circuit 28 is applied to the analog / digital converter 31.
Is converted to a digital value by the analog / digital converter 32 and converted to a digital value by the analog / digital converter 32.
Given to 3. The arithmetic unit 33 is composed of a CPU of a microcomputer or the like. Light-receiving surface 23 of light-receiving unit 23
When the light receiving output voltage that changes according to the light amount detected by a is R, and the light receiving output voltage that changes according to the light amount detected by the light receiving surface 24a of the light receiving unit 24 is L,
In the calculation unit 33,

[0020]

[Formula 1] (R−L) / (R + L)

The calculation of is performed. The above expression 1 represents the difference in the amount of received light between the two light receiving portions 23 and 24 as a ratio to the sum of the amount of received light in both the light receiving portions 23 and 24. Therefore, for example, even if the distance between the operating device 13 and the light source 12 changes and the absolute value of the amount of received light received by both light receiving units 23 and 24 changes, a standardized differential output is always obtained. It will be.

Next, the detection operation of the tilt detecting device will be described. The light-receiving surfaces 23a and 24a of the light-receiving units 23 and 24 forming a pair are inclined with respect to a vertical plane (meridian plane) including the central axis O of the detection unit 20. Therefore, the received light detection currents at the light receiving portions 23 and 24 are as follows:
It is proportional to the projected area when projected onto the cross section of the light flux of the reference light L from the light source. 2 and 3, the central axis O is the light source 1
2 is included in a meridian plane including the line (P axis) connecting the detector 20 and the Y axis, and the light receiving surfaces 23a and 24a are both inclined at the same angle α with respect to the meridional plane including the P axis. ing. The angle α is, for example, 45 degrees. In this case, the light receiving surfaces 23a and 2
The projection areas of 4a projected on the cross section of the reference light L are the same. Therefore, the relationship between the light receiving output voltages R and L of both the light receiving units 23 and 24 becomes R = L, and the calculation result shown in the equation 1 becomes zero.

The operating device 13 is held by a human hand and can be tilted in the θx direction in the space or can be translated in the X-axis direction. When the operating device 13 is tilted in the θx direction from the state of FIG. 1, the central axis O has a tilt with respect to the meridional plane including the P axis and the Y axis. Further, when the operating device 13 is translated in the X-axis direction from the state of FIG. 1, the line (P-axis) connecting the light source 12 and the detection unit 20 is inclined with respect to the Z-axis, while the central axis O is Since it is parallel to the Z axis, the central axis O is inclined with respect to the meridional plane including the P axis and the Y axis. At this time, a difference appears between the projected area where the light receiving surface 23a of the light receiving section 23 is projected on the light flux cross section of the reference light L and the projected area where the light receiving surface 24a of the light receiving section 24 is projected on the light flux cross section, and both light receiving sections A difference occurs between the received light output voltages L and R of 23 and 24, and the calculation result of the equation 1 becomes plus or minus.

In the calculation unit 33, further calculation processing is performed based on the calculation result shown in Expression 1, and as a result, the inclination amount θx of the central axis O with respect to the meridian plane including the P axis, that is, the central axis O with respect to the direction of the light source 12. The inclination amount θx of is calculated. In the input device shown in FIG. 1 in which this inclination detecting device is used, a cursor mark C is displayed as an image at a position where the central axis O of the operating device 13 intersects with the CRT screen 10. The inclination amount θ is calculated by the arithmetic processing in the arithmetic unit 33.
When x is obtained and this tilt amount θx is transmitted to the apparatus main body side, the cursor mark C moves on the screen 10 based on the tilt amount θx. Alternatively, the calculator 33 calculates the amount of movement of the cursor mark C as a coordinate position on the X-axis based on the tilt amount θx, gives this coordinate value to the apparatus main body, and moves the cursor mark C. By moving this cursor mark C, various information positions are input.

