JP2011071568A - Command input system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive command input system accurately inputting a command intended by a user to portable equipment under various situations. <P>SOLUTION: The command input system 1 inputs a command for executing a desired function by giving a rotary motion to the portable equipment. The command input system 1 includes: a magnetic sensor 2 for measuring each component of a geomagnetic vector in three axial directions of a three-axis orthogonal coordinate system fixed to the portable equipment; an angular velocity calculation means 3 for calculating the angular velocity of the rotary motion of the portable equipment in space on the basis of the measured values of the respective components; a motion determination means 4 for determining whether the specific rotary motion of the predetermined portable equipment is executed on the basis of the information of the angular velocity calculated by the angular velocity calculation means 3; and an execution instruction means 5 for instructing the execution of a prescribed function in the portable equipment on the basis of a determination result by the motion determination means 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a command input system that uses a geomagnetism to input a command for executing a desired function by giving a rotational motion to a portable device.

Conventionally, a user has issued a command to execute functions such as on-hook, off-hook, page display on the display screen, or command selection by a button operation.
In place of this button operation, in recent years, a technique for inputting the above command by an operation such as shaking a mobile phone has been developed. In such a technique, an acceleration sensor is incorporated in a mobile phone, an acceleration is detected when an operation such as shaking the mobile phone is performed, and a command is input based on the detection signal.
However, this technique uses a mechanical acceleration sensor, and has a complicated configuration and a high cost.

  On the other hand, a technique for detecting the tilt and azimuth of a mobile terminal using geomagnetism and executing the function of the mobile terminal based on the time change of the detected tilt and azimuth is disclosed. (Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-128789 A

  However, as described above, when detecting a change in the tilt or orientation of the mobile terminal with time, the mobile terminal is basically tilted while the user is stationary with respect to the geomagnetism, that is, with respect to the ground. It is necessary to change the direction. That is, for example, when the above operation is performed while riding a train or a car, the orientation of the mobile phone that changes every moment with the user becomes noise, and the inclination of the mobile terminal intended by the user It becomes difficult to give a time change of a direction and direction. As a result, it may be difficult to input a command intended by the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive command input system capable of accurately inputting a command intended by a user to a portable device under various circumstances. .

The present invention is a command input system for inputting a command for executing a desired function by giving a rotary motion to a portable device,
A magnetic sensor for measuring each component of the geomagnetic vector in the three-axis direction of the three-axis orthogonal coordinate system fixed to the portable device;
Based on the measured values of the respective components, angular velocity calculating means for calculating the angular velocity of the rotational motion of the portable device in space;
Motion determining means for determining whether or not a predetermined rotational movement of the portable device is made based on information on the angular speed calculated by the angular speed calculating means;
A command input system comprising execution instruction means for instructing to execute a predetermined function in the portable device based on a determination result by the motion determination means (claim 1).

  The command input system measures each component of the geomagnetic vector in the three-axis directions fixed to the portable device using the magnetic sensor, and inputs a function execution command using the measured value. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a mechanical acceleration sensor or the like, and an inexpensive command input system can be obtained with a simple configuration.

  Further, the command input system calculates the angular velocity of the rotational motion of the mobile device, determines whether or not a predetermined specific rotational motion of the mobile device has been made based on the information on the calculated angular velocity, Based on the determination result, an instruction is given to execute a predetermined function in the portable device. In this way, the motion determination means determines whether or not the specific rotational motion has been performed, that is, whether or not to execute a predetermined function, using information on the angular velocity of the rotational motion of the portable device. Therefore, even if the user is not necessarily stationary with respect to the ground (geomagnetic field), a command intended by the user can be input accurately.

That is, for example, when the user performs the above-described operation while riding a vehicle such as a train or an automobile, the orientation of the mobile phone that changes every moment with the user does not become noise. In other words, when the vehicle changes its direction, its angular velocity is limited in consideration of the safety of passengers and passengers. For this reason, the angular velocity applied to the portable device as the vehicle travels is not particularly large.
On the other hand, the rotational motion given to the portable device by the user can be accompanied by a sufficiently large angular velocity.
This is not only the angular velocity of the vehicle, but it is possible to give the portable device a rotational motion with a sufficiently large angular velocity as compared to the angular velocity of the user himself / herself assumed in daily life.

