Dice sensor and dice system

Abstract

To provide a configuration that a display on the side of a dice housing can be determined by a direction axis or orientation of gravity detected by an acceleration sensor built into the dice housing.SOLUTION: The present disclosure relates to a dice sensor comprising an acceleration sensor that detects the orientation of gravity, a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits an output signal from the acceleration sensor, and a rectangular parallelepiped dice housing that contains the acceleration sensor and the wireless transmitter and has characters displayed on its surface. The directional axes of the characters displayed on the surface of the dice housing are perpendicular to each other on adjacent faces.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a dice sensor and a dice system that wirelessly transmit the orientation of a dice.

Background Art

[0002] In order to visualize operations, attempts have been made to represent the operation content by the content displayed on the side surface of the dice case. For example, the operation content that an operator is engaged in is displayed on each of the six sides of the dice case, and the operator places the dice so that the side representing the operation content currently being engaged in faces forward.

[0003] On the other hand, as a technology for detecting the orientation of a dice, there is a wireless dice that incorporates a direction detector and a transmitter inside the dice and wirelessly transmits the rolled face of the dice (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The direction detector inside the wireless dice detects the face that is on the upper surface of the wireless dice, and the wireless transmitter transmits information on the face that is on the upper surface of the wireless dice to a management device outside. The management device outside the wireless dice can grasp the rolled face of the wireless dice from the information on the face that is on the upper surface of the wireless dice.

[0004] It is conceivable to use such a wireless dice technology for a dice for operation visualization.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the case of a wireless die, it is sufficient to grasp only the outcome of the roll, that is, which side is facing up. For example, corresponding to the six sides of the wireless die, a three-axis acceleration sensor is arranged as a direction detector, and the side that becomes the upper surface can be determined based on which axis of the three-axis acceleration sensor detects gravity and which direction of gravity is detected.

[0007] However, in the case of a die for business visualization, depending on the placement location, the business content may be represented on the front, which is one of the side faces rather than the upper surface. An example where the business content displayed on each of the six sides of the die is designated as "State 1" to "State 6" is shown in FIG. 1. Here, the direction of the arrow is considered positive along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis direction axes, and the direction opposite to the arrow is considered negative. Gravity is in the X-axis direction and the direction is negative.

[0008] In FIG. 1, the character "State 1" is displayed on the front with the positive direction along the X-axis direction axis, and the character "State 2" is displayed on the right side face with the positive direction along the X-axis direction axis. When switching the display on the front from the display of "State 1" shown in FIG. 2(A) to "State 2" shown in FIG. 2(B), the die rotates 90 degrees to the right when viewed from the upper surface. Then, since the direction axis and direction of gravity detected by the three-axis acceleration sensor do not change with respect to the direction of gravity in the X-axis direction being negative, there arises a problem that it is difficult to determine which face is facing the front.

[0009] Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a configuration capable of determining the display on the side face of the die housing from the direction axis or direction of gravity detected by the acceleration sensor included in the die housing.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, in the die sensor of the present disclosure, rules are given to the direction of the characters displayed on the surface of the die housing. Note that the characters can be written vertically or horizontally. Also, the characters displayed on the surface of the die housing include directional emoji and symbols.

[0011] Specifically, the present disclosure relates to an acceleration sensor for detecting the direction of gravity, a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the output signal of the acceleration sensor, a dice-shaped housing that encloses the acceleration sensor and the wireless transmitter and has characters displayed on its surface, and a dice sensor, characterized in that the direction axes of the characters displayed on the surface of the dice-shaped housing are orthogonal to each other on adjacent surfaces. That's what it is.

[0012] Furthermore, the present disclosure is characterized in that the directions of the characters displayed on the surface of the dice-shaped housing are opposite on opposite surfaces.

[0013] In addition, in the dice sensor, the acceleration sensor housed in the dice-shaped housing is configured to easily detect changes in the direction axis or direction of gravity.

