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JP-2026075441-A - Location information acquisition device and input/display system

JP2026075441AJP 2026075441 AJP2026075441 AJP 2026075441AJP-2026075441-A

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a location information acquisition device that can detect user operations without physical contact. [Solution] The position information acquisition device includes a substrate 2, first to third sensing elements each including a light-emitting element 6 arranged in a triangle on the substrate 2 that emits a transmission signal and a light-receiving element 7 that detects a received signal reflected by an object, and a control unit 10 that controls the first to third sensing elements and calculates the distance to the object based on the transmission signal and the received signal. The control unit 10 calculates a first distance between the first sensing element and the object, a second distance between the second sensing element and the object, and a third distance between the third sensing element and the object, calculates a first hemisphere with the first sensing element as the center and the first distance as the radius, a second hemisphere with the second sensing element as the center and the second distance as the radius, and a third hemisphere with the third sensing element as the center and the third distance as the radius, calculates the intersection point of the first to third hemispheres, and determines the intersection point to be the position of the object. [Selection Diagram] Figure 1

Inventors

  • 代工 康宏

Assignees

  • ＴＯＰＰＡＮホールディングス株式会社

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20241022

Claims (10)

  1. circuit board and The first to third sensing elements are arranged in a triangular shape on the substrate and each includes a light-emitting element that emits a transmission signal and a light-receiving element that detects a received signal reflected by an object. A control unit that controls the first to third sensing elements and calculates the distance to the object based on the transmitted signal and the received signal, It is equipped with, The control unit, The first distance between the first sensing element and the object, the second distance between the second sensing element and the object, and the third distance between the third sensing element and the object are calculated. The first hemisphere is centered on the first sensing element and has a radius of the first distance, the second hemisphere is centered on the second sensing element and has a radius of the second distance, and the third hemisphere is centered on the third sensing element and has a radius of the third distance. A position information acquisition device that calculates the intersection points of the first to third hemispheres and determines that the intersection points are the positions of the object.
  2. The position information acquisition device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting element is configured to emit light radially outwards.
  3. circuit board and The first to fourth sensing elements are arranged in a rectangular shape on the substrate and each includes a light-emitting element that emits a transmission signal and a light-receiving element that detects a received signal reflected by an object. A control unit that controls the first to fourth sensing elements and calculates the distance to the object based on the transmitted signal and the received signal, It is equipped with, Each of the first to third sensing elements emits light such that its vertical and horizontal radiation angles are limited. The fourth sensing element emits light radially into the surroundings, The control unit, Using the received signals from three of the first to fourth sensing elements, the first to third distances between each of the three sensing elements and the object are calculated. The first to third hemispheres are calculated, each with the three sensing elements as the center and the first to third distances as the radii. A position information acquisition device that calculates the intersection points of the first to third hemispheres and determines that the intersection points are the positions of the object.
  4. The aforementioned vertical radiation angle is set to an angle range of 0 degrees to 90 degrees, with the horizontal plane being 0 degrees. The position information acquisition device according to claim 3, wherein the horizontal radiation angle is set to an angle range of 90 degrees or more and 180 degrees or less, with respect to the direction from the light-emitting element toward the center of the substrate.
  5. The light-emitting element included in each of the first to third sensing elements is A light-emitting part that emits light, The position information acquisition device according to claim 3, further comprising a light-shielding member configured to partially surround the light-emitting portion and to block a portion of the light emitted by the light-emitting portion.
  6. The position information acquisition device according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the light-emitting element is configured to emit infrared light.
  7. The control unit, The first intersection circle where the first hemisphere and the second hemisphere intersect, the second intersection circle where the second hemisphere and the third hemisphere intersect, and the third intersection circle where the third hemisphere and the first hemisphere intersect are calculated. A position information acquisition device according to claim 1 or 3, which calculates the intersection point of the first to third intersecting circles and determines that the intersection point is the position of the object.
  8. A display device for displaying images, A location information acquisition device according to claim 1 or 3, which is arranged on the display device, An input and display system equipped with the following features.
  9. The aforementioned location information acquisition device detects user operations without physical contact, The input display system according to claim 8, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the display device based on the user's operation.
  10. The input display system according to claim 8, wherein the display device is configured to display an aerial image in the space above the position information acquisition device.

Description

This invention relates to a location information acquisition device and an input/display system. Two-dimensional time-of-flight (TOF) sensors are known that allow users to input information without direct contact. Because two-dimensional TOF sensors are optical, unlike capacitive sensors, they have the advantage of being unaffected by the user wearing gloves, allowing them to detect input operations. However, 2D TOF sensors are designed to acquire positional information in 2D space and cannot acquire positional information in 3D space. Therefore, 2D TOF sensors are difficult to apply to devices that handle diverse inputs, including depth information from spatial gestures, etc. Patent No. 7184220 Neonode Inc., "Contactless Touch," [online], [Accessed February 27, 2024], Internet <https://neonode.com/solutions/touchless-interaction/contactless-touch> Figure 1 is a perspective view of a location information acquisition device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.Figure 2 illustrates the detection operation of the first sensing element.Figure 3 illustrates an example of the transmitted and received signals of the first sensing element.Figure 4 is a block diagram of the location information acquisition device.Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the location information acquisition device.Figure 6 is a timing diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the first to third sensing elements.Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the detection region of the first sensing element.Figure 8 illustrates the detection regions of the first to third sensing elements.Figure 9 shows the three detection regions extracted.Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating the principle of the position determination operation of the position determination unit.Figure 11 is a plan view illustrating the principle of the position determination operation of the position determination unit.Figure 12 is a perspective view illustrating the principle of the position determination operation of the position determination unit.Figure 13 is a perspective view of an input display system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.Figure 14 is a block diagram of the input and display system.Figure 15 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the input and display system.Figure 16 is a perspective view of the input display system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.Figure 17 is a perspective view of a location information acquisition device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.Figure 18 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the configuration of a light-emitting element.Figure 19 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the third sensing element.Figure 20 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the first to fourth sensing elements.Figure 21 is a timing diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the first to fourth sensing elements.Figure 22 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the location information acquisition device. The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the drawings are schematic or conceptual, and the dimensions and proportions shown in each drawing are not necessarily identical to those of actual objects. Furthermore, even when the same part is represented between different drawings, the relationships between dimensions and proportions may differ. In particular, the embodiments shown below are illustrative examples of devices and methods for realizing the technical concept of the present invention, and the technical concept of the present invention is not defined by the shape, structure, arrangement, etc., of the components. In the following description, elements having the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted. [1] First Embodiment [1-1] Configuration of the Location Information Acquisition Device 1 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the location information acquisition device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1, the X direction is the direction along one side of the location information acquisition device 1, the Y direction is the direction perpendicular to the X direction in the horizontal plane, and the Z direction is the direction perpendicular to the XY plane (also called the normal direction). The location information acquisition device 1 comprises a substrate 2 and first to third sensing elements 3 to 5. The substrate 2 is made of, for example, a transparent insulating material. The substrate 2 is made of, for example, glass or a transparent resin (including acrylic resin). The substrate 2 has, for example, a rectangular shape. The first to third sensing elements 3 to 5 are provided on the substrate 2. The first to third sensing elements 3 to 5 are arranged apart from each other, forming a triangular shape. For example