JPH11259206A - Infrared detection system input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To input a desired instruction to an electronic equipment by the gesture of a person. SOLUTION: This device is provided with at least one infrared detecting element 4 for detecting an infrared ray 2 radiated from a human body 1, a condense (reflecting mirror) 3 for converging the infrared ray 2 radiated from the human body 1 to the infrared detecting element 4, a filter part 6 for allowing only a signal with prescribed frequencies or more among signals outputted from the infrared detecting element 4 to pass, and a judging part 7 for judging the direction of the movement of the human body based on the signal from the filter part 6. In this case, a rectangular or the deformed shape infrared detection area is formed at a position separated from the infrared detecting element 4 only by a prescribed distance, and the filter part 6 is provided with frequency characteristics for allowing the output signal of the infrared detecting element 4 to pass to the judging part 7 when the human body 1 crosses the detection area at a prescribed speed or more to the rectangular direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an infrared detection system for inputting a desired command to an electronic device by detecting a specific movement faster than a normal operation of the human body by using infrared rays radiated from the human body. 2. Description of the Related Art A type input device is used as an input interface for performing, for example, an operation of raising or lowering a hand to instruct a page feed or a page return of a slide during a presentation on a display unit of an electronic device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional apparatus of this type, there is known an apparatus in which infrared rays emitted from a human body are detected by a plurality of infrared detecting elements to detect the presence or absence of passage of the human body (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. No. 52-155100). In addition, the movement of the human body is detected by a plurality of sensors provided with a view restriction body,
There has been known a remote control device that controls a television based on a time lag between these output signals (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-38971). Further, there is also known an infrared detection element group arranged in an array and rotated by a rotation mechanism together with an optical system to detect a two-dimensional thermal image (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-6204).

[0003]

However, these conventional devices do not have a function of distinguishing between a fast movement of a specific part of a human body in a specific direction and a normal slow movement of the human body. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an infrared detection type input device capable of recognizing only a fast movement of a specific part in a specific direction without detecting a slow movement of a human body. Things.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises at least one infrared detecting element capable of detecting infrared radiation radiated from a human body, a condenser for condensing infrared radiation radiated from a human body to the infrared detecting element, A filter unit that passes only a signal having a frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency with respect to a signal output from the infrared detection element, and a determination unit that determines a direction of movement of a human body based on a signal from the filter unit, A rectangular or deformed infrared detection area is formed at a position separated by a predetermined distance, and the filter unit outputs an output signal of the infrared detection element when the human body crosses the detection area at a speed of a predetermined speed or more in the short side direction. Is provided with a frequency characteristic that allows the infrared ray to pass through to a determination unit.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An infrared detecting element according to the present invention detects a temporal change in the intensity of infrared light when a human body (or a part thereof) crosses an infrared detection area and when a human body enters and exits the infrared detection area. Then, a corresponding AC signal, that is, a signal of a half cycle when entering the infrared detection area and a signal of a half cycle of the opposite polarity when exiting is output. Therefore, the frequency of the output signal of the infrared detecting element corresponds to the time when the human body (or a part thereof) crosses the infrared detecting area. If the output of the infrared detecting element does not show a change in the intensity of infrared light over time, it is preferable to insert, for example, a differentiating circuit after the infrared element.

[0006] On the other hand, the filter unit passes only a signal having a frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency with respect to the signal output from the infrared detecting element. Therefore, by setting the predetermined frequency corresponding to the time when the hand crosses the infrared detection area in the short side direction, the filter unit allows only the detection signal having such a high frequency to pass and operates at a lower frequency than that. ,
That is, the detection signal for the moving operation in the long side direction of the hand or the slow moving operation of the entire human body is cut.

[0007] Based on the output signal of the filter unit, the determination unit is faster than the normal operation of the human body (or a part thereof).
In addition, it recognizes only an operation having a specific direction (the short side direction of the infrared detection area), and inputs a corresponding command signal to, for example, an electronic device.

