JP6317699B2 - Position detection apparatus and position detection method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a position detection device and a position detection method for detecting the position of a detection target such as a finger.

  An increasing number of devices are attached to the wrist, such as smart watches. As one of such devices, a device of a type that projects a screen onto an arm from a device worn on the arm has been proposed. Further, a device that detects the position of the user's finger with a laser emitted from such a device and performs an operation on the screen has been proposed (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

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  It is expected that an operation often used in a smartphone or the like can be performed even in a device of a type that projects a screen onto the arm as described above. Examples of such operations include operations performed by a plurality of fingers such as pinch-in and pinch-out. According to the technique disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, when a laser hits a certain finger, the position of the finger can be detected. However, since the laser is blocked by the finger, the other fingers at the tip of the finger hit by the laser on the optical axis of the laser do not hit the laser. Usually, the laser is emitted in a direction along the arm, and a finger for performing an operation is also located at a position along the arm. Therefore, when an operation is performed with a plurality of fingers, there is a possibility that the laser does not hit all the fingers related to the operation. When the laser is not applied to the finger, it is impossible to grasp the positions of the plurality of fingers of the user, and thus it is not possible to perform an operation performed with the plurality of fingers.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and in a position detection device worn by a user, a position detection device and position detection capable of reliably detecting detection targets such as a plurality of fingers. It aims to provide a method.

  In order to achieve the above object, a position detection apparatus according to the present invention is mounted on a user at a position facing each other, and includes two laser irradiation means for irradiating a laser in a direction facing each other, and two laser irradiation means. A reflected wave detecting means for detecting the reflected wave of each of the irradiated lasers, and a position detecting means for detecting the position of the detection object based on each reflected wave detected by the reflected wave detecting means. .

  In the position detection device according to the present invention, the laser is irradiated from the mutually facing positions to the mutually facing directions, and the position of the detection target is detected. Therefore, even if the laser from one laser irradiation means is interrupted by one of the detection objects such as one finger, the laser from the other laser irradiation means detects another finger or the like. The target is irradiated and the position of the other detection target is detected. Thereby, according to the position detection apparatus which concerns on this invention, detection objects, such as a some finger | toe, can be detected reliably.

  The two laser irradiation means may be attached to the user's arm, and the detection target may be the user's finger. According to this configuration, for example, the position of the user's finger for an operation by the user can be detected.

  The position detection means detects the distance from the laser emission position to the detection target based on each reflected wave detected by the reflected wave detection means, and whether there are a plurality of detection targets based on the distance. It may be detected whether or not. According to this configuration, it is possible to detect whether the detection target to be detected is one or more, for example, one finger or two fingers. That is, it is possible to detect an appropriate position of the detection target.

  The two laser irradiation means may irradiate lasers having different wavelengths. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent confusion between the laser beam and the reflected wave irradiated from the two laser irradiation units, and it is possible to reliably detect the detection target.

  By the way, the present invention can be described as the invention of the position detection apparatus as described above, and can also be described as the invention of the position detection method as follows. This is substantially the same invention only in different categories, and has the same operations and effects.

  That is, the position detection method according to the present invention is a position detection method that is an operation method of a position detection apparatus including two laser irradiation means mounted on a user at positions facing each other, and the two laser irradiation means A laser irradiation step for irradiating lasers in directions opposite to each other, a reflected wave detection step for detecting a reflected wave of each of the lasers irradiated in the laser irradiation step, and each reflected wave detected in the reflected wave detection step And a position detecting step for detecting the position of the detection target based on the above.

  In the present invention, even if one laser is blocked by one of the detection targets such as one finger, the other laser is irradiated to another detection target such as another finger, The position of the detection target is detected. Thereby, according to this invention, detection targets, such as a some finger | toe, can be detected reliably.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure of the smart device which is a position detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the 1st laser irradiation part which comprises the smart device which is a position detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and a 2nd laser irradiation part. It is a figure which shows the laser irradiated from a 1st laser irradiation part and a 2nd laser irradiation part. It is a figure for demonstrating the judgment in a position calculating part. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the 1st laser irradiation part which comprises the smart device which is a position detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and a 2nd laser irradiation part. It is a flowchart which shows the process (position detection method) performed with the smart device which is a position detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a position detection device and a position detection method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. Further, the dimensional ratios in the drawings do not necessarily match those described.