The tilt amount θ calculated by the calculation unit 33
The information of x and the coordinate position information are transmitted from the operation device 13 to the device body by infrared transmission, radio wave transmission or wire. In the case of infrared transmission, transmission is performed from the operation device 13 to the device main body during the pause period of the intermittent light emission of the light source 12.
When the operation unit 33 shown in FIG. 2 is mounted on the operating device 13, the operation results of the tilt amount θx and the coordinate information are transmitted to the device body as described above. The output voltage or the conversion result of the analog / digital converters 31 and 32 is transmitted to the main body of the apparatus, and the arithmetic unit 33 provided on the main body of the apparatus converts the inclination amount θx or converts it into the coordinate position on the X axis. Good.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the reference light L from the light source 12 is always received on the entire light receiving surfaces 23a and 24a of the light receiving portions 23 and 24. Therefore, the diaphragm plate 2 as in the conventional example shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is unnecessary. Since the diaphragm plate 2 is not provided, the number of parts is reduced, and the positioning work of the diaphragm plate 2 is not necessary, so that the assembly is very simple. Further, in FIGS. 10 and 11, the light receiving portions 1a and 1b are partially irradiated with the reference light L, whereas in the above-described embodiment, the light receiving surfaces 23a of the light receiving portions 23 and 24 are used.
Since the reference light L is received by the entire surfaces of and 24a, the received light output intensity is also increased.

The upper diagram (a) of FIG. 4 shows the amount of light received by the entire light receiving portion in the conventional example (comparative example) shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 and the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The result of having calculated | required the ratio of is shown. In this comparison, the light receiving portions 1a and 1b shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 and the light receiving portions 23 and 2 shown in FIGS.
The surface areas of the respective light receiving surfaces of 4 were made the same. Further, in FIG. 2, the angle α formed between the light receiving surfaces 23a and 24a and the central axis O is set to 45 degrees. Further, in FIGS. 11 and 10, the area of the opening 2a is set to be the same as the surface area of one light receiving portion 1a or 1b.

The light quantity ratio on the vertical axis in the diagram of FIG.
(Amount of light received by light receiving unit 23 + Amount of light received by light receiving unit 24) /
It is calculated by (amount of light received by the light-receiving portion 1a + amount of light received by the light-receiving portion 1b), which is (projected area of light-receiving surface 23a in cross section of light flux + projected area of light-receiving surface 24a in cross-section of light flux) /
It is proportional to (area of light-irradiated portion of light-receiving portion 1a + area of light-irradiated portion of light-receiving portion 1b). The area of the light irradiation portion of the light receiving portion 1a and the area of the light irradiation portion of the light receiving portion 1b are the areas of the light transmitted through the opening 2a and applied to the light receiving portions 1a and 1b. Further, the horizontal axis of FIG. 4 is the central axis O shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 with respect to the meridional plane including the P axis and the Y axis, or FIG.
It is the angle of the central axis O shown in FIG.

In the diagram (a) of FIG. 4, the light quantity ratio is about 1.5 times when the inclination amount θx between the central axis O and the meridian plane including the P axis is in the range of 0 degree to approximately 30 degrees. Becomes higher, θx
It can be seen that the light amount ratio is high even when the angle exceeds 30 degrees. That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the light receiving portion having the same surface area as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is used, it is possible to obtain the light receiving output of about 1.5 times.

Next, the diagram (b) shown in FIG. 4 shows that when the angle α is 45 degrees in the embodiment shown in FIGS.
It shows a change in the standardized calculation value shown in Expression 1. The horizontal axis is the amount of inclination θx, and the vertical axis is the calculated value shown in Equation 1. According to the diagram of (b) of FIG. 4, the calculated value expressed by the equation 1 changes almost linearly with respect to the change of the inclination amount θx, and particularly in the range of θx from 0 degree to 30 degree, the linearity is shown. It is excellent, and it can be seen that the inclination amount θx can be detected with high accuracy.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The detection unit 20A shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to the plan view of FIG. In this detection unit 20A, support surfaces 21a and 22a having the same angle α are provided with respect to a meridional plane that includes the central axis O and is orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 5, and both support surfaces 21a and 22a intersect at an acute angle. It has become a thing. Then, the light receiving portions 23 and 24 are attached to the respective support surfaces 21a and 22a. The angle α is, for example, 4
5 degrees. In this detection unit 20A, when the central axis O is inclined with respect to the meridional plane including the P axis and the Y axis, the calculation result shown in Formula 1 changes to plus or minus as in the detection unit 20 shown in FIG. However, the inclination amount θx of the central axis O with respect to the meridian plane including the P axis can be detected, and based on this, the CRT can be detected.
The moving position of the cursor mark C on the screen 10 can be obtained as position information on the X-axis coordinate.

