JPH1131047A - Symbol signal generator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a symbol signal generation device which can be reduced in size and weight, is highly portable, and has high versatility. SOLUTION: The symbol signal generation device is a symbol signal generation device which generates a predetermined symbol signal corresponding to a predetermined movement trajectory pattern of the moving body (1), and is attached to the moving body (1). (1) a movement detecting means (2) for detecting a movement physical quantity at a plurality of times during movement and transmitting a detection signal, and a movement trajectory pattern (12) of the moving body (1) based on the detection signal and receiving the detection signal. Pattern specifying means (4) for specifying;
A corresponding data table (6) for associating a predetermined movement trajectory pattern (12) with a predetermined symbol signal, and movement of the moving object (1) specified by the movement pattern specifying means (4) with reference to the corresponding data table (6). Symbol signal specifying means (8) for specifying a symbol signal corresponding to the trajectory pattern (12).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a symbol signal generator, and more particularly to a symbol signal generator for generating a predetermined symbol signal corresponding to a predetermined moving trajectory pattern of a moving object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a symbol signal generating device, devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a tablet, a trackball, and a joystick, and a combination device of a liquid crystal display panel and a pen are known.

[0003]

The keyboard has a disadvantage that it has a large volume and is not suitable for portability.

[0004] Devices such as mice, tablets, trackballs and joysticks have the disadvantage that they require a fixed desk or the like or use both hands. Further, the combination device of the liquid crystal display panel and the pen has a drawback that a stable contact is required between the two and the requirements are strict, and when carrying the device, both hands are required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a symbol signal generating apparatus which solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, can be reduced in size and weight, is excellent in portability, and has high versatility.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, a symbol signal generating apparatus according to the present invention is a symbol signal generating apparatus for generating a predetermined symbol signal corresponding to a predetermined moving trajectory pattern of a moving body. Movement detection means attached to the moving body, detecting a moving physical quantity at a plurality of times during the movement of the moving body and transmitting a detection signal, and receiving the detection signal and detecting the movement of the moving body from the detection signal. Pattern specifying means for specifying a moving trajectory pattern, a corresponding data table for making the predetermined moving trajectory pattern correspond to a predetermined symbol signal, and the movement of the moving object specified by the pattern specifying means with reference to the corresponding data table Symbol signal specifying means for specifying the symbol signal corresponding to the trajectory pattern.

The movement detecting means includes a fingertip, a wrist,
Parts of the human body such as the palm, back of the hand, arms, head, or feet,
Alternatively, it is characterized by being attached to a non-human body such as a robot.

Further, the moving physical quantity is an acceleration, a speed, or a stationary position of the moving body.

Further, the movement detecting means has a wireless transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting the detection signal to the pattern specifying means.

Further, the movement detecting means has a wire transmitting means for transmitting the detection signal to the pattern specifying means by wire.

In the above invention, the movement detecting means is attached to the moving body, and the movement detecting means detects a movement physical quantity such as acceleration at a plurality of times during the movement of the moving body, and sends a detection signal to the pattern specifying means. . The pattern specifying means receives the detection signal and specifies a movement trajectory pattern of the moving body from the detection signal. A predetermined movement trajectory pattern is made to correspond to a predetermined symbol signal in advance by a corresponding data table. The symbol signal specifying unit specifies a symbol signal corresponding to the movement trajectory pattern specified by the pattern specifying unit with reference to the correspondence data table. Instead of associating a predetermined movement trajectory pattern with a predetermined symbol signal in advance, learning or registration may be performed by defining the correspondence after actually performing the operation.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a symbol signal generating apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a symbol signal generating apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a symbol signal generating device is attached to a moving body 1 such as a human finger, and detects movement physical quantities at a plurality of times during the movement of the moving body 1 and wirelessly transmits a detection signal; A pattern identification means for receiving a detection signal transmitted from the movement detection means and identifying a movement trajectory pattern of the moving body from the detection signal; and a correspondence data table for associating a predetermined movement trajectory pattern with a predetermined symbol signal And a symbol signal specifying means 8 for specifying a symbol signal corresponding to the movement trajectory pattern of the moving object 1 specified by the pattern specifying means 4 with reference to the corresponding data table 6.

