JP3494838B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device used for a computer or the like. [0002] In recent years, in order to strengthen information security,
It is expected that personal authentication devices will be installed in information terminals. We arrange a plurality of linear electrodes long in the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the finger in the length direction of the finger, and sequentially change the resistance value between adjacent electrodes when the finger is pressed in the length direction of the finger. A method using a signal that has been read and synthesized has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-18983).
0). According to this method, since no optical system is required, the apparatus can be reduced in size and cost, and can be mounted on a small information terminal such as a notebook computer. In the proposed collation apparatus, the shape of the input section formed by the electrode array is set to a length completely including the second joint from the tip of the finger, and this length is usually 40 to 70 mm. In addition, the width is usually about 20 to 30 mm to make it about the width of the index finger
And By forming this electrode array on a flexible printed circuit board and mounting the peripheral circuits integrally on the printed circuit board using a method such as surface mounting,
The personal authentication device module can be reduced in size. For example, the shape of the aforementioned electrode array is 20 to 30 × 40
Can be downsized to about 70mm. In addition, I
If a transparent electrode material such as TO is used, the mounting position is less restricted. On the other hand, a pointing device, which is an input device, is generally mounted on an information terminal, and the pointing device is manually operated during operation of the information terminal. Considering that the above-mentioned personal authentication device is mounted on an information terminal, if personal authentication is required during operation, the user once releases his / her hand from the pointing device and moves his / her finger to the electrode array to perform the collation operation. And there is a problem that the operation is difficult. Further, there is a tendency for information terminals to be miniaturized, and it is expected that the area where both the pointing device and the personal authentication device can be installed is reduced, and further miniaturization of both devices is required. [0005] As described above, when the information terminal is provided with a verification device that extracts the characteristics of the finger and performs personal authentication, personal authentication is required during operation. Then, the user once releases his / her hand from the pointing device,
A collation operation has to be performed by moving a finger to the electrode array, and there is a problem that the operation is difficult. Further, there is a tendency that information terminals tend to be downsized, and it is expected that the area in which both the pointing device and the personal authentication device can be installed will be reduced, and it is necessary to further downsize both devices. According to the present invention, the characteristics of a finger or the like are determined from the distribution of electrical characteristics (resistance value, etc.) between the electrodes of the electrode array due to the contact of the finger or the like of the person to be authenticated along the arrangement direction using the electrode array. To improve operability by integrating the personal authentication device that extracts and collates with the registered feature data to confirm the identity and the pointing device of the information terminal, and mounts the device by reducing the size of the device itself. An object is to increase mobility of an information terminal. [0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an electrode array in which electrodes are arranged in a matrix.
And a plurality of electrodes arranged in a row direction of the electrode array.
First connecting means for electrically connecting each other;
The electrodes arranged in the row direction of the ray are electrically connected to each other.
A second connecting means for connecting, in a column direction of the electrode array,
Is not caused by the skin part of the subject
The plurality of electrodes connected by the first connection means
The first electrical resistance between the other electrodes connected in the same manner as
A characteristic of the skin portion from the first electrical characteristic value based on the resistance value
Feature extraction means for extracting data, and
Storage means for storing characteristic data of the skin portion of the subject
And the feature data extracted by the feature extraction means and the feature
A feature for comparing with feature data stored in the
Sign collation means, and a skin portion in contact with the electrode array
The plurality of positions connected by the first connection means;
The first between a plurality of other electrodes connected in the same manner as the electrodes;
A change in the first electrical characteristic value based on the electrical resistance value of
Same as the plurality of electrodes connected by the second connection means.
Electric resistance between the other electrodes connected in the same manner
Detection based on a change in the second electrical characteristic value based on the
And a skin moving while contacting on the electrode array
The direction and amount of movement of the skin portion to the first connection means;
Other pluralities connected in the same way as the plural electrodes more connected
The first electric resistance value based on the first electric resistance value between the first and second electrodes.
And the connection by the second connection means.
And a plurality of other electrodes connected in the same manner as the plurality of electrodes
Of the second electrical characteristic value based on the second electrical resistance value during
Movement detection means for detecting from
Is provided. According to the present invention described above, a pointing device as an input device and a personal authentication device can be integrally configured in an information terminal, and Operability can be improved and mobility can be improved. In addition, by using the finger collation system as a pointing device, the user can perform finger collation without noticing the finger collation device. Can be. Embodiments of an input device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the input device according to the present invention.
