JP2933448B2 - Attitude detection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a posture detecting device comprising a photosensor and a light shielding member for blocking a light path of the photosensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there have been proposed attitude detecting apparatuses in which a plurality of magneto-resistive elements are arranged to detect an attitude from a change in current value, and an electric or liquid level change of mercury or liquid is detected. In some cases, the posture is detected by optical detection.

Further, there is a type in which a slit plate or a pendulum-shaped member is used as a light-shielding member for blocking an optical path of a photosensor.

[0004]

However, in the above conventional example, the cost is increased due to the use of a large number of expensive elements, and the detection is unstable or the liquid tightness must be improved due to the use of liquid. There's a problem. Further, there is a disadvantage that it is difficult to reduce the size of the device.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem and to provide a posture detecting device which can be downsized with stable operation and has a cost merit.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems The invention described in claim 1
Form a plurality of inclined surfaces in the case and
Forming a valley on one end side of each of the number of inclined surfaces, and the valley and
The light-shielding moving body moves between the inclined surface and
In a posture detection device for detecting a change in force, the plurality of
A light receiving element is embedded in each of the inclined surfaces and faces the valley.
Buried one light emitting element at the position
In the posture where the body is located, the light from the one light emitting element is forward.
Each of the plurality of light receiving elements,
When moving to one of the inclined surfaces, the one light emitting element
To block light to the light receiving element on the inclined surface.
It is characterized by .

[0007]

1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a top view, and FIG.
The cross-sectional shape of the part a 'is shown.

[0008] 1 is a case portion, 11 is a case body, 12-
1, 12-2 are inclined surfaces, 13-1, 13-2 are openings,
2 is a cover, 21 is a cover body, 22 is an opening, 3 is a sphere, 4 is a light emitting element, 5-1 and 5-2 are light receiving sensors, 6
Denotes a light receiving sensor support member. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in detail.

The case body 11 has two V-shaped inclined surfaces 12-1 and 12-2. The inclined surface 12
-1 and 12-2 have openings 13-1 and 13-2, respectively.
Are formed, and light receiving sensors 5-1 and 5-2 are buried in the respective openings with the light receiving portion facing upward from the openings.

On the other hand, an opening 22 is formed substantially in the center of the cover body 21, and the light emitting element 4 is buried in the opening 22 with the light emitting portion directed downward from the opening.

Openings 13-1, 13- of case body 11
2 is that when the device is in the upright state, the light beam of the light emitting element 4 is not blocked by the small-diameter sphere 3 and the sphere 3 is moved onto the inclined surface 12-1 or 12-2 due to the inclination of the device. It is formed only at the position where light is shielded by the sphere 3.

Next, the operation state of this embodiment will be described together with the electric circuit.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show the respective operating states. FIG. 6 is an electric circuit diagram of this embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a simplified model of FIG. In the figure, IRED is a light emitting element 4, a phototransistor Tr1 is a light receiving sensor 5-1, and a phototransistor Tr2 is a light receiving sensor 5
-2. Now, when the posture detecting device of the present embodiment is in a state of being tilted to the left as shown in FIG. 3, the electric circuit model is as shown in FIG. That is, the phototransistor T
Since the sphere 3 is interposed between r1 and the IRED, the infrared light is blocked, the output of the phototransistor Tr1 becomes LOW, and the light emitting diode 1 emits light. On the other hand, since no sphere is interposed between the phototransistor Tr2 and the IRED, the infrared light is not blocked, the output of the phototransistor Tr2 becomes HIGH, and the light emitting diode 2 does not emit light.
When the embodiment is in the upright state as shown in FIG. 1, both the phototransistors Tr1 and Tr2 receive the infrared light of the IRED, and neither of the light emitting diodes 1 and 2 emits light. Further, when the present embodiment is in a state inclined to the right as shown in FIG.
Since the sphere 3 is interposed between the two, the light emitting diode 1 does not emit light, and the light emitting diode 2 emits light. When the present embodiment is in the inverted state as shown in FIG. 5, the infrared light of the IRED does not reach either of the phototransistors Tr1 and Tr2, so that both the light emitting diodes 1 and 2 emit light.

As described above, the state of the posture of the posture detecting device can be determined from the light emitting state of each light emitting diode.

When the attitude detecting device of the present embodiment is used alone, the detection direction is limited to detection on one plane. However, spatial position detection becomes possible by combining a plurality of posture detecting devices. FIG. 8 shows a state in which two attitude detecting devices A and B are mounted in a camera as an example. The two attitude detection devices A and B are installed with their detection directions shifted from each other by 90 degrees. Thus, as shown in Table 1, the front, rear, left and right postures of the camera can be detected based on the light emitting state of the light emitting diodes A-1, A-2 and B-1, B-2 of the two posture detecting devices A and B. . When actually used for detecting the attitude of the camera, a signal is sent to a microcomputer in the camera to detect the attitude instead of causing the light emitting diode to emit light. Further, based on the information, it is possible to perform more advanced camera control such as a change in a photometry range or a distance measurement point or a change in an exposure program.

