Control system, control method of control system, and program

Abstract

To suppress a feeling of strangeness that operation of first operation means and second operation means gives to a user, as compared to a configuration in which the first operation means operates independently of a remaining amount of a second battery.SOLUTION: A control system comprises: acquisition means which acquires information about a remaining amount of a battery which supplies electric power to operation means which consumes the electric power and operates; and control means which operates first operation means and second operation means with operating contents according to the remaining amount of a second battery, when the remaining amount of the second battery which supplies the electric power to the second operation means which operates is smaller than the remaining amount of a first battery which supplies the electric power to the first operation means which operates.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control system, a control method for a control system, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, attention has been focused on a technology that displays a virtual object in a virtual reality (VR) space and provides the user with haptic feedback effects such as vibrations and motions when the user makes a motion as if touching the virtual object. To give the user a sense of immersion in the VR space, not only visual information but also feedback corresponding to the user's motion may be provided to the user. Patent Document 1 discloses a pair of realistic gloves that are worn on the user's hands and provide haptic and force sensations to the wearing hands. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-049767 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Here, when a first operating means that receives power from a first battery to perform an operation such as vibration and a second operating means that receives power from a second battery to perform an operation such as vibration are operating, the remaining charge of the second battery may become low first. In this case, the second operating means may operate in a manner that corresponds to the remaining charge of the second battery, such as by operating to reduce power consumption of the second battery, while the operation of the first operating means may not change. In this way, if the first operating means operates regardless of the remaining charge of the second battery, the difference between the operation of the first operating means and the operation of the second operating means may become noticeable, and the operations of the first operating means and the second operating means may cause a sense of discomfort to the user. The present invention aims to prevent the operation of the first operating means and the second operating means from giving the user a sense of discomfort, compared to a configuration in which the first operating means operates regardless of the remaining charge of the second battery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, the control system of the present invention is a control system comprising: an acquisition means for acquiring information regarding the remaining charge of a battery that supplies power to an operating means that consumes power to operate; and a control means for operating the first operating means and the second operating means with operation content according to the remaining charge of the second battery when the remaining charge of a second battery that supplies power to an operating second operating means is lower than the remaining charge of a first battery that supplies power to an operating first operating means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the operations of the first and second operating means from giving the user a sense of discomfort, compared to a configuration in which the first operating means operates regardless of the remaining charge of the second battery. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a device control system. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a control device. [Figure 4] (A) is a diagram showing the relationship between the remaining battery charge and the ratio of the maximum amplitude of the device vibration, and (B) is a diagram showing the relationship between the remaining battery charge of multiple target devices and the amplitude setting value of each of the multiple target devices. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a control process. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a control process according to a modified example. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a device control system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a control process according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a device control system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a control process according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] (First embodiment) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a control device 100 according to a first embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a device control system 1. The device control system 1, which is an example of a control system, is a system that controls devices that operate by consuming power supplied from a battery. The device control system 1 includes the control device 100 and a plurality of devices 200. In the following, the up-down direction in Fig. 1 may be referred to as the X-axis direction, the front-rear direction in Fig. 1 may be referred to as the Y-axis direction, and the left-right direction in Fig. 1 may be referred to as the Z-axis direction. The X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction in Fig. 2 correspond to the X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction in Fig. 1, respectively. Fig. 2 also shows the hardware configuration of the control device 100 and the functional configuration of the device 200.

[0009] The control device 100 controls the device 200 provided in the device control system 1. In the illustrated example, the control device 100 is a head mounted display (HMD) worn on the user's head. Therefore, the control device 100 may be referred to as an HMD 100. As shown in FIG. 1 , the HMD 100 includes a housing 103, a left display 104, a right display 105, a left camera 106, a right camera 107, a left gaze detector 108, a right gaze detector 109, a body part detector 111, and operation buttons 110. FIG. 1 is a diagram of the HMD 100 worn by a user as viewed from above the user (downstream in the Y-axis direction).

[0010] When a user wears the housing 103 of the HMD 100, the user's left eyeball 101 and right eyeball 102 can observe real space through the translucent left display 104 and right display 105, respectively. Information such as icons and images used to operate the HMD 100 is displayed on the left display 104 and right display 105, allowing the user to visually recognize a virtual space defined in the HMD 100 as a space in which information is displayed on the HMD 100 and a real space superimposed on each other. Note that the left display 104 and the right display 105 may be a single display. Furthermore, the display provided in the HMD 100 may be switchable between a translucent state and a non-translucent state. Depending on the state of the display, information stored in the HMD 100 or an image captured by the left camera 106 or the right camera 107 may be displayed on the display. The left gaze detector 108 detects the gaze of the user's left eye. The right gaze detector 109 examines the gaze of the user's right eye. The body part detector 111 detects a body part of the user and identifies the position of the detected body part in the virtual space defined by the HMD 100. The operation button 110 is a power button and a button for accepting various operations of the HMD 100.

[0011] The HMD 100 also includes a CPU 128, a memory unit 129, a display driver circuit 124, a light splitter 121, a camera image sensor 125, an aperture mechanism 126, and a focus mechanism 127. The HMD 100 also includes an illumination light source 120, a light receiving lens 122, an eye image sensor 123, an infrared sensor 131, and a communication I / F 130. Note that although the HMD 100 shown in FIG. 2 is configured to correspond to the left eye of the user, the configuration corresponding to the right eye of the user may also be the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 2. The CPU 128 controls the entire HMD 100. The memory unit 129 stores information such as images displayed on the HMD 100. Furthermore, imaging signals from the camera imaging element 125 and the eye imaging element 123, gaze correction data, eye characteristic information, and the like may be stored in the memory unit 129. The display drive circuit 124 is a circuit that drives the left display 104. The light splitter 121, the camera imaging element 125, the aperture mechanism 126, and the focus mechanism 127 constitute the left camera 106. The illumination light source 120, the light receiving lens 122, and the eye imaging element 123 constitute the gaze detector 108. The illumination light source 120 is a light source that projects light onto the eye 101 to detect the user's gaze, and is composed of, for example, multiple infrared light-emitting diodes. The illuminated eye image and the image resulting from the corneal reflection of the light source are formed by the light receiving lens 122 on the eye image sensor 123, which is a two-dimensional array of photoelectric elements such as CMOS. The light receiving lens 122 positions the pupil of the user's eyeball 101 and the eye image sensor 123 in a complementary imaging relationship. The gaze detector 108 detects the gaze direction from the positional relationship between the eye image formed on the eye image sensor 123 and the image resulting from the corneal reflection of the light source 120. The infrared sensor 131 is a sensor that constitutes the body part detector 111. The infrared sensor 131 detects the positions of the user's body parts. The communication I / F 130 communicates with the device 200.