It is the schematic which shows the structure of 1st Embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an electrode array arranged in a matrix. Each electrode is connected to a feature extraction circuit, a Y coordinate detection circuit 2, and an X coordinate detection circuit 3 via analog switches. The size of each electrode is about 0.1mm x 1mm. The interval between the electrodes in the Y direction is about 0.1 mm, and the length of the portion occupied by the electrodes, that is, the length in the Y direction of the electrode array 1 is usually the length completely including the second joint from the tip of the finger 4. . The electrode spacing in the X direction is about 0.1 to 1 mm, and the length is a length completely including the width of the finger 4, that is, a length that facilitates the pointing operation, that is, about 20 mm to 50 mm. First, a method for detecting a characteristic of a finger using the input device according to the present embodiment will be described. First, when personal authentication is required, the analog switch is controlled to connect the same row (the same Y coordinate) of the electrode array 1. Here, the analog switch may be arranged directly above or immediately below each electrode of the electrode array, and the wiring between each of the electrodes may be electrically connected. Alternatively, the wiring from each electrode of the electrode array may be connected. The electrodes may be drawn out to the area outside the electrode array, and an analog switch may be provided in such an area to make electrical connection between the electrodes. By electrically connecting the electrodes in one row, the input device shown in FIG. 1 is equivalent to the circuit shown in FIG. The electrodes in the same row that are electrically connected in FIG. 1 correspond to the electrodes 91 in FIG. A finger to be signal-detected is pressed against the region indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 9 along the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the electrodes in the same row (the electrode longitudinal direction in FIG. 9). At this time, the resistance value of the finger surface between the adjacent electrodes is sequentially read by switching the analog switches 92a and 92b in the length direction of the finger. When a finger is brought into contact with n electrodes, the resistance value between the electrodes changes according to the contact area of the finger contacting between adjacent contact electrodes. The i-th inter-electrode resistance value at this time is R (i). As shown, a constant voltage power supply V ₀ 93 and a reference resistor R _ref 94 are connected between two adjacent electrodes via analog switches 92a and 92b, respectively. At this time, the potential difference V (i) between both ends of the reference resistor R _ref 94 is given by the following equation. V (i) = R _ref · V ₀ / (R _ref + R (i)) The analog switches 92a and 92b are switched to sequentially read the potential difference V (i) in the length direction of the finger and sample-hold ( A / D converter 96 through S / H circuit 95
To a digital signal. The timing pulse generator 97 generates a signal for controlling the switching of the analog switches 92 a and 92 b and the sample timing of the sample and hold circuit 95. The signal is, for example, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the analog switches 92a and 92b are switched at the falling of the signal, and the potential difference V (i) in the above equation is sampled by the sample and hold circuit 95 at the rising.
Hold. The signal V (i) obtained in this way is, for example, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, V (i) is applied to the portion 111 where the contact area between the finger and the electrode is large.
Has a large value, and the lateral wrinkles in the first joint portion 111a and the second joint portion 111b have a small contact area, so that V
(I) has a small value. For this reason, V
(I) has a steep dip. By comparing this V (i), the person and the other person can be identified. Next, a method of a pointing operation in the input device according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing this pointing operation. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, a fingertip is brought into contact with the electrode array, and a position when the finger is moved in a state of contact with the finger and a movement vector calculated from a change in the position are output to the computer. For detection of the Y coordinate, the analog switch is controlled to connect electrodes on the same row (the same Y coordinate), and V (i) is measured by the circuit of FIG. For example, the Y coordinate is a method in which a point at an intermediate position of a region where V (i) is output (a region where the output value is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value) is set as a representative point, or V (i) is the maximum. It is determined by a method using a point at a value position as a representative point. Similarly, for the X coordinate, the analog switch is controlled to connect the electrodes in the same row (the same X coordinate), and V (i) is measured by the circuit in FIG. 9 to obtain the position. It is also possible to use an electric resistance value in addition to the above-mentioned voltage value as the electric characteristic to be directly measured. FIG. 3 shows an apparatus using such an electric resistance value. The device shown in FIG. 3 has the same configuration and function as the device shown in FIG. 9, 31a and 31b are each electrode of an electrode array, 32a and 32b are analog switches, 33 is a constant voltage power supply V ₀ , 34 denotes a reference resistor _Rref , 36 denotes a sample hold (S / H) circuit, and 37 denotes an A / D converter. A characteristic part of this device is 35 resistance determining means. The potential difference V (i) at both ends of the reference resistor R _ref 34 is measured, and is obtained from the measured potential difference V (i) using the resistance determining means 35 by the following equation. V (i) = R _ref · V ₀ / (R _ref + R (i)) With such a device, the resistance change R (x, y) between the electrodes is obtained.