[0014] Specifically, the present disclosure is characterized in that the acceleration sensor and the wireless transmitter are housed in a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped inner housing, and the inner housing is not fixed in the inner space of the dice-shaped housing and has a limited rotation range.

[0015] Furthermore, the present disclosure is characterized in that the inner space has a chamfered rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0016] In the dice system, the management device determines the characters represented by the dice sensor.

[0017] Specifically, the present disclosure the dice sensor according to any one of the above, and a management device that wirelessly receives the output signal of the acceleration sensor from the wireless transmitter, associates the output signal with the characters displayed on each surface of the dice sensor, and determines the characters displayed upward on the side surface of the dice sensor. A dice system comprising is as follows.

[0018] In addition, the inventions disclosed above can be combined as much as possible.

Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the present disclosure, the display on the side surface of the dice housing can be determined from the direction axis or orientation of the gravity detected by the acceleration sensor included in the dice housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown below. These examples are merely illustrative, and the present disclosure can be implemented in various modified forms based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. In the present specification and drawings, components having the same reference numerals indicate the same components as each other.

[0022] (Embodiment 1) In this embodiment, a gyro sensor is described which includes an acceleration sensor that detects and outputs the direction axis and orientation of gravity, a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits the output signal of the acceleration sensor, and a cubic die housing that houses the acceleration sensor and the wireless transmitter and has characters displayed on its surface. The cubic shape includes a cube shape. In the gyro sensor of this embodiment, the direction axes of the characters displayed on the surface of the die housing are orthogonal to each other between adjacent surfaces. An example of the display of the gyro sensor of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. Examples of operations for switching the display on the side surfaces of the gyro sensor of this embodiment are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0023] In FIG. 3, the characters displayed on the three visible surfaces and the arrows indicating the orientation of those characters are shown. The characters displayed on the three surfaces behind that are not visible are mirror images, and the arrows indicating the orientation of those characters are shown as dotted arrows. Between adjacent surfaces, the direction axes of the characters displayed on the surface of the die housing are orthogonal, and between opposing surfaces, the orientations of the characters displayed on the surface of the die housing are the same.

[0024] The side surfaces are composed of the front surface, the left side surface, the right side surface, and the back surface. In the front surface of FIG. 3, the characters are in the X-axis direction and the orientation is positive. In the right side surface, the characters are in the Z-axis direction and the orientation is positive. In the left side surface, the characters are in the Z-axis direction and the orientation is positive. In the back surface, the characters are in the X-axis direction and the orientation is positive. In the upper surface, the characters are in the Y-axis direction and the orientation is negative. In the lower surface, the characters are in the Y-axis direction and the orientation is negative.

[0025] The acceleration sensor detects the direction of gravity in each of the three orthogonal axis directions. For example, the three-axis acceleration sensor detects the direction axis of the arrow in "State 1" in FIG. 3, whether the arrow is positive or negative, the direction axis of the arrow in "State 5", whether the arrow is positive or negative, and the direction axis of the arrow in "State 2", whether the arrow is positive or negative.

[0026] The acceleration sensor outputs the detected information as an output signal. The wireless transmitter wirelessly transmits the output signal. In a management device (not shown) outside the dice sensor, three types of acceleration sensors that detect gravity and the combination of the directions of gravity detected by the three types of acceleration sensors on their three axes are associated with the characters displayed on each face of the dice sensor. The management device can determine the character displayed upward on the side surface of the dice sensor based on which acceleration sensor on which axis has detected gravity in which direction.

[0027] In FIG. 3, consider placing the dice sensor so that the upward display of "State 1" on the front face becomes the upward display of "State 2". In FIG. 4(A), the display of "State 1" is upward on the front face. At this time, the acceleration sensor on the axis in the direction of the arrow of "State 1" detects gravity and detects that the direction of gravity is negative. First, as shown in FIG. 4(B), view the dice sensor from above and rotate it 90 degrees to the right. In FIG. 4(B), the display of "State 2" is horizontal to the right on the front face. Next, as shown in FIG. 4(C), view the dice sensor from the front and roll it 90 degrees to the left horizontally. Then, in FIG. 4(C), the display of "State 2" becomes upward. The acceleration sensor on the axis in the direction of the arrow of "State 2" detects gravity and detects that the direction of gravity is negative. The acceleration sensors on the other axes do not detect the direction of gravity.