[0016]

[Table 1]

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a front view, and FIG. 10 is a top view.
FIG. 9 shows a cross section taken along the line bb 'of FIG.

In the figure, 1 is a case portion, 11 is a case main body, 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4 are inclined surface portions, 13-1, 13-2, 13-3, 13-1. 13-4 is an opening, 2 is a cover, 21 is a cover body, 22 is an opening, 3 is a sphere, 4 is a light emitting element, 5-1, 5-2, 5-
3, 5-4 are light receiving sensors, and 6 is a light receiving sensor support member. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in detail.

The case body 11 is formed with inclined surfaces 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, and 12-4 in four directions from the center. Each of the inclined surfaces has an opening 13-.
1, 13-2, 13-3, 13-4 are formed,
In each of the openings, light receiving sensors 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, and 5-4 are embedded with the light receiving portion facing upward from the openings.

On the other hand, an opening 22 is formed in the cover main body 21 at a substantially central portion thereof, and the light emitting element 4 is embedded in the opening 22 so that the light emitting portion is directed downward from the opening.

Openings 13-1, 13- of case body 11
2, 13-3 and 13-4 show that when the device of the present invention is in the upright state, the light beam of the light emitting element 4 is not blocked by the small-diameter sphere 3, and the sphere 3 is inclined 12-1 by the inclination of the device. , 12-2, 12-3, and 12-4 are formed at positions where light is shielded only when moved.

Next, the operation state of this embodiment will be described together with the electric circuit.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show the respective operating states. FIG. 13 is an electric circuit diagram of the present embodiment, and FIG.
Is a simple model of FIG. Referring to FIG. 1, an IRED is a light emitting element 4, and phototransistors 1, 2, 3, and 4 are light receiving sensors 5-1 and 5-2, respectively.
5-3, 5-4. Now, when the posture detecting device of the present invention is in a state of being tilted to the left as shown in FIG. 11, the electric circuit model becomes as shown in FIG. That is, since the sphere 3 is interposed between the phototransistor Tr1 and the IRED, the infrared light is blocked, the output of the phototransistor Tr1 becomes LOW, and the light emitting diode 1 emits light. On the other hand, the phototransistors Tr2, Tr3, Tr4 and IR
Since the sphere 3 is not interposed between the EDs, the infrared light is not blocked, the outputs of the phototransistors Tr2, Tr3 and Tr4 become HIGH, and the light emitting diodes 2, 3 and 4 do not emit light. If the present embodiment is in an upright state as shown in FIG. 9, the phototransistors Tr1, Tr2, Tr3,
Since both Tr4 receives the infrared light of the IRED, none of the light emitting diodes 1, 2, 3, and 4 emits light. Further, when the present embodiment is in a state inclined to the right as shown in FIG. 12, only the light emitting diode 2 emits light. The same can be said when leaning forward and backward.

As described above, the state of the posture of the posture detecting device can be determined from the light emitting state of each light emitting diode as shown in Table 2.

[0025]

[Table 2]

[0026]

As described above, according to claim 1,
In the invention, a plurality of inclined surfaces are formed in the case.
Forming a valley on one end side of each of the plurality of inclined surfaces;
A light-blocking moving body moves between the valley and the inclined surface.
In a posture detection device that detects a change in posture by
Light receiving elements are embedded in the plurality of inclined surfaces, respectively,
One light-emitting element is buried in a position facing the
In the posture where the moving body is located, the one light emitting element
These lights are respectively guided to the plurality of light receiving elements, and
When the moving body moves to any of the inclined surfaces, the one
It blocks light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element on the inclined surface.
One light emitting element and multiple light receiving elements
A posture detection device that can detect multiple postures
Therefore, it is possible to provide a small and inexpensive attitude detection device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view (upright state) of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view (leftward tilted state) of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the first embodiment of the present invention (rightward tilted state).

FIG. 5 is a front view (in an inverted state) of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram model of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram in which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied to a camera.

FIG. 9 is a front view (upright state) of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front view (leftward tilted state) of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front view (rightward tilted state) of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram model according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Case main body 12 ... Inclined surface 13 ... Opening 21 ... Cover main body 22 ... Opening 3 ... Sphere 4 ... Light emitting element 5 ... Light receiving sensor 6 ... Light receiving sensor support member

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] (1) When a plurality of inclined surfaces are formed in a case,
Forming a valley on one end side of each of the plurality of inclined surfaces;
A light-blocking moving body moves between the valley and the inclined surface.
In a posture detecting device for detecting a change in posture, a light receiving element is embedded in each of the plurality of inclined surfaces, and
One light-emitting element is buried in a position facing the
In the posture where the moving body is located, the one light emitting element
These lights are respectively guided to the plurality of light receiving elements, and
When the moving body moves to any of the inclined surfaces, the one
It blocks light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element on the inclined surface.
A posture detecting device , characterized in that: