Object detection device

Abstract

To provide an object detection device capable of detecting hands appropriately in response to their movement, and effectively preventing erroneous detection of the hands when they are located in positions in which the detection is not required.SOLUTION: An object detection device includes: a first emission section 1A1, a second emission section 1A2, and a light reception part 1B that each have areas for detecting hands spatially and each detect hands if hands are present within the areas when distance to the hands becomes equal to or less than a threshold distance within the corresponding areas; and a sensor driver 10 for setting a threshold distance for an area C to a threshold distance corresponding to prescribed wipe operation of hands when detecting that the hands are present within an area A and an area B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical fields of an object detection device, an object detection method, an object detection program, and an information recording medium. More specifically, the present application belongs to the technical fields of an object detection device and an object detection method that are provided with a plurality of detection means and detect an object, as well as a program for the object detection device and an information recording medium on which the program is recorded. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, when operating an in-vehicle device mounted in a vehicle, in consideration of the small space inside the vehicle and driving safety, the movement of a person's hand is detected by a so-called proximity sensor such as an infrared sensor, and the in-vehicle device is controlled according to the detected content. Examples of the in-vehicle device in this case include a navigation device and an audio device.

[0003] More specifically, in the past, for example, multiple proximity sensors were lined up in a row, and each proximity sensor would detect when a person's hand was held over the lined up proximity sensors and the hand moved in the direction of the lined up sensors, causing a specific action that was previously associated with the movement to be performed.

[0004] As another example showing the configuration of a conventional proximity sensor, there is a proximity sensor disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.

[0005] Generally, when a person holds his / her hand over something and moves it, for example, to the left or right, the hand movement is likely to be an arc shape centered on the person's body. For example, when a proximity sensor detects hand movement and tries to operate the in-vehicle device, if a person who is in a diagonal position with respect to the proximity sensor moves his / her hand from the diagonal direction, the movement is likely to be a movement that gradually moves away from a close position as viewed from the proximity sensor. Also, if a person who is in front of the proximity sensor moves his / her hand from that position, the movement is likely to move from a far position to a close position to a far position as viewed from the proximity sensor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-212145 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in conventional proximity sensors, the threshold distance that is the standard for detecting the presence of a human hand is set to be the same for each of the arranged proximity sensors, which means that the proximity sensors can only perform accurate detection in unnatural situations, such as when a hand is moved while keeping an equal distance from the arranged proximity sensors.

[0008] On the other hand, as described above, when detecting the presence of a hand that moves on a trajectory that is not equidistant from the arranged proximity sensors, if the threshold distance is increased in order to detect a hand that is in a more distant position, there is a problem in that hands in positions where it is not actually desired to be detected may be erroneously detected.

[0009] Therefore, the present application has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and one example of the objective thereof is to provide an object detection device and an object detection method that can appropriately detect an object, such as a human hand, in response to the movement of the object, and can effectively prevent erroneous detection of the object when the object is in a position where detection is not necessary, as well as a program for the object detection device and an information recording medium on which the program is recorded. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 comprises a plurality of detection means arranged in a line, each having a detection area that detects an object when the distance to the object becomes equal to or less than a threshold distance, and a setting means that, after the object is detected in a first area among the detection areas, sets the threshold distance of a third area, which is another detection area, to be longer than the threshold distance of the first area, and sets the threshold distance of a second area, which is yet another detection area between the first area and the third area, to be longer than the threshold distance of the first area and shorter than the threshold distance of the third area.

[0011] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 7 provides an object detection method executed in an object detection device having a plurality of detection means arranged in a line, each having a detection area that detects an object when the distance to the object becomes equal to or less than a threshold distance, the method including a setting step of, after the object is detected in a first area of ​​the detection areas, setting the threshold distance of a third area, which is another detection area, to be longer than the threshold distance of the first area, and setting the threshold distance of a second area, which is yet another detection area between the first area and the third area, to be longer than the threshold distance of the first area and shorter than the threshold distance of the third area.