  FIG. 1 shows an appearance of a smart device (information device) 10 that is a position detection apparatus according to the present embodiment. The smart device 10 is, for example, a terminal that is used by a user in the same manner as a smartphone or a tablet terminal (provides a function similar to that of a smartphone or a tablet terminal to the user). As shown in FIG. 1, the smart device 10 is a wearable terminal that is used by being attached to a portion (under the elbow) from the elbow to the wrist of one arm A of the user.

  The smart device 10 projects the screen S on the arm A of the user who is worn. In addition, the smart device 10 detects a user operation on the screen S and performs an operation corresponding to the operation. The user's operation is usually performed by the finger F of the hand not wearing the smart device 10. Moreover, this operation is the same operation as the operation with respect to the touch panel with which the smart phone or the tablet terminal is normally equipped. The smart device 10 detects the position of the user's finger F with a laser, and identifies the user's operation based on the detected position. That is, the smart device 10 may be the same device as the device shown in Non-Patent Document 1 except that the smart device 10 has the functions according to the present embodiment described below.

  The smart device 10 includes a first laser irradiation unit 110, a second laser irradiation unit 120, and a connection member 130 that are respectively attached to the user's arm A. The first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120 generally have a ring shape corresponding to the shape of the user's arm A, and can be attached to the user's arm A. The first laser irradiation unit 110 is provided on the wrist side of the user's arm A, and the second laser irradiation unit 120 is provided on the elbow side of the user's arm A. That is, the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120 are mounted on the user's arm A at a position facing each other and at a predetermined interval. This interval is for projecting the screen S and operating with the user's finger. That is, the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120 are mounted on the user's arm A at an interval at which the user's finger F that is a detection target can be positioned. Specifically, this interval is an interval of about 5 inches, which is the same as the screen size of a normal smartphone.

  The 1st laser irradiation part 110 and the 2nd laser irradiation part 120 are being fixed to the both ends of the rod-shaped connection member 130 which connects them. Thereby, the positional relationship between the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120 is determined in advance. As shown in FIG. 1, the connecting member 130 is positioned along the user's arm A when worn by the user. The first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120 may be positioned and mounted on the user's arm A, and are not necessarily connected to each other by the connection member 130.

  Subsequently, functions and configurations of the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120 configuring the smart device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 2, the first laser irradiation unit 110 includes a laser irradiation unit 111, a reflected wave detection unit 112, a distance calculation unit 113, an inter-irradiation unit communication unit 114, and a position calculation unit 115. The second laser irradiation unit 120 includes a laser irradiation unit 121, a reflected wave detection unit 122, a distance calculation unit 123, and an inter-irradiation unit communication unit 124. In addition, the 1st laser irradiation part 110 and the 2nd laser irradiation part 120 are provided with the control part (not shown) which supervises these whole function parts besides said function part. Moreover, the 1st laser irradiation part 110 and the 2nd laser irradiation part 120 are also provided with the function part (not shown) for the smart device 10 to implement | achieve the function similar to a smart phone or a tablet terminal. For example, any of the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120 may include a screen projection unit that projects the screen S described above.

  The laser irradiation unit 111 of the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the laser irradiation unit 121 of the second laser irradiation unit 120 are laser irradiation means for irradiating a laser. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the laser irradiation unit 111 irradiates (emits and emits) a laser L1 (generic name for lasers L11, L12, and L13). The laser irradiation unit 121 irradiates a laser L2 (generic name for lasers L21, L22, and L23). The irradiation direction of the laser L1 by the laser irradiation unit 111 is a direction toward the second laser irradiation unit 120 along the user's arm A. The irradiation direction of the laser L2 by the laser irradiation unit 121 (the optical axis direction of the lasers L1 and L2) is a direction toward the first laser irradiation unit 110 along the user's arm A.