Therefore, if a rotational motion with a sufficiently large angular velocity is set as the specific rotational motion determined in advance in the command input system, the influence of the angular velocity associated with traveling of the vehicle can be easily eliminated.
As a result, it is possible to accurately input a command intended by the user under various situations including a situation where the user is not stationary with respect to the geomagnetism, that is, the ground.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an inexpensive command input system that can accurately input a command intended by a user to a portable device under various circumstances.

The block diagram of the command input system in an Example. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. Explanatory drawing of the rotational motion of the portable apparatus at the time of inputting the command of page feed in an Example. The diagram which shows the time change of the angular velocity of the magnetic vector component of the detection pattern 1 in an Example. The diagram which shows the time change of the angular velocity of the magnetic vector component of the detection pattern 2 in an Example. The diagram which shows the time change of the angular velocity of the magnetic vector component of the detection pattern 3 in an Example. The diagram which shows the time change of the angular velocity of the magnetic vector component of the detection pattern 4 in an Example.

In the present invention (Claim 1), examples of the portable device include a portable terminal such as a cellular phone.
In addition, as a function of the portable device instructing execution by the command input system, various functions such as display page turn or page return, telephone off-hook, on-hook, command selection displayed on the screen, etc. are applied. can do.

Further, it is preferable that the specific rotational motion is specified by a temporal change in the angular velocity.
In this case, the input angular velocity information can be diversified and erroneous recognition can be suppressed. That is, not only the magnitude of the angular velocity but also the change with time is one piece of information, so that a wide variety of rotational motions can be assigned to various functions. At the same time, it is possible to prevent the movement of the mobile device that is not intended by the user from being recognized as an input signal.

The angular velocity calculation means calculates the angular velocity using one of the three axes of the three-axis orthogonal coordinate system as a central axis, and the central axis is determined based on the measured values of the components. (Claim 3).
In this case, the angular velocity of the rotational motion can be easily calculated.

Further, it is preferable that a plurality of types of the specific rotation motions determined in advance exist, and that different functions for each specific rotation motion are instructed by the execution instructing means. .
In this case, a plurality of functions can be used properly and accurately according to the user's intention.

A command input system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The command input system 1 of this example inputs a command for executing a desired function by giving a rotational motion to the portable device 6.
As shown in FIG. 1, the command input system 1 includes the following magnetic sensor 2, angular velocity calculation means 3, motion determination means 4, and execution instruction means 5.

The magnetic sensor 2 measures each component of the geomagnetic vector in the three-axis direction of the three-axis orthogonal coordinate system 61 fixed to the portable device 6 as shown in FIG. The magnetic sensor 2 includes three magneto-impedance sensor elements that detect the geomagnetic components in the three axial directions. The magneto-impedance sensor element performs magnetic sensing using an MI (Magneto-impedance) phenomenon, and is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-113993.
The magnetic sensor 2 can be constituted by, for example, a Hall element, a magnetoresistive element, or the like other than the magneto-impedance sensor element.

Then, using the geomagnetic vector data measured by the magnetic sensor 2, the computer 11 performs calculations, determinations, instructions, and the like as described later. That is, the computer 11 includes the following angular velocity calculation means 3, motion determination means 4, and execution instruction means 5.
The angular velocity calculation means 3 calculates the angular velocity of the rotational motion of the portable device 6 in the space based on the measured values of the above components.
The motion determination unit 4 determines whether or not a predetermined rotary motion of the predetermined mobile device 6 has been performed based on the information on the angular velocity calculated by the angular velocity calculation unit 3.
The execution instructing unit 5 instructs to execute a predetermined function in the portable device 6 based on the determination result by the motion determining unit 4.

In this example, a description will be given of an example in which the mobile device 6 equipped with the command input system 1 is a mobile phone. In addition, an example in which the function of the page advance and page return of the display screen is applied as the function of the portable device 6 that instructs execution by the command input system 1 will be described.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the three-axis orthogonal coordinate system 61 has a horizontal direction of the display screen 62 of the portable device (mobile phone) 6 as an x axis, a vertical direction as a y axis, and a normal direction as a z axis, It is fixed to the mobile device 6 so that the right side, the upper side, and the near side are the plus side.

The operation of the command input system 1 of this example will be specifically described below.
Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the user rotates the portable device 6 in the vertical direction of the display screen 62, that is, the y-axis of the three-axis orthogonal coordinate system 61 becomes the rotation axis and immediately returns it to the original state. A description will be given of the case where the page-forward or page-back function is executed when.