Can be calculated to calculate the movement vector calculated from the position where the finger is in contact and the change in the position. (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment according to the input device of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the electrode array portion, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the electrode array portion. In the present embodiment, a pointing device used for a personal computer or the like, which uses a finger as an input unit and has an individual authentication function using the finger, will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, a finger is placed on an upper electrode array 47 (corresponding to 61 in FIG. 5) and a lower electrode array 48 (corresponding to 62 in FIG. 5) arranged on the surface of the pointing device. As described in the first embodiment, the electric signal distribution detecting device 41 is generated by contact with the skin (finger 65) placed on the electrode array 47 based on the electric signal from the upper electrode array 47 as described in the first embodiment. A one-dimensional (longitudinal) electric signal distribution corresponding to the resistance change is detected. On the other hand, the electric signal distribution detecting device 42
A one-dimensional (horizontal) electric signal distribution corresponding to a resistance change caused by the contact between the resistor sheet 63 and the electrode array 62 is detected. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 64 denotes an upper electrode array 47 (corresponding to 61 in FIG. 5) and a lower electrode array 48.
(Corresponding to 62 in FIG. 5), which is an insulating film for electrically insulating the resistor sheet 63 from the resistor sheet 63. Based on the electric signal distribution thus obtained, the position information detecting device 43 represents the center of the electric signal distribution in the vertical (y) direction and the horizontal direction (x), for example, as shown in FIG. A point is detected, and the position of the finger is detected as xy coordinates. Therefore, by moving the finger on the surface of the present apparatus, the position of the finger that contacts the present apparatus can be detected in real time. By differentiating the obtained position information with respect to time, the motion detection device 44 obtains the direction and amount of movement of the finger. The moving direction and the moving amount of the finger are output to the personal computer 40 and can be used, for example, for moving a pointer (cursor) on the personal computer. On the other hand, the individual authentication device 45 compares information (electric signal distribution) stored in advance in the individual authentication information memory 46 with information (electric signal distribution) obtained from the electric signal distribution detecting device 41. Thereby, it can be checked whether the individual registered in the individual authentication information memory 46 matches the individual who is touching the apparatus. When information for individual authentication is recorded in the individual authentication information memory 46, the finger information obtained from the electric signal distribution detecting device 41 and information related to the finger information (supplied from the personal computer 40 side) are used. It is possible to record according to an instruction from the personal computer 40 side. By configuring and operating the device as described above, it can be used as a pointing device in a personal computer and also as a personal authentication device. By forming the electrodes on both main surfaces of the resistor sheet 63 in a two-dimensional matrix, information necessary for pointing is output only from a change in the resistance value of the resistor sheet 63, and the characteristics of the finger are the electrodes. The detection may be performed only by the array 61. (Third Embodiment) In the above embodiment, the explanation has been given by limiting to a pointing device for a computer. However, the input device of the present invention can be applied to an input device such as a television. In the present embodiment, such an apparatus will be described. When applied to a television, it is conceivable to use the device of the first or second embodiment according to the input device of the present invention mounted on, for example, a remote controller of a television. In this case, the personal authentication function based on the characteristic of the finger is called out by (1) presetting a favorite channel for each user and storing it in a memory, and collating the characteristic of the finger at the time of use. Check the usage status of the chargeable program by checking the characteristics of the finger.
Sound quality, image quality, etc. can be set and stored for each user, and can be used for calling out by collating finger characteristics at the time of use. The function of the pointing device is used for controlling image quality, volume and sound quality. Pointing devices need only one-dimensional information to simply control these quantities,
In this case, the portion of the pointing device can be omitted by also using the portion of the personal authentication function device and the portion of the pointing device. As described above, it is possible to exert the personal authentication function using only the one-dimensional electrode array and detect control information such as volume, sound quality, and image quality. The control information in this case is extracted, for example, as follows. 7 and 8 are schematic diagrams showing a method for extracting control information. First, in the method shown in FIG. 7, the fingertip is brought into contact with the electrode array 71, and the position at this time is controlled by an analog switch, and V (i) is measured by the circuit shown in FIG. ) Is output (the output value may be equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value).
Using the point at the intermediate position of
It is determined by a method using the point at the position where (i) has the maximum value as a representative point. Reference numerals 72a and 72b denote contact portions of the fingertip with the electrode array 71, and reference numerals 73a and 73b denote output signals to the contact portions 72a and 72b, respectively. Thereafter, the finger moves along the arrangement direction of the electrode array while keeping the finger in contact therewith. By calculating this movement vector and inputting it to the television control unit, image quality, volume, sound quality, and the like can be controlled. Next, the method shown in FIG. 8 will be described.
This method uses the total value of the contact area of the finger in contact with the electrode array 81 as a control signal for image quality, volume, sound quality, and the like. Reference numerals 82, 84a and 84b and 86a, 86b and 86b denote an electrode array 81 at the fingertip.
