Electronic device

Abstract

A plurality of power generation elements 30 generate electric power, and a plurality of holding units 32 hold the electric power generated by the plurality of power generation elements 30. A measurement unit 34 measures the power generation amount of each of the power generation elements 30. An information acquisition unit 42 acquires power generation amount information related to the measured power generation amount.

Description

electronic equipment

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic device having a power generation function.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an ID tag that includes a piezoelectric element that generates a current in response to pressure applied to the shoe when walking, a rechargeable battery that is charged by the current generated by the piezoelectric element, an ID information storage circuit that stores ID information, and an antenna that is provided outside the shoe and wirelessly transmits the ID information using power from the rechargeable battery. The piezoelectric element is built into the insole of the shoe.

[0003] JP 2014-230062 A

[0004] Electronic devices that use batteries need to be replaced or recharged when the battery runs out. Therefore, if there is no replaceable battery or no charger or external power source to charge the battery, the electronic device will not be able to secure power and will not be able to operate.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide technology related to electronic devices that do not incorporate secondary batteries or primary batteries (disposable batteries) that are charged by an external power source.

[0006] An electronic device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an electronic device that can be attached directly or indirectly to a human body, and includes a plurality of power generating elements that generate electric power, a plurality of holding units that hold the electric power generated by the plurality of power generating elements, a measuring unit that measures the amount of power generated by each power generating element, and an acquiring unit that acquires power generation amount information related to the measured amount of power generated.

[0007] Any combination of the above components, or conversion of the expression of the present disclosure into a method, device, system, computer program, recording medium on which a computer program is readably recorded, data structure, etc., is also valid as an aspect of the present disclosure.

[0008] It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment. It is a diagram showing functional blocks of an electronic device. It is a diagram showing an example of an insole. It is a diagram showing a state where a user is walking.

[0009] 1 shows an example of the configuration of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment. The information processing system 1 includes an information processing device 10, an imaging device 14 that captures an image of a user, an output device 16 that outputs images and sounds, and an electronic device 20 that has a power generation function. The output device 16 may be a television, or may be a head-mounted display (HMD) that is worn on the user's head and provides the user with a virtual reality (VR) or mixed reality (MR) visual world.

[0010] The information processing device 10 has a function of executing an application such as a game, and generates images and sounds of the application and outputs them from the output device 16. The information processing device 10 may also have a function of executing the application based on operation information of a user operating an input device (not shown). Note that in the information processing system 1, a cloud server (not shown) may execute the application based on the user's operation information and generate images and sounds of the application. In this case, the information processing device 10 operates as a client device that transmits the user's operation information to the cloud server, receives images and sounds generated by the cloud server, and outputs them from the output device 16.

[0011] The imaging device 14 is a stereo camera that captures images of the user at a predetermined interval and provides the captured images to the information processing device 10. The capture interval may be 30 fps. In the example, the information processing device 10 uses the user's movements contained in the captured images as operation information for moving a game character in a virtual space. The information processing device 10 identifies the user's posture from the captured images and matches the posture of the game character to the user's posture. In the example, the information processing device 10 executes a game in which a game character rides a snowboard and slides down a snowy mountain, and the user controls the posture of the game character riding the snowboard by changing their own posture. FIG. 1 shows the information processing device 10 detecting that the user has both hands raised from the captured images and raising both hands of the game character riding the snowboard.

[0012] The electronic device 20 has a power generation function and is attached directly or indirectly to the user's body. In the environment shown in FIG. 1 , the electronic device 20 is mounted in a shoe 18, which is an indoor shoe, and when a user wearing the shoe 18 moves their foot, a power generation element in the electronic device 20 generates electricity. The electronic device 20 including the power generation element may be built into an insole, for example. The electronic device 20 transmits information regarding the amount of power generated by the power generation element (hereinafter also referred to as "power generation amount information") to the information processing device 10, and the information processing device 10 reflects the power generation amount information in the progress of the snowboarding game.

[0013] 2 shows functional blocks of the electronic device 20. The electronic device 20 includes a plurality of power generating elements 30, a plurality of holding units 32, a measurement unit 34, a power storage unit 36, a control unit 40, a communication unit 50, and a sensor 52. The control unit 40 includes an information acquisition unit 42, a power management unit 44, and a provision unit 46. The holding unit 32 is provided for each power generating element 30 and holds the power generated by each power generating element 30. The communication unit 50 transmits and receives data and information to and from the information processing device 10 via wireless communication. The sensor 52 may include an inertial measurement unit (IMU) including a triaxial acceleration sensor and a triaxial gyro sensor.

[0014] The electronic device 20 includes a computer, and various functions are realized by the computer executing a program. The computer includes hardware such as a memory into which the program is loaded, one or more processors that execute the loaded program, an auxiliary storage device, and other LSIs. The processor is composed of multiple electronic circuits including semiconductor integrated circuits and LSIs, and the multiple electronic circuits may be mounted on a single chip or on multiple chips. The functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 are realized by cooperation between hardware and software. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be realized in various ways using hardware alone, software alone, or a combination thereof.

