Motion register

Abstract

To provide a motion register capable of improving operability.SOLUTION: A motion register 1 is schematically configured by including: an imaging part 2 that images an occupant 9 seating on a seat of a vehicle 8; a determination part 3 that determines a gesture on the basis of image information S1 acquired from the imaging part 2; and a control part 6 that controls a register 75 for adjusting at least one of a wind direction and a wind volume of an air-conditioning wind 70 generated by an air conditioner 7 of the vehicle 8 on the basis of the gesture determined by the determination part 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a motion register. [Background technology]

[0002] As a conventional technology, a wind direction adjustment device is known that includes a case body that allows air to circulate inside, at least one guide louver that is provided inside the case body and guides the flow of air, and an operating knob that is slidably attached to the guide louver (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] This air direction adjustment device is placed on the instrument panel or center console and can change the direction of the air supplied from the air conditioning unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-109515 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Conventional airflow direction adjustment devices have the problem that when the seat is reclined, the occupant must sit up to operate them, making them less user-friendly.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a motion register that can improve operability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention provides a motion register that includes an imaging unit that captures an image of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat, a determination unit that determines a gesture based on image information acquired from the imaging unit, and a control unit that controls a register that adjusts at least one of the direction and volume of air conditioning air generated by the vehicle's air conditioning device based on the gesture determined by the determination unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, operability can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1(a) is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle in which a motion register according to the first embodiment is installed, and FIG. 1(b) is an example of a block diagram of the motion register and an air conditioning device. [Figure 2] Figure 2(a) is a diagram for explaining an example of the area from which the conditioned air blown out from the motion register in the first embodiment is blown out, and Figure 2(b) is a top view showing an example of a reclined seat. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the arrangement of the imaging units of the motion register according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a hand sign pattern of the motion register according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the motion register according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a hand sign pattern of the motion register according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the motion register according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of determination of the arm orientation by the motion register according to the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] (Summary of the embodiment) The motion register according to the embodiment is generally configured to include an imaging unit that captures an image of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat, a determination unit that determines a gesture based on the image captured by the imaging unit, and a control unit that controls the register to adjust at least one of the direction and volume of the air conditioning air generated by the vehicle's air conditioning device based on the gesture determined by the determination unit.

[0011] This motion register allows the register to be controlled by gestures, improving operability compared to when the register must be operated directly.

[0012] [First embodiment] (Overview of Motion Register 1) FIG. 1(a) is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle in which a motion register according to the first embodiment is installed, and FIG. 1(b) is an example of a block diagram of the motion register and an air conditioning system. FIG. 2(a) is a diagram for explaining an example of an area from which conditioned air is blown out from the motion register according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2(b) is a top view showing an example of a reclined seat. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of the arrangement of an imaging unit of the motion register according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a hand sign pattern of the motion register according to the first embodiment.

[0013] In the drawings relating to the embodiments described below, the ratios and shapes of the figures may differ from the actual ratios and shapes. Also, in Figure 1(b), arrows indicate the flow of main signals and information. Below, we will explain the outline of the motion register 1 of this embodiment.

[0014] As an example, the register 75 of this embodiment is arranged on an instrument panel 82 as shown in Fig. 1(a). As shown in Fig. 1(b), this register 75 is configured to change at least the direction of airflow by a drive unit 77. The register 75 includes a center right register 71, a right register 72, a center left register 73, and a left register 74, but may also include a register arranged at the feet or a register arranged for the rear seats, and is not limited to these.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1(a) to 3, the motion register 1 is generally configured to include an imaging unit 2 that captures an image of an occupant 9 seated in a seat of a vehicle 8, a judgment unit 3 that judges a gesture based on image information S1 acquired from the imaging unit 2, and a control unit 6 that controls a register 75 that adjusts at least one of the wind direction and wind volume of the air conditioning air 70 generated by an air conditioning device 7 of the vehicle 8 based on the gesture judged by the judgment unit 3.

[0016] The determination unit 3 determines, as a gesture, a key gesture for starting control of the register 75 and a control gesture that follows the key gesture and indicates the control content of the register 75. The control unit 6 causes the air conditioner 7 to execute the control content of the register 75 based on the determined control gesture.

[0017] The above-mentioned gesture is a hand sign 10, as shown in Fig. 4. The hand sign 10 is a gesture using the movement and shape of the hand 94 and fingers (thumb 95a, index finger 95b, middle finger 95c, ring finger 95d, and little finger 95e) of the occupant 9.