[0028] In FIG. 3, consider placing the dice sensor so that the upward display of "State 1" on the front side becomes the upward display of "State 3". In FIG. 5(A), the display of "State 1" is upward on the front side. At this time, the acceleration sensor on the direction axis of the arrow of "State 1" detects gravity and detects that the direction of gravity is negative. First, as shown in FIG. 5(B), view the dice sensor from above and rotate it 90 degrees to the right. In FIG. 5(B), the display of "State 2" is horizontally to the right on the front side. Next, as shown in FIG. 5(C), view the dice sensor from above and rotate it 90 degrees to the right. Then, in FIG. 5(C), the display of "State 3" becomes upward. The acceleration sensor on the direction axis of the arrow of "State 1" detects gravity and detects that the direction of gravity is negative. The acceleration sensors on the other direction axes do not detect the direction of gravity.

[0029] Since the direction axes and directions of the arrow of "State 1" and the arrow of "State 3" are the same, when the dice sensor is placed so that "State 3" is in the upward display, the direction of gravity detected by the acceleration sensor on the direction axis of "State 1" becomes the same negative as that of "State 1". The acceleration sensors on the other direction axes do not detect the direction of gravity. Therefore, if different characters are displayed on adjacent surfaces and the same characters are displayed on opposite surfaces, the management device can determine the three characters displayed upward on the side surface of the dice sensor. As a result, the dice system of this embodiment is effective for three state displays.

[0030] When an operator wants to represent "State 1" using the dice sensor of this embodiment, place the dice sensor with "State 1" upward on the side surface. The management device wirelessly receives from the wireless transmitter that the acceleration sensor on the direction axis of the arrow of "State 1" has detected the direction of gravity in the negative direction, and determines that what the operator represents is "State 1". The operator can select from three characters. On the back surface of the surface where "State 1" is displayed, since "State 3" has the same character and the same direction as "State 1", the operator can represent it on either surface. The same applies to other surfaces.

[0031] An example of the development view of the dice sensor according to this embodiment is shown in FIG. 6. It is an example of the work content displayed on the surface of the dice housing in order to visualize the work. Different characters are made orthogonal to each other on adjacent surfaces, and the same characters are displayed in the same direction on opposite surfaces. For example, three types of characters, "Operation", "Standby", and "Setup", shown in FIG. 6 are displayed. In this case, if the character is displayed upward on any of the four side surfaces, that character represents the work content.

[0032] (Embodiment 2) In this embodiment, a dice sensor including an acceleration sensor that detects and outputs the direction axis and orientation of gravity, a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits the output signal of the acceleration sensor, and a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped dice housing that houses the acceleration sensor and the wireless transmitter and has characters displayed on its surface will be described. The rectangular parallelepiped shape includes the cube shape. In the dice sensor of this embodiment, the direction axes of the characters displayed on the surface of the dice housing are orthogonal to each other on adjacent surfaces, and the orientations of the characters displayed on the surface of the dice housing are opposite on opposite surfaces. An example of the display of the dice sensor according to this embodiment is shown in FIG. 7. Examples of the operation of switching the display on the side surface of the dice sensor according to this embodiment are shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10.

[0033] In FIG. 7, the characters displayed on the three visible surfaces and the arrows indicating the orientations of the characters are shown. The characters displayed on the three surfaces behind and not visible are in mirror image, and the arrows indicating the orientations of the characters are shown as dotted arrows. The direction axes of the characters displayed on the surface of the dice housing are orthogonal to each other on adjacent surfaces, and the orientations of the characters displayed on the surface of the dice housing are opposite on opposite surfaces.

