JPH10295664A - Impedance measuring method and play device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately and quickly reflect the individual difference to the development and difficulty of a game by detecting an impedance from a potential signal of a subject, measuring the peak interval of waveforms of the impedance, and judging the mental state of the subject based on the obtained peak interval. SOLUTION: A skin impedance measuring electrode 1 of a play device is mounted on a testee (player) 50, the skin impedance obtained from the measuring electrode 1 by the skin impedance measuring device 2 is measured, and projection waveforms or the AC components of the skin impedance are detected by a projection waveform detector 3. The peak interval of the projection waveforms detected by the detector 3 is measured, the parameter of the play is changed by a parameter processing device 4 based on the peak interval, and a skin impedance utilization application 5 implements the play by the parameter changed by the processing device 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an impedance measuring method for measuring psychology based on the peak interval of an impedance waveform, and to control the difficulty and development of a play (game or the like) using the peak interval. The present invention relates to a play device capable of playing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of using the parameters of human skin impedance to most accurately reflect the individual differences of players in the development and difficulty of a game, the absolute value, increase / decrease of skin impedance, or SIR of skin impedance (SIR) There is a method using the appearance frequency of the convex waveform of the AC component).

[0003]

However, in the method utilizing the absolute value or increase / decrease of the skin impedance, there are large differences between individuals in the skin impedance, and some individuals do not reflect the individual differences in the game at all, and others reflect the differences too much. There is a problem to do. For example, if you are not very proficient in the game, the difficulty level will increase rapidly and the game will be over immediately and you will lose motivation, or even if you are proficient, the difficulty level will remain the same and the game will lose interest. Or

In the method using the appearance frequency of the SIR convex waveform of the skin impedance, the appearance rate of the SIR convex waveform per hour is as small as about six peaks per minute, so that real-time property (reflex nerve) is required. There is a problem that the game is slow and unsuitable for certain games. The present invention
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus that can accurately and promptly reflect an individual difference in the development and difficulty of a game.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an impedance measuring method comprising: detecting an impedance from a potential signal of a subject; measuring a peak interval of a waveform of the impedance; It is characterized in that the psychology of the subject is determined based on the obtained peak interval.

In this method, since the psychology is determined based on the peak interval of the impedance waveform, the psychology at the present time of the subject can be accurately determined. Claim 4
The play device has an electrode attached to the player, a measuring device that measures the impedance obtained from the electrode and also measures a peak interval of the impedance waveform, and a parameter of the play based on the peak interval obtained by the measuring device. And a control device that changes

In this device, the parameters of play (game) are changed based on the peak interval of the impedance waveform, that is, the parameters (development, difficulty, etc.) can be accurately and promptly determined according to the player's psychology during play. Since it can be changed, it is possible to play with development and difficulty level suited to each player, and it is particularly suitable for play that requires real-time properties (reflexes).

[0008] Further, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a playing device, comprising: an electrode to be mounted on a player; a measuring device for measuring an SIR convex waveform of an impedance obtained from the electrode and measuring a peak interval of the SIR convex waveform; A control device for changing a play parameter based on a peak interval obtained by the measuring device, wherein the measuring device has an SIR
When the convex waveform of SIR is detected, the convex waveform is not detected for a while, and the control device changes the play parameter when the convex waveform of SIR is not detected for a while.

This device changes parameters more finely in accordance with the state of occurrence of the SIR convex waveform. Like the device of the fourth aspect, it is possible to play with development and difficulty suited to the player. In addition, the real-time property and the game property can be prevented from being impaired.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on embodiments. First, FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a schematic configuration of a play device according to one embodiment. This play device,
An impedance measuring method is adopted, and a skin impedance measuring electrode 1 attached to a subject (player) 50, a skin impedance measuring device 2 for measuring skin impedance obtained from the measuring electrode 1, and a measuring device 2 A convex waveform detecting device 3 for detecting the SIR convex waveform of the obtained skin impedance, and a parameter processing for measuring a peak interval of the convex waveform detected by the detecting device 3 and changing a play parameter based on the peak interval. The apparatus includes a device 4 and a skin impedance utilization application 5 for playing with parameters changed by the processing device 4.

The measuring electrode 1 comes into contact with the skin of the player 50, and an electrical change between the electrodes (change in skin impedance).
Is taken into the measuring device 2. The measurement device 2 has a power supply, an AC generator, a filter, an AD converter, and the like, and performs calculation and output of SIR (AC component) and SIL (DC component) of skin impedance, AD conversion, and the like. The detecting device 3 detects a convex waveform without delay from the SIR waveform in consideration of individual differences. When it is determined that the waveform is a convex waveform, the processing device 4 changes the parameter of the application 5 based on the peak interval of the convex waveform. The application 5 is a game device or the like using biological information.