[0012] Device 200, as an example of an operating means, is a device that is worn by a user and operates under the control of control device 100 to provide an action to the user. In the illustrated example, device 200 is a device that provides vibration to the user. Device 200 includes a communication I / F 201, a signal control unit 202, multiple signal amplifiers 203, multiple vibration actuators 205, a remaining charge acquisition unit 207, and a battery 208. Note that while only one device 200 is shown in FIG. 2, device control system 1 is provided with a device 200 for each part of the user where the device is worn. The communication I / F 201 communicates with the HMD 100. The signal control unit 202 combines vibration signals received by the communication I / F 201 to generate vibration signals for controlling each vibration actuator 205. The signal amplifier 203 amplifies the signals generated by the signal control unit 202 and supplies the amplified signals to the vibration actuators 205. The vibration actuators 205 reproduce vibrations from the signals received from the signal amplifier 203, thereby applying vibrations to the user's head, torso, hands, feet, etc. The vibration actuators 205 may apply tactile sensations such as pressure or static electricity to the user in addition to vibrations. The remaining charge acquisition unit 207 measures the remaining charge of the battery 208 at regular intervals and, each time it measures, transmits information indicating the remaining charge of the battery 208 to the HMD 100 via the communication I / F 201. Note that information indicating the remaining charge of a battery, such as the battery 208, may hereinafter be referred to as remaining charge information. The battery 208, which is an example of a battery, supplies power to each functional unit of the device 200. Each functional unit of the device 200 consumes the power supplied from the battery 208 to realize each of the above-described functions.

[0013] The vibration actuator 205 can also be regarded as an operating means that consumes power to operate. In a broad sense, the signal control section 202, the signal amplification section 203, and the vibration actuator 205 can also be regarded as an operating means that consumes power to operate. The network connecting the control device 100 and the device 200 may be any network configured to enable transmission and reception of information. The network may be the Internet, a LAN, a WAN, a cellular network such as LTE or 5G, a wireless network, a dedicated digital line, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Bluetooth Low Energy, or a combination thereof.

[0014] 3 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device 100. The control device 100 includes a transmitting / receiving unit 1001, a storage unit 1002, an operation determining unit 1003, a relationship determining unit 1004, and a device control unit 1005. The transmitting / receiving unit 1001, which is an example of an acquisition unit, transmits and receives information to the device 200. The transmitting / receiving unit 1001 receives remaining capacity information from the device 200. The transmitting / receiving unit 1001 also transmits an operation instruction, including the content of the operation of the device 200, to the device 200. The storage unit 1002 stores information. Examples of information stored in the storage unit 1002 include remaining capacity information for each device 200 received by the transmission / reception unit 1001. The storage unit 1002 also stores the remaining capacity information in association with information identifying the device 200 that is the subject of the remaining capacity information.

[0015] The operation determination unit 1003 determines whether to operate the device 200. The operation determination unit 1003 determines whether to operate the device 200 based on the user's operation, the information displayed on the HMD 100, the relationship between the information displayed on the HMD 100 and the user, and the like. Furthermore, when the operation determination unit 1003 determines to operate the device 200, it determines which of the devices 200 provided in the device control system 1 to operate. In this case, the operation determination unit 1003 may determine to operate only one device 200, or may operate multiple devices 200. Note that the target device 200 determined to be operated by the operation determination unit 1003 may be referred to as the target device 200 hereinafter. The operation determination unit 1003 transmits information indicating the decision to operate the device 200, together with information identifying the target device 200, to the relationship determination unit 1004 and the device control unit 1005.

[0016] When the gaze detector 108 detects the user's gaze, the operation determination unit 1003 may determine to operate one or more devices 200 that are close to the detected gaze. Furthermore, when a specific image is displayed on the HMD 100, the operation determination unit 1003 may determine to operate one or more devices 200 depending on the type of image to be displayed. Furthermore, when a relationship between an image displayed on the HMD 100 and a user's body part satisfies a predetermined condition, the operation determination unit 1003 may determine to operate one or more devices 200 depending on the body part that satisfies the condition. An example of a relationship that satisfies the predetermined condition is a relationship between an image and a user's body part such that the position in the virtual space of the user's body part detected by the body part detector 111 overlaps with the display position of the image in the virtual space.

[0017] When the operation determination unit 1003 determines to operate the plurality of devices 200, the relationship determination unit 1004 determines the relationship between the operations of the plurality of target devices 200. Examples of the relationship between the operations of the plurality of target devices 200 include the relationship between the ratios of the maximum amplitudes of the vibrations of the plurality of target devices 200. Although not shown in the figure, the storage unit 1002 may store, for example, a table indicating the relationship between the operations of the plurality of target devices 200 for each event that triggers the operation determination unit 1003 to decide to operate the plurality of target devices 200. The event that triggers the decision to operate the plurality of target devices 200 includes the above-mentioned event of the user's line of sight being detected by the line of sight detector 108, the event of a specific image being displayed on the HMD 100, the event of the relationship between the image and the user's body part satisfying a predetermined condition, etc. The relationship determination unit 1004 may determine the relationship between the operations of the plurality of target devices 200 in accordance with the event that triggers the decision to operate the plurality of target devices 200 by referring to the table stored in the storage unit 1002.

[0018] The device control unit 1005, which is an example of a control means, controls the operation of the target device 200. When operating a plurality of target devices 200, the device control unit 1005 determines the operation details of the plurality of target devices 200 according to the operational relationship between the plurality of target devices 200 determined by the relationship determination unit 1004 and the remaining charge of the battery 208 of each of the plurality of target devices 200. The device control unit 1005 controls the operation of the target device 200 by transmitting an operation instruction including the determined operation details to the target device 200 via the transmission / reception unit 1001. The control details of the device 200 by the device control unit 1005 will be described in detail later.

[0019] In the control device 100, the transmitting / receiving unit 1001 is realized by the communication I / F 130 (see FIG. 2). The storage unit 1002 is realized by the memory unit 129. The operation determination unit 1003, the relationship determination unit 1004, and the device control unit 1005 are realized by the CPU 128 loading programs from the memory unit 129 into a RAM (not shown) and executing them.