[0012] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 8 functions as the setting means described in any one of claims 1 to 6, by using a computer included in an object detection device having detection means such as a plurality of light receiving units arranged in a line, each of which has a detection area that detects an object when the distance to the object becomes equal to or less than a threshold distance.

[0013] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention recited in claim 9 provides an object detection program recited in claim 8, recorded so as to be readable by the computer. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an object detection device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1A and 1B are block diagrams showing a schematic configuration of a proximity sensor according to a first embodiment, in which (a) is the block diagram, and (b) is a diagram illustrating a detection region. [Diagram 3] 5 is a flowchart showing a detection process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining a detection process according to a first embodiment, where (a) is the explanatory diagram (i) and (b) is the explanatory diagram (ii). [Diagram 5] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating a detection process according to a first modified example, where (a) is the explanatory diagram (i) and (b) is the explanatory diagram (ii). [Figure 6] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a detection process according to a second modified example, where (a) is the explanatory diagram (i) and (b) is the explanatory diagram (ii). [Figure 7] 13A and 13B are block diagrams showing a schematic configuration of a proximity sensor according to a second embodiment, in which (a) is the block diagram, and (b) is a diagram illustrating an example of a detection region. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an object detection device according to the embodiment.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, an object detection device S according to the embodiment is made up of a plurality of detection means 1, 1 and a setting means 10.

[0017] In this configuration, each detection means 1 has a detection area for spatially detecting an object H, and when the distance to the object H in the corresponding detection area becomes equal to or less than a threshold distance, each detection means 1 detects that the object H is present in the corresponding detection area. When the setting means 10 detects that the object H is present in one detection area, it sets the threshold distance for the other detection areas to a threshold distance corresponding to the movement of the object H (movement indicated by a white arrow in FIG. 1) previously set for the multiple detection areas. That is, in the case shown in FIG. 1, when the setting means 10 detects that the object H is present in, for example, the detection area of ​​the detection means 1 at the top in FIG. 1 in response to the previously set downward movement of the object H in FIG. 1, it sets the threshold distance for the detection areas of the other detection means 1 to a threshold distance corresponding to the downward movement of the object H.

[0018] As described above, according to the operation of the object detection device S of the embodiment, when the presence of an object H is detected in one detection area, the threshold distance for the other detection areas is changed to a threshold distance corresponding to the predetermined movement of the object H, so that the object H can be appropriately detected in response to that movement and the erroneous detection of an object H in a position where detection is not required can be effectively prevented. EXAMPLES

[0019] Next, specific examples corresponding to the above-mentioned embodiments will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 7. Each example described below is an example in which the present application is applied to a proximity sensor that detects the movement of a human hand as an object.

[0020] (1) First Example First, a first example corresponding to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 4. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a proximity sensor according to the first example, Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing a detection process according to the first example, and Fig. 4 is a diagram explaining the detection process according to the first example. In Fig. 2, the same component numbers as those of the object detection device S according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 are used for the components of the example corresponding to the components of the object detection device S according to the embodiment.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2(a), the proximity sensor S1 according to the first embodiment is a proximity sensor that detects a human hand as an object by infrared rays. A proximity sensor that uses ultrasonic waves for detection is also suitable as an embodiment. Specifically, the proximity sensor S1 according to the first embodiment is composed of a first light-emitting unit 1A1 and a second light-emitting unit 1A2 that alternately emit infrared rays for detection in a time-division manner, a light-receiving unit 1B that receives infrared rays that are alternately emitted from the first light-emitting unit 1A1 and the second light-emitting unit 1A2 and reflected by the object H, a sensor driver 10 as an example of a setting means according to the embodiment that drives the first light-emitting unit 1A1 and the second light-emitting unit 1A2 and the light-receiving unit 1B and sets the threshold distance according to the first embodiment, and a CPU 20 as an example of an output means according to the present application that outputs, for example, a predetermined command corresponding to the detection result of the movement state of the hand by the proximity sensor S1 according to the first embodiment. At this time, the first light-emitting unit 1A1 is one example of the detection means 1 according to the embodiment, and the second light-emitting unit 1A2 is another example of the detection means 1 according to the embodiment.