[0018] An example of the control gesture in this embodiment is control hand signs 12, as shown in Fig. 4. Motion register 1 includes, but is not limited to, control hand signs 12a to 12c as control hand signs 12.

[0019] The control content is at least one of wind direction control, such as blowing of conditioned air 70 to an area including the face 90 of the occupant 9, blowing of conditioned air 70 to an area avoiding the occupant 9, and continuous wind direction change, and wind volume control. The motion register 1 of this embodiment controls the wind direction of blowing of conditioned air 70 to an area including the face 90 of the occupant 9, and blowing of conditioned air 70 to an area avoiding the occupant 9. The area including the face 90 of the occupant 9 is, for example, a face area 100 as shown in FIG. 2(a). The area avoiding the occupant 9 is, for example, an outer area 101.

[0020] The determination unit 3 determines the face 90 based on the image information S1, using the throat 91 of the occupant 9 as a reference. The control unit 6 determines the face area 100 and the outer area 101 according to the position of the face 90 based on the determination information S2 acquired from the determination unit 3, and performs wind direction control.

[0021] The imaging unit 2 is disposed in a location where it can capture an image of the occupant 9 with the seat reclined backward. As an example, the imaging unit 2 is the ceiling 83 of the vehicle 8, as shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 3. The imaging area 20 of the imaging unit 2 includes the occupant 9 with the seat reclined, as shown in FIG.

[0022] As an example, the air conditioner 7 is roughly configured to include an air conditioning unit 76, a drive unit 77, a communication unit 78, and an air conditioning control unit 79, as shown in FIG. 1(b).

[0023] The air conditioning unit 76 is configured to generate conditioned air 70 at a set temperature and send it out at a set air volume via a register 75. The drive units 77 are arranged in the center right register 71, the right register 72, the center left register 73, and the left register 74. The drive units 77 are configured to change at least the direction in which the conditioned air 70 is sent out. The communication unit 78 is configured to be able to exchange information and signals with the communication unit 5 of the motion register 1. The air conditioning control unit 79 is a microcomputer that comprehensively controls the air conditioning unit 76, the drive units 77, and the communication unit 78.

[0024] (Configuration of imaging unit 2) The imaging unit 2 is configured using imaging elements such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). As shown in FIGS. 2(b) and 3, the imaging unit 2 has an imaging area 20. This imaging area 20 is an area that can capture images of a face 90, throat 91, body 92, arms 93, and hands 94 of an occupant 9 seated in a driver's seat 80 and a passenger seat 81. As shown in FIG. 2(b), the imaging area 20 is an area that includes the face 90 and throat 91 when the driver's seat 80 and the passenger seat 81 are reclined.

[0025] When determining the position of face 90 of occupant 9, determination unit 3, for example, determines hand sign 10 based on determination area 21 that includes the position from throat 91 to face 90. Therefore, image capture unit 2 has image capture area 20 that includes face 90 and throat 91 regardless of whether the seat is reclined or not.

[0026] The imaging unit 2 outputs image information S1, which is information about the captured image, to the control unit 6. The imaging unit 2 may be configured to output the image information S1 to the determination unit 3.

[0027] (Configuration of Determination Unit 3) The determination unit 3 determines the hand sign 10 based on the image information S1 acquired from the imaging unit 2 and the hand sign information 40, and outputs determination information S2 including information on the determined hand sign 10. The determination is performed, for example, using motion capture using AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology.

[0028] This determination information S2 includes, for example, at least information on the determined hand sign 10, information on whether the occupant 9 who made the hand sign 10 is sitting in the driver's seat 80 or the passenger seat 81, and information on the position of the occupant 9's face 90.

[0029] 4, the determination unit 3 of this embodiment is configured to determine the key hand sign 11 and the control hand signs 12a to 12c as hand sign patterns 41. These hand signs 10 may be made by either the right hand or the left hand.

[0030] The key hand sign 11 is a signal to start the hand sign 10 for suppressing erroneous judgment, and is a hand sign 10 in which the index finger 95b is raised. The control hand sign 12a is a hand sign 10 that involves opening the hand 94 and shaking it from side to side. The control hand sign 12b is a hand sign 10 that involves opening the hand 94 without shaking it from side to side. The control hand sign 12c is a hand sign 10 that involves closing the hand 94.

[0031] The determination unit 3 may be configured as hardware implemented as an integrated circuit (IC), or may be configured as a program executed by the control unit 6, for example.

