JP4238795B2 - Non-contact type detection device and control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a non-contact detection device that detects the movement of a human hand and a control device that controls a control object based on the detection result.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, an apparatus is known that irradiates infrared light to the surroundings and receives the reflected light to determine the presence or absence of an object (see Patent Document 1).
In recent years, not only the presence / absence of an object but also a technique for measuring the distance to the object using a distance measuring sensor using infrared rays has been proposed. In this technique, the distance to the object is measured by a change in the incident angle of the reflected light to the light receiving unit (see Patent Document 2).
JP-A-7-159238 (2nd page, FIG. 1) JP 2001-126597 A (page 3, FIG. 1)

  However, in the above-described prior art, since infrared rays are always radiated to detect the presence or absence of a target object and the distance to the target object, that is, since detection is performed using infrared rays continuously from power ON, In particular, there is a problem that durability deterioration is early in a high-power device.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a non-contact type detection device rich in durability and a control device capable of performing suitable control based on the detection result. Is to provide.

(1) The invention according to claim 1 (non-contact type detection device) includes a light receiving unit that receives light from the surroundings and outputs a signal corresponding to the received light, and is based on the signal from the light receiving unit. In a non-contact type detection device that detects a surrounding state, the detection range of the light receiving unit is configured to be limited to a predetermined range so as to have directivity, and when the detection range of the light receiving unit is moved, Based on the state of the light received by the light receiving unit that changes according to the moving speed of the hand, the motion detection means for detecting the hand motion, the transmission signal from the transmission unit, and the reflection of the transmission signal An active non-contact type detection unit that receives a signal at the reception unit and detects a state of a detection target based on the reflected signal, and when the movement of the hand is detected by the movement detection unit, actuating the active non-contact type detecting unit And features.

  Human hand movement has a certain ergonomic limit (range of movement speed of the hand), but when the hand moves in the detection range of the light receiver, The state changes. That is, if the moving speed of the hand is high, the change in the light received by the light receiving unit is fast, and conversely, if the moving speed of the hand is low, the change in the light is slow.

  Therefore, the hand movement can be detected from the change in the light received by the light receiving unit. For example, when the hand is brought close to the light receiving unit in the daytime, the light reflected by the hand increases, so that the hand movement can be detected based on the light receiving state corresponding to the hand movement.

As described above, an approximate hand motion can be obtained from the light received by the light receiving unit (that is, by a passive motion). In particular, in the present invention, when a hand motion is detected, infrared light or the like is used. The position of the hand and the like are detected more accurately by the active operation of irradiating.
  Thereby, as compared with a device that constantly irradiates infrared rays or the like, it is sufficient to irradiate infrared rays or the like only when necessary, so that it is possible to prolong the life of the irradiation device such as infrared rays.

  Note that it can be determined from the viewpoint of ergonomics, as will be described later, whether the change in the light received by the light receiving unit is due to the movement of the hand. In other words, when a person moves his / her hand, it is usually within a predetermined speed range. Therefore, if there is a light change corresponding to the movement of the hand in this range, it is considered that the person's hand is moving. Judgment can be made.

  (2) The invention of claim 2 is directed to a state of light received by the light receiving unit that changes corresponding to the movement of the hand, and the light receiving unit corresponding to the stop of the hand after the change of the light state The movement of the hand is detected on the basis of the state of light received at.

  In the present invention, the movement of the hand is detected based on a change in light (for example, a change rate of the amount of received light) and a subsequent light state (for example, a state in which the amount of received light does not change). For example, when there is an intention to perform a switch operation or the like by the movement of the hand, it is conceivable that the hand is moved to a predetermined position and temporarily stopped, so this movement is detected by a change in light or the like. Thereby, the operation of the switch operation of the driver or the like can be detected.

(3) The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, when the rate of change of the state of the received light is within a predetermined range, it is determined that the hand has moved.
The movement speed of a human hand is ergonomically limited and cannot move at high speed like a machine. Therefore, if the change speed of the light state (for example, the change speed of the amount of received light) is within a predetermined range determined by experiments or the like (a range corresponding to the moving speed of the hand), it is determined that the hand has moved. Can do.