[0015] The electronic device 20 of the embodiment is not equipped with a secondary battery that is charged by an external power source, such as a commercial power source, or a primary battery. In the electronic device 20 of the embodiment, a plurality of power generation elements 30 have a power generation function and generate power to be used by the electronic device 20. The holding unit 32 is a capacitor that temporarily holds the power generated by one power generation element 30.

[0016] The power management unit 44 is responsible for power management in the electronic device 20. For example, when the voltage of a certain storage unit 32 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the power management unit 44 supplies the power stored in that storage unit 32 to the measurement unit 34, the control unit 40, the communication unit 50, and / or the sensor 52. Hereinafter, the measurement unit 34, the control unit 40, the communication unit 50, and / or the sensor 52 to which power is supplied will be simply referred to as "components." The power management unit 44 may also supply the power stored in multiple storage units 32 to the power storage unit 36 ​​and store the power stored in the multiple storage units 32 in the power storage unit 36. In this case, the power management unit 44 may supply the power stored in the power storage unit 36 ​​to each component. By including multiple power generation elements 30, the electronic device 20 has the advantage of not needing to include a secondary battery or primary battery that is charged by an external power source.

[0017] 3(a) shows an example of an insole for the left foot. The insole 22a for the left foot is equipped with multiple power generating elements 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d. The power generating element 30a is located at the base of the little toe, the power generating element 30b is located at the base of the big toe, the power generating element 30c is located outside the arch of the foot, and the power generating element 30d is located at the heel.

[0018] 3(b) shows an example of an insole for the right foot. The insole 22b for the right foot is equipped with multiple power generating elements 30e, 30f, 30g, and 30h. The power generating element 30e is located at the base of the little toe, the power generating element 30f is located at the base of the big toe, the power generating element 30g is located outside the arch of the foot, and the power generating element 30h is located at the heel. Note that the number and positions of the power generating elements 30 shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are merely examples; a number other than four power generating elements 30 may be provided, or the power generating elements 30 may be provided in positions other than those shown.

[0019] The power generating element 30 may be a friction power generating element that generates static electricity through the friction of two materials. Alternatively, the power generating element 30 may be a mechanical power generating element that converts the movement of the user's feet into the movement of a magnet and generates power using changes in magnetic flux. Alternatively, the power generating element 30 may be a vibration power generating element that converts vibration into power. In this way, the power generating element 30 may be any element that can convert the load and changes in load acting on the soles of the feet due to the movement (exercise) of the user's feet into power, and the power conversion method is not important.

[0020] The measurement unit 34 measures the amount of power generated by each power generating element 30. In the embodiment, the power generating elements 30 and the holding unit 32 are provided as a set, and therefore the measurement unit 34 may measure the amount of power generated by each power generating element 30 by monitoring the power held in each holding unit 32. For example, the measurement unit 34 measures the amount of power generated by the power generating elements 30 by measuring the voltage in the holding unit 32. The measurement unit 34 may measure the amount of power generated by each power generating element 30 at a predetermined measurement interval. Note that in the embodiment, one measurement unit 34 measures the amount of power generated by multiple power generating elements 30, but a measurement unit 34 may be provided for each power generating element 30, and one measurement unit 34 may measure the amount of power generated by one power generating element 30.

[0021] The information acquisition unit 42 acquires information (power generation amount information) related to the power generation amount of each power generation element 30 measured by the measurement unit 34, and the provision unit 46 provides the power generation amount information to the information processing device 10 via the communication unit 50. In other words, the communication unit 50 transmits the power generation amount information to the external information processing device 10. The power generation amount information may be information indicating the power held in the holding unit 32 (for example, the voltage value of the holding unit 32), or may be information indicating the difference between the power measured last time and the power measured this time. Note that, when the power held in the holding unit 32 is supplied to a component or the power storage unit 36, the information may be information indicating the difference between the power at the time the supply ended and the power measured this time.

[0022] The power generation elements 30 convert the load on the soles of the feet or changes in the load on the soles of the feet into electric power, so the amount of power generated by the power generation elements 30 correlates with the load on the soles of the feet or changes in the load. Therefore, when the user moves the center of gravity of the soles of their feet, the amount of power generated by each power generation element 30 changes.

[0023] 3A, when the amounts of power generated by the power generating element 30a and the power generating element 30b are compared for each measurement cycle, if the amount of power generated by the power generating element 30a changes from a state in which the amount of power generated by the power generating element 30a was greater than that of the power generating element 30b to a state in which the amount of power generated by the power generating element 30b becomes greater than that of the power generating element 30a, the information processing device 10 recognizes that the center of gravity has shifted from left to right. Also, when the amounts of power generated by the power generating element 30a and the power generating element 30d are compared for each measurement cycle, if the amount of power generated by the power generating element 30a changes from a state in which the amount of power generated by the power generating element 30d was greater than that of the power generating element 30d to a state in which the amount of power generated by the power generating element 30d becomes greater than that of the power generating element 30a, the information processing device 10 recognizes that the center of gravity has shifted from front to rear.