More specifically, the portable device 6 is held with one hand in a state where the display screen 62 faces the user side, and is quickly rotated rightward about the rotation axis (y-axis) by twisting the wrist ( 3 (A) and 3 (B)), and then immediately rotate leftward to return to the original posture (FIGS. 3C and 3D). At this time, the page feed function is executed.
Conversely, when the page is rotated leftward about the rotation axis (y-axis) and then immediately rotated rightward to return to the original posture, the page return function is executed.
The rotation angle during this period is not particularly used, and the angular velocity is used. However, in order to prevent noise due to high-frequency vibration or the like, it is possible to use a filter that removes detection signals less than a predetermined rotation angle.

First, the magnetic sensor 2 measures the magnetic vector component in each of the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis directions in the three-axis orthogonal coordinate system 61 at a cycle of 20 milliseconds. The measured values are sequentially stored in the memory in the computer 11. Based on the measured value data, one of the three axes of the three-axis orthogonal coordinate system 61 is determined as the central axis of the angular velocity to be calculated later. Specifically, the time change of each of the magnetic vectors in the three axis directions is obtained, and the axial direction with the smallest time change is determined as the central axis.
In the case of this example, as described above, since the user rotates the mobile device 6 so that the vertical direction (y-axis) of the display screen 62 is the rotation axis, the time change of the magnetic vector component in the y-axis direction is the most. Get smaller. Note that even if the rotation about the y-axis is taken into account, since there is usually an error, the time change of the magnetic vector component in the y-axis direction is not necessarily zero.

Next, the angular velocity calculation means 3 calculates the angular velocity ω _y of the portable device 6 (three-axis orthogonal coordinate system 61) around the y-axis determined as the central axis. That is, the angular velocity ω _y is calculated based on the time change of the geomagnetic vector component in the three axis directions. The calculation method will be described later.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the portable device 6 is rotated rightward around the y-axis and then immediately rotated leftward to return to the original posture, the curve of FIG. As shown in L1, after ω _y takes a positive value and exceeds a threshold value ω _t to a certain level, ω _y decreases rapidly and takes a negative value and falls below the threshold value −ω _t to some extent. It becomes the size of. Thereafter, ω _y becomes substantially zero. This is referred to as “detection pattern 1”.

On the contrary, when an operation of rotating leftward about the y-axis and then immediately rotating rightward to return to the original posture is performed, ω _y is a negative value as shown by a curve L2 in FIG. Is taken below the threshold value −ω _t and becomes a certain level, then ω _y increases rapidly, takes a positive value and exceeds the threshold value ω _t and reaches a certain level. Thereafter, ω _y becomes substantially zero. This is referred to as “detection pattern 2”.

However, the mobile device 6 is rotated to the right about the y-axis and then immediately rotated to the left to return to the original posture (first input operation) or vice versa (second input). Depending on the user, the movement can be various movements.
Among these, the following operations are examples that are significantly different from the above operations. That is, some users give a reaction before the first right rotation in the first input operation or the first left rotation in the second input operation. In other words, as shown in FIG. 6, the angular velocity ω _y (<0) of the left rotation is detected before the original angular velocity ω _y (> 0) of the first right rotation (the operation detected as shown in FIG. 4). In this case (this is referred to as “detection pattern 3”), or as shown in FIG. 7, on the contrary, before the original angular velocity ω _y (<0) of the first counterclockwise rotation (the operation detected as shown in FIG. 5). In some cases, an angular velocity ω _y (> 0) of right rotation is detected (this is referred to as “detection pattern 4”).

As described above, the detection patterns 1 and 3 are roughly divided with respect to the first input operation (operation intended for page turning), and are roughly divided for the second input operation (operation intended for page return). Although there are the detection patterns 2 and 4 described above, various waveforms can be obtained depending on individual differences among users among the detection patterns.
Therefore, it is determined whether each of the detection patterns 1 to 4 is applicable depending on whether or not the following conditions are satisfied.