It is possible to use a well-known finite impulse response (FIR) system or infinite impulse response (IIR) system digital filter for the filter unit, and this can be constituted by a microcomputer together with the judgment unit. .

As the infrared detecting element of the present invention, a thermal or quantum infrared detecting element can be used.
In particular, a pyroelectric sensor, which is a type of thermal infrared detecting element, is preferable because it operates at room temperature and has no wavelength dependence of sensitivity.

Although a lens and a reflecting mirror can be used for the focusing device, it is preferable to use a reflecting mirror from the viewpoint of low absorption loss of infrared rays. Any of a spherical mirror, a radiation mirror, an elliptical mirror, a hyperboloid mirror, or the like may be used as the reflection mirror. It is preferable to use a spherical mirror because it is easy to manufacture and inexpensive.

The shape and size of the infrared detection area according to the present invention are determined by the shape and size of the light receiving surface of the infrared detection element, the focal length of the focusing device, the distance from the infrared detection element to the detection area, and the like. Note that the rectangle or its deformed shape means a shape having different vertical and horizontal lengths, such as a rectangle and an ellipse.

When the infrared detecting element is composed of two infrared detecting elements and two rectangular or deformed infrared detecting areas are formed, the two infrared detecting areas may be parallel to each other. As a result, the reciprocating motion of the human body (or a part thereof) in the specific direction is distinguished into forward and backward.

Further, when the infrared detecting element is composed of two infrared detecting elements and two rectangular or deformed infrared detecting areas are formed, the two infrared detecting areas may be orthogonal to each other. As a result, two types of motions of the human body are identified. For example, a case where the hand is shaken up and down and a case where the hand is shaken right and left are identified.

Further, the infrared detecting element is composed of four infrared detecting elements, and four rectangular or deformed infrared detecting areas are formed, of which two infrared detecting areas are parallel to each other and the other two infrared detecting areas are parallel to each other. The infrared detection regions may be parallel to each other and orthogonal to the two infrared regions. Thereby, for example, four types of operations in the up, down, left, and right directions can be identified.

When detecting a motion of a human hand, since the swing width is usually about 300 mm, the size of the infrared detection area is 400 mm or more at a position separated from the infrared detection element by a predetermined distance, and the width is not more than 400 mm. Is preferably 100 mm or less. A distance measurement sensor may be further provided, and the determination unit may determine the movement of the human body based on a signal from the distance measurement sensor and a signal from the filter unit.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to detect only a rapid movement of a specific part in a specific direction using infrared rays radiated from a human body, and to perform a gesture in a state where the human body is not restrained with respect to the position of the electronic device. Input is possible.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an infrared detection type input device of the first embodiment. An infrared ray 2 emitted from a human body 1 is collected by a reflection mirror 3 and detected by an infrared detection element 4. As the infrared detecting element 4, a pyroelectric sensor made of a single crystal of lithium tantalate is used.

After the output signal of the infrared detecting element 4 is amplified by the amplifier 5, signal processing is sequentially performed by the filter unit 6 and the judgment unit 7, and the judgment unit 7 sends a predetermined command signal to the display unit 9 based on the judgment result. Enter Filter part 6 has I
Using digital filter by IR system, 1
A signal of 0 Hz or more is allowed to pass.

The length of the long side as shown in FIG.
In order to form a rectangular infrared detection region 8 having a short side of b (a> b), an infrared detection element 4 is disposed at the focal point of the reflection mirror 3 or near the reflection mirror 3 as shown in FIG.

In this example, the reflecting mirror 3 has a focal length of 1
A 0 cm spherical mirror is used, and 4
One having a rectangular light receiving surface of mm × 1 mm is used. Thus, a = 400 m as shown in FIG. 2 at a position 10 m from the infrared detection element 4 in front of the reflection mirror 3.
An infrared detection area 8 of m, b = 100 mm is formed.
Further, a similar infrared detecting area may be formed by using a lens instead of the mirror 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the infrared detection area 8 is set for the human body 1, the amplifier 5 and the filter unit 6 when the hand is lowered perpendicular to the infrared detection area 8, that is, in the short side direction. FIG. 5 shows the waveforms of the outputs V1 and S1.