[0022] In this configuration, the first light-emitting unit 1A1, the second light-emitting unit 1A2, and the light-receiving unit 1B are arranged on a flat base B, specifically as shown in FIG. 2(b). With this arrangement, the first light-emitting unit 1A1 and the light-receiving unit 1B form a detection area A1 as a proximity sensor S1, and the light-receiving unit 1B and the second light-emitting unit 1A2 form a detection area A2 as a proximity sensor S1. At this time, as described above, the sensor driver 10 alternately emits infrared rays for detection from the first light-emitting unit 1A1 and the second light-emitting unit 1A2 in a time-division manner. Then, the sensor driver 10, which also drives the light-receiving unit 1B, detects whether the light-receiving unit 1B receives infrared rays at a timing corresponding to the emission timing of the first light-emitting unit 1A1 and the second light-emitting unit 1A2, thereby detecting whether the hand to be detected is in the detection area A1 or the detection area A2 (i.e., whether the hand is moving in the left-right direction).

[0023] Here, as illustrated in FIG. 2(b), the detection area A1 and the detection area A2 are formed so that they overlap each other. Therefore, for example, the area A illustrated in FIG. 2(b) is an area where a hand can be detected by the first light-emitting unit 1A1 and the light-receiving unit 1B in FIG. 2(b), and the area C illustrated in FIG. 2(b) is an area where a hand can be detected by the second light-emitting unit 1A2 and the light-receiving unit 1B in FIG. 2(b). The central area B in FIG. 2(b) is an area where a hand can be detected by the first light-emitting unit 1A1, the second light-emitting unit 1A2, and the light-receiving unit 1B. Thus, the front of the first light-emitting unit 1A1, the second light-emitting unit 1A2, and the light-receiving unit 1B is divided into three areas A to C, and the presence or absence of a hand in each area is detected separately. Specifically, using a threshold distance set for each of the regions A to C, it is detected for each region whether or not a hand is located closer than the threshold distance as viewed from the base B on which the first light-emitting unit 1A1 and the like are arranged. The hand detection operation for each region will be described in detail later. Then, when a hand is detected to be located closer than the threshold distance in each of the regions A to C, the sensor driver 10 outputs a detection signal indicating that the hand has been detected to the CPU 20. As a result, the CPU 20 outputs, for example, a command corresponding to the detected hand position and its movement based on the detection signal.

[0024] Next, the operation of the proximity sensor S1 according to the first embodiment will be specifically described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. In each embodiment described below, when the proximity sensor S1 according to the embodiment is on the right side as seen from a person, it detects, for example, a right hand moving in a sweeping manner from area A to area C (so-called wiping motion) (see, for example, Figure 4(a)). When the proximity sensor S1 according to the embodiment is on the left side as seen from a person, it detects, for example, a left hand moving in a sweeping manner from area C to area A (see, for example, Figure 4(b)).

[0025] In the proximity sensor S1 according to the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, three threshold distances are set by the sensor driver 10 for each of the regions A to C illustrated in FIG. 2(b). At this time, the first threshold distance is set to be the closest to the base B, followed by the second threshold distance and the third threshold distance, which are set in that order as the distance from the base B becomes longer. The data of these threshold distances may be stored in a non-volatile manner in the sensor driver 10, or may be configured so that the sensor driver 10 reads out data stored in a non-volatile manner in the CPU 20. In addition, the interval between the second threshold distance and the third threshold distance is set to be longer than the interval between the first threshold distance and the second threshold distance, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Then, in each region, if there is a reaction indicating the presence of a hand at a position closer to the base B than any of the threshold distances, it is detected by the sensor driver 10.