  That is, the laser irradiation part 111 and the laser irradiation part 121 irradiate a laser in the mutually opposing direction. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the laser irradiation unit 111 and the laser irradiation unit 121 irradiate a plurality of lasers L (generic names of lasers L11, L12, L13, L21, L22, and L23, or any of them). To do. In this embodiment, it is assumed that three lasers L are irradiated, but a number of lasers L other than three may be irradiated. The emission positions of the lasers L are lined up at a constant interval in the circumferential direction of the ring shape, that is, along the circumferential direction of the user's arm A. By irradiating the plurality of lasers L in this way, the position of the finger F (position in the optical axis direction of the laser L) can be detected for each position in the circumferential direction where the laser L is irradiated. However, the laser irradiation part 111 and the laser irradiation part 121 should just irradiate at least 1 laser L. FIG.

  Further, each of the plurality of lasers L1 irradiated from the laser irradiation unit 111 is associated with each of the plurality of lasers L2 irradiated from the laser irradiation unit 121. That is, the laser L1 from the laser irradiation unit 111 and the laser L2 from the laser irradiation unit 121 are paired. Specifically, the laser L11 and the laser L21, the laser L12 and the laser L22, and the laser L13 and the laser L23 are paired, respectively. The 1st laser irradiation part 110 and the 2nd laser irradiation part 120 are being fixed by the connection member 130 mentioned above, and mutual positional relationship is decided beforehand. Thereby, the optical axes of the paired lasers L1 and L2 are at the same position. That is, the positions where the lasers L1 and L2 are emitted are located on the optical axes (on a straight line) of the lasers L1 and L2. In FIG. 3, the optical axes of the paired lasers L1 and L2 are drawn so as to be easy to understand. In each of the laser irradiation units 110 and 120, a laser ID is preset and stored for each laser (laser emission position) L, and a pair of the laser ID is stored. The laser ID is, for example, No. for each of the lasers L11, L12, and L13. A1, No. A2, No. The lasers L21, L22, and L23 are respectively No. A3. B1, No. B2, No. B3.

  The laser irradiation unit 111 and the laser irradiation unit 121 irradiate lasers having different wavelengths. This is to prevent confusion between the lasers L1 and L2. Furthermore, the laser wavelengths may be different between the plurality of lasers L1 and L2 irradiated from one laser irradiation unit 111 and 121.

  When the laser irradiation unit 111 and the laser irradiation unit 121 detect the user's finger F, for example, the laser irradiation unit 111 and the laser irradiation unit 121 irradiate the laser at a constant time interval and at the same timing. The laser irradiation unit 111 and the laser irradiation unit 121 notify the distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123, respectively, at the timing of laser irradiation. The laser irradiation units 111 and 121 can be realized using a conventional laser irradiation apparatus for position detection.

  The reflected wave detection unit 112 of the first laser irradiation unit 110 is a reflected wave detection unit that detects the reflected wave of the laser L <b> 1 irradiated by the laser irradiation unit 111. The reflected wave detection unit 122 of the second laser irradiation unit 120 is a reflected wave detection unit that detects the reflected wave of the laser L2 irradiated by the laser irradiation unit 121. The laser irradiated by the laser irradiation units 111 and 121 is reflected by the user's finger F and becomes a reflected wave. The reflected wave detection unit 112 and the reflected wave detection unit 122 reflect each laser L irradiated by the laser irradiation unit 111 and the laser irradiation unit 121 by receiving the reflected wave at (in the vicinity of) the emission position of the laser L. Detect waves.

  When the reflected wave detection unit 112 and the reflected wave detection unit 122 detect the reflected wave, the reflected wave detection unit 112 and the reflected wave detection unit 122 notify the distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123 accordingly. The reflected wave detection unit 112 and the reflected wave detection unit 122 can be realized using a reflected wave detection device that detects a reflected wave of a conventional laser for position detection.

  The distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123 are based on the respective reflected waves detected by the reflected wave detection unit 112 and the reflected wave detection unit 122, that is, the emission position of the laser L, that is, the first laser irradiation unit. The distance (straight line distance) from 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120 to the finger F as a detection target is detected. That is, the distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123 are one function of a position detection unit that detects the position of the finger F that is a detection target based on the reflected wave. The detected position of the finger F of the user is relative to the position on the optical axis of the laser L (the position where the laser L is reflected by the finger F) and the position of the first laser irradiation unit 110 or the second laser irradiation unit 120. Relative position.