[0020] FIG. 4(A) is a diagram showing the relationship between the remaining charge of the battery 208 and the ratio of the maximum amplitude of the vibration of the device 200. The horizontal axis of FIG. 4(A) represents the percentage of the remaining charge relative to the capacity of the battery 208. The vertical axis of FIG. 4(A) represents the ratio of the maximum amplitude controlled as the vibration of the device 200. The ratio of the maximum amplitude controlled as the vibration of the device 200 is the ratio of the value set in the device control unit 1005 as the maximum amplitude of the vibration of the device 200 to the maximum amplitude that can be set as the vibration capacity of the device 200. Hereinafter, the maximum amplitude that can be set as the vibration capacity of the device 200 may be referred to as the maximum amplitude value. Hereinafter, the value set in the device control unit 1005 as the maximum amplitude of the vibration of the device 200 may be referred to as the amplitude setting value. Hereinafter, the ratio of the amplitude setting value to the maximum amplitude value may be referred to as the amplitude ratio. In other words, the vertical axis of FIG. 4(A) is the amplitude ratio. Moreover, the information showing the relationship between the remaining charge of the battery 208 and the amplitude ratio, which is shown in FIG. 4(A), may be referred to as relationship information hereinafter. 4(A) is stored in the storage unit 1002 of the control device 100. In the following, it is assumed that the operation of the target device 200, the relationship of which is determined by the relationship determination unit 1004, and the operation of the target device 200 controlled by the device control unit 1005 are both vibrations of the target device 200.

[0021] 4A, the device control unit 1005 of the HMD 100 controls the operation of the target device 200 according to the remaining charge of the battery 208. When the remaining charge of the battery 208 of the target device 200 is 70% or more of its capacity, the device control unit 1005 sets the amplitude rate of the target device 200 to 1. In other words, when the remaining charge of the battery 208 of the target device 200 is 70% or more of its capacity, the device control unit 1005 vibrates the target device 200 at the maximum amplitude that can be set as the vibration capability of the target device 200. Furthermore, when the remaining charge of the battery 208 of the target device 200 is more than 20% but less than 70% of the capacity, the device control unit 1005 sets a smaller amplitude ratio as the remaining charge of the battery 208 decreases. Furthermore, if the remaining charge of the battery 208 of the target device 200 is less than 20%, the device control unit 1005 sets the amplitude ratio to 0.25.

[0022] 4(A), 70% of the remaining charge of the battery 208 is set as the threshold value at which the amplitude setting value of the target device 200 is limited with respect to the maximum amplitude value. Hereinafter, the threshold value at which the amplitude setting value of the target device 200 is limited with respect to the maximum amplitude value may be referred to as a limit threshold value. Furthermore, the device control unit 1005 sets the amplitude ratio for each of the plurality of target devices 200 based on the remaining charge of the battery 208 of the target device 200 having the smallest remaining charge of the battery 208 among the plurality of target devices 200. Note that, hereinafter, the remaining charge of the battery 208 of the target device 200 having the smallest remaining charge of the battery 208 among the plurality of target devices 200 may be referred to as the "smallest remaining charge."

[0023] 4(B) is a diagram showing the relationship between the remaining charge of the battery 208 of a plurality of target devices 200 and the amplitude setting value of each of the plurality of target devices 200. In the example shown in FIG. 4(B), it is assumed that two target devices 200 are worn on the left and right hands of a user, respectively. The target device 200 worn on the user's left hand may be referred to as the left-hand target device 200 below. Furthermore, the target device 200 worn on the user's right hand may be referred to as the right-hand target device 200 below. It is also assumed that the battery 208 of the left-hand target device 200 and the battery 208 of the right-hand target device 200 have different capacities. More specifically, it is assumed that the battery 208 of the left-hand target device 200 has a larger capacity than the right-hand target device 200.

[0024] When the remaining charge of the battery 208 of the left-hand target device 200 and the right-hand target device 200 is both 70% or more, the device control unit 1005 sets the amplitude setting values ​​of both the left-hand target device 200 and the right-hand target device 200 to the maximum amplitude based on the relationship information (see FIG. 4(A)). In other words, when the remaining charge of the battery 208 of both the left-hand target device 200 and the right-hand target device 200 is both 70% or more, the device control unit 1005 sets the amplitude ratios of both the left-hand target device 200 and the right-hand target device 200 to 1. Here, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the maximum amplitude of the right-hand target device 200 is MR, and the maximum amplitude of the left-hand target device 200 is ML, which is 1.3 times MR. Therefore, when the remaining charge of the battery 208 of the left-hand target device 200 and the right-hand target device 200 is 70% or more, the ratio of the amplitude setting value of the left-hand target device 200 to the amplitude setting value of the right-hand target device 200 is 1.3:1.

[0025] In the illustrated example, the remaining charge of the battery 208 of the left-hand target device 200 is 70%, while the remaining charge of the battery 208 of the right-hand target device 200 is 20%. In this case, the device control unit 1005 sets the amplitude ratio of the left-hand target device 200 and the amplitude ratio of the right-hand target device 200 based on the remaining charge of the battery 208 of the right-hand target device 200. Specifically, based on the relationship indicated in the relationship information, the device control unit 1005 sets both the amplitude ratio of the left-hand target device 200 and the amplitude ratio of the right-hand target device 200 to "0.25" corresponding to 20%, which is the remaining charge of the battery 208 of the right-hand target device 200. In this case, the amplitude setting value of the right-hand target device 200 is CR, and the amplitude setting value of the left-hand target device 200 is CL, which is 1.3 times CR. That is, regardless of the remaining charge of the battery 208, the left-hand target device 200 and the right-hand target device 200 have the same amplitude ratio, so that the relationship of 1.3:1 is maintained as the ratio of the amplitude setting values ​​of the left-hand target device 200 and the right-hand target device 200.

[0026] Note that, when the operational relationship between the plurality of target devices 200 has been determined by the relationship determination unit 1004, the device control unit 1005 may set the amplitude ratio of the plurality of target devices 200 based on the determined operational relationship. For example, the device control unit 1005 assumes an amplitude setting value for each target device 200 from the minimum remaining amount and the relationship information, and obtains a value by multiplying the assumed amplitude setting value by the ratio determined by the relationship determination unit 1004 as the operational relationship between the plurality of target devices 200. In this way, an amplitude setting value based on the operational relationship determined by the relationship determination unit 1004 is calculated.