[0026] In this state, the sensor driver 10 monitors whether the power supply of the proximity sensor S1 is turned on or not, as shown in Fig. 3 (step S1). If the power supply is not turned on in the monitoring of step S1 (step S1; NO), the sensor driver 10 continues the monitoring as it is. On the other hand, if the power supply is turned on in the monitoring of step S1 (step S1; YES), the sensor driver 10 drives the first light-emitting unit 1A1 and the second light-emitting unit 1A2 and the light-receiving unit 1B (step S2), and further checks whether there is a reaction indicating the presence of the hand H in any of the areas A to C (step S3). If there is no reaction in any of the areas in the check of step S3 (step S3; NO), the sensor driver 10 continues to monitor the reaction.

[0027] More specifically, the confirmation operation in step S3 is performed by, for example, storing the received light intensity (or amount of received light) when the sensor driver 10 receives the infrared ray from the first light receiving unit 1A1 at the light receiving unit 1B in a memory (not shown) for a predetermined period longer than the time from the time of the reception to the time when the second light emitting unit 1A2 starts to emit light and shorter than the time until the first light receiving unit 1A1 starts to emit light again. In this case, the received light intensity when the infrared ray from the first light receiving unit 1A1 is received at the light receiving unit 1B is hereinafter simply referred to as the first received light intensity. Similarly, the received light intensity (or amount of received light) when the infrared ray from the second light emitting unit 1A2 is received at the light receiving unit 1B is stored in the memory (separately from the first received light intensity) for a predetermined period longer than the time from the time of the reception to the time when the first light emitting unit 1A1 starts to emit light and shorter than the time until the second light emitting unit 1A2 starts to emit light again. At this time, the received light intensity when the infrared ray from the second light emitting unit 1A2 is received by the light receiving unit 1B is simply referred to as the second received light intensity hereinafter. Then, at the timing of step S3, if the stored first received light intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined value corresponding to any of the threshold distances set for the region A (i.e., the hand is present at a position closer to the proximity sensor S1 than any of the threshold distances set for the region A) and the second received light intensity is equal to or close to zero, it is detected that the hand is present in the region A. On the other hand, if the stored second received light intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined value corresponding to any of the threshold distances set for the region C (i.e., the hand is present at a position closer to the proximity sensor S1 than any of the threshold distances set for the region C) and the first received light intensity is equal to or close to zero, it is detected that the hand is present in the region C. Furthermore, if both the first received light intensity and the second received light intensity are equal to or greater than a predetermined value corresponding to any of the threshold distances set for the region B (i.e., the hand is present at a position closer to the proximity sensor S1 than any of the threshold distances set for the region B), it is detected that the hand is present in the region B.

[0028] If there is a reaction indicating the presence of the hand H in any of the areas in the confirmation of step S3 (step S3; YES), the sensor driver 10 next judges whether or not the reaction is due to the hand H being present at a position closer than the first threshold distance in the area A (step S4). If the reaction is due to the hand H being present at a position closer than the first threshold distance in the area A in the judgment of step S4 (step S4; YES), the hand H is present at a position closer to the base B than the first threshold distance in the area A illustrated in FIG. 4(a) at that time. Then, the sensor driver 10 next switches the threshold distance in the area B to the second threshold distance after a predetermined time has elapsed from the timing when the judgment of step S4 becomes "YES", and judges whether or not the hand H is present at a position closer than the second threshold distance in the area B (step S5). The predetermined time in this case is, for example, a predetermined time determined experimentally or empirically (the same applies to the processes of steps S6, S10, and S11 below). In the judgment of step S5, if the hand H is present in a position closer than the second threshold distance in the region B (step S5; YES), the hand H is present in a position closer to the base B than the second threshold distance in the region B illustrated in FIG. 4(a) at that time. Then, the sensor driver 10 next switches the threshold distance in the region C to the third threshold distance after a predetermined time has elapsed since the judgment of step S5 became "YES", and judges whether the hand H is present in the region C at a position closer than the third threshold distance (step S6). In the judgment of step S6, if the hand H is present in the region C at a position closer than the third threshold distance (step S6; YES), the hand H is present in the region C illustrated in FIG. 4(a) at that time closer to the base B than the third threshold distance. If all the judgments from step S4 to step S6 above are "YES", the hand H has moved from the region A to the region C while moving away from the base B, as illustrated by the solid arrow in FIG. 4(a). The sensor driver 10 then determines that the hand H has moved from area A to area C (following the trajectory indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. 4(a)) as illustrated in FIG. 4(a) (step S7), and outputs the determination result to that effect to the CPU 20.This causes the CPU 20 to perform processing such as outputting a predetermined command that is previously associated with the movement of the hand H from area A to area C. Thereafter, the sensor driver 10 determines whether or not the power supply to the proximity sensor S1 has been turned off (step S8). If the power supply has not been turned off in the determination in step S8 (step S8; NO), the sensor driver 10 proceeds to monitoring in the above step S3. On the other hand, if the power supply has been turned off in the determination in step S8 (step S8; YES), the sensor driver 10 ends the detection processing according to the first embodiment.