[0032] (Configuration of storage unit 4) The storage unit 4 is configured as, for example, but not limited to, a semiconductor memory. The storage unit 4 stores hand sign information 40. As shown in FIG. 3, the hand sign information 40 includes hand signs 10 and information on control details related to the hand signs 10.

[0033] (Configuration of communication unit 5) The communication unit 5 is configured to exchange information and signals with the air conditioner 7 using a communication protocol such as CAN (Controller Area Network) or LIN (Local Interconnect Network).

[0034] (Configuration of control unit 6) The control unit 6 is a microcomputer including, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs calculations and processing on acquired data according to a stored program, and semiconductor memories such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). The ROM stores, for example, programs for the operation of the control unit 6. The RAM is used, for example, as a storage area for temporarily storing calculation results. The control unit 6 also has a means for generating a clock signal therein and operates based on this clock signal.

[0035] Control unit 6 outputs control information S3 according to the control content associated with hand sign 10 determined based on determined hand sign 10 and hand sign information 40 to air conditioner 7 via communication unit 5. Hand sign pattern 41 will be described below.

[0036] (About hand sign pattern 41) As an example, the hand sign pattern 41 is a combination of a key hand sign 11 and a control hand sign 12, as shown in FIG.

[0037] For example, the control hand sign 12a is associated with a control content for sending conditioned air 70 to a face area 100 including the face 90 of the occupant 9 who has made the hand sign 10. For example, when the occupant 9 makes the hand sign 10 in the driver's seat 80, the air conditioning control unit 79 of the air conditioner 7 outputs a control signal S4 and a drive signal S5 to the air conditioning unit 76 and the drive unit 77 based on the control information S3 acquired via the communication unit 78, and controls the center right register 71 and the right register 72 to send the conditioned air 70 to the face area 100.

[0038] For example, the control hand sign 12b is associated with a control content for sending conditioned air 70 to an outside area 101 outside the occupant 9 who made the hand sign 10. For example, when the occupant 9 makes the hand sign 10 in the driver's seat 80, the air conditioning control unit 79 of the air conditioner 7 outputs a control signal S4 and a drive signal S5 to the air conditioning unit 76 and the drive unit 77 based on the control information S3 acquired via the communication unit 78, and controls the center right register 71 and the right register 72 to send the conditioned air 70 to the outside area 101.

[0039] For example, control hand sign 12c is associated with a control content that stops the delivery of conditioned air 70 to occupant 9 who has made hand sign 10. For example, when occupant 9 makes hand sign 10 in driver's seat 80, air conditioning control unit 79 of air conditioner 7 outputs control signal S4 and drive signal S5 to air conditioning unit 76 and drive unit 77 based on control information S3 acquired via communication unit 78, thereby stopping the delivery of conditioned air 70 from center right register 71 and right register 72.

[0040] The key hand signs 11 and control hand signs 12 described above are only examples, and may be other hand signs 10 or gestures made with a hand other than the hand 94, but are not limited to these. The control content described above is only an example, and may be other control content.

[0041] An example of the operation of the motion register 1 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0042] (operation) When the power supply of the vehicle 8 is turned on, the control unit 6 of the motion register 1 controls the imaging unit 2 and the determination unit 3 to start determining the key hand sign 11 (Step 1). This determination of the key hand sign 11 may be performed in real time or based on a predetermined cycle, but is not limited to these.

[0043] If "Yes" in Step 2 is established, that is, if the determination unit 3 detects the key hand sign 11 (Step 2: Yes), the control unit 6 starts determining the control hand sign 12 (Step 3). When the key hand sign 11 is detected, the control unit 6 starts measuring time. When the key hand sign 11 is determined to be a key hand sign, the motion register 1 outputs a sound as an answerback.

[0044] If a control hand sign 12 is detected within the determination period 42 (Step 4: Yes), the control unit 6 generates control information S3 based on the detected control hand sign 12 and hand sign information 40, outputs it to the air conditioner 7 via the communication unit 5, and causes the air conditioner 7 to execute control based on the detected control hand sign 12 (Step 5), and ends the determination process. Note that if the control hand sign 12 is determined, the motion register 1 outputs a sound as an answerback.

[0045] If the control hand signal 12 following the key hand signal 11 is not detected within the determination period 42 (Step 4: No), the control unit 6 determines that a timeout has occurred and ends the determination of the control hand signal 12 (Step 6).

[0046] (Effects of the first embodiment) The motion register 1 according to this embodiment can improve operability. Specifically, the motion register 1 can control the register 75 by combining the key hand signs 11 and the control hand signs 12 even when the seat is reclined. This allows operation without having to stand up, which is more convenient than having to operate the register directly.

