JPH09271263A - Interactive system with plant - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an interactive system with plants capable of sensing the reaction to external stimuli of the respective kinds of the plants such as patted plants, garden plants and fruit trees, etc., by the sensation of a human and interacting (communicating) with the plants. SOLUTION: This system is constituted of a first electrode 1 connected to a part of the leaf, stem and root, etc., of the plant as an object, a second electrode 2 attached to the part away from the part where the first electrode is attached of the leaf, stem and root, etc., of the plant, a signal detection part 3 for detecting biological signals generated between the first and second electrodes, a signal discrimination part 4 for dividing the change of the biological signals detected in the signal detection part 3 into at least two or more and an output part 5 for expressing the output of the signal discrimination part 4 in a form sensable by the sensation of the human. Also, the signals generated corresponding to stimuli applied to the plant are detected as the change of a frequency and the change of a waveform other than the change of a biological potential through electrodes.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plant dialogue system for communicating with plants such as plants, flowers and other plants.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various plants, even though they are living things, do not actively move, and therefore do not respond to external changes or stimuli,
It has been considered to be a representative example of a quiet existence since ancient times. In fact, it is generally difficult to know the change through human sense organs, for example, the senses of sight, hearing, and other human senses.

[0003] However, a special plant, for example, bowel grass, is called by its name because it looks like it is bowing by closing the tip of the leaf in a short time and causing the stem of the leaf to face downward by an external stimulus. The rapid movement of human fingers or other objects when they come into contact with a plant is understood to mean that biological signals in response to stimuli are acting inside the plant.

[0004] In addition, the name of the sleeping tree is also given its name because it looks like it fell asleep by closing the leaf tips that had been open until evening. Such a phenomenon has been known for a long time because it can be visually confirmed by humans, but it is considered to be a non-existent existence in other plants because such a remarkable change cannot be confirmed.

On the other hand, a small number of horticulturists and researchers who carry out special plant cultivation report that a certain kind of music is heard in the plant, which causes a change in growth as compared with the usual case.

In addition to such sound stimulation, electrical stimulation, magnetic change, pollution degree of surrounding air, abundance of odorous components, contact with branches and leaves and bark, and the like are also very small. It is being elucidated at the research stage.

The fact that the plant reacts to an external stimulus in this way can be regarded as having a kind of emotion in the plant, which is extremely interesting for plant lovers.
A small number of studies have reported that such a reaction of plants can be perceived by the human five senses.

[0008] However, there is still no means for easily detecting the reaction of the plant, and there is still a feeling that the above-mentioned emotions and promotion of the growth of the plant have been received in a fairy tale.

[0009]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention changes the conventional situation as described above and makes it possible to detect the reaction of various plants such as potted plants, garden trees and fruit trees to external stimuli by human senses, and It is an object to provide a dialogue system with plants, which enables dialogue (communication).

[0010]

The present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a first electrode 1 connected to a part of leaves, stems, roots, etc. of a target plant P, and the leaves of the plant P. , A stem, a second electrode 2 or 2'attached to the ground near the root or a portion away from the portion to which the first electrode is attached, and a biological signal generated between the first and second electrodes. A signal detecting unit 3 for detecting, a signal discriminating unit 4 for discriminating a change in a biological signal detected by the signal detecting unit 3 into at least two, and a form in which an output of the signal discriminating unit 4 can be sensed by human senses. And an output unit 5 represented by.

Further, the signal detecting section 3 according to the present invention is
It is characterized by detecting the strength of the biopotential, detecting the frequency change of the biosignal, and detecting the waveform change of the biosignal. The signal detection unit 3 can be configured to detect both the strength and weakness of the biopotential, the frequency change and the waveform change of the biosignal, or any two of these changes, or only one of them. Can also be configured to be detected by appropriately combining.

The output unit 5 according to the present invention is characterized in that it is an output unit for a change in sound of an audible frequency.
The output of the change in the sound is at least one or more kinds of synthetic speech output or synthetic sound output, at least one or more kinds of music output, at least one or more kinds of musical instrument sound output, at least one or more. The sound output is provided by a bell, a buzzer, an electronic sounding body, a recording medium, etc., whose level can be changed.

The output unit 5 according to the present invention is characterized in that it is a visible output change output unit, and the output unit 5 is a light emitting display unit capable of displaying at least one level. The present invention is characterized in that it is an analog or digital signal display unit that changes according to a signal change, and that it is a display device that displays changing visible information such as color, shape, and size of a figure according to a signal change. .

Further, the output unit 5 according to the present invention is characterized by including at least one audible output unit and at least one visible output unit in combination.

The at least one audible output section and the at least one visible output section are set to operate at the same time, and the at least one audible output section and at least one visible output section are provided. It is characterized in that it can be set at any time so as to operate separately depending on the range of the signal change.