Next, the overall operation of the play apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as ST) 1, initialization of variables and the like is performed. Here, a time t: old = 0 at which a convex waveform was previously detected, a current time t: new = 0 at which a new convex waveform was detected, α (arbitrary constant) = 10
0, β (arbitrary constant) = 1, T (arbitrary constant) = 20,
Set to ... Note that the parameter of the application 5 is data. In ST2, the current time is obtained from a timer built in the device, and is set in a variable t: new.

In ST3, the result output from the detecting device 3 for detecting the convex waveform of the skin impedance is referred to.
When the detecting device 3 is set to return a value of 1 when detecting the convex waveform of the SIR of the skin impedance, S
The determination at T4 is Yes. In ST5, a difference (t: new−t: old) between the time t: old at which the convex waveform was previously detected and the current time t: new at which the new convex waveform was detected is calculated, and this difference is arbitrary. It is determined whether or not the value is larger than a constant T. If the difference is larger than T, a parameter change process is performed, and if the difference is smaller than T, no change process is performed. This parameter changing process is a process for canceling a plurality of vertexes of the SIR convex waveform of the skin impedance to form one convex waveform.

In ST6, calculations for actually changing parameters are performed. The parameter data is determined by the difference between t: new and t: old, that is, the peak interval. Here, the parameter data is calculated by the formula of α−β × (t: new−t: old). In ST7, t: new is substituted for t: old, and the time for detecting the convex waveform is stored. In the subsequent ST8, a process for changing the parameter data during the period when no convex waveform is detected (between peaks) is performed. Here, a process of decreasing data one by one is performed. However, since data does not become smaller than 0 in the next process of ST9, a change in data is affected by the calculation in ST6. In addition, when the convex waveform does not appear in ST4, and when the difference is equal to or less than T in ST5,
Each is skipped to ST8.

The processing in ST9 to ST14 is performed by using the parameter da
When ta is 0, that is, when the convex waveform of the SIR of the skin impedance is stable without being detected for a long time, the data is changed. That is, in ST9, it is determined whether or not data is smaller than 0. If Yes, 0 is substituted for data (ST10), and the time event when data becomes 0 is set to plus 1 (ST11). Then, it is determined whether the event increased by 1 is larger than an arbitrary constant γ (ST12), and even
If t is larger than γ, data is randomly set to a value from 0 to α (ST13), and event is set to 0 (ST1).
4). When data is 0 or more in ST9 and in ST1
If the event is equal to or smaller than γ in step 2, the process skips to step ST15.

Finally, data for application 5
Is output (ST15), the process returns to ST2, and the same process is repeated. Next, an embodiment in which the above-described play device is applied to a specific game will be described. In the game shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of circles are displayed on the screen of the display in FIG. 4, and these circles move randomly in the screen, and the size (radius) of the circle changes (increases or decreases) [FIG. (See (a) and (b).) Of these circles, move the aim (arrow) with the mouse or joystick to match the target circle (a brightly shining circle or a circle of the same color as the color of “Time” at the upper left of the screen). By pressing a mouse or joystick button, you shoot the target circle and compete for the score.

The circle is set so that if the player feels a sign of sway or sway, or misses the shot, the circle runs away quickly, making it harder to shoot, so that the player can be as calm as possible without feeling the sign. And it is required to shoot the target circle quickly. If the time during which the circle is calm is long, the circle is gathered into a certain figure (see FIG. 5 (b)), which makes it easier to shoot. The score is a value obtained by multiplying the number of shots at the target circle by the time during which the player does not feel upset or upset.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a play device for playing this game. This play device includes a skin impedance measurement electrode 1 attached to a player 50,
A physiological information measuring device 11 for measuring skin impedance obtained from the measuring electrode 1, and noise is removed from a waveform of skin impedance obtained by the measuring device 11, and SIR is performed.
Physiological information detecting device 12 for normalizing the convex waveform of
A computer 13 that has a calculation / memory function, processes a signal (processed) from the operation signal measuring device 15 and a normalized convex waveform, and executes a game program; and a video information output from the computer 13 An image display device 14 to be displayed, and an operation signal measuring device 15 for measuring information of an arbitrary operation input by an input device 16 such as a joystick or a mouse in response to a game by the player 50.
And an operation signal understanding device 17 for grouping operation signals input by the input device 16 based on a combination.