[0047] Occupant 9 often moves his / her body while driving vehicle 8. Motion register 1 determines the control content by a combination of key hand signs 11 and control hand signs 12, so that unintended movements can be suppressed compared to when control is performed by a single gesture.

[0048] The motion register 1 determines the control content by a combination of the key hand signs 11 and the control hand signs 12, so that erroneous determinations can be reduced compared to when control is performed by a single gesture.

[0049] In the motion register 1, the occupant 9 signals the start of the control hand signal 12 with a key hand signal 11, and the subsequent control hand signal 12 determines the control content, so the number of motions is reduced and operability is good compared to when three motions are required to signal the start, select the register, and determine the control content.

[0050] [Second embodiment] The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the register to be controlled and the control content are determined by a combination of a first control hand signal and a second control hand signal.

[0051] 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a hand sign pattern of a motion register according to the second embodiment. In the following embodiments, parts having the same functions and configurations as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and their description will be omitted.

[0052] The determination unit 3 is configured to determine, as gestures, a key gesture for starting control of the register 75, a first gesture performed following the key gesture for selecting the register 75 to be controlled, and a second gesture performed following the first gesture for indicating the control content of the selected register 75. The control unit 6 causes the air conditioner 7 to execute the control content of the register 75 selected based on the determined combination of the first gesture and the second gesture.

[0053] The gestures in this embodiment are hand signs 10. Therefore, the determination unit 3 determines a key hand sign 13, a first control hand sign 14, and a second control hand sign 15.

[0054] The control content is at least one of wind direction control, such as blowing air-conditioned air 70 to an area including the face 90 of the occupant 9, blowing air-conditioned air 70 to an area avoiding the occupant 9, and continuously changing the wind direction, and wind volume control.

[0055] Register 75 of this embodiment is configured to change the airflow direction and airflow volume using drive unit 77. Therefore, drive unit 77 is configured to change the airflow direction and airflow volume. Register 75 includes center right register 71, right register 72, center left register 73, and left register 74, but may also include a register located at the feet or a register located for the rear seats, and is not limited to these.

[0056] The motion register 1 of this embodiment controls the blowing of conditioned air 70 to a face area 100 including the face 90 of the occupant 9, the blowing of conditioned air 70 to an outer area 101 avoiding the occupant 9, and controls the wind direction and air volume by continuously changing the wind direction. The continuously changing wind direction is a so-called swing motion, in which the wind direction is continuously changed from right to left and left to right with respect to the occupant 9. The motion register 1 may also be configured to change the wind direction up and down with respect to the occupant 9.

[0057] The hand sign pattern 41 of this embodiment will be described below.

[0058] (About hand sign pattern 41) As an example, the hand sign pattern 41 is made up of a combination of a key hand sign 13, a first control hand sign 14, and a second control hand sign 15, as shown in FIG.

[0059] The key hand sign 13 is a cue to start the hand sign 10 for suppressing erroneous judgment, and is the hand sign 10 with the thumb 95a raised.

[0060] The first control hand sign 14 includes control hand signs 14a to 14d, as shown in Fig. 6. Control hand sign 14a is a hand sign 10 that closes the hand 94. Control hand sign 14b is a hand sign 10 that holds up the index finger 95b and middle finger 95c. Control hand sign 14c is a hand sign 10 that opens the hand 94. Control hand sign 14d is a hand sign 10 that holds up the thumb 95a and index finger 95b.

[0061] Control hand sign 14a of the first control hand sign 14 is a hand sign 10 that selects center right register 71 and right register 72 on the driver's seat 80 side. Control hand sign 14b is a hand sign 10 that selects center right register 71 and center left register 73. Control hand sign 14c is a hand sign 10 that selects center left register 73 and left register 74 on the passenger seat 81 side. Control hand sign 14d is a hand sign 10 that selects center right register 71 to left register 74, i.e., all registers.

[0062] The second control hand sign 15 includes control hand signs 15a to 15d, as shown in Fig. 6. Control hand sign 15a is a hand sign 10 in which index finger 95b is pointed at face 90. Control hand sign 15b is a hand sign 10 that involves a motion of pinching and turning a dial with thumb 95a and index finger 95b. Control hand sign 15c is a hand sign 10 in which index finger 95b is pointed at ceiling 83 of vehicle 8. Control hand sign 15d is a hand sign 10 that involves an action of opening hand 94 and shaking it from side to side.