Next, FIGS. 6A and 6B show a second embodiment of the present invention. Detection unit 20B in the second embodiment
Is for simultaneously detecting both the inclination amount θx of the central axis O and the inclination amount θy in the direction orthogonal to the inclination amount θx. 6A is a plan view showing the XZ plane in parallel with the paper surface, and FIG. 6B is a side view showing the YZ plane in parallel with the paper surface. In the second embodiment, support surfaces 41 and 42 that are inclined at the same angle α with respect to the meridional plane that includes the central axis O and the Y axis of the detection unit 20B are formed. Light-receiving sections 43 and 4 forming one set
4 is attached (see FIG. 6 (A)). Further, on the support surfaces 45 and 46 which are inclined at an angle α with respect to the meridional plane including the central axis O and the X axis (the meridional plane orthogonal to the meridian plane),
A light receiving portion 47 and a light receiving portion 48 forming a second set are attached (see FIG. 6B). That is, the first set of light receiving portions 43 and 44 are inclined at a constant angle (90-α) with respect to the X-axis, and both light receiving portions 43 and 44 are provided on the surfaces intersecting with each other. Also, the second set of light receiving parts 47 and 48
Is tilted at a constant angle (90-α) with respect to the Y-axis, and both light-receiving sections 47 and 48 are provided on the surfaces intersecting each other.

In this detecting section 20B, when the light receiving output voltages of the first group of light receiving sections 43 and 44 are R and L, equation 1
By the calculation processing shown in FIG. 1, the inclination amount θx of the central axis O with respect to the meridian plane including the P axis and the Y axis shown in FIG. 1 can be obtained. When the light receiving output voltages of the second set of light receiving units 47 and 48 are D and U, X-Z is calculated by the following mathematical expression 2.
The amount of inclination θy of the central axis O with respect to the surface can be detected.

[0034]

[Formula 2] (UD) / (U + D)

The detector 20B shown in FIG. 6 can detect both the tilt amounts θx and θy in the directions orthogonal to each other. Therefore, when the detection unit 20B is incorporated in the operating device 13 shown in FIG. 1, θx and θ of the central axis O of the operating device 13 are
Based on the amount of inclination of y or the XY coordinate position information calculated based on both amounts of inclination, the cursor mark C
Can be moved to any position on the XY plane on the CRT screen 10. When the detection unit 20B shown in FIG. 6 is mounted on the operating device 13 shown in FIG. 1, when the operating device 13 is oriented parallel to the Z axis and the central axis O is oriented parallel to the Z axis. In addition, an offset angle Δθ is generated between the center axis O and the line (P axis) connecting the detection unit 20B and the light source 12. Therefore, when the tilt amount θy in the Y-axis direction is calculated by the calculation shown in Formula 2, it is necessary to add or divide the offset angle Δθ in advance. Alternatively, when the operating device 13 is installed in a direction parallel to the Z axis, the central axis O that is the angular center of each light receiving unit shown in FIG.
The detection unit 20B may be attached in a state of being tilted in the direction of the light source 12 so as to match the axis P in advance.

FIG. 7 shows a detector 20C according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
Is a perspective view, and FIG. 8 is a front view seen from the Z-axis direction.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a light source 12z located in the Z-axis direction and a light source 12x located in the X-axis direction are provided. The detection unit 20C is provided with the first set of light receiving units 43 and 44 and the second set of light receiving units 47 and 48 as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The central axis Oz shown in FIG. 7 corresponds to the central axis O shown in FIG. 6, and the central axis Oz is oriented in the direction of the light source 12z.

In the state shown in FIG. 7, the central axis Oz is included in the meridional plane (YZ plane) including the light source 12z, and the light receiving portions 43 and 44 of the first set have an angle α with respect to the meridional plane. The light receiving portions 47 and 48 of the second set are positioned at an angle α with respect to the meridional plane (XZ plane) which is orthogonal to the meridian plane and includes the central axis Oz. Further, support surfaces 51 and 52 are provided at positions inclined by an angle α with respect to a meridional plane (XZ plane) including the central axis Ox facing the light source 12x, and each of the support surfaces 51 and 52 has a third surface. A pair of light receiving portions 53 and 54 is provided. The light receiving outputs of the light receiving units 53 and 54 are also subjected to the standardized arithmetic processing in the same manner as shown in the equations (1) and (2).

In the detector 20C shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first
The inclination amount θx of the central axis Oz with respect to the meridional plane (YZ plane) including the light source 12z is detected by the light receiving units 43 and 44 of the second set, and the meridional plane ( A tilt amount θy of the central axis Oz with respect to the (XZ plane) is detected. Further, the tilt amount θz with respect to the meridional plane (XZ plane) including the light source 12x can be detected by the calculated value of the light reception output of the third set of light receiving units 53 and 54. This gives θx, θ
It is possible to detect the three-dimensional tilt amounts of y and θz. It is preferable that both the light sources 12z and 12x emit light alternately so that the reference light from the light source 12z and the reference light from the light source 12x do not interfere with each other. The detection unit 20C shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be applied to, for example, three-dimensional posture detection in virtual reality.