  The distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123 receive notification from the laser irradiation unit 111 and the laser irradiation unit 121 at the timing when the laser is irradiated (emitted). The distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123 start a timer at the timing when the notification is received. Further, the distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123 receive notification from the reflected wave detection unit 112 and the reflected wave detection unit 122 at the timing when the reflected wave is detected. The distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123 measure (calculate) the time from when the laser is emitted (emitted) to when the reflected wave is detected, from the count of the timer until the notification is received.

  The distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123 calculate (estimate) the distance based on the time. The distance is calculated for each laser ID. The distance calculation unit 113 calculates the distance from the first laser irradiation unit 110 based on the laser L1 emitted from the first laser irradiation unit 110. The distance calculation unit 123 calculates the distance from the second laser irradiation unit 120 based on the laser L2 emitted from the second laser irradiation unit 120. Calculation (estimation) of distance from time can be performed by a conventional technique.

  The distance calculation unit 113 outputs information indicating the calculated distance for each laser ID to the position calculation unit 115. The distance calculation unit 123 outputs information indicating the calculated distance for each laser ID to the inter-irradiation unit communication unit 124. The distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123 do not calculate the distance when the notification from the reflected wave detection unit 112 and the reflected wave detection unit 122 is not received until the timer counts a preset time. The preset time is a time-out time in detecting the position of the finger F, and is set as appropriate according to the purpose of detecting the position of the finger F. In that case, the distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123 respectively output information indicating that the distance has not been calculated to the position calculation unit 115 and the inter-irradiation unit communication unit 124 instead of the information indicating the distance.

  The irradiation unit communication unit 114 and the irradiation unit communication unit 124 are means for transmitting and receiving information between the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120. The inter-irradiation unit communication unit 114 and the inter-irradiation unit communication unit 124 transmit and receive information by conventional short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). Or the communication part 114 between irradiation parts and the communication part 124 between irradiation parts perform transmission / reception of information by a wire using the cable provided in the connection member 130, for example.

  If the information which shows the distance for every laser ID is input from the distance calculation part 123 from the distance calculation part 123, the communication part 124 between irradiation parts of the 2nd laser irradiation part 120 will transmit the information to the 1st laser irradiation part 110. In the 1st laser irradiation part 110, the communication part 114 between irradiation parts receives the information. The irradiation unit communication unit 114 outputs the received information to the position calculation unit 115. Even when the fact that the distance has not been calculated is input to the inter-irradiation unit communication unit 124, the information is relayed to the position calculation unit 115 in the same manner as described above.

  The position calculation unit 115 detects the position of the finger F that is a detection target based on the distance for each laser ID calculated by the distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123. That is, the position calculation unit 115 is a function of a position detection unit that detects the position of the finger F that is a detection target based on the reflected wave. The position calculation unit 115 detects whether or not there are a plurality of detection target fingers F in detecting the position of the detection target finger F. Specifically, the position calculation unit 115 detects the position of the finger F as follows.

  The position calculation unit 115 detects the position of the finger F for each pair of laser IDs. That is, it is detected at which position on the optical axis of the laser L indicated by the laser ID the finger F is located. In the position calculation unit 115, the farthest detection distance is set and stored in advance. As shown in FIG. 3, the farthest detection distance D is a distance from the first laser irradiation unit 110 or the second laser irradiation unit 120 that enables detection of a detection target. This is for discriminating between the case where the laser L is reflected by the laser irradiation units 110 and 120 opposite to the laser irradiation units 110 and 120 that have emitted the laser and the case where the laser L is reflected by the detection target. is there. By setting the farthest detection distance D, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a detection range (detection region) R in which a detection target can be detected is determined. The farthest detection distance D is made shorter than the interval between the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120. For example, when the interval is about 5 inches as described above, the farthest detection distance D is 4.8 inches.