As described above, the biological signals generated in response to the stimulus applied to the plant according to the present invention are generated by the electrodes 1, 2,
In addition to being able to be detected as a change in biopotential via 2 ', it can be detected as a change in frequency or a waveform of a biosignal.

Therefore, the signal detecting section 3 according to the present invention is configured to detect these signals individually or in combination.

The signal discriminating section 4 according to the present invention discriminates a level change, a high / low frequency, a waveform change, etc. in a plurality of stages according to the detected signal. A change in the signal level can be determined as a change in the signal level of a plurality of stages by providing a fixed or variable threshold value and comparing these with the detection signal.

Further, the change in frequency can be discriminated, for example, as the pitch of the signal sound, but can be discriminated more accurately by further using the Fourier transform processing.

The change of the waveform is compared with the reference waveform peculiar to the plant concerned, or by combining a commonly known differentiation circuit or integration circuit, for example, the change of the envelope area or the content ratio of the specific frequency component by the detection, etc. Can be determined. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these examples, and other discriminating circuits suitable for the type of the detected signal can be adopted.

The signal discriminating unit 4 controls the strength, the width, the width, the height,
The output signal which is discriminated in a plurality of stages such as the magnitude is used to generate an audible output, a visible output and the like which can be sensed by the human five senses.

The above-mentioned audible output is from a storage medium in which voices of humans and animals, sounds of wind, sounds of water, etc. are recorded.
It can be a synthetic voice by electronic technology, a sound of a musical instrument or music, a buzzer or a chime, a (electronic) music box, a sound of SL, or an onomatopoeic sound of a steam whistle of a ship.

A plurality of these audible outputs are prepared, and the output of the corresponding stage is generated according to the strength and the strength of the signal.

Further, as the above-mentioned visible output, light-emitting diodes, miniature light bulbs, and other light-emitting bodies are appropriately arranged and any or all of them are lit or blinked, and a display such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display is displayed. The device may display a short sentence, a pattern, a picture, or the like.

These visible outputs are set in multiple stages, for example, the light emitters are arranged in a line and the number of lights is changed according to the strength and type of the signal, or they are arranged in large and small multiple circles or patterns to determine the number of lights emitted. It is possible to generate a plurality of stages of visible output depending on which one is turned on depending on the size of a figure or pattern.

When using a display,
It is possible to prepare a short sentence indicating a message or a greeting, a picture, a pattern, etc. as appropriate, and to perform a corresponding display according to the output of a plurality of stages. Furthermore, colors can be combined with these.

The audible output and the visible output can be used in combination or separately at the same time. For example, if the output is below a certain level, it is set as a visible output, and when a high level output occurs, an audible output such as a human laughing voice or a voice of an animal, a bird, or an insect may be output. It is possible.

The system for interacting with plants of the present invention is
It is characterized by being used as a toy.

There are a wide variety of actual output types, which can be selected or switched according to the preference of the designer or the user.

According to the configuration of the present invention as described above, electronic signals are used for signal changes of potted plants, for example, rubber trees which are foliage plants, trees such as Benjamin, orchids and other flowers, garden trees, fruit trees and the like. It is possible to take out as an output that can be perceived by human senses and have a dialogue (communication).

[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the basic configuration of the plant dialogue system according to the present invention, and the same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, electrodes 1, 1 ', 2 and 2'are attached to the tips of the lead wires extending from the main body of the system for interacting with plants.
Is provided and is connected to an appropriate position of the potted plant P, here, a plant leaf. The part of the plant that gives stimulation is not limited to this, and examples thereof include trunks, branches, flowers, buds, vines, and roots.

The shape and structure of such an electrode vary depending on the type of plant to which it is applied, but to the extent that they do not extremely damage the leaves of the plant, for example, clips that exert a clamping force, or are inserted into branches or trunks to some extent. There is no particular limitation as long as a sharp needle-shaped electrode or the like can be used, and an electric wire can be wound around a plant leaf, a trunk, or the like, a metal plate or a tape can be attached, and conductivity can be secured.

An electrode 2'is also provided as a second electrode or as a ground for preventing potential fluctuation. It is desirable that these electrodes and lead wires be colored and shaped so that they are inconspicuous from the outside during use.

To the plant P in the case of FIG. 2, "stimulation" is applied from the outside as shown by the arrow. This stimulus is, for example,
Stroking, tapping, touching, shining, giving sound (music), giving verbal speech, listening to animal sounds, etc.
There are contact with human bodies and objects, approach of humans and animals, rocking of pots or branches and trunks, water injection / irrigation, heating elements approaching, blowing of gas or smoke, etc. Of course, these can be added at the same time.