That is, in the detection pattern 1, when the angular velocity ω _y first reaches the threshold value ω _t and ω _y ≧ ω _t and ω _y ≦ −ω _t are sequentially detected from the time t ₀ to the predetermined time T, Applicable.
The detection pattern 2 is applicable when ω _y ≦ −ω _t and ω _y ≧ ω _t are sequentially detected during a predetermined time T from the time t ₀ when the angular velocity ω _y first reaches the threshold −ω _t. It shall be.
In the detection pattern 3, ω _y ≦ −ω _t , ω _y ≧ ω _t, and ω _y ≦ −ω _t are set between the time t ₀ when the angular velocity ω _y first reaches the threshold −ω _t and the predetermined time T. It shall be applicable when detected sequentially.
The detection pattern 4 sequentially detects ω _y ≧ ω _t , ω _y ≦ −ω _t, and ω _y ≧ ω _t during a predetermined time T from the time point t ₀ when the angular velocity ω _y first reaches the threshold value ω _t. If applicable, it shall be applicable.
Here, for example, T = 2 seconds and ω _t = 100 ° / second.

When it is determined that any one of the detection patterns 1 to 4 is detected by the motion determination unit 4 as described above, the execution instruction unit 5 performs the function of the portable device 6 according to each detection pattern 1 to 4. Execute. That is, when the motion determination unit 4 determines that the detection pattern 1 or 3 has been obtained, the execution instruction unit 5 issues an instruction to execute the page feed function. When it is determined by the motion determination means 4 that the detection pattern 2 or 4 has been obtained, the execution instruction means 5 issues an instruction to execute the page return function.
When the motion determination unit 4 determines that none of the detection patterns 1 to 4 is obtained, the execution instruction unit 5 does not issue a function execution instruction.

Note that the calculation of the angular velocity ω _y based on the change of the magnetic vector in the three-axis orthogonal coordinate system 61 can be performed as follows.
As described above, the magnetic vector information at each time point detected by the magnetic sensor 2 is accumulated in the memory. Therefore, magnetic vector data at two different time points are read from the memory, and the angular velocity is calculated based on the change.

For example, the magnetic vectors at different times t and t + Δt are m ₁ and m ₂ , respectively, and their x, y, and z components are respectively expressed as follows. That is, m ₁ = (m _1x , m _1y , m _1z ) and m ₂ = (m _2x , m _2y , m _2z ). Parameters in parentheses represent the x component, y component, and z component of the vector. The same applies to the following.
From the data of the magnetic vector m _1, m ₂ at these two time points, as follows to calculate the difference vector Δm is the difference.
_{Δm = m 2 -m 1 = (} m 2x -m 1x, m 2y -m 1y, m 2z -m 1z) = (Δm x, Δm y, Δm z)

Delta] m _x, Delta] m _y, when a predetermined threshold value M is smaller than that for all the Delta] m _z is the portable device 6 is judged to be stationary.
On the other hand, when Δm _x , Δm _y , and Δm _z are all greater than the threshold value M, it is determined that measurement is impossible.
Then, Delta] m _x, when Delta] m _y, less than one threshold M of Delta] m _z, certifies axis of its components as a central axis of the rotary motion.
When two of Δm _x , Δm _y , and Δm _z are smaller than the threshold value M, the axis in the direction of the smaller component is determined as the central axis. Alternatively, the same axis as that determined as the central axis immediately before the measurement may be used as the central axis.

As described above, in this example, when the user tries to input an instruction to execute the page feed function or the page return function, the user tries to rotate the portable device 6 around the y axis, and thus there is a large deviation in the operation. unless, Delta] m _y is smaller than the threshold value, Delta] m _x, situation is obtained that Delta] m _z is greater than the threshold value. Therefore, the y axis is determined as the central axis.
And the angular velocity calculation means 3 calculates | requires angular velocity (omega) _y which sets a y-axis as a central axis as follows.
That is, the rotation angle Δθ of the magnetic vector around the y axis between the above two times t and t + Δt is calculated by the following equation.
Δθ = tan ⁻¹ (m _2z / m _2x ) −tan ⁻¹ (m _1z / m _1x )

Then, by dividing the rotation angle Δθ by the time between the two time points, an angular velocity ω _y around the y axis can be obtained. That is, ω _y = Δθ / Δt.
This ω _y is sequentially calculated, and the motion determination unit 4 determines whether the time change corresponds to any of the detection patterns 1 to 4 or none. Then, according to the determination result, the execution instruction unit 5 instructs execution of the corresponding command, that is, the page feed function or the page return function.

Next, the function and effect of this example will be described.
The command input system 1 measures each component of the geomagnetic vector in the three-axis directions fixed to the portable device 6 using the magnetic sensor 2, and inputs a function execution command using the measured values. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a mechanical acceleration sensor or the like, and an inexpensive command input system can be obtained with a simple configuration.