[0029] If the hand H is not present in a position closer than the second threshold distance in the determination in step S5 above (step S5; NO) or if the hand H is not present in a position closer than the third threshold distance in the determination in step S6 above (step S6; NO), it means that the hand H has moved away from the proximity sensor S1. In these cases, the sensor driver 10 returns to step S3 above and monitors the reaction.

[0030] On the other hand, in the judgment of step S4, if the reaction confirmed in step S3 is not due to the hand H being present at a position closer than the first threshold distance in the area A (step S4; NO), the sensor driver 10 next judges whether or not the reaction is due to the hand H being present at a position closer than the first threshold distance in the area C (step S9). In the judgment of step S9, if the reaction is due to the hand H being present at a position closer than the first threshold distance in the area C (step S9; YES), the hand H is present at a position closer to the base B than the first threshold distance in the area C illustrated in FIG. 4(b) at that time. Therefore, the sensor driver 10 next switches the threshold distance in the area B to the second threshold distance after a predetermined time has elapsed from the timing when the judgment of step S9 became "YES", and judges whether or not the hand H is present at a position closer than the second threshold distance in the area B (step S10). In the judgment of step S10, if the hand H is present in a position closer than the second threshold distance in the region B (step S10; YES), the hand H is present in a position closer to the base B than the second threshold distance in the region B illustrated in FIG. 4(b) at that time. Then, the sensor driver 10 next switches the threshold distance in the region A to the third threshold distance after a predetermined time has elapsed since the judgment of step S10 became "YES", and judges whether the hand H is present in the region A at a position closer than the third threshold distance (step S11). In the judgment of step S11, if the hand H is present in the region A at a position closer than the third threshold distance (step S11; YES), the hand H is present in the region A illustrated in FIG. 4(b) at that time closer to the base B than the third threshold distance. If all the judgments from step S9 to step S11 are "YES", the hand H has moved from the region C to the region A while moving away from the base B, as illustrated by the solid arrow in FIG. 4(b). The sensor driver 10 then determines that the hand H has moved from area C to area A (following the trajectory indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. 4(b)) as illustrated in FIG. 4(b) (step S12), and outputs the determination result to that effect to the CPU 20.As a result, the CPU 20 performs processing such as outputting a predetermined command that is associated in advance with the movement of the hand H from the area C to the area A. Thereafter, the sensor driver 10 proceeds to the determination in step 8 above.

[0031] If the hand H is not present in a position closer than the first threshold distance in the determination in step S9 above (step S9; NO), the sensor driver 10 returns to step S3 above to monitor the reaction. If the hand H is not present in a position closer than the second threshold distance in the determination in step S10 above (step S10; NO), or if the hand H is not present in a position closer than the third threshold distance in the determination in step S11 above (step S11; NO), it means that the hand H has moved away from the proximity sensor S1. In these cases, the sensor driver 10 returns to step S3 above to monitor the reaction.