When these external stimuli are applied, the plant P causes various changes, although it varies depending on its type. For example, when light is applied, the biopotential of the leaf surface changes. The same is true when a certain sound or music is heard.

The growth is promoted by listening to the growing music for the flowers and vegetables growing in the house.
The fact that so-called music farming is being attempted is considered to be evidence of changes in plants.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of plants PA and PB of the same species or different species are brought close to each other to stimulate the plant PA without electrodes, that is, the plant which is not connected to the main body of the dialogue system with the plant. Even when the signal is given, a signal can be detected from the plant PB to which the electrode is attached.

The signal detecting section 3 detects the intensity of the biopotential signal obtained from the electrode attached to the leaf of the plant P, the frequency, the signal waveform, or a mixture of these signals. In any case, since the signal is weak, it is amplified to an appropriate level and noise and signal are separated and extracted.

When a biopotential change is taken out as a signal, it is detected as a potential count, but when detecting a frequency or a signal waveform, it is necessary to correspond to the structure of the electrode attachment part or the signal detection part.

The signal detecting section 3 may be provided with a transmission function using infrared rays or radio waves to make the lead wires inconspicuous, and the signal discriminating section 4 and the output section 5 may be installed apart from each other. Furthermore, a separate AV is provided as the output unit 5.
You can also use the system.

The signal discriminating section 4 receives the signal obtained by the signal detecting section 3 directly or via a transmission function,
A plurality of stages of outputs are obtained according to the strength or weakness, the magnitude of the potential change, the frequency change, the signal waveform, and the like.

When detecting a biopotential change, a reference potential and a signal change are compared by a comparator, for example, divided into 3 to 4 stages of weak output, medium output, strong output, strongest output, etc., Configure to output from each terminal.

When detecting the frequency of a signal, a low-pass filter, a band-pass filter, a high-pass filter, etc. are used to obtain an output of a desired number of stages. Further, when paying attention to the signal waveform, it is possible to use comparison with a reference waveform according to the type of plant or a Fourier analyzer.

The output section 5 is required to generate an output that can be perceived by humans. Theoretically, anything that can be detected by the five senses can be used, but typical examples are visible output and audible output.

It is possible to employ light emission from a light emitting diode or a light bulb, a combination of these with a fluorescent body, a combination of colors, and visible output from various displays. Also,
An audible output which is a synthetic voice, a recording by a recording medium such as a tape, a CD or an FD, and an acoustic output such as an electronic music box, a chime, a bell or a buzzer can be adopted. Furthermore, these can be combined and adopted.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of the audible output of the dialogue system according to the present invention, in which the magnitude of the biopotential difference is classified into three stages, and the audible output is generated in proportion to this. It is a thing.

That is, the middle part of FIG. 4 schematically shows the relationship in the case of simply changing the volume according to the level of the bioelectric potential difference. For example, "low tone" at a small level and "middle" at a medium level. This is an example of a configuration in which "sound" and "high sound" at a high level are configured.

Further, the lower part of FIG. 4 schematically shows the relationship between the bark of an animal, here a cat, and the stage of the biopotential difference. Since the potential difference is a continuous analog amount and has no special meaning even if it is listened to as it is, it is appropriately divided into levels, and the mode of volume or squeal is divided into small-level rumbling voices and medium-level voices. This is an example of a configuration in which a quiet sound of "Nyaon" and a strong sound of "Gaoh" at a high level are produced.

In addition to these, talking or greetings by synthetic voice or recording, laughter, crying, cheering, etc., birds 'voices, wind sounds, waves' sounds of nature, sounds of various musical instruments, electronic sounds, music boxes, lullabies It can be configured to output other familiar songs and the like.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of the first and second embodiments of the visual output of the dialogue system according to the present invention. FIG. 5 (A)
Lined up 12 light emitting diodes (LEDs),
It is the figure which illustrates the simplest example of the visible output in which the number of lighting is changed according to the magnitude of the biopotential difference.

In this example, a large number of lights are turned on when the potential difference is large. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), the light emitters are formed in multiple circles, and the potential difference is increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the lighting circles. It can also be expressed. Although it is not clear in these drawings, it is also optional to use colors in combination to make various expressions.

FIG. 6 schematically shows an example in which a visual output is expressed by using a graphic panel, a liquid crystal display or the like as a visual output medium of the interactive system according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, depending on the magnitude of the potential difference,
It shows how the doll dances and frolics. Instead of such a simple mode, it is possible to prepare a large number of complicated screens including changes in animals, humans, patterns, figures, landscapes, etc., and select and display them appropriately according to the potential difference.