Here, the principle of using the skin impedance in a game will be described. The play device detects the skin impedance from the potential signal of the player 50. The skin impedance has a DC component (SIL) and an AC component (SIR) as shown in FIG. FIG.
It indicates the change in skin impedance of the palm, according to which, for example, before starting a game as a SIL
Is high, and no SIR waveform is observed. When the game starts, the SIL decreases and the SIR appears. When the game is over, SIL rises again,
SIR will not be recognized.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the SIR waveform. If the amplitude and peak latency of each waveform or the frequency of appearance of the SIR are examined in detail as an evaluation index, when the difficulty of the game increases, the appearance of the SIR The frequency and amplitude increase and the peak latency tends to decrease. After detecting the skin impedance, the variation pattern of the skin impedance is calculated, and the emotional change of the player, that is, psychology is determined from the obtained variation pattern of the skin impedance. The emotion determination is performed as follows.

In a normal case, if the difficulty level of the game for the player is at an appropriate level, the change in skin impedance of the palm is as shown in FIG. However, when the level of the game is too high or the opponent is too strong, as shown in FIG. 9A, the SIL remains relatively lowered, whereas the SIR appears. Frequency and amplitude increase and peak latency decreases. This reaction continues as long as the player stays focused and works hard to play, or panics. However, when the concentration is interrupted and the person gives up, SIR
, And the SIL also tends to increase slightly.

On the other hand, if the level of the game is too low,
In the case where the opponent is too weak, for example, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), while the player maintains the concentration, the above-described reaction continues, but the concentration is interrupted, and the user becomes tired or bored. In such a state, the SIL increases and the appearance frequency of the SIR decreases. Although the states shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B seem to be similar in phenomena, the initial state (immediately after the start of the game) has at least a high degree of concentration.
Has appeared. After this initial state, in the case of FIG. 9A, the SIL further decreases, the SIR appearance further increases,
After increasing the SIR amplitude and shortening the peak latency, the next step is an increase in the SIL and a decrease in the appearance of the SIR, whereas in the case of FIG. 9B, the increase in the SIL and the decrease in the appearance of the SIR occur. It is gradually revealed.

The skin impedance is obtained by the skin impedance measuring electrode 1 attached to the player 50.
), And a slightly convex circular stainless steel electrode is used so that the sensor can be used repeatedly and easily and has good adhesion to the skin. FIG. 10 shows various forms of the measuring electrode having the three stainless steel electrodes.
13 to FIG.

The measuring electrode 60A shown in FIG. 10 is applied to a glove 61. A glove 61 is provided with a breathable and stretchable belt 62, and a main body 63 is attached to the belt 62. 2 on the wrist
One electrode 64c is attached to the fingers (thumbs) of the electrodes 64a and 64b. The belt 62 is of a hook-and-loop type, and can be easily worn by anyone regardless of the thickness of the player's arm. If the glove 61 is fitted by the player, three electrodes 64a, 64
The b and 64c naturally come into contact with a predetermined part of the skin.

The measuring electrode 60B of FIG. 11 is similar to that of FIG. 10 in that it has a belt 62 to which a main body 63 is attached, but one electrode is a ring-shaped electrode 65. or,
Although not shown, the remaining two electrodes are provided inside the belt 62 so as to contact the wrist. The ring-shaped electrode 65 does not necessarily need to be attached to the thumb, and may be attached to another finger.

The measurement electrodes 60A and 60B shown in FIGS.
Are examples of measurement using the palm of a part where the most stable measurement output is obtained, but other measurable parts include a foot, a forehead, and the like. FIG. 12 shows an example in which a foot is used as a measurement site. For this measurement electrode 60C, a belt 62 with a main body 63 is attached to an ankle, and another belt 66 provided with three electrodes 64 is attached to an arch. It has become. FIG. 13 shows an example in which a forehead is used as a measurement part. In this measurement electrode 60D, a main body 63 and three electrodes 64 are attached to a belt 62, and by attaching the belt 62 to the forehead, three electrodes 64 are attached.
Touches the forehead. However, one of the three electrodes 64 is attached to the back side of the main body 63. The belts 62 and 66 of these measurement electrodes 60C and 60D are also of a surface fastener type so that they can be easily worn regardless of the size of the foot or the forehead. The measurement electrode 60C in FIG.
The present invention may be applied to socks and worn by wearing socks. Alternatively, the measurement electrode 60D in FIG. 13 may be a hat type and may be worn by wearing a hat.