  In the following description, the distance indicated by the information input from the distance calculation unit 113 to the position calculation unit 115, that is, the distance from the first laser irradiation unit 110 to the finger F is referred to as a distance A. Further, a distance indicated by information input from the inter-irradiation unit communication unit 114 to the position calculation unit 115, that is, a distance from the second laser irradiation unit 120 to the finger F is defined as a distance B.

  The position calculation unit 115 determines that the finger F is out of the detection range R when information indicating that the distance has not been calculated is input from either the distance calculation unit 113 or the inter-irradiation unit communication unit 114. This is a case where the reflected wave is not detected in at least one of the reflected wave detection unit 112 and the reflected wave detection unit 122.

  When the position calculation unit 115 inputs information indicating the distance from both the distance calculation unit 113 and the inter-irradiation unit communication unit 114 until a preset time elapses, the distance A <detected farthest distance D and the distance B <Whether or not the farthest detection distance D is satisfied is determined. When determining that the condition is not satisfied, the position calculation unit 115 determines that the finger F is outside the detection range R.

  If it is determined that the condition is satisfied, then the position calculation unit 115 determines that the finger F is within the detection range R, and subsequently the interval between the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120. It is determined whether or not the distance between the irradiation parts− (distance A + distance B) <threshold value is satisfied. The distance between the irradiation units and the threshold value are stored in the position calculation unit 115 in advance. This determination is to determine (identify) whether the number of detection target fingers F is one or two (plural), and the threshold value is set accordingly. For example, the threshold value is larger than the width of one finger F and smaller than the width of two fingers arranged, specifically 5 cm. The distance between irradiation parts— (distance A + distance B), which is the left side of the above condition, is an interval at which the laser L1 and the laser L2 are blocked by the finger F. FIG. 4 shows the interval G. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the two fingers F are located between the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120, the interval G is larger than the threshold value. Also grows. On the other hand, when one finger F is located between the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120 as shown in FIG. It becomes smaller than the threshold value.

  If it is determined that the condition is not satisfied, the position calculation unit 115 determines that there are two fingers F. On the other hand, when determining that the condition is satisfied, the position calculation unit 115 determines that there is one finger F.

  The position calculation unit 115 outputs information indicating the determination result and the position of the finger F according to the determination result. When it is determined that the finger F is out of the detection range R, the position calculation unit 115 outputs only information to that effect (information indicating no detection) and does not output the position of the finger F. When it is determined that there are two fingers F, the position calculation unit 115 outputs information indicating the distance A and the distance B as information indicating the positions of the two fingers F. When it is determined that there is one finger F, the position calculation unit 115 further determines whether or not the distance A <distance B is satisfied. If it is determined that the condition is satisfied, the position calculation unit 115 outputs information indicating the distance A as information indicating the position of one finger F. On the other hand, when it is determined that the condition is not satisfied, the position calculation unit 115 outputs information indicating the distance B as information indicating the position of one finger F. This employs a distance closer to the finger F as an output as a more accurate positioning result. Further, this output is performed for each pair of laser IDs, for example, in association with a pair of laser IDs.

  For example, the output is performed on a functional unit (module) that detects a user operation from the position of the user's finger F in the smart device 10 and performs an operation corresponding to the operation. This output is continuously performed in time series, and in the function unit, a user operation is determined from the position of the finger F in the time series, and an operation corresponding to the operation is executed. Note that the output may be performed on a functional unit other than the above or another device.

  In the present embodiment, the position calculation unit 115 includes the first laser irradiation unit 110, but the second laser irradiation unit 120 may include the position calculation unit 115. In that case, the functional arrangement described in the present embodiment is reversed between the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120. The above is the function and configuration of the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120 that configure the smart device 10 according to the present embodiment.