83, 85a and 85b, and 87a, 87b and 87b are contact portions 8 respectively.
2, 84a and 84b and 86a, 86b and 8
6 shows the output signal for 6b. In this case, V (i) is measured using the circuit shown in FIG. 9, and the sum ΣV (i) may be calculated and input to the television control unit. The image quality, volume, sound quality, etc. can be controlled by the magnitude of the sum ΣV (i). In this way, for example, the volume can be used by touching with one finger, small with two fingers, medium with three fingers, and so on. In addition, sound quality is low when touched with one finger, medium for two, high for three, dark for touch with one finger, medium for three, and light for two. Note that, using the structure of FIG. 6 in the second embodiment, the upper electrode array extracts and compares only the characteristics of the finger, and the control information such as image quality, volume, and sound quality is based on the resistance of the lower electrode array. It may be extracted from the pressure change of the body sheet. In the above embodiment, the finger collation has been described. However, the collation may be performed by contacting the skin of the palm or other body part. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications. As described in detail above, according to the present invention, feature data of a body part such as a finger is extracted from the distribution of electrical characteristics (resistance value, etc.) between the electrodes of the electrode array, and the registered features are extracted. Since the personal authentication device that verifies the identity by collating with the data and the pointing device of the information terminal can be integrally configured, the operability is improved, and the information to be mounted by reducing the size of the device itself is improved. The mobility of the terminal can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exemplary plan view for explaining an input operation according to the first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating an input signal according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an input device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an input signal in a one-dimensional input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating input signals in another one-dimensional input device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a circuit configuration of a finger characteristic data extracting unit in the first to third embodiments according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating sampling timing of a finger characteristic data signal in the device of FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a characteristic diagram showing an example of a finger characteristic data signal measured by the device of FIG. 9; [Description of Signs] 1 ... electrode array 2 ... feature extraction circuit or Y coordinate detection circuit 3 ... X coordinate detection circuit 41 ... electric signal distribution detection device 42 ... electric signal distribution detection device 43 ... position information detection device 44 ... motion detection device 45 individual identification device 46 memories 47 and 61 upper electrode arrays 48 and 62 lower electrode arrays 63 resistor sheets 92a and 92b analog switches 93 power supplies 94 reference resistors 95 sample and hold circuits 96 A / D Converter 97: Timing pulse generator

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Michihiro Fukushima 8 Shinsugita-cho, Isogo-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Toshiba Corporation Inside Yokohama Office (72) Inventor Shigeru Tashiro 8 Shin-Sugita-cho, Isogo-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Toshiba Corporation Inside the Yokohama Office (72) Inventor Motohiko Takeuchi 8 Shinsugita-cho, Isogo-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Toshiba Corporation Inside the Yokohama Office (56) References JP-A-4-158434 (JP, A) JP-A-63-310087 (JP, A) JP-A-1-94418 (JP, A) JP-A-7-168930 (JP, A) JP-A-3-6791 (JP, A) JP-A-55-159439 (JP, U) 58-164033 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/03-3/037 G06F 1/00 G06T 1/00, 7/00

Claims (1)

(57) Claims 1. An electrode array in which electrodes are arranged in a matrix and a first connection for electrically connecting a plurality of electrodes arranged in a row direction of the electrode array to each other. Means, a second connection means for electrically connecting a plurality of electrodes arranged in a column direction of the electrode array with each other, Characteristic data of the skin portion from a first electrical characteristic value generated based on a first electrical resistance value between the plurality of electrodes connected by the first connection means and other plurality of similarly connected electrodes. , A feature storage unit that stores in advance the feature data of the skin portion to be compared, the feature data extracted by the feature extraction unit, and the feature data stored in the feature storage unit. To match The first electrical connection between the sign collation means and the plurality of electrodes connected in the same manner as the plurality of electrodes connected by the first connection means to the position of the skin portion in contact with the electrode array; Based on a change in the first electrical characteristic value based on a resistance value and a second electrical resistance value between the plurality of electrodes connected by the second connection unit and other plurality of electrodes connected in a similar manner. Position detecting means for detecting from a change in a second electrical characteristic value; and the plurality of electrodes connected by the first connecting means to a moving direction and a moving amount of a skin portion moving while being in contact with the electrode array. A change in the first electric characteristic value based on the first electric resistance value between the other plurality of electrodes connected in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and a change in the plurality of electrodes connected by the second connection means. Second between other connected electrodes
And a movement detecting means for detecting from a change in the second electric characteristic value based on the electric resistance value of the input device.