[0027] 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the control process. The control process is a process in which the control device 100 controls the operation of the target device 200. The control process is started when the operation determination unit 1003 determines that the device 200 should be operated. The relationship determining unit 1004 determines whether there are multiple target devices 200 (S101). The relationship determining unit 1004 makes the determination in step 101 depending on whether there are multiple target devices 200 specified by the operation determining unit 1003. If there are not multiple target devices 200 (NO in S101), the device control unit 1005 identifies the remaining capacity of the battery 208 of one target device 200 from the latest remaining capacity information stored in the storage unit 1002 for this one target device 200. Then, the device control unit 1005 sets the amplitude ratio of this one target device 200 from the identified remaining capacity and related information (see FIG. 4(A)) (S102).

[0028] If there are multiple target devices 200 (YES in S101), the relationship determining unit 1004 determines the operational relationships of the multiple target devices 200 (S103). The device control unit 1005 determines whether the plurality of target devices 200 satisfy the change condition (S104). The change condition is a condition used by the device control unit 1005 to determine whether or not to change the amplitude setting value from the maximum amplitude value. The change condition can also be understood as a condition determined regarding the remaining battery capacity. In this embodiment, the change condition is determined as the minimum remaining capacity being less than the limit threshold. For each target device 200, the device control unit 1005 identifies the remaining capacity of the battery 208 of the target device 200 from the latest remaining capacity information stored in the storage unit 1002, and also identifies the minimum remaining capacity. Then, by comparing the identified minimum remaining capacity with the limit threshold indicated in the relationship information, it is determined whether or not the plurality of target devices 200 satisfy the change condition.

[0029] If the plurality of target devices 200 do not satisfy the change condition (NO in S104), the device control unit 1005 sets the amplitude ratio of each of the plurality of target devices 200 to 1. In other words, the amplitude setting value of each of the plurality of target devices 200 is set to the maximum amplitude value (S105). Furthermore, if the plurality of target devices 200 satisfy the change condition (YES in S104), the device control unit 1005 limits the amplitude of vibration of each target device 200 in accordance with the minimum remaining amount (S106). More specifically, the device control unit 1005 sets the amplitude setting value of each of the plurality of target devices 200 to a value lower than the maximum amplitude value in accordance with the relationship between the minimum remaining amount and the relationship information.

[0030] As described above, when the remaining charge of the second battery supplying power to the second operating means is lower than the remaining charge of the first battery supplying power to the first operating means, the device control unit 1005 operates the first operating means and the second operating means with operation details according to the remaining charge of the second battery. Furthermore, when the second battery satisfies the change condition earlier than the first battery, the device control unit 1005 operates the first operating means and the second operating means so that consumption of the first battery and the second battery is reduced when the second battery satisfies the condition rather than when it does not. An example of the first operating means is a target device 200 among the multiple target devices 200 that has a battery 208 with a remaining charge that is not the minimum. An example of the second operating means is a target device 200 among the multiple target devices 200 that has a battery 208 with a remaining charge that is the minimum. An example of the first battery is a battery 208 with a remaining charge that is not the minimum. An example of the second battery is a battery 208 with a remaining charge that is the minimum. In this case, the difference between the operation of the first operation means and the operation of the second operation means is prevented from becoming conspicuous compared to a configuration in which the first operation means operates regardless of the remaining charge of the second battery, and therefore, the operations of the first operation means and the second operation means are prevented from giving the user a sense of discomfort, and the user's sense of immersion in the HMD 100 is prevented from being impaired.

[0031] In particular, in this embodiment, the device control unit 1005 limits the operation of each of the multiple target devices 200 according to the minimum remaining charge. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the loss of the user's immersive feeling in the HMD 100 while suppressing consumption of the battery 208 of each of the multiple target devices 200.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the first operating means and the second operating means are both the target device 200, the device control unit 1005 operates the second operating means when operating the first operating means. In other words, the device control unit 1005 operates the first operating means and the second operating means in cooperation with each other. In this case, if only the operation of the second operating means with a low remaining battery power is restricted and the operation of the first operating means is not restricted, the user is more likely to feel uncomfortable because the difference between the action of the first operating means and the action of the second operating means is greater. In contrast, as in this embodiment, when the operation of not only the second operating means but also the first operating means is restricted in response to a low remaining battery power, the user is less likely to feel uncomfortable because the difference between the action of the first operating means and the action of the second operating means is smaller.

[0033] In this embodiment, the device control unit 1005 changes the operation level of the first operation means and the operation level of the second operation means according to the remaining charge of the second battery. The operation level may be the maximum amplitude of vibration, etc. In this case, the control by the device control unit 1005 to change the operation content of the first operation means and the second operation means is simpler than when the operation content of the first operation means and the second operation means is changed without changing the operation level.

[0034] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4B, the device control unit 1005 operates the first operating means and the second operating means so that the relationship between the level of operation of the first operating means and the level of operation of the second operating means satisfies a predetermined condition before and after a change in the level of operation of the first operating means. In this case, the first operating means may be the right-hand target device 200 shown in FIG. 4B, and the second operating means may be the left-hand target device 200. Furthermore, the predetermined condition may be such that the amplitude setting value of the first operating means and the amplitude setting value of the second operating means are in a predetermined ratio. In this case, the change in the level of operation can be prevented from causing discomfort to the user, compared to when the relationship between the level of operation of the first operating means and the level of operation of the second operating means before and after a change in the level of operation of the first operating means does not satisfy the predetermined condition. In the above example, the predetermined condition is that the amplitude setting value of the first operating means and the amplitude setting value of the second operating means have the same ratio before and after a change in the operation level of the first operating means (see FIG. 4(B)), but this is not limited to this. The predetermined condition may be, for example, that the amplitude setting value of the first operating means and the amplitude setting value of the second operating means have a predetermined ratio range before and after a change in the operation level of the first operating means. In other words, the predetermined condition is not limited to the relationship between the operation level of the first operating means and the operation level of the second operating means having the same relationship before and after a change in the operation level of the first operating means. Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 4(B), the battery of the first operating means and the battery of the second operating means have different capacities, but this is not limited to this. The battery of the first operating means and the battery of the second operating means may have the same capacity.

[0035] Next, a modified example of the control process will be described. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the control process as a modified example. In the modified example described below, it is assumed that remaining charge information is stored in the storage unit 1002 in association with information identifying the body part of the user on which the device 200 having the battery 208 that is the subject of this remaining charge information is worn. Furthermore, in the modified example described below, it is assumed that the operation determination unit 1003 transmits information identifying the target device 200 to the relationship determination unit 1004 and the device control unit 1005 together with information identifying the body part of the user on which the target device 200 is worn.