  FIG. 5 shows a hardware configuration of the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120 that constitute the smart device 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120 include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 202 and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 203, which are main storage devices, and a laser. The irradiation apparatus 204, the reflected wave detection apparatus 205, and the apparatus (device) provided with the hardware of the communication module 206 are comprised. Of the above hardware, the laser irradiation device 204 is a device used to realize the laser irradiation units 111 and 121 described above. The reflected wave detection device 205 is a device used to realize the reflected wave detection units 112 and 122 described above. Moreover, the 1st laser irradiation part 110 and the 2nd laser irradiation part 120 are provided with the hardware required in order to implement | achieve the function part for implement | achieving the function similar to a smart phone or a tablet terminal. The functions of the first laser irradiating unit 110 and the second laser irradiating unit 120 described above are exhibited by the operation of these components by a program or the like. The above is the configuration of the smart device 10 according to the present embodiment.

  Subsequently, a position detection method which is a process (an operation method of the smart device 10) executed by the smart device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG. As described above, the following processing is performed for each laser ID pair.

  In this process, first, in each of the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120, the laser L is irradiated by the laser irradiation unit 111 and the laser irradiation unit 121 (S01, laser irradiation step). When the laser is irradiated, the distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123 are notified from the laser irradiation unit 111 and the laser irradiation unit 121.

  In the distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123 that have received the notification, a timer is started (S02, position detection step). On the other hand, when the laser L irradiated by the laser irradiation unit 111 and the laser irradiation unit 121 hits and reflects the finger F to be detected, the reflected wave detection unit 112 and the reflected wave detection unit 122 receive and detect the reflected wave.

  When the reflected wave is not received and detected by at least one of the reflected wave detection unit 112 and the reflected wave detection unit 122 before the timer counts the preset time (NO in S03), the distance calculation unit 113 and Information indicating that the distance has not been calculated is output from at least one of the distance calculation units 123. The information from the distance calculation unit 113 is directly input to the position calculation unit 115 via the inter-irradiation unit communication unit 124 and the inter-irradiation unit communication unit 114. In this case, the position calculation unit 115 determines that the finger F is out of the detection range R, outputs that the position of the finger F has been detected (S04, position detection step), and ends this process.

  If the reflected wave is received and detected by both the reflected wave detection unit 112 and the reflected wave detection unit 122 before the timer counts a preset time (YES in S03, reflected wave detection step) Are notified to the distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123, respectively. Subsequently, the distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123 measure the time from when the laser is irradiated (emitted) to when the reflected wave is detected, from the count of the timer until the notification is received ( S05, position detection step).

  Subsequently, the distance calculation unit 113 and the distance calculation unit 123 calculate and output the distance A and the distance B, respectively, based on the time (S06, position detection step). Information indicating the distance A from the distance calculation unit 113 is directly input to the position calculation unit 115 via the communication unit 124 between the irradiation units and the communication unit 114 between the irradiation units. The

  Subsequently, the position calculation unit 115 determines whether or not the distance A <the detected farthest distance D and the distance B <the detected farthest distance D are satisfied (S07, position detecting step). When it is determined that the condition is not satisfied (NO in S07), the position calculation unit 115 determines that the finger F is out of the detection range R and outputs that the position of the finger F has been detected (S04). , Position detection step), this processing ends.

  When it is determined that the condition of S07 is satisfied (YES in S07), the position calculation unit 115 then determines whether or not the distance between irradiation units− (distance A + distance B) <threshold is satisfied (S08, Position detection step). When it is determined that the condition is not satisfied (NO in S07), the position calculation unit 115 determines that there are two fingers F, and indicates distance A and distance B as information indicating the positions of the two fingers F. Information is output (S09, position detection step), and this process ends.

  When it is determined that the condition of S08 is satisfied (YES in S08), the position calculation unit 115 determines whether or not the distance A <distance B is satisfied (S10, position detection step). When it is determined that the condition is satisfied (YES in S10), the position calculation unit 115 determines that there is one finger F, and information indicating the distance A is output as information indicating the position of the one finger F. (S11, position detection step), the process ends. When it is determined that the condition of S10 is not satisfied (NO in S10), the position calculation unit 115 determines that there is one finger F, and information indicating the distance B is information indicating the position of the single finger F. This is output (S12, position detection step), and this process ends.