The impedance of the skin is measured by attaching such a measuring electrode to the body and applying electricity to the skin through the electrode. The principle of the measurement will be described with reference to FIG. The skin impedance Z is calculated as Z = | Z | ε ＾ (− j
θ) (however, − (− jθ) represents a power exponent). O
SC generates a sine wave of √2 A · sin ωt
Convert to constant current of √2 _IO · sinωt by rent driver.
This constant current is applied to the skin through the electrodes. The electrode is a potential electrode, and the measured potential V _S detected by the differential amplifier is as follows: V _S = Ｚ2 | Z | _IO · sin (ωt−θ). When this output signal and the oscillation signal from the OSC are mixed by a multiplier (Mixer), the output is as follows. _{V S · √2 A · sinωt =} √2 | Z | I O · sin (ωt-θ) · √2 A · sinωt = 2 | Z | AI O · sinωt · sin (ωt-θ) = 2 | Z | _{AI O · sinωt · (sinωt ·} cosθ-cosωt · sinθ) = 2 | Z | AI O (sinωt 2 · cosθ-sinωt · cosωt · sinθ) = 2 | Z | AI O {cosθ · 1/2 · (1- cos2ωt) −1 / 2 · sin2ωt · sinθ｝ = | Z | AI _O ｛cosθ · (1−cos2ωt) −sin2ωt · sinθ｝ = | Z | AI _O ｛cosθ− (cosθ · cos2ωt + sin2ωt · sinθ) ＝ = | Z │AI _O ｛cosθ-cos (2ωt-θ)｝ Therefore, cos (2ωt-
Removal of the high-frequency component of the theta), the DC component of skin impedance variations which is the output (SIL) is, SIL = AI _O | was cosθ, and the energization current I _O and the oscillation signal amplitude A from the OSC coefficient | Z The real number (pure resistance) of the skin impedance Z is determined. Further, a high-pass filter (HPF) is used to change the fluctuation component (SI
R), SIR = ΔAI _O | Z | cos θ

However, in an actual device, a multiplier, L
The PF and HPF are performed by digital calculation in the CPU, and a 20 Hz sine wave is generated and controlled by the CPU. The characteristic of the appearance of the SIR convex waveform of the skin impedance obtained by the skin impedance measuring electrode configured as described above is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 15, curve a represents the SIR moving average value (24), curve a represents the maximum average threshold value, and curve c represents the game value. As is apparent from FIG. 15, there is an individual difference in the height of the convex waveform and the number of convex waveforms generated in time (here, 3 minutes). Also, 1
There are cases where a plurality of convex waveforms exist at the peak of one mountain and the convex waveform does not appear for a long time.

Next, the overall operation of the play apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The position coordinates (x, y) of the center of the circle and the radius (size) of the circle displayed on the screen of the video display device (display) 14 are as follows: x = data × sin (a × rad) y = data × cos (B × rad) It changes with the calculation formula of size = 200−data. Here, a and b are arbitrary constants, and rad is a variable that changes at a constant rate from 0 to 360. However, when rad becomes 360 or more, rad = rad-3
It will be 60. In this embodiment, the parameter data of the play device is changed by the operation of the computer 13 and is 0 to 0.
It is set to take a value of 200.

First, in ST21, the physiological information measuring device 1
The physiological information (skin impedance signal) obtained in 1 is
It is received by the physiological information detecting device 12 as a signal suitable for use on the software side of the computer 13. Then, it is determined whether or not the physiological information is information suitable for the game (ST22). The reason for performing the processing in ST22 is that even if the physiological information is suitable for use on the software side, it is meaningless if there is no information about the game. This determination process is performed based on “whether the play is not continued for a long time with only a small change value” or “whether a waveform characteristic of the physiological condition of the player appears” or the like. For example, skin impedance, heart rate, pulse wave, etc., when psychological fluctuation is large, the numerical value increases, the peak interval of the waveform fluctuates, the appearance frequency of the peak changes, and in the case of brain wave, the alpha wave is Or decrease.

In ST22, if the physiological information is not suitable for the game, the process returns to ST21 to read the physiological information. If it is suitable, the physiological information is calculated as a numerical value S suitable for the purpose of use (ST23). The calculation method is, for example, a “concentration determination method, an eye fatigue determination method, and a difficulty control method” according to the earlier application of the present applicant.
(Japanese Patent Application No. 7-296545) discloses a method of utilizing the peak frequency, amplitude, and peak latency of a convex waveform of skin impedance. After calculating the numerical value S, ST
A threshold value T used for the determination of 25 is calculated (ST2).
4). The threshold value T is calculated based on scores during the game and physiological information of the player.