[0034] The side surfaces are composed of the front surface, the left side surface, the right side surface, and the back surface. On the front surface of FIG. 7, the character is in the X-axis direction and the orientation is positive. On the right side surface, the character is in the Z-axis direction and the orientation is positive. On the left side surface, the character is in the Z-axis direction and the orientation is positive. On the back surface, the character is in the X-axis direction and the orientation is positive. On the upper surface, the character is in the Y-axis direction and the orientation is negative. On the lower surface, the character is in the Y-axis direction and the orientation is negative.

[0035] The acceleration sensor detects the direction of gravity in each of the three mutually perpendicular axial directions. For example, the three-axis acceleration sensor detects the direction of the arrow in the "State 1" in FIG. 7 for each axis, whether the arrow is positive or negative, the direction of the arrow in the "State 5" for each axis, whether the arrow is positive or negative, and the direction of the arrow in the "State 2" for each axis, whether the arrow is positive or negative.

[0036] The acceleration sensor outputs the detected information as an output signal. The wireless transmitter wirelessly transmits the output signal. In a management device (not shown) outside the dice sensor, the three types of acceleration sensors that detect gravity and the combination of the directions of gravity detected by the three types of acceleration sensors for each axis are associated with the characters displayed on each face of the dice sensor. The management device can determine the characters displayed upward on the side of the dice sensor based on which acceleration sensor for which axis has detected gravity in which direction.

[0037] In FIG. 7, consider placing the dice sensor so that the upward display of "State 1" on the front face becomes the upward display of "State 2". In FIG. 8(A), the display of "State 1" is upward on the front face. At this time, the acceleration sensor for the direction axis of the arrow in "State 1" detects gravity and detects that the direction of gravity is negative. First, as shown in FIG. 8(B), view the dice sensor from above and rotate it 90 degrees to the right. In FIG. 8(B), the display of "State 2" is horizontal to the right on the front face. Next, as shown in FIG. 8(C), view the dice sensor from the front and roll it 90 degrees to the left. Then, in FIG. 8(C), the display of "State 2" becomes upward. The acceleration sensor for the direction axis of the arrow in "State 2" detects gravity and detects that the direction of gravity is negative. The acceleration sensors for the other direction axes do not detect the direction of gravity.

[0038] In FIG. 7, consider placing the die sensor so that the upward display of "State 1" on the front side becomes the upward display of "State 3". In FIG. 9(A), the display of "State 1" is upward on the front side. At this time, the acceleration sensor on the direction axis of the arrow of "State 1" detects gravity and detects that the direction of gravity is negative. First, as shown in FIG. 9(B), when viewing the die sensor from above, rotate it 90 degrees to the right. In FIG. 9(B), the display of "State 2" is horizontally to the right on the front side. Next, as shown in FIG. 9(C), when viewing the die sensor from above, rotate it 90 degrees to the right. Then, in FIG. 9(C), the display of "State 3" becomes downward. FIG. 10(C) is the same as FIG. 9(C). As shown from FIG. 10(C) to (D), roll it 90 degrees to the right when viewed from the front. Further, as shown in FIG. 10(E), roll it 90 degrees to the right when viewed from the front. The acceleration sensor on the direction axis of the arrow of "State 1" detects gravity and detects that the direction of gravity is positive. The acceleration sensors on the other direction axes do not detect the direction of gravity.

[0039] Since the direction axes of the arrows of "State 1" and "State 3" are the same and the directions are opposite, when the die sensor is placed so that "State 3" is upward, the direction of gravity detected by the acceleration sensor on the direction axis of "State 1" becomes positive, which is opposite to that of "State 1". The acceleration sensors on the other direction axes do not detect the direction of gravity. Therefore, if different characters are displayed on each of the six sides, the management device can determine the six characters displayed upward on the side of the die sensor. As a result, the die system of this embodiment is effective for six state displays.