  The output of the position detection result of the finger F is performed, for example, on a functional unit that detects a user operation in the smart device 10 and performs an operation corresponding to the operation. This output is continuously performed in time series, and in the function unit, a user operation is determined from the position of the finger F in the time series, and an operation corresponding to the operation is executed. For example, the position of the finger F in time series is detected by repeatedly performing the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 at regular time intervals, and the operation of the finger F corresponding to the user's operation is detected. . In the smart device 10, an operation (function) corresponding to the operation of the user is executed. The above is the processing executed by the smart device 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the laser L is irradiated from the positions facing each other in the direction facing each other, and the position of the finger F that is the detection target is detected. On the other hand, unlike the present embodiment, the device disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 irradiates laser only from one direction. For example, the laser is irradiated only from the position of the second laser irradiation unit 120 of the present embodiment. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the left finger F is blocked by the right finger F, and the laser L does not hit the left finger F. However, in this embodiment, since the laser L is irradiated from both directions by the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120, even if the laser L from one side is blocked by one finger F, The laser L from the other side is irradiated to another finger F, and the position of the other finger F is detected. Thereby, according to this embodiment, a plurality of fingers F can be detected reliably.

  Further, as in the present embodiment, the position detection apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus such as the smart device 10 that is attached to the user's arm A, detects the user's finger F, and uses the position of the finger F for operation. It is good also as doing. According to this configuration, for example, the position of the user's finger F for an operation by the user can be detected. Accordingly, it is possible to surely perform a flexible operation performed by a plurality of fingers such as pinch-in and pinch-out that are often used in a smartphone, and to realize the smart device 10 with high operability. However, the position detection mode is not necessarily the finger F, and any object other than the finger F may be the detection target. Further, the position detection apparatus according to the present invention does not necessarily need to be the smart device 10 that is worn on the user's arm A as described above. The present invention can be applied to any device as long as it detects the position of some detection target at any location of the user.

  Moreover, it is good also as detecting whether there exist multiple detection objects like this embodiment. According to this configuration, it is possible to detect whether the detection target to be detected is one or more, for example, one finger F or two fingers F. That is, it is possible to detect an appropriate position of the detection target. Thereby, for example, in an apparatus such as the smart device 10 of the present embodiment, a user operation using a plurality of fingers F can be reliably realized.

  Moreover, the laser L irradiated from the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120 as in the present embodiment may be lasers L having different wavelengths. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent confusion between the laser L and the reflected wave irradiated from the first laser irradiation unit 110 and the second laser irradiation unit 120, and it is possible to reliably detect the detection target.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Smart device 110 ... 1st laser irradiation part, 111 ... Laser irradiation part, 112 ... Reflection wave detection part, 113 ... Distance calculation part, 114 ... Inter-irradiation part communication part, 115 ... Position calculation part, 120 ... 2nd Laser irradiation unit 121 ... Laser irradiation unit 122 ... Reflected wave detection unit 123 ... Distance calculation unit 124 ... Inter-irradiation unit communication unit 201 ... CPU, 202 ... RAM, 203 ... ROM, 204 ... Laser irradiation device, 205 ... reflected wave detection device, 206 ... communication module, 130 ... connection member.

Claims (5)

Two laser irradiation means mounted on the user at positions facing each other and irradiating a laser in a direction facing each other;
Reflected wave detection means for detecting reflected waves of the respective lasers irradiated by the two laser irradiation means;
Position detecting means for detecting the position of the detection object based on each reflected wave detected by the reflected wave detecting means;
A position detection device comprising: The two laser irradiation means are mounted on the user's arm,
The position detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection target is a finger of the user.   The position detection means detects a distance from the laser emission position to the detection target based on each reflected wave detected by the reflected wave detection means, and based on the distance, the detection The position detection device according to claim 1, wherein the position detection device detects whether there are a plurality of targets.   The position detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two laser irradiation units irradiate lasers having different wavelengths. A position detection method which is an operation method of a position detection apparatus including two laser irradiation means mounted on a user at positions facing each other,
A laser irradiation step of irradiating a laser in a direction facing each other by the two laser irradiation means;
A reflected wave detecting step of detecting a reflected wave of each of the lasers irradiated in the laser irradiation step;
A position detecting step for detecting a position of a detection target based on each reflected wave detected in the reflected wave detecting step;
A position detection method including:

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