Then, it is determined whether or not the numerical value S is larger than the threshold value T (ST25). If S is equal to or smaller than T, the process returns to ST21 without particularly affecting input / output. If S is greater than T, a process that affects input / output is performed. That is, the position of the circle displayed on the screen of the video display device 14 is changed (ST26). For this purpose, the position coordinates (x, y) of the center of the circle are calculated by the above equation, and the display position of the circle is changed at random. For example, circles may be dispersed from the state where they are gathered in the center of the screen to the edge of the screen [(a) of FIG.
(See (b)). Next, the radius of the target circle is changed in accordance with the change pattern (emotion change) of the physiological information (ST2).
7). To do this, the radius of the circle (size) is calculated by the above equation, and the size of the circle is changed.

The player aims at the target circle,
If the target circle can be shot, the operation signal understanding device 17 is caused to count the points obtained by shooting the target circle (ST28). During the game, a predetermined time (for example, 6
It is determined whether or not 0 seconds have elapsed (ST29). If No, the process returns to ST21 to continue the game, and if Yes (game over), the total score for a predetermined time is calculated (ST3).
0). Next, the magnitude of the emotional change of the player is determined from the number of patterns of the physiological information and the fluctuation value thereof (ST3).
1) The useful psychology of the player is determined from the total score and the magnitude of the emotion change (ST32). In addition, if necessary,
After displaying a comment for the player on the video display device 14 based on the determination result, the game is ended.

[0034]

As described above, according to the impedance measuring method of the present invention, since the psychology is determined based on the peak interval of the impedance waveform, the subject's current psychology can be accurately determined. Further, according to the playing device of the present invention, the parameters of the play (game) are changed based on the peak interval of the impedance waveform, that is, the parameters (deployment, difficulty, etc.) are changed according to the player's psychology during play. Since it can be changed accurately and quickly, it is possible to play with development and difficulty level suited to each player, and it is particularly suitable for play requiring real-time properties (reflexes).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a play device according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an overall operation of the play device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart following FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a play (game) performed by the play device of the embodiment.

5A is a diagram showing a state where small-sized circles are dispersed in the game of FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a state where large-sized circles are concentrated.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a playing device for playing the games shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a change in skin impedance at the palm with respect to skin impedance detected by the play device of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of an SIR waveform of skin impedance.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show changes in SIL and SIR at the start, middle and end of the game.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a form of a measurement electrode in the play device of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of the form of the measurement electrodes in the play apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a view showing still another example of the form of the measurement electrode in the play apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a view showing still another example of the form of the measurement electrodes in the play apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a principle of calculating a DC component and an AC component of skin impedance fluctuation.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating individual differences in the appearance of a convex SIR waveform of skin impedance.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an overall operation of the play device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 skin impedance measuring electrode 2 skin impedance measuring device 3 convex waveform detecting device 4 parameter processing device 5 skin impedance utilizing application 11 physiological information measuring device 12 physiological information detecting device 13 computer 14 video display device 15 operation signal measuring device 16 input device 17 operation Signal understanding device 50 player (subject)

Claims (7)

[Claims] An impedance measuring method comprising: detecting an impedance from a potential signal of a subject; measuring a peak interval of a waveform of the impedance; and determining a psychology of the subject based on the obtained peak interval. 2. The impedance has an AC component (S
2. The impedance measuring method according to claim 1, wherein if the convex waveform of the SIR is not detected for a while, the mental state of the subject is determined to be stable. 3. The impedance has an AC component (S
2. The impedance measuring method according to claim 1, wherein when the convex waveform of the SIR is frequently detected, the psychology of the subject is determined to be unstable. 4. An electrode to be mounted on a player, a measuring device for measuring impedance obtained from the electrode and a peak interval of an impedance waveform, and parameters of play based on the peak interval obtained by the measuring device. And a control device for changing the play time. 5. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein said measuring device is an SIR of impedance.
5. The play device according to claim 4, wherein the control device changes a play parameter when the SIR convex waveform is not detected for a while. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said measuring device is an SIR of impedance.
5. The play device according to claim 4, wherein the convex waveform is measured, and when the convex waveform of SIR is detected, the convex waveform is not detected for a while. 7. An electrode to be mounted on a player, a measuring device for measuring an SIR convex waveform of impedance obtained from the electrode and a peak interval of the SIR convex waveform, and a peak interval obtained by the measuring device. And a control device that changes a parameter of play based on the control signal. The measurement device does not detect the convex waveform of the SIR for a while when the convex waveform of the SIR is detected, and the control device detects the convex waveform of the SIR for a while. A play device characterized by changing a play parameter when the play is not performed.