[0032] As described above, according to the detection process of the first embodiment, for example, when the presence of a hand H is detected in area A, the threshold distances for the other areas B and C are changed to threshold distances corresponding to a predetermined movement of the hand H relative to areas A to C (i.e., a wiping motion by the hand H in the case of the first embodiment), so that the hand H can be appropriately detected in response to the movement and erroneous detection of a hand H in a position where detection is not required can be effectively prevented.

[0033] In addition, the first light-emitting unit 1A1, the second light-emitting unit 1A2, and the light-receiving unit 1B are arranged in a line, and the movement of the hand H is a predetermined wiping action along the positions of areas A to C arranged in a line, and when the presence of the hand H is detected within area A (or area C; the same applies below), the threshold distance for areas B and C (or area A) arranged in the direction of the wiping action is set longer than the threshold distance for area A (or area C), so that the hand H can be more appropriately detected in response to the wiping action and erroneous detection of a hand H in a position where detection is not required can be more effectively prevented.

[0034] Furthermore, since the CPU 20 outputs a command having contents corresponding to the detected movement of the hand H, it is possible to accurately detect the movement of the hand H and control another device, for example.

[0035] The first embodiment described above can be applied in various ways.

[0036] For example, as in the first modified example illustrated in FIG. 5, the threshold distance for the central region B is fixed at the above-mentioned first threshold distance, and further, in accordance with the wiping action of hand H, only the threshold distance for region C (in the case of the wiping action illustrated in FIG. 5(a)) or only the threshold distance for region A (in the case of the wiping action illustrated in FIG. 5(b)) can be configured to be the third threshold distance. In this case, in the example illustrated in FIG. 5(a), the threshold distance for region A and the threshold distance for region B will each be the first threshold distance. Also, in the example illustrated in FIG. 5(b), the threshold distance for region C and the threshold distance for region B will each be the first threshold distance.

[0037] In the case of the first modified example described above using Figure 5, the threshold distance for the central area B is set to be constant, so that the number of areas for which threshold distances are set is reduced, thereby reducing the processing load on the sensor driver 10.

[0038] Also, even when the threshold distance for the central region B is constant, as in the second modified example illustrated in FIG. 6, the threshold distance for the central region B is constant at the second threshold distance, and the threshold distance for the region A and the threshold distance for the region C are set to the first threshold distance shorter than the second threshold distance during standby before detecting the presence of the hand H. Then, in accordance with a default wipe operation, for example, to correspond to the wipe operation illustrated in FIG. 6(a), when the presence of the hand H is detected in the regions A and B, the threshold distance for the region C can be set to the third threshold distance longer than the second threshold distance for the region B. Also, for example, to correspond to the wipe operation illustrated in FIG. 6(b), when the presence of the hand H is detected in the regions C and B, the threshold distance for the region A can be set to the third threshold distance longer than the second threshold distance for the region B.

[0039] In the case of the second modified example described above using Figure 6, during standby, the threshold distance for area A and the threshold distance for area C are set to a first threshold distance shorter than the second threshold distance for area B, and further, when the presence of hand H is detected in area A (area C; same applies below) and area B, the threshold distance for area C (area A) is set to a third threshold distance longer than the second threshold distance for area B. This reduces the processing load on the sensor driver 10 while more appropriately detecting hand H in response to a wipe operation and more effectively prevents erroneous detection of hand H in a position where detection is not required.

[0040] (2) Second Example Next, a second example, which is another example corresponding to the embodiment, will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a proximity sensor according to the second example. In Fig. 7, the same component numbers as those of the object detection device S according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 are used for the components of the example corresponding to the components of the object detection device S.

[0041] In the above-described first embodiment, the proximity sensor S1 is described in which the first light-emitting unit 1A1, the second light-emitting unit 1A2, and the light-receiving unit 1B form three regions A to C. In contrast, the proximity sensor in the second embodiment is provided with two sets of a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit, thereby forming the three regions A to C similar to those in the first embodiment.