When the hand passes through the infrared detection area 8 in the short side direction, a signal V1 is output, and its wavelength W is proportional to the length b of the short side of the infrared detection area 8 and inversely proportional to the speed of the hand. For example, when the hand speed is 2 m / sec, W = 0.1 sec
(10 Hz). On the other hand, when this hand passes in the long side direction, W = 0.4 sec (2.5 Hz).

Therefore, when the hand passes in the short side direction, the signal V1 passes through the filter unit 6 and is input to the determination unit 7 as the signal S1. The judging unit 7 judges that the hand movement is vertical from the amplitude and cycle of the signal S1, and inputs a command signal to the display unit 9.

FIG. 6 shows the output V when the hand is moved diagonally.
1 shows the waveforms of S1. Since the hand is moved obliquely with respect to the infrared detection area 8, it takes more time to pass, and the output V1
Becomes longer than W, and the amplitude A1 becomes smaller than A. The output V1 has a frequency lower than 10 Hz and cannot pass through the filter unit 6. Therefore, the determination unit 7 determines that the hand movement is not in the vertical direction based on the wavelength and the amplitude of the signal S1, and does not input a command signal to the display unit 9.

FIG. 7 shows the output V1 when the hand is moved sideways.
The example of the waveform of S1 is shown. Since the hand is moved in parallel with the long side direction of the infrared detection area 8, the hand cannot pass through the infrared detection area 8 completely. Therefore, the amplitude A2 is small, the wavelength W2 is long, and the frequency is sufficiently smaller than 10 Hz.
Cannot detect hand movements. Even if the hand can pass in the long side direction, the output V1 has a frequency of about 2.5 Hz and cannot pass through the filter unit 6 as described above.

The output waveform when the human body 1 moves slowly is the same as that shown in FIG. Therefore, since it is removed by the filter unit 6, it is not detected by the determination unit 7. In this way, only the movement of the hand in the vertical direction of 2 m / sec or more is detected.

The raising / lowering of the hand is determined by the determination unit 7 and linked with the presentation software on the display unit 9 so that, for example, at the time of presentation, the page of the slide is turned when the hand is moved up or down. be able to.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an infrared detection type input device according to the second embodiment. Infrared rays 2 radiated from the human body 1 are condensed by a reflecting mirror 3 and detected by infrared ray detecting elements 4 and 4a arranged in parallel.

After the output signals of the infrared detecting elements 4 and 4a are amplified by the amplifiers 5 and 5a, respectively,
The signal processing is sequentially performed by a and the determination unit 7, and the determination unit 7 inputs the determination result to the display unit 9. The infrared detecting element 4a, the amplifier 5a, and the filter 6a are the same as the infrared detecting element 6, the amplifier 5, and the filter 6, respectively.

In order to form two rectangular infrared detecting areas 8, 8a parallel to each other as shown in FIG. 9 at an interval c, the infrared detecting elements 4, 4a are focused on the reflecting mirror 3 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, they are arranged near the detection surface so that the detection surfaces are parallel to each other. Here, a = 400 mm, b =
100 mm and c = 100 mm.

Then, as shown in FIG. 11, when the infrared detection areas 8, 8a are set for the human body 1, the filter sections 6, 6a when the hand is lowered vertically to the infrared detection areas 8, 8a. FIG. 12 shows the waveforms of the outputs S1 and S2 of FIG.

Since the hand passes through the infrared detection areas 8 and 8a in order, the output signals S1 and S2 are also output in that order. If you raise your hand, the order will be reversed. Accordingly, the determination unit 7 can determine whether the hand has moved upward or downward based on the output order of the S1 and S2 signals.