Here, the pattern specifying means 4, the correspondence data table 6, and the symbol signal specifying means 8 are integrally formed, and the movement detecting means 2 is formed separately and independently from the pattern specifying means 4 and the like. Have been. The moving means 2 may be configured integrally with the pattern specifying means 4 and the like.

The symbol signal is a signal representing a predetermined convention, and is a signal for transmitting contents representing a symbol such as a letter, a numeral, or an abbreviation.

The movement detecting means 2 detects the three-dimensional acceleration components of the moving body 1 in the three directions of x, y and z, and sends the detected signal detected by the acceleration detector 2a to the pattern specifying means 4. Wireless transmission means 2b. Here, the acceleration of the moving object 1 corresponds to the moving physical quantity. The movement detecting means 2 has a size of several cm or several mm and is lightweight.
As worn on the fingers of the human body. The movement detection means 2 detects the acceleration component at a plurality of times during one rotation when the mobile body 1 makes one rotation to the right around the longitudinal axis of the finger as shown in FIG. I do.

The pattern specifying means 4 includes a radio transmitting means 2b
Receiving means 4 for receiving the detection signal transmitted by
a, and based on detection signals at a plurality of times received by the wireless receiving means 4a, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), a movement locus composed of a time-change locus of acceleration components in three-dimensional directions of x, y and z. A pattern 12 is generated, and which movement trajectory pattern 12 is within a predetermined type range is specified. The movement trajectory pattern specified by the pattern specifying means 4 may be a pattern that specifies a pattern for each of the acceleration components of x, y, and z and is finally indicated by three components. It may be a pattern obtained by combining acceleration components of z.

The correspondence data table 6 has a data table that uniquely defines the correspondence between the movement trajectory pattern 12 and the symbol signal.

The symbol signal specifying means 8 compares the moving trajectory pattern 12 specified by the pattern specifying means 4 with the data of the moving trajectory pattern in the corresponding data table 6, specifies the corresponding symbol signal, and outputs the corresponding symbol signal.

The symbol signal generated by the symbol signal generation device has predetermined symbol content in advance.
A controlled device (not shown) receives the symbol signal output from the symbol signal specifying means 8, interprets the symbol signal, and executes the contents included in the symbol signal in advance.

Next, the movement trajectory pattern 12 of the moving body 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 (a) is a view showing a moving operation in which the movement detecting means 2 mounted on the moving body 1 makes a right turn in a circle around the longitudinal axis of the finger as viewed from the human body side. The longitudinal axis of the finger is on the z-axis. FIG. 2B shows a movement trajectory pattern 12 corresponding to the movement of the moving body 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. The acceleration components in the x, y, and z directions shown in FIG. 2B are detected by the acceleration detector 2a at a plurality of times and generated by the pattern identification unit 4. The circle shown in the upper part of FIG. 2B is a diagram for explaining the movement trajectory position of the tip of the finger that is the moving body 1 as viewed from the human body side, and the position of the moving body 1 at each measurement time is indicated by a black dot. Have been. The coordinate position (x, y) of the moving body 1 is x = −
rsinωt, y = −rcosωt. Here, r is the moving radius of the moving body 1, ω is the angular velocity, and t is the time.

Here, the acceleration is adopted as the movement physical quantity, and the acceleration of the moving body 1 is measured by the acceleration detector 2a to obtain the movement trajectory pattern 12.
As shown in (b), the movement trajectory pattern 12 can be formed without depending on the initial position and the initial speed of the moving body 1.

The moving object 1 is detected by the acceleration detector 2a.
2B, the movement trajectory pattern 12 is obtained, and as shown in FIG. 2B, a peak signal can be generated at the start and end of the movement of the moving body 1 in the movement trajectory pattern 12. The trajectory pattern can be easily characterized by the presence or absence of these peak signals. As a result, the detection signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting means 2b of the movement detecting means 2 is
Can be reliably received by the wireless receiving means 4a, and a predetermined symbol signal can be reliably obtained from the predetermined movement trajectory pattern 12.