[0040] When an operator wants to represent "State 1" using the die sensor of this embodiment, place the die sensor with "State 1" upward on the side. The management device wirelessly receives from the wireless transmitter that the acceleration sensor on the direction axis of the arrow of "State 1" has detected the direction of gravity in the negative direction, and determines that the operator is representing "State 1". The operator can select from six characters.

[0041] An example of the development diagram of the die sensor according to this embodiment is shown in FIG. 11. It is an example of the work content displayed on the surface of the die housing in order to visualize the work. Six different types of characters are displayed on each face. The direction axes of the characters are orthogonal between adjacent faces, and the directions of the characters are opposite between opposing faces. For example, six types of characters, "Operation", "Standby", "Setup", "Maintenance", "Stop", and "Failure", shown in FIG. 11 are displayed. In this case, if the character is displayed upward on any of the four side faces, that character represents the work content.

[0042] Examples of the use of the die sensor according to this embodiment are shown in FIGS. 12, 13, and 14. FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 are die sensors of the development diagram shown in FIG. 11. In FIG. 12, the character "Operation" is displayed upward on the front face. At this time, on the right side face, the character "Standby" is displayed facing the back, on the back face, the character "Maintenance" is displayed downward, and on the left side face, the character "Stop" is displayed facing forward. That is, only "Operation" is displayed upward on the four side faces. Among the three-axis acceleration sensors, only the acceleration sensor of the vertical direction axis detects gravity. If the acceleration sensor of the vertical direction axis detects the direction of gravity, the management device can determine the character displayed upward. The character "Operation" may be on any of the right side face, the back face, and the left side face instead of the front face. In FIG. 13, only the character "Standby" is displayed upward, and in FIG. 14, only the character "Maintenance" is displayed upward.

[0043] In any of the embodiments, the direction axes of the characters displayed on the surface of the die housing are orthogonal between adjacent surfaces. In Embodiment 1, since the orientations of the characters displayed on the surfaces of the three pairs of opposing surfaces are the same, three types of characters can be determined. If the orientations of the characters displayed on the surfaces of two pairs of opposing surfaces are the same and the orientations of the characters displayed on the surfaces of one pair of opposing surfaces are opposite, four types of characters can be determined. If the orientations of the characters displayed on the surfaces of one pair of opposing surfaces are the same and the orientations of the characters displayed on the surfaces of two pairs of opposing surfaces are opposite, five types of characters can be determined. If the orientations of the characters displayed on the surfaces of the three pairs of opposing surfaces are opposite, six types of characters can be determined.

[0044] As described above, by applying the technology of the present disclosure, the display on the side surface of the die housing can be determined from the direction axis or orientation of the gravity detected by the acceleration sensor included in the die housing.

[0045] (Embodiment 3) In the present embodiment, a die sensor described in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 is described, in which an acceleration sensor and a wireless transmitter are housed in a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped inner housing, the inner housing is not fixed in the inner space of the die housing, and the rotation range is limited. The rectangular parallelepiped shape includes a cubic shape. The structure of the die sensor is shown in FIG. 15, an example of the inner housing in which the acceleration sensor and the wireless transmitter are housed is shown in FIG. 16, and an example of the inner space of the die housing that houses the inner housing is shown in FIG. 17.

[0046] In FIG. 15, an inner space 30 is provided inside the die housing 20, and an inner housing 10 is arranged in the inner space 30. The inner housing 10 is not fixed in the inner space 30, while its rotation range is limited. The inner housing 10 in FIG. 16 is rectangular parallelepiped-shaped, with the lengths of its sides being A, B, and C. The inner space 30 in FIG. 17 is rectangular parallelepiped-shaped, with the lengths of its sides being A', B', and C'.