[0063] Control hand sign 15a of second control hand sign 15 is a hand sign 10 that causes conditioned airflow 70 to be blown toward face area 100. Control hand sign 15b is a hand sign 10 that allows adjustment of airflow volume. Control hand sign 15c is a hand sign 10 that causes conditioned airflow 70 to be blown toward external area 101. Control hand sign 15d is a hand sign 10 that causes continuous airflow direction change.

[0064] Control hand sign 15b allows adjustment of the airflow rate in three stages, for example. Therefore, determination unit 3 determines the direction and amount of rotation of control hand sign 15b when the dial is rotated.

[0065] The control unit 6 determines the selection and control content of the register 75 based on the combination of the first control hand sign 14 and the second control hand sign 15. For example, when the first control hand sign 14 is the control hand sign 14c and the second control hand sign 15 is the control hand sign 15a, the control unit 6 controls the center left register 73 and the left register 74 to send the conditioned air 70 to the face area 100 of the occupant 9 seated in the passenger seat 81.

[0066] The above-described key hand sign 13, first control hand sign 14, and second control hand sign 15 are only examples, and may be other hand signs 10 or gestures made with a hand other than the hand 94, but are not limited to these. The above-described control content is only examples, and may be other control content.

[0067] An example of the operation of the motion register 1 of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0068] (operation) When the vehicle 8 is powered on, the control unit 6 of the motion register 1 controls the imaging unit 2 and the determination unit 3 to start determining the key hand sign 13 (Step 11). This determination of the key hand sign 13 may be performed in real time or based on a predetermined cycle, but is not limited to these.

[0069] If "Yes" in Step 12 is established, that is, if the determination unit 3 detects the key hand sign 13 (Step 12: Yes), the control unit 6 starts determining the first control hand sign 14 and the second control hand sign 15 (Step 13). When the key hand sign 13 is detected, the control unit 6 starts measuring time. When the key hand sign 13 is determined to be a key hand sign, the motion register 1 outputs a sound as an answerback.

[0070] When the control unit 6 detects the first control hand sign 14 within the determination period 42 (Step 14: Yes), it starts measuring time. When the control unit 6 detects the second control hand sign 15 within the determination period 42 (Step 15: Yes), it selects the register 75 that will send the conditioned air 70 and determines the control content based on the detected first control hand sign 14, second control hand sign 15, and hand sign information 40. The motion register 1 outputs a sound as an answerback each time the first control hand sign 14 and second control hand sign 15 are determined.

[0071] The control unit 6 generates control information S3 based on the selected register 75 and the control content, outputs it to the air conditioner 7 via the communication unit 5, and executes control based on the detected combination of the first control hand signal 14 and the second control hand signal 15 (Step 16), and then terminates the judgment process.

[0072] Note that the determination period 42 that limits the time between the detection of the key hand sign 13 and the detection of the first control hand sign 14 and the determination period 42 that limits the time between the detection of the first control hand sign 14 and the detection of the second control hand sign 15 may be different.

[0073] If the first control hand sign 14 following the key hand sign 13 is not detected within the determination period 42 (Step 14: No), the control unit 6 determines that a timeout has occurred and ends the determination of the hand sign 10 (Step 17).

[0074] Furthermore, in step 15, if second control hand sign 15 following first control hand sign 14 is not detected within determination period 42 (Step 15: No), control unit 6 determines a timeout and ends determination of hand sign 10 (Step 17).

[0075] (Effects of the second embodiment) In the motion register 1 of this embodiment, the selection of the register 75 and the control content are determined by detecting the key hand sign 13, the first control hand sign 14, and the second control hand sign 15, so unintended operations can be suppressed compared to when control is performed with a single gesture.

[0076] The motion register 1 determines the selection and control content of the register 75 by combining the key hand sign 13, the first control hand sign 14, and the second control hand sign 15, so that erroneous judgments can be reduced compared to when control is performed by a single gesture.

[0077] The motion register 1 allows the selection of the register 75 and the control content to be determined by a combination of the first control hand sign 14 and the second control hand sign 15, so that more control of the air conditioner 7 can be performed by a combination of hand signs 10 than when this configuration is not adopted.

[0078] In the motion register 1, the occupant 9 signals the start of the first control hand sign 14 with a key hand sign 13, and the subsequent first control hand sign 14 and second control hand sign 15 determine the selection of the register 75 and the control content, so compared to when this configuration is not adopted, the number of motions is reduced and operability is good.

[0079] [Third embodiment] The third embodiment differs from the other embodiments in that the orientation of the occupant's arm is determined instead of the key signature.