  (4) The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, when the state of change of the received light is a state that changes at a frequency greater than a predetermined frequency, it is determined that it is due to movement of the vehicle. And

  When the vehicle moves, the light (light quantity) incident on the passenger compartment changes at a high speed due to the influence of structures (buildings and telephone poles) and natural objects (trees) around the vehicle. That is, the brightness changes at a high frequency. Therefore, when the frequency of light and darkness is large, it can be determined that it is not caused by the movement of the human hand but by the movement of the vehicle.

(5) The invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, when the rate of change of the state of the received light is small below a predetermined value, it is determined to be due to the daily change of sunlight.
Even when the vehicle is stopped, when the sun moves, the state of light incident on the passenger compartment changes, but the change is very slow. Therefore, when the change in light is slower than a predetermined value, it is determined that the change is due to the daily change of the sun.

In addition, since the sunlight changes depending on the weather such as clouds, a criterion for determining the light change rate may be set in consideration of the change in the weather (in this case, it is considered that the change is faster than the daily change).
(6) The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that the change in the received light is a temporal change in the amount of received light in the light receiving section.

The present invention exemplifies a method for measuring a change in received light.
(7) The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the motion detecting means detects the movement of the hand based on a signal from the light receiving unit obtained every predetermined sampling period.

  At a predetermined sampling period, the amount of received light or the like can be obtained based on a signal from the light receiving unit, and the change state of the received light amount or the like (for example, the change rate of the received light amount) can be obtained from the change in the received light amount or the like.

( 8 ) The invention of claim 8 is characterized in that the receiving section also serves as the function of the light receiving section.
In the present invention, the receiving unit and the light receiving unit are constituted by, for example, the same light receiving element or the like. This has the advantage that the device configuration can be simplified.

( 9 ) The invention of claim 9 is characterized in that the transmission signal is an infrared ray.
The present invention illustrates the use of infrared rays as a transmission signal.

( 10 ) The invention (control device) according to claim 10 is characterized in that the control object is controlled based on the detection result of the non-contact type detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 .
In the present invention, since the control target is controlled based on the detection result of the non-contact type detection device described above, various types of control can be easily and reliably performed.

  In addition, as a control object, the apparatus arrange | positioned in a vehicle interior is employable. Examples of the devices arranged in the passenger compartment include an indoor lamp (dome lamp), an air conditioner, and a radio.

  Next, an example (example) of the best mode of the present invention will be described.

a) First, the system configuration of a vehicle equipped with the non-contact detection device of this embodiment will be described. The non-contact type detection device has a built-in control device.
As shown in FIG. 1, the non-contact type detection device 1 of this embodiment detects the movement of the hand of a vehicle occupant (for example, a driver) and controls the lighting state of the dome lamp 3, for example. On the ceiling of the passenger compartment, for example, a light receiving unit (receiving unit) that receives light such as light from outside the vehicle (external light or disturbance light: hereinafter referred to as external light) or reflected light of infrared light (infrared light) 5 and a transmitter 7 for irradiating infrared rays are disposed.

In the present embodiment, the light receiving unit that receives external light and the receiving unit that receives the reflected infrared light are common, and will be referred to as the receiving unit 5 below.
The receiving unit 5 is a light receiving element (photosensor) that generates a signal in accordance with the amount of received light (brightness) when receiving external light or infrared reflected light, and the detection region K is operated from the light receiving unit 5. It extends in one direction to show directivity toward the person.

  That is, the detection region K is substantially columnar, and is set to have a cross-sectional area (cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of directivity) about the area of the palm along the direction of directivity using a lens. ing. The detection region K can be set in a range of, for example, a length of about 30 cm and a diameter of about 10 cm.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the receiving unit 5 is connected in series with the resistor 11. When the receiving unit 5 receives external light or the like, the receiving unit 5 outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of received light. This signal is input to the CPU 15 via the input circuit 13.

  The transmission unit 7 is a light emitting element (infrared light emitting diode) that generates infrared rays. In the non-contact detection device 1 of the present embodiment, the reflected light irradiated to the surroundings from the transmission unit 7 is transmitted to the reception unit 5. The position of the hand that is the detection target can be actively detected.

  The transmitter 7 is connected in series with a resistor 16 and a switching element 17, and the switching element 17 is controlled in its operation by the CPU 15 to adjust the current flowing through the transmitter 7.

  That is, the transmission unit 7 has an infrared output (and hence luminance) that changes in accordance with the magnitude of the flowing current, and the infrared luminance can be adjusted by controlling the current flowing through the transmission unit 7. it can. If other conditions are the same, the amount of light received by the receiving unit 5 increases as the infrared output increases.