[0036] In the control process shown in FIG. 6, the processes in steps 201 to 205 are the same as the processes in steps 101 to 105 of the control process shown in FIG. The device control unit 1005 determines whether the body parts of the user on which the plurality of target devices 200 are worn are the same body parts (S206). Note that, hereinafter, the body parts of the user on which the plurality of target devices 200 are worn may be referred to as target body parts. If the target parts are the same part (Yes in S206), the device control unit 1005 limits the amplitude of the vibration of each target device 200 according to the minimum remaining amount (S207). The process in step 207 is the same as the process in step 106 of the control process shown in FIG.

[0037] If the target parts are not the same part (No in S206), the device control unit 1005 limits the amplitude of vibration of each target device 200 according to the relationship of the target parts (S208). The user's sensitivity to the vibrations and other effects of the device 200 varies depending on the part of the user on which the device 200 acts. Specifically, the sensitivity of each part of the user's body follows a relationship of, for example, "hands > head > torso > feet." If the operation of a target device 200 worn on a part of the user with low sensitivity is excessively restricted, the effect of the target device 200 may not be transmitted to the user. Therefore, in step 208, the device control unit 1005 restricts the operation of each target device 200 according to the sensitivity of the target part. More specifically, the device control unit 1005 assumes an amplitude setting value for each target device 200 based on the minimum remaining charge and related information. Then, taking into account the sensitivity of each part, the device control unit 1005 multiplies the assumed amplitude setting value by a correction value that differs for each target part, and determines the value obtained for each target part as the amplitude setting value for that target part. In this case, the correction value used to multiply the assumed amplitude setting value may be larger for a target device 200 worn on a part with low sensitivity.

[0038] As described above, the first operating means and the second operating means are each worn by the user and act on different parts of the user. When restricting the operation of the first operating means and the operation of the second operating means according to the remaining charge of the second battery, the device control unit 1005 sets different degrees of restriction for the first operating means and the second operating means. In this case, the first operating means and the second operating means can be operated taking into account the sensitivity of each part of the user that the operating means acts on.

[0039] In the present embodiment, the device control unit 1005 limits the amplitude of vibration of each target device 200 according to the minimum remaining charge, but the present invention is not limited to this. The device control unit 1005 may increase the maximum value of the amplitude of vibration of the plurality of target devices 200 according to the minimum remaining charge. In addition, when the minimum remaining charge is greater than a predetermined remaining charge, the device control unit 1005 may control the operation of each target device 200 so as to increase the battery consumption of each target device 200 according to the minimum remaining charge.

[0040] Furthermore, the target of control of the target device 200 by the device control unit 1005 is not limited to the amplitude of vibrations. The target of control of the target device 200 by the device control unit 1005 may be, for example, the frequency of vibrations. Furthermore, the target of control of the target device 200 by the device control unit 1005 may be, for example, an operating time such as a vibration time. In this case, the device control unit 1005 may operate the first operating unit and the second operating unit such that the relationship between the operating time of the first operating unit and the operating time of the second operating unit satisfies a predetermined condition before and after a change in the operating time of the first operating unit and the second operating unit. Examples of the predetermined condition include a condition in which the operating time of the first operating unit and the operating time of the second operating unit are within a predetermined ratio range. Furthermore, when restricting the operation of the first operating unit and the operation of the second operating unit according to the remaining charge of the second battery, the device control unit 1005 may vary the degree of restriction between the first operating unit and the second operating unit according to the target body part. In this case, the restricted operation is the operating time.

[0041] In addition, in this embodiment, the HMD 100, which is a device different from the device 200 that is the operating means, has a configuration including an acquisition means and a control means, but is not limited to this. The operating means itself may have an acquisition means and a control means.

[0042] (Second embodiment) Next, the configuration of a device control system 1 according to a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the device control system 1 according to the second embodiment. The device control system 1 shown in FIG. 7 is a system that controls the operation of a device 500 that outputs sound. An example of the device 500 is a wireless earphone. The device 500, which is an example of an operating means, includes a control device 600, a left earphone 610, and a right earphone 620. The left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 can also be considered as operating means. In this embodiment, the control device 600, the left earphone 610, and the right earphone 620 may be a single device or may be separate devices. Also,

[0043] The control device 600 as an example of a control means includes a CPU 601 , a memory 603 , an audio signal processing unit 602 , and a communication I / F 604 . The CPU 601 controls the entire device 600. The CPU 601 controls, for example, the volume, the strength of noise cancellation, the compression method of the audio signal, etc. The memory 603 stores audio signals, remaining capacity information related to the device 600, etc. The audio signal processing unit 602 has, for example, an equalizer function and changes the sound balance for each frequency of the output audio. The communication I / F 604, for example, communicates with the left earphone 610 to transmit audio signals and control signals to the left earphone 610 and receive remaining capacity information from the left earphone 610. Note that the communication I / F 604 may communicate not only with the left earphone 610 but also with the right earphone 620. Furthermore, when the CPU 601 operates the left earphone 610, it also operates the right earphone 620. In other words, the CPU 601 operates the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 in cooperation with each other.

[0044] The left earphone 610 includes a remaining charge acquisition unit 612 , a communication I / F 611 , a battery 613 , a communication I / F 614 , a signal processing unit 615 , an external sound input unit 616 , and a driver unit 617 . The remaining charge acquisition unit 612 measures the remaining charge of the battery 613 at regular intervals and, each time it measures the remaining charge, transmits remaining charge information indicating the remaining charge of the battery 613 to the control device 600 via the communication I / F 611. Therefore, the control device 600 can also be considered as an acquisition unit that acquires remaining charge information. The communication I / F 611 communicates with the control device 600. The battery 613, which is an example of a battery, supplies power to each functional unit of the left earphone 610. Each functional unit of the left earphone 610 realizes each of the above-mentioned functions by consuming the power supplied from the battery 613. The communication I / F 614 communicates with the right earphone 620 to receive remaining charge information from the right earphone 620. The signal processing unit 615 generates a reduction signal that reduces the sound used for noise cancellation from the external sound input from the external sound input unit 616. The signal processing unit 615 also generates noise-canceled sound by combining the generated reduction signal with an audio signal input from the device 500. The driver unit 617 is a mechanism that generates sound by transmitting the audio signal generated by the signal processing unit 615 to a diaphragm.