FIG. 3 shows a movement trajectory pattern 12 generated by a movement operation in which the movement detection means 2 mounted on the moving body 1 makes a left turn in a circle around the longitudinal axis of the finger as viewed from the human body side. The coordinate position (x, y) of the moving body 1 is x = −
rsinωt, y = rcosωt. The trajectory pattern 12 shown in FIG. 3 and the trajectory pattern 12 shown in FIG. 2 have opposite polarities of the peak signal of the x-direction acceleration component, and can be identified as different trajectory patterns. Become.

FIG. 4 shows a movement trajectory pattern 12 generated by a movement operation in which the movement detecting means 2 mounted on the moving body 1 makes two right circular turns around the longitudinal axis of the finger when viewed from the human body side.

As shown in FIG. 4, two gentle peaks appear between the two peak signals of the x-direction acceleration component at the start and end of the movement. One mountain appears between two gentle mountains. Therefore,
The movement trajectory pattern 12 shown in FIG. 4 can be identified as a movement trajectory pattern different from the movement trajectory pattern 12 shown in FIG. 2 or FIG.

FIG. 5A shows a locus of movement in which the movement detecting means 2 mounted on the moving body 1 makes a right turn in a triangle around the longitudinal axis of the finger when viewed from the human body side, and FIG. Figure 5
7A illustrates a movement trajectory pattern 12 generated by the movement operation illustrated in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the appearances of the peak signals of the x-direction acceleration component and the y-direction acceleration component at the start and end of the movement are different from those shown in FIGS.
The movement trajectory pattern 12 shown in (b) can be distinguished from the movement trajectory patterns shown in FIGS.

FIG. 5 (b) shows the movement trajectory pattern 12 in the case where the finger is turned one turn to the right around the longitudinal axis of the finger when viewed from the human body side.
5B, the sign polarity of the x-direction acceleration component is opposite to that of the movement trajectory pattern 12 shown in FIG. 5B when viewed from the human body side. .

FIG. 6 (a) shows a movement trajectory in which the movement detection means 2 mounted on the moving body 1 makes a right turn in a square around the longitudinal axis of the finger when viewed from the human body side, and FIG. 6 (b). Figure 6
7A illustrates a movement trajectory pattern 12 generated by the movement operation illustrated in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the time at which the peak signal appears is shifted between the x-direction acceleration component and the y-direction acceleration component, and the movement trajectory pattern 1 shown in FIG.
2 can be distinguished from the movement trajectory patterns shown in FIGS.

Further, a movement trajectory pattern 12 in the case of making a single left turn in a square around the longitudinal axis of the finger as viewed from the human body side
In FIG. 6B, the sign polarity of the x-direction acceleration component is opposite to that of the movement trajectory pattern 12 shown in FIG.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a movement trajectory pattern 12 accompanying the linear movement of the moving body 1. FIG. FIG. 7A shows the moving body 1
Is linearly moved along the x-axis, and FIG. 7 (b)
Indicates the corresponding movement trajectory pattern 12, and indicates that only the x-direction acceleration component has changed. FIG.
8A shows a case where the moving body 1 is moved along the y-axis, and FIG. 8B shows a corresponding movement trajectory pattern 12, showing that only the y-direction acceleration component has changed. I have. FIG. 9A shows the moving body 1 with the x-axis and the y-axis on the xy plane.
FIG. 9B shows a case in which linear movement is performed along a direction forming 45 degrees with each of the axes, and FIG.
It shows that the x-direction acceleration component and the y-direction acceleration component show the same pattern.

Each of the movement trajectory patterns 12 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 is different from any of the movement trajectory patterns shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, and can be distinguished from the movement trajectory patterns shown in FIGS. Yes, it can correspond to another new symbol signal.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, "yes" and "n"
The generation of a symbol signal having the content "o" will be described.