  Further, the command input system 1 calculates the angular velocity of the rotational motion of the portable device 6 and determines whether or not a specific rotational motion of the predetermined portable device 6 has been made based on the information on the calculated angular velocity. Then, based on the determination result, the mobile device 6 is instructed to execute a predetermined function. As described above, the motion determination unit 4 uses the information on the angular velocity of the rotary motion of the mobile device 6 to determine whether the specific rotary motion has been performed, that is, whether to execute a predetermined function. . Therefore, even if the user is not necessarily stationary with respect to the ground (geomagnetic field), a command intended by the user can be input accurately.

That is, for example, when the user performs the above-described operation while riding a vehicle such as a train or an automobile, the orientation of the portable device that changes every moment with the user does not become noise. In other words, when the vehicle changes its direction, its angular velocity is limited in consideration of the safety of passengers and passengers. Therefore, the angular velocity to the mobile device 6 given as the vehicle travels is not particularly large.
On the other hand, the rotational motion given to the portable device 6 by the user can be accompanied by a sufficiently large angular velocity.
This can give the portable device 6 a rotational motion with a sufficiently large angular velocity as compared to the angular velocity of the user himself / herself assumed in daily life as well as the angular velocity of the vehicle.

Therefore, if a rotational motion with a sufficiently large angular velocity is set as the specific rotational motion determined in advance in the command input system 1, the influence of the angular velocity associated with traveling of the vehicle can be easily eliminated. .
As a result, it is possible to accurately input a command intended by the user under various situations including a situation where the user is not stationary with respect to the geomagnetism, that is, the ground.

  Further, the specific rotational motion is specified by a change in the angular velocity with time. That is, it is specified by a predetermined pattern of angular velocity as shown in FIGS. As a result, it is possible to diversify the information on the angular velocity to be input and to suppress erroneous recognition. That is, not only the magnitude of the angular velocity but also the change with time is one piece of information, so that a wide variety of rotational motions can be assigned to various functions. At the same time, the movement of the mobile device 6 that is not intended by the user can be prevented from being recognized as an input signal.

  Further, the angular velocity calculation means 3 calculates the angular velocity with the y-axis that is one of the three axes of the three-axis orthogonal coordinate system 61 as a central axis, and the central axis is used as a measurement value of each component. To be determined. Therefore, the angular velocity of the rotational motion can be easily calculated.

  As described above, according to this example, it is possible to provide an inexpensive command input system that can accurately input a command intended by the user to the portable device under various circumstances.

In the above embodiment, only the page feed and page return functions have been described, but various other functions such as telephone off-hook, on-hook, and command selection displayed on the screen can be applied.
It is also possible to prepare a plurality of types of predetermined specific rotary motions so that different functions are instructed by the execution instruction means for each specific rotary motion. In this case, a plurality of functions can be used properly and accurately according to the user's intention.
Further, for example, not only around the y axis but also around the x axis and around the z axis may be detected and applied to various command inputs.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Command input system 2 Magnetic sensor 3 Angular velocity calculation means 4 Motion determination means 5 Execution instruction means 6 Portable apparatus 61 3-axis orthogonal coordinate system

Claims (4)

A command input system for inputting a command for executing a desired function by giving a rotary motion to a portable device,
A magnetic sensor for measuring each component of the geomagnetic vector in the three-axis direction of the three-axis orthogonal coordinate system fixed to the portable device;
Based on the measured values of the respective components, angular velocity calculating means for calculating the angular velocity of the rotational motion of the portable device in space;
Motion determining means for determining whether or not a predetermined rotational movement of the portable device is made based on information on the angular speed calculated by the angular speed calculating means;
A command input system comprising: an execution instructing unit that instructs to execute a predetermined function in the portable device based on a determination result by the motion determining unit.   2. The command input system according to claim 1, wherein the specific rotational motion is specified by a temporal change in the angular velocity.   3. The angular velocity calculating means according to claim 1, wherein the angular velocity calculating means calculates the angular velocity using one of the three axes of the three-axis orthogonal coordinate system as a central axis, and the central axis is based on the measured values of the respective components. A command input system characterized by being determined.   4. The system according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of predetermined specific rotational motions, and different functions for each specific rotational motion are indicated by the execution instruction means. Command input system characterized by that.

Images