[0045] The right earphone 620 includes a remaining charge acquisition unit 621, a battery 622, a communication I / F 623, a signal processing unit 624, an external sound input unit 625, and a driver unit 626. The remaining charge acquisition unit 621, the battery 622, and the communication I / F 623 have the same functions as the remaining charge acquisition unit 612, the battery 613, and the communication I / F 614, respectively. The signal processing unit 624, the external sound input unit 625, and the driver unit 626 have the same functions as the signal processing unit 615, the external sound input unit 616, and the driver unit 617, respectively.

[0046] Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of control processing of this embodiment. The control processing shown in Fig. 8 is processing in which the CPU 601 of the control device 600 controls the operation of the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620. The control processing shown in Fig. 8 is started, for example, at predetermined time intervals. The predetermined time may be any time, but is, for example, one second. The CPU 601 detects which of the battery 613 and the battery 622 has the smaller remaining capacity (S301). The CPU 601 detects which of the battery 613 and the battery 622 has the smaller remaining capacity from the latest remaining capacity information stored in the memory 603 for the battery 613 and the battery 622.

[0047] The CPU 601 determines whether the device 500 satisfies a change condition (S302). The change condition in this embodiment is that the remaining capacity of the battery 613 or the battery 622, whichever is smaller, is less than a predetermined value. If the device 500 does not satisfy the change condition (No in S302), the control process ends. In this case, the sound output from the device 500 is not changed.

[0048] If the device 500 satisfies the change condition (Yes in S302), the CPU 601 lowers the quality of the sound output from the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 (S303). For example, if the remaining charge of the battery 613 or 622 is less than a predetermined threshold, the CPU 601 outputs sound using a lossless compression method. Furthermore, if the remaining charge of the battery 613 or 622 is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold, the CPU 601 outputs sound at a low bit rate using a lossy compression method such as AAC (Advanced Audio Coding).

[0049] The CPU 601 determines whether the volume set for the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (S304). If the volume is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold (Yes in S304), the CPU 601 limits the volume (S305) in accordance with the smaller remaining charge of the battery 613 or the battery 622. For example, the CPU 601 reduces the volume of the sound output from the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 as the smaller the remaining charge of the battery 613 or the battery 622.

[0050] If a negative result is obtained in step 304, or after step 305, the CPU 601 determines whether the volume of the externally input sound is less than a predetermined threshold (S306). The CPU 601 makes the determination in step 306 based on the volume of the external sound input from the external sound input unit 616 and the external sound input unit 625. If the external volume is less than the predetermined threshold (Yes in S306), the CPU 601 reduces the intensity of noise cancellation for the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 (S307). In this case, the signal processing unit 615 and the signal processing unit 624, for example, reduce the intensity by applying a gain when capturing the external sound and generating a noise cancellation signal of the opposite phase. Note that the CPU 601 may reduce the intensity of noise cancellation for the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 as the remaining charge of the battery 613 and the battery 622 decreases. Also, the CPU 601 may stop the noise cancellation function for the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 in step 307. Also, if a negative result is obtained in step 306, the intensity of noise cancellation for the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 is not changed.

[0051] In this way, the control device 600 of this embodiment limits the operation of the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 depending on which of the batteries 613 and 622 has the lowest remaining charge. In other words, when the remaining charge of the second battery that supplies power to the second operation means is lower than the remaining charge of the first battery that supplies power to the first operation means, the control device 600 operates the first operation means and the second operation means with operation content that corresponds to the remaining charge of the second battery. Furthermore, when the second battery satisfies the change condition earlier than the first battery, the control device 600 operates the first operation means and the second operation means so that consumption of the first battery and the second battery is reduced when the second battery satisfies the condition compared to when it does not. The first operation means is the earphone of the left earphone 610 or the right earphone 620 whose battery has the largest remaining charge. Furthermore, the second operation means is the earphone of the left earphone 610 or the right earphone 620 whose battery has the smallest remaining charge. In this case, compared to a configuration in which the first operation means operates regardless of the remaining charge of the second battery, it is possible to prevent the operation of the first operation means and the second operation means from giving a sense of discomfort to the user, and also to reduce power consumption by the device 500.

[0052] Note that in this embodiment, the CPU 601 limits the operation of the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 in accordance with which of the batteries 613 and 622 has the lowest remaining charge, but this is not limiting. The CPU 601 may also control the operation of the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 so as to increase the consumption of the batteries 613 and 622 in accordance with which of the batteries 613 and 622 has the lowest remaining charge. The CPU 601 may also control the operation time of the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 in accordance with which of the batteries 613 and 622 has the lowest remaining charge. Furthermore, the CPU 601 may operate the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 so that the relationship between the level related to the left earphone 610 and the level related to the right earphone 620 satisfies a predetermined condition before and after a change in the operation level. Examples of the operation level include volume and noise cancellation strength. Furthermore, the CPU 601 may operate the left earphone 610 and the right earphone 620 so that the relationship between the operation time of the left earphone 610 and the operation time of the right earphone 620 satisfies a predetermined condition before and after a change in the operation time. Examples of the predetermined condition include the volume of the left earphone 610 and the volume of the right earphone 620 being within a predetermined ratio range, or the operation time of the left earphone 610 and the operation time of the right earphone 620 being within a predetermined ratio range.

[0053] (Third embodiment) Next, a device control system 1 according to a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 9(A) is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the device control system 1 according to the third embodiment. The device control system 1 according to this embodiment is a system that controls the operation of a light-emitting device 700. The device 700, which is an example of an operating unit, includes a control device 800 and a penlight 810. As shown in FIG. 9(B), the device 700 is provided with a plurality of penlights 810. In the illustrated example, the device 700 is provided with three penlights 810, and each penlight 810 communicates with the control device 800. Note that each penlight 810 has the same configuration, and FIG. 9(A) shows the configuration of one representative penlight 810. Each penlight 810 can also be considered as operating means. In this embodiment, the control device 800 and the penlight 810 may be a single device or separate devices.

[0054] The control device 800, which is an example of a control means, includes a CPU 801, a memory 802, and a communication I / F 803. The control device 800 may be a computer such as a smartphone or a PC. The control device 800 controls the light emitted by the penlight 810. The CPU 801 controls the entire device 700. The CPU 801 also generates information for instructing, for example, the light emission color of the penlights 810, the light emission timing of the penlights 810, the light emission intensity of the penlights 810, and the relationship between the light emission patterns of the penlights 810. The memory 802 stores information indicating the relationship between the light emission patterns of the penlights 810 and remaining charge information related to the battery 813 of each penlight 810. The communication I / F 803 communicates with each penlight 810.

[0055] The penlight 810 includes a control unit 811 , a light emitting unit 812 , a battery 813 , a remaining charge acquiring unit 814 , and a communication I / F 815 . The control unit 811 includes a CPU that controls the entire penlight 810 through program execution, a ROM that stores various programs, a RAM that executes the programs, and an LED control circuit. The light-emitting unit 812 emits light in accordance with instructions received by the control unit 811 from the control device 800. The light-emitting unit 812 is, for example, a full-color LED, equipped with red, green, and blue LED elements, and emits light in multiple colors by controlling the brightness of each color LED element. The remaining charge acquisition unit 814 measures the remaining charge of the battery 813 at regular intervals and transmits remaining charge information indicating the remaining charge of the battery 813 to the control device 800 via the communication I / F 815 each time the measurement is performed. Therefore, the control device 800 can also be considered as an acquisition unit that acquires remaining charge information. The battery 813 supplies power to each functional unit of the penlight 810. Each functional unit of the penlight 810 consumes power supplied from the battery 813 to realize the above-mentioned functions. The communication I / F 815 communicates with the control device 800 .

[0056] Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the control process of this embodiment. The control process shown in Fig. 10 is a process in which the CPU 801 of the control device 800 controls the operation of each penlight 810. The control process shown in Fig. 10 is started, for example, at predetermined time intervals. The predetermined time may be any time, but is, for example, one second. The CPU 801 detects the remaining charge of the battery 813 with the smallest charge among the penlights 810 provided in the device control system 1 (S401). The CPU 801 detects the remaining charge of the battery 813 with the smallest charge from the latest remaining charge information stored in the memory 802 for each penlight 810.

[0057] The CPU 801 determines whether the penlight 810 satisfies a change condition (S402). The change condition in this embodiment is that the smallest remaining charge of the battery 813 detected in step 401 is less than a predetermined value. If the penlights 810 do not satisfy the change condition (No in S402), the control process ends. In this case, the light emitted by each penlight 810 remains unchanged.

[0058] If the penlights 810 satisfy the change condition (Yes in S402), the CPU 801 reduces the light intensity of each penlight 810 in accordance with the smallest remaining charge among the batteries 813 of each penlight 810 (S403). The CPU 801 may reduce the light intensity of each penlight 810 as the remaining charge of the battery 813 decreases. The CPU 801 sets the light emission pattern of each penlight to a pattern with fewer switching of light emission colors according to the lowest remaining charge of the battery 813 of each penlight 810 (S404). The CPU 801 may set the light emission pattern of each penlight to a pattern with fewer switching of light emission colors as the remaining charge of the battery 813 decreases.

[0059] In this manner, the control device 800 of this embodiment limits the operation of each penlight 810 according to the lowest remaining charge of the battery 813 of each penlight 810. In other words, when the remaining charge of the second battery supplying power to the second operating means is lower than the remaining charge of the first battery supplying power to the first operating means, the control device 600 operates the first operating means and the second operating means with operation content according to the remaining charge of the second battery. Furthermore, when the second battery satisfies the change condition earlier than the first battery, the control device 600 operates the first operating means and the second operating means so that consumption of the first battery and the second battery is reduced when the second battery satisfies the condition compared to when it does not. The first operating means is a penlight 810 different from the penlight 810 with the lowest remaining charge of the battery 813 among the penlights 810. Furthermore, the second operating means is the penlight 810 with the lowest remaining charge of the battery 813 among the penlights 810. In this case, compared to a configuration in which the first operating means operates regardless of the remaining charge of the second battery, it is possible to prevent the operation of the first operating means and the second operating means from giving the user a sense of discomfort, and also to reduce power consumption by the device 700.

[0060] In this embodiment, the CPU 801 limits the operation of each penlight 810 according to the remaining charge of the battery 813 with the least remaining charge, but this is not limiting. The CPU 801 may also control the operation of each penlight 810 so as to increase the consumption of each battery 813 according to the remaining charge of the battery 813 with the least remaining charge. The CPU 801 may also control the operation time of each penlight 810 according to the remaining charge of the battery 813 with the least remaining charge. Furthermore, the CPU 801 may operate each penlight 810 so that the relationship between the levels of each penlight 810 before and after a change in the operation level satisfies a predetermined condition. Examples of the operation level include the light intensity and the number of times the emitted color is switched. Furthermore, the CPU 801 may operate each penlight 810 so that the relationship between the operation time of each penlight 810 before and after a change in the operation time satisfies a predetermined condition. Examples of the predetermined condition include the light intensity or the number of times the emitted color is switched of each penlight 810 falling within a predetermined ratio range, or the operation time of each penlight 810 falling within a predetermined ratio range.

[0061] In the above example, the CPU 801 controls the operations of all the penlights 810 provided in the device control system 1 according to the remaining charge of the battery 813 with the least remaining charge, but the present invention is not limited to this. The CPU 801 may divide the group to which each penlight 810 belongs into a plurality of groups according to the area in which the penlight 810 is installed. The CPU 801 may then limit the operation to the penlights 810 that belong to the same group as the penlight 810 having the battery 813 with the least remaining power, and control the operation according to the remaining power of the battery 813 with the least remaining power.

[0062] In the first, second, and third embodiments, the acquiring unit acquires the remaining amount information at regular time intervals, but this is not limiting. The acquiring unit may acquire the remaining amount information from each operating unit every time a control process is started.

[0063] In the first, second, and third embodiments, the control unit controls the operation of the operation unit when the operation unit satisfies the change condition, but this is not limiting. The control unit may control the operation of each operation unit according to the operation unit with the least remaining battery power among the plurality of operation units, regardless of whether the operation unit satisfies the change condition.

[0064] Furthermore, in the first, second and third embodiments, the change condition is that the remaining battery charge is less than a predetermined value, but the present invention is not limited to this. The control means may specify, for each operating means, the remaining operating time of the operating means until the battery runs out, based on the remaining battery charge information.The control means may then control the operation of each operating means according to the shortest remaining operating time.In other words, the change condition may be determined with respect to the remaining period during which the operating means can operate based on the remaining battery charge.In this case, when the battery capacities differ from battery to battery, the operation of each operating means can be controlled according to the operating means among the plurality of operating means that has not the smallest remaining battery charge but has the shortest remaining operating time until the battery runs out. The information used by the control means to determine the remaining operating time of the operating means until the battery runs out is not limited to the remaining capacity information. The control means may determine the remaining operating time of the operating means until the battery runs out by using, in addition to the remaining capacity information, information related to the operation of the operating means, such as information on the frequency of operation by the operating means.