In FIG. 10A, the finger as the moving body 1 performs a scratching operation along the y-axis. FIG. 10B shows a movement trajectory pattern 12 associated with this movement operation. The movement trajectory pattern 12 corresponds to the symbol signal “yes”. Further, in FIG. 11A, the finger as the moving body 1 performs an operation of repelling along a direction forming 45 degrees with each of the x-axis and the y-axis on the xy plane. The movement trajectory pattern 12 accompanying this movement is shown in FIG.
(B). With this movement trajectory pattern 12, “n
o ".

The scratching operation shown in FIG. 10A is an operation intuitively corresponding to the symbol content of "yes", and the association between the moving operation and the symbol content can be performed without relying on overloaded memory. It can be done easily. Similarly, FIG.
The repelling operation shown in FIG. 1 (a) is an operation intuitively corresponding to the symbol content of "no", and facilitates the correspondence between the moving operation and the symbol content without relying on overloaded memory. Can be.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11, and the movement detecting means 2 mounted on the moving body 1 detects the acceleration of the simple moving operation of the moving body 1. And moving trajectory pattern 1 based on the detected detection signal.
2 is specified, and the corresponding symbol signal is specified by the symbol signal specifying means 8 with reference to the corresponding data table 6, so that various symbol signals which can be distinguished from each other by a very simple moving operation of the mobile unit 1 are obtained. Can be generated.

The movement detecting means 2 is a moving body 1 such as a human body.
, So that it does not require a mechanical movement drive by itself.

The movement detecting means 2 is provided with a wireless transmitting means 2b.
Therefore, the movement detecting means 2 can be configured independently of the pattern specifying means 4, the correspondence data table 6, and the symbol signal specifying means 8 so as to be easily attached to the moving body 1. be able to.

The movement detecting means 2 includes an acceleration detector 2a.
And the wireless transmission means 2b. The movement detection means 2 can be configured very simply by configuring the acceleration detector 2a and the wireless transmission means 2b with, for example, a one-chip semiconductor element. It is lightweight and adaptable to portability.

As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the disadvantage that the volume is large and is not suitable for portability like a keyboard, and a fixed desk or the like like a device such as a mouse, tablet, trackball, joystick and the like. And the need to use both hands can be eliminated, and stable contact is required between the two as in a combination device of a liquid crystal display panel and a pen. Therefore, it is possible to provide a highly versatile symbol signal generation device which can be reduced in size and weight, is highly portable, and has high versatility.

In the above description, the movement detecting means 2 detects the acceleration of the moving body 1 as the moving physical quantity. However, the movement detecting means 2 may detect the speed signal and the position signal of the moving body 1 as the moving physical quantity. . In this case, instead of directly detecting the speed signal and the position signal, the detection signal detected by the acceleration detector 2a is time-integrated once to generate a speed signal, and the time signal is integrated twice to detect the speed signal and the position signal. May be.

In the above description, a fingertip is taken as an example of the moving body 1, but the moving body 1 is not limited to a human body, but may be a non-human body such as a robot. In addition, the human body is not limited to fingertips, but also includes wrists, palms, palms,
It may be an arm, a head, a leg, or the like, and may be selected according to the purpose of use of the symbol signal generation device.

The movement detecting means 2 may take various forms such as a pen type, a wristwatch type, and a grip type to be held by hand.

The wireless transmitting means 2b may transmit the detection signal by radio waves, or may transmit it by other electromagnetic waves such as infrared rays.

Further, the movement detecting means 2 comprises a radio transmitting means 2
Instead of b, a wired transmission means may be provided.

In the above description, the example of the moving operation of the moving body 1 has been described, but the moving operation is not limited to these. As a result, the movement detection means 2 can realize the following various functions as a pointing device. That is, a figure or a handwritten character can be input by attaching the movement detecting means 2 to a pen and writing a character or the like with a finger on a plane. In this case, whether the pen is up or down can be determined by, for example, the height in the z-axis direction. Alternatively, the movement detecting means 2 may be attached to a fingertip instead of a pen to perform an operation of writing with the fingertip. Also,
Since it is possible to determine whether the pen is up or down by raising or lowering a finger, if a sufficient change in height is given, a flat surface such as a desk or a table is not required. By performing a drawing operation in the air, a figure or a three-dimensional shape can be input. In this case, the up and down of the pen can be instructed by, for example, snapping the fingertip, tapping in the air, or another switch provided auxiliary.
Further, it is also possible to configure a symbol signal related to an instruction of a moving direction of the applied device or an instruction of a direction of driving control by the direction itself pointed by the fingertip.