[0024] When a user plays a snowboarding game, the information processing device 10 may synchronize the movements of the game character by matching the posture of the game character with the posture of the user, and may also calculate the movement of the center of gravity of the soles of the feet from the power generation amount information of the multiple power generation elements 30 and reflect this in the game character's snowboarding operation. In this way, when the information processing device 10 receives the power generation amount information of the multiple power generation elements 30, it can use the power generation amount information as input to the game and reflect this in the progress of the snowboarding game.

[0025] Although the above is an example in which the power generation amount information of the plurality of power generating elements 30 is reflected in the progress of a snowboarding game, the information processing device 10 may also use the power generation amount information of the plurality of power generating elements 30 as input for a fitness game. For example, in a fitness game in which the user is made to jump or stomp at high speed, the information processing device 10 may analyze the user's exercise from the power generation amount information of the plurality of power generating elements 30 and calculate the exercise intensity. In the case of a fitness game, the user may actually walk, and the information processing device 10 may analyze the user's gait and provide support for the user's walking.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a user walking. The power management unit 44 may have a function to estimate the user's gait from the detection values ​​of the IMU included in the sensor 52. Here, the gait estimation function only needs to estimate the timing when the user's foot will touch the ground (land) from the detection values ​​of the IMU. As shown in FIG. 4 , the power management unit 44 may predict that the power generating element 30d disposed at the heel of the insole 22a will generate a large amount of power just before the user's left foot touches the ground, and may supply the power stored in this holding unit 32 to the components or the power storage unit 36 ​​with priority over the power stored in other holding units 32. This control allows the power generated by the power generating element 30d to be stored in the holding unit 32 without wasting it.

[0027] Note that the power generating element 30 of the embodiment generates power when the user's feet are on the ground and does not generate power when the user's feet are off the ground. Therefore, when the power management unit 44 determines that the user's feet are not on the ground but are off the ground based on the detection value of the IMU, it may supply the power stored in the holding unit 32 to the components or the power storage unit 36. In this case, the measurement unit 34 does not need to measure the amount of power generated by the power generating element 30, and therefore the power management unit 44 does not need to supply power to the measurement unit 34 in order to reduce power consumption.

[0028] When the power management unit 44 determines that the user's feet have landed based on the detection value of the IMU, the power generation elements 30 start generating power, and the power supply to the measurement unit 34 is resumed. As a result, the measurement unit 34 measures the amount of power generated by each power generation element 30. At this time, the power management unit 44 supplies the power stored in the power storage unit 36 ​​to each component to operate it.

[0029] The information processing device 10 may instruct the electronic device 20 to measure the power generation amount of the power generation element 30 based on the game being played. For example, when a user is standing on their toes in a fitness game, the information processing device 10 instructs the electronic device 20 to measure the power generation amount of the power generation element 30 around the toes. In response to this instruction, the measurement unit 34 measures the power generation amount of the power generation elements 30a and 30b in the insole 22a for the left foot and the power generation amount of the power generation elements 30e and 30f in the insole 22b for the right foot. The measurement unit 34 does not measure the power generation amount of the power generation elements 30c, 30d, 30g, and 30h until the instruction is released by the information processing device 10. Therefore, the power management unit 44 may freely use the power stored in the storage unit 32 of the power generation elements 30c, 30d, 30g, and 30h.

[0030] The present disclosure has been described above based on the examples. The examples are merely illustrative, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component and each processing process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure. In the examples, the electronic device 20 is described as being installed in a shoe, but the electronic device 20 may also be installed in a part of the body that moves frequently, such as the arm.

[0031] In the embodiment, the electronic device 20 is described as not being equipped with a secondary battery or a primary battery that is charged by an external power source, but in a modified example, the electronic device 20 may be equipped with a secondary battery and / or a primary battery that is charged by an external power source as an auxiliary power source. For example, the power management unit 44 may use the power of the power storage unit 36 ​​as long as the power storage unit 36 ​​does not run out of power, and may use the auxiliary power source when the power storage unit 36 ​​runs out of power.

[0032] The present disclosure can be used in the technical field of electronic devices used by users.

[0033] 1...information processing system, 10...information processing device, 14...imaging device, 16...output device, 18...shoes, 20...electronic device, 22a, 22b...insole, 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e, 30f, 30g, 30h...power generation element, 32...holding unit, 34...measuring unit, 36...power storage unit, 40...control unit, 42...information acquisition unit, 44...power management unit, 46...providing unit, 50...communication unit, 52...sensor

Claims

1. An electronic device that can be attached directly or indirectly to a human body, comprising: a plurality of power generating elements that generate electric power; a plurality of holding units that hold the electric power generated by the plurality of power generating elements; a measuring unit that measures the amount of power generated by each power generating element; and an acquisition unit that acquires power generation amount information relating to the measured amount of power generation.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that one holding section is provided for one power generating element.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a power storage unit that stores the power retained by the plurality of retaining units.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the measurement unit periodically measures the amount of power generated by each power generating element.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit that transmits power generation amount information to an outside source.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of power generating elements are provided in an insole of a shoe, and when the foot is not in contact with the ground, the measuring unit does not measure the amount of power generated by the power generating elements.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, further comprising a power management unit that supplies the power held in the holding unit to a power storage unit when the foot is not in contact with the ground.

Images