The CPU 15 is an electronic control device that performs a well-known digital calculation. Based on the calculation result of the CPU 15, for example, the lighting of the dome lamp 1 can be controlled.
b) Next, a method for detecting hand movements according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the amount of light (the amount of received light) input to the receiver 5 varies depending on the movement of the person, the movement of the vehicle, and the surrounding conditions, but the change in the amount of received light and the movement of the person and the movement of the vehicle There is a certain relationship with the surrounding situation.

  In other words, outside light usually enters the passenger compartment from outside the vehicle. For example, when the vehicle moves at high speed, the outside light changes at a considerably high speed due to the influence of structures and natural objects around the vehicle. . Specifically, although depending on the vehicle speed, the frequency indicating the change in the amount of received light is usually higher than a certain level. Therefore, when the frequency indicating the change in the amount of received light is higher than the predetermined value, it can be determined that the change is accompanied by the traveling of the vehicle.

  Further, when a human hand moves near the receiving unit 5 (that is, the detection region K), the amount of light input to the receiving unit 5 is changed by external light hitting the hand. The speed of this change corresponds to the moving speed of the hand of the human body, and the moving speed of the hand has a certain limit (range) because it is a living body. Therefore, when the speed of change in the amount of received light corresponds to the movement speed of the hand, it can be determined that the change is accompanied by the movement of the hand.

  Furthermore, even when the vehicle is stopped, the amount of light received by the receiving unit 5 changes due to changes in sunlight (particularly, changes in the sun) due to movement of the sun, but the change in the amount of received light is quite slow. Therefore, when the change rate of the amount of received light is smaller than a value determined by experiments or the like, it can be determined that the change is due to a change in sunlight.

That is, in the present embodiment, the hand movement can be detected from the change in the amount of received light in the receiving unit 5 by the method described above.
In addition, in this embodiment, the signal output from the receiving unit 5 is taken into the CPU 15 at every predetermined sampling period (for example, 100 ms) to detect a change in the light amount. For example, when the amount of light increases by ΔL in a certain period Δt, the degree of increase can be obtained as the rate of change in received light amount (ΔL / Δt).

In particular, in the present embodiment, for example, a state in which the hand approaches the dome lamp 3 and temporarily stops is determined as an operation for the driver to turn on the dome lamp 1.
Since this determination is based on a passive sensor signal, when the movement of the hand and the subsequent movement of the hand are detected by this passive process, infrared rays are emitted from the transmitter 7. Thus, control for detecting the position of the hand more accurately is performed.

c) Next, the control procedure of the present embodiment will be specifically described.
In the present embodiment, when the ignition key is turned on, the non-contact type detection device 1 operates, and the receiving unit 5 can receive external light or the like.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, first, in step 100, the light reception level (light reception amount) in the reception unit 5 is confirmed. Thereby, it can be checked whether the receiving part 5 grade | etc., Is operating normally.

  In the subsequent step 110, a change in the amount of light (the amount of received light) received by the receiving unit 5 is confirmed. Specifically, it is examined whether the change in the amount of received light is a change due to the movement of the hand, a change accompanying the traveling of the vehicle, or a change due to the daily change of the sun.

Here, when the change rate of the light amount is low, and thus it is determined that the change is due to the daily change of the sun, the process returns to step 100.
Further, if the light amount changes in a very short cycle, and therefore it is determined that the amount of light changes due to traveling of the vehicle, the process returns to step 100 in the same manner.

If the change in the amount of light is within the range of change that is considered to be caused by the movement of the normal hand, it is determined that the change is due to the movement of the hand, and the process proceeds to step 120.
When the hand is moved in the detection region K during traveling, the change due to the movement of the vehicle is superimposed on the change due to the movement of the hand, but the change in light due to the movement of the vehicle is a change due to a high frequency. When detecting the movement of the hand, the determination is made by removing the high frequency component.

  In step 120, it is determined whether or not the hand motion has stopped for a predetermined time after the hand movement detected in step 110. For example, it is determined whether or not the state in which the amount of received light has not changed for a predetermined period or more has continued. If an affirmative determination is made here, the process proceeds to step 130, whereas if a negative determination is made, the process returns to step 100.

  In step 130, since it is determined that the hand has moved in the detection range K of the receiving unit 5 and has once stopped, that is, it is determined that the driver is willing to operate the switch, the position of the hand is more accurately determined. In order to detect, infrared rays are emitted from the transmitter 7 to the surroundings.