The symbol signal generating device can be used for an input device of a portable computer, and various other portable devices that require miniaturization. It can also be used when a handicap person works on pattern matching.

[0051]

As described above, according to the configuration of the present invention, it is possible to provide a symbol signal generating apparatus which can be reduced in size and weight, is excellent in portability, and has high versatility.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a symbol signal generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2A show a movement operation in which movement detection means mounted on a moving body (fingertip) makes a right turn in a circle around a longitudinal axis of a finger when viewed from the human body side. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a movement trajectory pattern corresponding to the movement operation of the moving body.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a movement trajectory pattern generated by a movement operation in which a movement detecting unit mounted on a moving body makes a left turn in a circle around a longitudinal axis of a finger when viewed from the human body side.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a movement trajectory pattern 12 generated by a movement operation in which a movement detection unit mounted on a moving body makes two right circular turns around a longitudinal axis of a finger when viewed from the human body side.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a movement trajectory (a) in which the movement detection means mounted on the moving body makes a right turn in a triangular shape around the longitudinal axis of the finger as viewed from the human body, and a movement operation shown in (a). The figure (b) which shows a movement locus pattern.

6A and 6B are generated by a movement trajectory (a) in which a movement detection means mounted on a moving body makes a right turn in a square around a longitudinal axis of a finger when viewed from the human body side, and a movement operation shown in (a). The figure which shows a movement locus pattern.

7A is a diagram illustrating a case where a moving body is linearly moved along an x-axis, and FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a movement trajectory pattern corresponding to FIG.

8A is a diagram illustrating a case where a moving body is moved along a y-axis, and FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating a movement trajectory pattern corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a view showing an example in which the moving object is set at 45 on each of the x-axis and y-axis on the xy plane
The figure which shows the case where it moves linearly along the direction which makes a degree, and the figure which shows the movement trajectory pattern corresponding to FIG.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the contents of “yes” by performing a scratching operation of the moving object along the y-axis, and FIGS. 10B and 12B showing the movement trajectory pattern corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a case where each of the moving object and the x-axis and the y-axis on
Along the direction of 5 degrees, a repelling operation is performed and "n
(a) showing the content of "o", and (b) showing the moving trajectory pattern corresponding to (a).

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 moving body 2 movement detecting means 2a acceleration detector 2b wireless transmitting means 4 moving trajectory pattern 4a wireless receiving means 6 corresponding data table 8 symbol signal specifying means 10 band 12 moving trajectory pattern

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A symbol signal generation device for generating a predetermined symbol signal corresponding to a predetermined movement trajectory pattern of a moving body, wherein the apparatus is attached to the moving body and moves at a plurality of times during the movement of the moving body. Movement detection means for detecting a physical quantity and transmitting a detection signal; pattern identification means for receiving the detection signal and identifying the movement trajectory pattern of the moving object from the detection signal; A correspondence data table to be associated with the signal; and a symbol signal identification unit that identifies the symbol signal corresponding to the movement trajectory pattern of the moving object identified by the pattern identification unit with reference to the association data table. Characteristic signal generator. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movement detecting means is attached to a part of a human body such as a fingertip, a wrist, a palm, a back of a hand, an arm, a head, or a foot, or a non-human body such as a robot. The symbol signal generator according to the above. 3. The moving physical quantity is an acceleration of the moving body,
The symbol signal generating device according to claim 1, wherein the symbol signal generating device is a speed or a stationary position. 4. The symbol signal generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movement detecting means has a wireless transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting said detection signal to said pattern specifying means. 5. The symbol signal generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movement detecting means has a wire transmitting means for sending said detection signal to said pattern specifying means by wire.