[0080] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of determination of the arm orientation by the motion register according to the third embodiment.

[0081] The determination unit 3 determines the orientation of the arm 93 of the occupant 9. The control unit 6 causes the air conditioner 7 to execute the control contents of a register corresponding to the orientation of the arm 93 of the occupant 9 and a register based on the gesture. When the orientation of the arm 93 is determined, the motion register 1 outputs a sound as an answerback.

[0082] The control unit 6 uses the direction of the arm 93 as a key hand sign. That is, as an example, when the arm 93 is extended in the direction of the right register 72 as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 6 determines that the right register 72 is selected.

[0083] The gesture in this embodiment is a hand sign 10. Therefore, the determination unit 3 determines the direction of the arm 93 and the control hand sign. The control hand sign may be the second control hand sign 15 described above or the like.

[0084] When an occupant 9 seated in the driver's seat 80 points his / her arm 93 toward the right register 72 and performs the control hand signal 15c, the control unit 6 controls the air conditioner 7 so that the conditioned air 70 blown from the right register 72 is blown to the outside area 101. When the control hand signal is detected, the motion register 1 outputs a sound as an answerback.

[0085] (Effects of the third embodiment) The motion register 1 of this embodiment can control the air conditioner 7 by extending the arm 93 to the register 75 to be selected and making a hand signal 10, thereby improving operability compared to when this configuration is not adopted.

[0086] In another embodiment, the motion register 1 may be configured to detect the line of sight of the occupant 9 and select the register 75 based on the detected line of sight.

[0087] According to at least one of the above-described embodiments of the motion register 1, it is possible to improve operability.

[0088] The motion register 1 according to the above-described embodiment may be partially realized by a computer-executed program, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), etc., depending on the application.

[0089] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed. These novel embodiments may be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, etc. may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, not all combinations of features described in these embodiments are necessarily essential to solving the problems of the invention. Furthermore, these embodiments are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the inventions and their equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 1...motion register, 2...imaging unit, 3...determination unit, 4...storage unit, 5...communication unit, 6...control unit, 7...air conditioning unit, 8...vehicle, 9...occupant, 10...hand sign, 11, 13...key hand sign, 12...control hand sign, 12a to 12c...control hand sign, 14...first control hand sign, 14...first hand sign, 14a to 14d...control hand sign, 15...second control hand sign, 15a to 15d...control hand sign, 20...imaging area, 21...determination area, 40...hand sign information, 41... Hand sign pattern, 42...determination period, 70...air conditioning wind, 71...center right register, 72...right side register, 73...center left register, 74...left side register, 75...register, 76...air conditioning unit, 77...drive unit, 78...communication unit, 79...air conditioning control unit, 80...driver's seat, 81...passenger seat, 82...instrument panel, 83...ceiling, 90...face, 91...throat, 92...body, 93...arm, 94...hand, 95a...thumb, 95b...index finger, 95c...middle finger, 95d...ring finger, 95e...little finger, 100...face area, 101...outer area

Claims

1. an imaging unit that captures an image of an occupant seated in a seat of the vehicle; a determination unit that determines a gesture based on image information acquired from the imaging unit; a control unit that controls a register to adjust at least one of a direction and a volume of air conditioning air generated by an air conditioning device of the vehicle based on the gesture determined by the determination unit; A motion register with

2. the determination unit determines, as the gesture, a key gesture for starting control of the register and a control gesture that is performed following the key gesture and indicates a control content of the register; The control unit causes the air conditioner to execute the control content of the register based on the determined control gesture. The motion register of claim 1 .

3. the determination unit determines, as the gesture, a key gesture for starting control of the register, a first gesture performed following the key gesture for selecting the register to be controlled, and a second gesture performed following the first gesture for indicating a control content of the selected register; the control unit causes the air conditioner to execute the control content of the register selected based on the determined combination of the first gesture and the second gesture. The motion register of claim 1 .

4. The determination unit determines the orientation of the arm of the occupant, the control unit causes the air conditioning device to execute the control content of the register corresponding to the orientation of the arm of the occupant and the control content of the register based on the gesture. The motion register of claim 1 .

5. The control content is at least one of wind direction control, which includes at least one of blowing the conditioned air to an area including the face of the occupant, blowing the conditioned air to an area avoiding the occupant, and continuously changing the wind direction, and air volume control. A motion register according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. The gesture is a hand signal.

6. The motion register of claim 5.

7. the imaging unit is disposed in a position where it can image the occupant with the seat reclined backward; 7. The motion register of claim 6.

Images