  As this infrared irradiation pattern, for example, a pattern as shown in FIG. In this pattern, three types of infrared rays having different output levels are set as one set, and each set of infrared rays is periodically irradiated.

In the following step 140, the infrared reflected wave emitted from the transmission unit 7 in step 130 is received by the reception unit 5, and the reception pattern is confirmed.
Examples of the reception pattern include those shown in FIGS. 5B, 5C, and 5D. If the reception patterns shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D are obtained, it can be determined that there is a hand at a position corresponding to the reception pattern.

  Then, for example, lighting of the dome light 1 can be controlled according to the reception pattern. For example, when the reception pattern shown in FIG. 5C is obtained, it is determined that the hand has approached a predetermined position close to the ceiling of the passenger compartment. Therefore, the dome light 1 is turned on.

  In the subsequent step 150, it is determined whether or not to stop the irradiation (transmission) of infrared rays. That is, if it is determined that the driver's predetermined operation (switch operation operation) can be detected from the reflected light from the infrared irradiation, the process proceeds to step 160, and if the determination is negative, the process returns to step 130.

In step 160, since the driver's action has been detected, the infrared transmission is stopped, and the process returns to step 100.
As described above, in this embodiment, the movement of the hand and the subsequent stop state are detected from the change in the amount of light received by the receiving unit 5, and when the movement of the hand is detected, the infrared ray is irradiated. The hand position is accurately detected.

  Therefore, compared with the conventional device that constantly irradiates infrared light and detects the position of the hand, the operation time of the device that irradiates infrared light is less, and thus the remarkable effect that the life of the device is long and the durability is high. Play.

In addition, when detecting a hand movement, the movement of the hand is detected in consideration of the moving speed of the hand from an ergonomic standpoint, so that there is an advantage that false detection can be reduced.
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example at all, and it cannot be overemphasized that it can implement with a various aspect in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the light receiving unit that receives disturbance light and the reception unit that receives infrared light are configured by the same light receiving element, but a light receiving element may be used separately.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the use condition of the non-contact-type detection apparatus of an Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the system configuration | structure of the non-contact-type detection apparatus of an Example. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the detection principle in the non-contact-type detection apparatus of an Example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the arithmetic processing of an Example. It is explanatory drawing explaining the relationship between the operation | movement of a hand and a signal in an Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Non-contact detection apparatus 3 ... Dome lamp 5 ... Light-receiving part (receiving part)
7 ... Transmitter 13 ... Input circuit 15 ... CPU

Claims (10)

In a non-contact type detection device that includes a light receiving unit that receives light from the surroundings and outputs a signal corresponding to the received light, and detects a surrounding state based on a signal from the light receiving unit,
The detection range of the light receiving unit is configured to be limited to a predetermined range so as to have directivity,
An action detecting means for detecting the action of the hand based on a state of light received by the light receiving part that changes according to a moving speed of the hand when a hand moves in a detection range of the light receiving part ;
An active non-contact detection unit that outputs a transmission signal from the transmission unit, receives a reflection signal of the transmission signal at a reception unit, and detects a state of a detection target based on the reflection signal;
With
The non-contact type detection device , wherein when the movement of the hand is detected by the movement detection means, the active non-contact type detection unit is operated .   Based on the state of light received by the light receiving unit that changes corresponding to the movement of the hand and the state of light received by the light receiving unit corresponding to the stop of the hand after the change of the light state The contactless detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the hand is detected.   3. The non-contact detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the speed of change of the state of the received light is within a predetermined range, it is determined that the hand has moved. 4.   4. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the state of change in the received light is a state that changes at a frequency greater than a predetermined frequency, it is determined that the light is due to movement of the vehicle. A non-contact type detection device according to claim 1.   5. The non-light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein when the rate of change in the state of the received light is small below a predetermined value, it is determined to be due to a daily change of sunlight. Contact-type detection device.   The non-contact detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change in the state of the received light is a temporal change in the amount of light received by the light receiving unit.   The non-contact according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the motion detection means detects the movement of the hand based on a signal from the light receiving unit obtained every predetermined sampling period. Type detection device. Non-contact type detecting device according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the receiving unit is configured to also function of the photodetection unit. The non-contact type detection device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission signal is an infrared ray. A control device that controls a control target based on a detection result of the non-contact detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 .

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