Although the visual sense and the auditory sense are taken up here as representatives of human senses, it is not impossible to appeal to other senses. Although not common, for example, it is possible to enclose a plurality of scent components and release one of them according to the output to appeal to the sense of smell.
In addition, it is possible to provide a tactile sensation depending on the magnitude of vibration by providing a vibration generator. It is a means that is also effective for users who are visually or hearing impaired.

[0056]

As described above, according to the system for interacting with plants according to the present invention, potted plants, for example, trees such as rubber trees and Benjamin which are foliage plants, orchids and other flowers, garden trees, fruit trees. With the aid of electronic technology, signal changes such as can be taken out as an output that can be sensed by human senses and can be communicated.

Since such a dialogue with a plant does not directly decode a biopotential signal, it cannot be said that it is a dialogue with a plant in a strict sense, that is, a communication. However, the plant, which has been known as a representative of a silent person since ancient times, shows some kind of change in response to external stimuli, and we can enjoy the unexpectedness of making this output visible and / or audible to human senses. , Toys or interior accessories. In addition, a feeling of intimacy with the plant is created from the response to the subtle change, and it can be used as an emotional education for the infant.

Furthermore, by applying the structure according to the present invention to a tree or the like that grows naturally on the ground, it is possible to know the influence of the temperature and the ground current in the ground, and it is possible to know the change in the natural world, for example, an abnormally low temperature or It is also possible to make predictions about abnormal weather, and eventually predictions of natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

For example, it was reported that it was confirmed that the Nemu and Tochigi trees showed a serrated abnormal potential several tens to several tens of hours before the occurrence of an earthquake or the explosion of an undersea volcano (Tokyo Women's University, Faculty of Humanities and Science) , Ms. Toriyama), and it is expected that there is sufficient potential for application.

In addition, since it is expected that there are plants that sense the proximity of animals or humans and that branches and leaves and roots react to specific gas components and compounds, there are intrusion monitoring systems, air pollution, water pollution, etc. The use as a pollution monitoring device can be predicted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the basic configuration of a dialogue system with a plant according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of an interactive system with a plant according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of another example of giving a stimulus in the plant dialogue system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of an example of audible output of the plant dialogue system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of the first and second embodiments of the visual output of the system for interacting with plants according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of visible output of the system for interacting with plants according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1'first electrode 2, 2'second electrode 3 signal detection unit 4 signal determination unit 5 output unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical display location G10L 3/00 G10L 3/00 Q

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A first electrode connected to a part of leaves, stems, roots, etc. of a target plant, and a site apart from the site where the first electrodes such as leaves, stems, roots, etc. of the plant are attached. Or the second attached to the ground near the root
An electrode, a signal detection unit that detects a biological signal generated between the first and second electrodes, and a signal determination unit that divides a change in the biological signal detected by the signal detection unit into at least two or more. An output system for expressing an output of the signal discrimination unit in a form that can be sensed by human senses, and a dialogue system with a plant. 2. The interactive system with a plant according to claim 1, wherein the signal detection unit detects the strength of the bioelectric potential. 3. The plant interaction system according to claim 1, wherein the signal detection unit detects a frequency change of a biological signal. 4. The system for interacting with plants according to claim 1, wherein the signal detection unit detects a waveform change of a biological signal. 5. The system for interacting with a plant according to claim 1, wherein the output unit is an output unit for changing a sound of an audible frequency. 6. The system for interacting with plants according to claim 5, wherein the output of the change in the sound is at least one kind of synthetic voice output or synthetic voice output. 7. The system for interacting with plants according to claim 5, wherein the output of the change in sound is at least one type of music output. 8. The output of the change in sound is at least one type of musical instrument sound output.
The system for interacting with plants described in. 9. The output according to claim 5, wherein the output of the change of the sound is an acoustic output by at least one level changeable bell, buzzer, electronic sounding body, recording medium, or the like. A dialogue system with plants. 10. The system for interacting with a plant according to claim 1, wherein the output unit is a visible output change output unit. 11. The output section is a light emitting display section capable of displaying at least one level.
A dialogue system with a plant according to claim 10. 12. The system for interacting with plants according to claim 10, wherein the output unit is an analog or digital signal display unit that changes according to a signal change. 13. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the output unit is a display device that displays visible information such as color, shape, and size of a graphic that changes according to a signal change.
The system for interacting with plants described in. 14. The output unit comprises at least one audible output unit and at least one visible output unit in combination.
3. A system for interacting with a plant according to any one of 3 above. 15. The plant interaction system according to claim 14, wherein the at least one audible output and the at least one visible output are set to operate simultaneously. 16. The at least one audible output section and the at least one visible output section can be set at appropriate times so as to operate separately according to the range of the signal change intensity and the like. 15. A plant dialogue system according to claim 14. 17. The system for interacting with plants according to claim 1, wherein the system for interacting with plants is used as a toy.