When the hand moves obliquely or when the human body 1 moves slowly, the signals output from the infrared detectors 4 and 4a are sent to the filter units 6 and 6a and the judgment unit 7 as in the first embodiment. Removed or ignored.

Thus, the specific direction of the hand, that is,
The upward and downward movements can be detected separately. By judging the raising operation and the lowering operation of the hand by the determination unit 7 and linking it with the presentation software on the display unit 9, for example, at the time of a presentation, the page of the slide is performed when the hand is raised, and when the hand is raised. It can be configured to page back through slides.

In order to determine the size of the infrared detection area in the first and second embodiments, the following results were obtained as a result of analyzing the operation of moving the hand up and down consciously by a human. First, the range for moving your hand in the horizontal direction is 400 mm
It turned out to be about. Therefore, by setting the length a (FIGS. 2 and 9) of the infrared detection areas 8, 8a to 400 mm or more, the hand cannot cross the infrared detection areas 8, 8a in the longitudinal direction.

When a person moves his / her hand up and down consciously, the swing width of the hand in the up / down direction is about 300 mm. For this reason, by setting the width b of the infrared detection area to 100 mm or less and the interval c between the infrared detection areas to 200 mm or less, the hand continuously connects the two infrared detection areas 8 and 8a in one upward or downward operation. And the hand movement direction can be reliably determined.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment, except that the infrared detecting regions 8, 8a formed by the infrared detecting elements 4, 4a and the mirror 3 are orthogonal to each other as shown in FIG. Is equivalent to

In order to form two rectangular infrared detecting areas 8 and 8a orthogonal to each other as shown in FIG. 13, the infrared detecting elements 4 and 4a are placed at or near the focal point of the reflecting mirror 3 as shown in FIG. They are arranged so that the detection surfaces are orthogonal to each other.

When the infrared detection areas 8 and 8a are set for the human body 1 as shown in FIG. 15, when the hand is moved in the vertical direction, the hand crosses the infrared detection area 8, so that the first embodiment differs from the first embodiment. Similarly, the filter unit 6 outputs a signal S1 having a waveform shown in FIG. Also, at this time, if the hand is moved in the horizontal direction, the hand crosses the infrared detection area 8a, so that the output signal S2 of the filter unit 6a also has the same waveform as the signal S1 shown in FIG.

Therefore, the judging section 7 can judge whether the hand has moved vertically or horizontally according to the signals S1 and S2. When the hand moves in the other direction or when the human body 1 moves, the signals 1 and 2 are ignored by the determination unit 7 as in the first and second embodiments.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the infrared detection type input device of the first embodiment. Infrared rays 2 radiated from a human body are collected by a reflection mirror 3 and detected by infrared detection elements 4 and 4a. At the same time, the infrared rays 2 are collected by the reflection mirror 3a and detected by the infrared detection elements 4b and 4c. Infrared detector 4, 4
a, 4b, 4c are output from amplifiers 5, 5a,
After amplification in 5b, 4c, the filter units 6, 6a, 6
b, 6c, and further processed by the determination unit 7,
Is input to the display unit 9.

The reflecting mirrors 3, 3a are equivalent to each other, the amplifiers 5, 5a, 5b, 5c are also equivalent to each other, and the filter units 6, 6a, 6b, 6c are also equivalent to each other. .

Then, two parallel horizontal infrared detection areas 8 and 8a and two parallel vertical infrared detection areas 8b and 8c are formed as shown in FIG. Note that the size and interval of the infrared detection area are the same as in the second embodiment.

For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 18, the infrared detecting elements 4 and 4a are installed at or near the focal point of the reflecting mirror 3 so that the detecting surfaces are parallel and horizontal, and the infrared detecting elements 4b and 4c are reflected. The mirror 3a is installed at or near the focal point of the mirror 3a so that the detection surface is parallel and vertical.