[0042] That is, as shown in FIG. 7(a), the proximity sensor S2 of the second embodiment is composed of a light-emitting unit 1A and a light-emitting unit 2A, each of which emits infrared rays for detection, a light-receiving unit 1B provided adjacent to the light-emitting unit 1A, a light-receiving unit 2B provided adjacent to the light-emitting unit 2A, a sensor driver 10 that drives the light-emitting unit 1A and the light-receiving unit 1B and sets the threshold distance of the second embodiment, a sensor driver 11 that drives the light-emitting unit 2A and the light-receiving unit 2B and sets the threshold distance of the second embodiment, and a CPU 20 that outputs, for example, a predetermined command corresponding to the movement state of the hand H by the proximity sensor S2 of the second embodiment.

[0043] In this configuration, the light-emitting unit 1A and the light-receiving unit 1B are disposed adjacent to each other as shown in FIG. 7(b), and the light-emitting unit 2A and the light-receiving unit 2B are also disposed adjacent to each other, and these are disposed on a flat base B. With this arrangement, the light-emitting unit 1A and the light-receiving unit 1B form a detection area A1 as the proximity sensor S2, and the light-emitting unit 2A and the light-receiving unit 2B form a detection area A2 as the proximity sensor S2. As shown in FIG. 7(b), the detection areas A1 and A2 are formed to overlap each other in part, as in the first embodiment. As a result, in the proximity sensor S2 according to the second embodiment, areas A to C similar to those of the proximity sensor S1 according to the first embodiment are formed. Then, each of the sensor drivers 10 and 11 controls the threshold distance for each area so as to correspond to a predetermined wiping action by the hand H, as in the first embodiment, and outputs a detection signal according to the movement of the hand H to the CPU 20. Then, based on the detection signal, the CPU 20 outputs, for example, a command corresponding to the detected position and movement of the hand H, in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0044] The detection process according to the second embodiment described above can also achieve the same effects as the detection process according to the first embodiment.

[0045] In the above embodiments, the wiping operation is performed in which the hand H moves in one direction while moving away from the base B (see FIGS. 4 to 6). In contrast, the movement of the hand H moving in an arc shape as viewed from the base B within a plane including the base B (i.e., the hand H approaches from outside the detection area A1, its presence is detected by the proximity sensor S1 or the proximity sensor S2, and the hand H moves while moving away toward the outside of the detection area A2 across the front of the proximity sensor S1 or the proximity sensor S2) can also be detected. In this case, the threshold distances corresponding to the areas A and C are set longer than the threshold distance for the area B. In this case, too, the threshold distances are set according to the arc-shaped movement of the hand H, so that erroneous detection of the hand H can be more reliably prevented.

[0046] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the case where the presence of the hand H is detected without contact by infrared rays has been described, but the present application can also be applied to the case where the movement of the hand (finger) is detected by a touch sensor other than the resistive film type. In this case, the threshold value for detecting the contact of the finger is made variable for each predetermined area of ​​the touch sensor according to the expected movement of the finger, thereby achieving the same effect as in each embodiment.

[0047] Furthermore, a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 can be recorded on a recording medium such as a flexible disk or a hard disk, or obtained via a network such as the Internet, and then read out and executed by a general-purpose microcomputer or the like, thereby causing the microcomputer to function as the sensor driver 10 and CPU 20 of the embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1. Detection Methods 1A, 2A Light emitting part 1A1 First light emitting part 1A2 Second light emitting part 1B, 2B light receiving section 10 Setting means (sensor driver) 11 Sensor Driver 20 CPU S Object detection device H Object (hand) S1, S2 Proximity Sensors A1, A2 detection area

Claims

[Claim 1] a plurality of detection means arranged in a line, each having a detection area for detecting an object when the distance to the object becomes equal to or less than a threshold distance; a setting means for setting, when the object is detected in one of the detection areas, the threshold distance of the other detection areas arranged in the straight line in the set direction of the movement of the object to be longer than the threshold distance of the one of the detection areas; An object detection device comprising:

Images