[0065] As described above in the first, second and third embodiments, the operation of the first operating means and the operation of the second operating means controlled by the control means are both at least one of vibration, sound output and light emission. In this case, the relationship between the operation of the first operating means and the operation of the second operating means is easily recognized by the user. The operation of the operating means controlled by the control means is not limited to the above-mentioned examples. The operation controlled by the control means may be, for example, an operation that affects the user's sense of smell, such as smell, or an operation that affects the user's sense of taste, such as the taste of food.

[0066] Furthermore, the control devices 100, 600, and 800 are not limited to the configurations described above. The control devices 100, 600, and 800 may be server devices that control the operating means. In this case, the control devices 100, 600, and 800 may be configured by a single computer or may be realized by distributed processing using multiple computers. Furthermore, the control devices 100, 600, and 800 may be realized on virtual hardware provided by cloud computing. Furthermore, the control devices 100, 600, and 800 may be integrated with the operating means.

[0067] The present invention also includes a case where a software program that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device having a computer that can execute the program directly from a recording medium or via wired / wireless communication, and the program is executed. Therefore, the program code itself, supplied to and installed on a computer to implement the functional processes described above, also embodies the present invention. In other words, the computer program itself for implementing the functional processes of the present invention is also included in the present invention. In this case, the program may take any form, such as object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to an OS, as long as it has the program's functionality. Recording media for providing the program may include, for example, a hard disk, a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape, an optical / magneto-optical storage medium, or a non-volatile semiconductor memory. Another possible method for providing the program is to store the computer program forming the present invention on a server on a computer network, and then download the computer program to a connected client computer. Furthermore, an operating system or the like running on a computer may perform some or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by this processing. Furthermore, program code read from a storage medium may be written to memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Then, a CPU or the like provided on the function expansion board or function expansion unit may perform some or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code. Even in this case, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

[0068] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configuration. (Configuration 1) an acquisition means for acquiring information about the remaining capacity of a battery that supplies power to an operating means that consumes power to operate; a control means for operating the first operating means and the second operating means with operation details according to the remaining charge of the second battery when the remaining charge of the first battery that supplies power to the operating first operating means is less than the remaining charge of the second battery; A control system comprising: (Configuration 2) 2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the control means, when operating the first operating means, also operates the second operating means. (Configuration 3) The control system of configuration 1 or 2, wherein the control means changes the operation level of the first operation means and the operation level of the second operation means, or changes the operation time of the first operation means and the operation time of the second operation means, depending on the remaining charge of the second battery. (Configuration 4) The first battery and the second battery have different capacities, The control system of configuration 3, wherein the control means operates the first operating means and the second operating means so that a relationship between the level of the first operating means and the level of the second operating means, or a relationship between the operating time of the first operating means and the operating time of the second operating means, before and after a change in the level or before and after a change in the operating time, satisfies a predetermined condition. (Configuration 5) 5. The control system according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the operation of the first operation means and the operation of the second operation means are both at least one of vibration, sound output, and light emission. (Configuration 6) the first operating means and the second operating means are worn by a user and act on different parts of the user, A control system described in any one of configurations 1 to 5, wherein when the control means restricts the operation of the first operating means and the operation of the second operating means depending on the remaining charge of the second battery, the control means varies the degree of restriction between the first operating means and the second operating means. (Configuration 7) an acquisition means for acquiring information about the remaining capacity of a battery that supplies power to an operating means that consumes power to operate; a control means for operating the first operating means and the second operating means such that, when a second battery that supplies power to an operating second operating means satisfies a condition regarding the remaining battery charge earlier than a first battery that supplies power to an operating first operating means, consumption of the first battery and consumption of the second battery are reduced when the second battery satisfies the condition rather than when the second battery does not; A control system comprising: (Configuration 8) 8. The control system according to claim 7, wherein the condition is defined in relation to a remaining period during which the operating means is capable of operating based on the remaining amount.

[0069] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1...Device control system, 100...Control device, 200...Device, 600...Control device, 610...Left earphone, 620...Right earphone, 800...Control device, 810...Penlight

Claims

1. an acquisition means for acquiring information about the remaining capacity of a battery that supplies power to an operating means that consumes power to operate; a control means for operating the first operating means and the second operating means with operation contents corresponding to the remaining charge of the second battery when the remaining charge of the first battery that supplies power to the operating first operating means is lower than the remaining charge of the second battery; A control system comprising:

2. 2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said control means, when operating said first operating means, also operates said second operating means.

3. 2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the control means changes the operation level of the first operation means and the operation level of the second operation means, or changes the operation time of the first operation means and the operation time of the second operation means, depending on the remaining charge of the second battery.

4. the first battery and the second battery have different capacities; 4. The control system according to claim 3, wherein the control means operates the first operating means and the second operating means so that a relationship between the level associated with the first operating means and the level associated with the second operating means, or a relationship between the operating time of the first operating means and the operating time of the second operating means, before and after the change in the level or before and after the change in the operating time satisfies a predetermined condition.

5. 2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the first operation means and the operation of the second operation means are both at least one of vibration, sound output, and light emission.

6. the first operating means and the second operating means are worn by a user and act on different parts of the user, 2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein when the control means limits the operation of the first operating means and the operation of the second operating means depending on the remaining charge of the second battery, the control means varies the degree of the limit between the first operating means and the second operating means.

7. an acquisition means for acquiring information about the remaining capacity of a battery that supplies power to an operating means that consumes power to operate; a control means for operating the first operating means and the second operating means such that, when a second battery supplying power to an operating second operating means satisfies a condition regarding the remaining battery charge earlier than a first battery supplying power to an operating first operating means, consumption of the first battery and consumption of the second battery are reduced when the second battery satisfies the condition rather than when the second battery does not; A control system comprising:

8. The control system according to claim 7 , wherein the condition is defined in relation to a remaining period during which the operating means is operable based on the remaining amount.

9. A control method for a control system that controls an operating means that consumes power to operate, comprising: obtaining information about the remaining capacity of a battery supplying power to the operating means; a step of operating the first operating means and the second operating means with operation contents according to the remaining charge of the second battery when the remaining charge of the first battery that supplies power to the operating first operating means is less than the remaining charge of the second battery; A control method for a control system, comprising:

10. On the computer, a function of acquiring information about the remaining capacity of a battery that supplies power to an operating means that consumes power; a function of operating the first operating means and the second operating means with operation contents according to the remaining charge of the second battery when the remaining charge of the first battery that supplies power to the operating first operating means is less than the remaining charge of the second battery; A program to make this happen.

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