When the infrared detection areas 8, 8a, 8b, 8c are set for the human body 1 as shown in FIG.
8a, it can be determined whether the hand has moved up or down in the same manner as in the second embodiment. Further, when the hand is moved horizontally, the hand crosses the infrared detection areas 8b and 8c, and it can be similarly determined whether the hand has moved right or left according to the order in which the hands cross.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment, in which the judgment unit 7 of FIG. 8 is replaced with a judgment unit 7a, and the other configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment. Here, the determination unit 7a
A distance measuring sensor (for example, using ultrasonic waves) 10 for recognizing the position of the human body 1 and an indicator light 11 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 21, the infrared detection areas 8, 8
a and the infrared detection area 12 of the distance measuring sensor 10 are set. When the human body 1 is present in the infrared detection area 12, the determination unit 7a recognizes the detection by the distance measuring sensor 10, turns on the indicator lamp 11, and notifies the human body 1 to that effect.

The human body 1 visually confirms the notification, and then moves the hand in the same manner as in the second embodiment, whereby the movement is detected with higher accuracy by the infrared detecting elements 4 and 4a. In addition, as shown in FIG.
By removing the infrared light from 8a, the difference between the hand and the background temperature increases, and the S / N ratio of the infrared detecting elements 4 and 4a also improves. Further, this judging section 7a can be used in place of the judging section 7 of the first, third and fourth embodiments.

[0049]

According to the present invention, the movement of a specific part of a human body in a specific direction can be detected separately from the movement of the human body itself. The device can be realized and greatly contributes to the improvement of the man-machine interface.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an infrared detection area of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the reflection mirror of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of a human body and an infrared detection area according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram of a main part of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram of a main part of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a waveform diagram of a main part of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an infrared detection area according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a reflection mirror of a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of a human body and an infrared detection area according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a waveform diagram of a main part of the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an infrared detection area according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a reflection mirror of a third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of a human body and an infrared detection area according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an infrared detection area according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a front view showing a reflection mirror according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of a human body and infrared detection areas according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of a human body and infrared detection areas according to a fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 human body 2 infrared 3 reflection mirror 4 infrared detection element 5 amplifier 6 filter unit 7 judgment unit 9 display unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] At least one infrared detecting element capable of detecting infrared radiation radiated from a human body, a condenser for condensing infrared radiation radiated from a human body to the infrared detecting element, and a signal output from the infrared detecting element A filter unit that passes only signals of a predetermined frequency or higher, and a determination unit that determines the direction of movement of the human body based on the signal from the filter unit. Or, an infrared detection region having a deformed shape is formed, and the filter unit has a frequency characteristic that allows an output signal of the infrared detection element to pass to the determination unit when the human body crosses the detection region at a speed of a predetermined speed or more in the short side direction. An infrared detection type input device comprising: 2. The infrared detection type input device according to claim 1, wherein the infrared detection element comprises a pyroelectric sensor having a rectangular or deformed light-receiving surface. 3. The condenser according to claim 1, wherein the condenser is a concave mirror, and the infrared detecting element is provided at or near the focal point of the concave mirror.
The infrared detection type input device according to the above. 4. The infrared detection type input device according to claim 1, wherein the infrared detection element comprises two infrared detection elements, and the two infrared detection areas are parallel or orthogonal to each other. 5. The infrared detecting element comprises four infrared detecting elements, of which two infrared detecting elements are parallel to each other, and the other two infrared detecting elements are parallel to each other. The infrared detection type input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is orthogonal to the two infrared detection regions. 6. The infrared detection type input device according to claim 1, wherein the infrared detection region has a rectangular shape, and its long side is 400 mm or more and its short side is 100 mm or less. 7. The infrared detection type input device according to claim 1, further comprising a distance measuring sensor, wherein the judging unit judges the movement of the human body based on a signal from the distance measuring sensor and a signal from the filter unit.