[0047] For the inner housing 10 to move freely without being fixed in the inner space 30, for example, Equation (1) is a condition. Further, for the rotation range of the inner housing 10 to be restricted in the inner space 30, for example, Equations (2) to (7) are conditions. For both conditions to be satisfied, Equation (8) is a condition. However, when A’ < B’, Equation (2) is applied; when A’ > B’, Equation (3) is applied; when B’ < C’, Equation (4) is applied; when B’ > C’, Equation (5) is applied; when C’ < A’, Equation (6) is applied; and when C’ > A’, Equation (7) is applied. [Number] [Number]

[0048] When the inner housing 10 is not fixed in the inner space 30 and moves freely, even when the die housing 20 gently topples over, the inner housing 10 topples over more violently than the die housing 20. When the inner housing 10 topples over violently, the acceleration sensor housed in the inner housing 10 vibrates violently, and it is possible to surely detect changes in the direction axis and orientation of gravity.

[0049] On the other hand, if the inner housing 10 moves freely and as a result, the arrangement relationship between the die housing 20 and the acceleration sensor fluctuates, the acceleration sensor cannot correctly detect the direction axis and orientation of gravity. If the rotation range of the inner housing 10 in the inner space 30 is restricted, the acceleration sensor housed in the inner housing 10 can accurately detect changes in the direction axis and orientation of gravity.

[0050] (Embodiment 4) In this embodiment, a die sensor described in Embodiment 3, in which the inner space of the die housing in which the inner housing is arranged has a chamfered rectangular parallelepiped shape, will be described. The rectangular parallelepiped shape includes the cube shape. The structure of the inner space of the die sensor is shown in FIG. 18, the shape of the inner space in cross section 1 of FIG. 18 is shown in FIG. 19, the shape of the inner space in cross section 2 is shown in FIG. 20, and the shape of the inner space in cross section 3 is shown in FIG. 21.

[0051] The internal space has a chamfered rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the four corners of the cross-section may be C-chamfers with linear chamfers or R-chamfers with arc-shaped chamfers. FIGS. 19 to 21 are examples of C-chamfers, and the four corners are chamfered at a position of r from each vertex. In order for the internal housing 10 not to be fixed in the internal space 30 and to move freely, for example, Equation (9) is a condition instead of Equation (1). The same applies to R-chamfers chamfered at a position of r from each vertex. [Number] Furthermore, in order to limit the rotation range of the internal housing 10 in the internal space 30, for example, Equations (2) to (7) are conditions. In order to satisfy both conditions, Equation (10) is a condition. [Number]

[0052] If there is no chamfer in the internal space 30, the internal housing 10 may adhere to the corners of the internal space 30, and even if the dice sensor is overturned, the acceleration sensor may not function. If the internal space 30 has a chamfered rectangular parallelepiped shape, it is possible to prevent the internal housing 10 from adhering to the corners of the internal space 30. Therefore, when the internal housing 10 overturns violently, the acceleration sensor housed in the internal housing 10 vibrates violently, and it is possible to surely detect changes in the direction axis and orientation of gravity. [Industrial Applicability]

[0053] The disclosed dice sensor and dice system are applied to information communication. [Explanation of Signs]

[0054] 10: Internal housing 20: Dice housing 30: Internal space

Claims

1. An acceleration sensor for detecting the direction of gravity, A wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the output signal of the acceleration sensor, A cubic die housing that encloses the acceleration sensor and the wireless transmitter and has characters displayed on its surface, and A die sensor, characterized in that on adjacent surfaces, the direction axes of the characters displayed on the surface of the die housing are orthogonal.

2. The die sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that on opposite surfaces, the orientations of the characters displayed on the surface of the die housing are opposite.

3. The acceleration sensor and the wireless transmitter are housed in a cubic internal housing, The die sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal housing is not fixed in the internal space of the die housing and the rotation range is limited.

4. The die sensor according to claim 3, characterized in that the internal space has a chamfered cubic shape.

5. A die sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and A management device that wirelessly receives the output signal of the acceleration sensor from the wireless transmitter, associates the output signal with the characters displayed on each surface of the die sensor, and determines the characters displayed upward on the side surface of the die sensor, A die system comprising the same.

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