FIG. 9 shows a detector 20D according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Is shown in a plan view. In this detection unit 20D, the axis O
The light receiving portions 62, 63, 64, 65 are arranged every 90 degrees around the rotating body 61 that rotates around y, and Z
The light source 12 is provided on the central axis Oz extending in the axial direction. When the rotator 61 rotates in the Φx direction, one of the light receiving parts forms a pair and receives the reference light L from the light source 12.
At a certain point of time, the light receiving units 62 and 65 are irradiated with the reference light, and at this time, the amount of inclination (rotation amount) in the Φx direction can be detected by performing the calculation shown in Formula 1 from the light receiving outputs of the both light receiving units 62 and 65. . Next, the reference light strikes the light receiving portions 65 and 64, and the rotation amount can be further detected from the light receiving light amount of both light receiving portions.

The detector 20D shown in FIG. 9 can detect a rotation angle of 360 degrees by using one light source. The detection device of each of the above-described embodiments can be used as a posture control device in addition to the controller of the computer, the AV device, the game device, and the virtual reality.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the reference light is received by using the entire light receiving surface of the light receiving portion and the tilt and the coordinate position can be detected, the detection output can be increased and the influence of noise can be exerted. Less. Further, a small light receiving element having a small light receiving area can be used, and an inexpensive tilt detection device and input device can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an input device capable of inputting a cursor instruction on a screen using an inclination detection device of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the tilt detection device of the first embodiment,

3 is a perspective view of the tilt detection device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a ratio of received light amount to a conventional example and a calculated value based on the received light amount in relation to a tilt angle of a central axis;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a detection unit in a modification of the first embodiment,

FIG. 6A is a plan view of a detection unit of the second embodiment, and FIG.
Is its side view,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a detection unit of a third embodiment capable of detecting a three-dimensional tilt angle,

8 is a front view of the detection unit shown in FIG. 7 as viewed from the Z-axis direction,

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a light receiving portion of a fourth embodiment capable of detecting rotation of 360 degrees;

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of a conventional tilt detection device using a light source and a light receiving unit,

11 is a plan view of the conventional inclination detection unit shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 CRT screen 12 light source 13 operating device 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D detection unit 23, 24 paired light receiving unit 26, 27 current / voltage conversion unit 28 addition circuit 29 differential circuit 31, 32 analog / digital conversion unit 33 Computation unit 43,44 First set of light receiving unit 47,48 Second set of light receiving unit 53,54 Third set of light receiving unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A light source that emits reference light and a detection unit are arranged at a distance from each other, and the detection unit is provided with a pair of light receiving units that are arranged with a central axis O interposed therebetween. The surface is
The central axes O are located on mutually intersecting planes and are arranged at angles with respect to the meridional plane including the central axis O, and the central axis O is the light source by obtaining the difference in the amount of light received by both light receiving portions. A tilt detecting device, wherein the tilt amount tilting with respect to the direction is detected. 2. The light source for emitting the reference light and the detection unit are arranged at a distance from each other, and the detection unit includes a first set of light receiving units and a second set of light receiving units arranged with the central axis O interposed therebetween. A set of light receiving portions is provided, and the light receiving surfaces of the respective light receiving portions of the first set are located on the surfaces intersecting with each other, and each of them is arranged at a position having an angle with respect to the meridional plane including the central axis O. , The light receiving surfaces of the respective light receiving portions of the second set are located on the surfaces intersecting with each other, and are arranged at the positions respectively having an angle with respect to the meridional plane orthogonal to the meridian plane. The inclination amount in which the central axis is inclined with respect to the direction of the light source is detected by obtaining the difference in the amount of received light of the light receiving section of the second set and the difference in the amount of received light of the second set of light receiving sections. Detection device. 3. An input device using the tilt detecting device according to claim 1, wherein a light source is arranged on one side of a device body having a screen and a movable operating device, and a detecting part is arranged on the other side. An input device that detects the amount of tilt between the main body of the device and the operating device by obtaining the difference in the amount of light received by the unit, and the screen display can be changed according to this amount of tilt.