Detection system

Abstract

The present invention enhances the visual design of a sound output device in which an actuator is provided on a plate-shaped diaphragm. A detection system 1 comprises: a plate-shaped base 2; blocks 3 disposed on the base 2; and a detection device 4 for detecting the blocks 3. The blocks 3 are each provided with an LC parallel circuit on the inside thereof. The detection device 4 comprises: a detection panel 10 provided with a plurality of electrodes on a surface facing the base 2; and a processing circuit 20 for acquiring the positions, on the base 2, of at least the blocks 3 on the basis of a signal transmitted and received between the detection panel 10 and the LC parallel circuit via the plurality of electrodes of the detection panel 10.

Description

Detection System

[0001] The present disclosure relates to detection systems.

[0002] Conventionally, position detection sensors that detect position using LC resonance are known (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Patent Document 2 describes that the type of stylus pen tip can be recognized by making the resonance frequencies of different types of pen tips different from each other.

[0003] Japanese Patent No. 7361731 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-132636

[0004] For example, in educational toys in which blocks engraved with letters or symbols such as English letters are arranged side by side, or on the base of board games such as shogi, it is desirable to be able to grasp the positions of the blocks and pieces on the system.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to provide a detection system capable of acquiring the position of a block placed on a substrate.

[0006] A detection system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a flat substrate, a block placed on the substrate, and a detection device that detects the block, wherein an LC parallel circuit is provided inside the block, and the detection device includes a detection panel having a plurality of electrodes provided on a surface facing the substrate, and a processing circuit that acquires at least the position of the block on the substrate based on signals transmitted and received between the detection panel and the LC parallel circuit via the plurality of electrodes of the detection panel.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a detection system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing an example of electrode arrangement on a detection panel. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing the general configuration of a block. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a processing circuit. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a connection between an LC parallel circuit and a processing circuit in a block. FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing a modified example of electrode arrangement on a detection panel. FIG. 7 is a top view showing an example of block arrangement on a board. FIG. 8 is a top view showing an example of block arrangement on a board. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of detection processing in a detection system according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a specific example of a block. FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a first example of a correspondence relationship between the attributes of each block and the resonant frequency of an LC resonant circuit. FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing a second example of a correspondence relationship between the attributes of each block and the resonant frequency of an LC resonant circuit. FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing a first modified example of a block. FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram showing a first example of a correspondence relationship between the attributes of each face of a block and the resonant frequency of an LC resonant circuit. Fig. 15 is a conceptual diagram showing a second example of the correspondence relationship between the attributes of each face of a block and the resonant frequency of an LC resonant circuit. Fig. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing a second modified example of a block. Fig. 17 is a conceptual diagram showing a third example of the correspondence relationship between the attributes of each face of a block and the resonant frequency of an LC resonant circuit.

[0008] Modes (embodiments) for carrying out the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the contents described in the following embodiments. Furthermore, the components described below include those that a person skilled in the art would easily imagine or that are substantially identical. Furthermore, the components described below can be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, the disclosure is merely an example, and any appropriate modifications that a person skilled in the art would easily conceive while maintaining the gist of the invention are naturally included within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, for clarity of explanation, the drawings may schematically depict the width, thickness, shape, etc. of each part compared to the actual embodiment. However, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the interpretation of the present disclosure. Furthermore, in this specification and each figure, elements similar to those previously described with reference to the preceding figures may be designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions may be omitted as appropriate.

[0009] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a detection system according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the detection system 1 includes a substrate 2, a plurality of blocks 3, and a detection device 4.

[0010] Examples of the detection system 1 include educational toys in which blocks engraved with letters or symbols such as English letters are arranged side by side, and board games such as shogi, chess, and Reversi. The base 2 is, for example, a flat wooden base for the educational toy, or a non-conductive board such as a shogi board, chess board, or Reversi board. The multiple blocks 3 are, for example, cubic wooden blocks, shogi pieces, chess pieces, Reversi pieces, or other non-conductive blocks.

[0011] The detection device 4 includes a detection panel 10 and a processing circuit 20. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing an example of an electrode arrangement on the detection panel. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a block configuration.

[0012] The detection panel 10 has a plurality of electrodes Tx and Rx arranged in an xy plane facing the substrate 2. In the example shown in Fig. 2, the drive electrodes Tx and the detection electrodes Rx are arranged alternately in the x direction (first direction). The drive electrodes Tx and the detection electrodes Rx are also arranged alternately in the y direction (second direction). As a result, the drive electrodes Tx and the detection electrodes Rx are arranged in a checkerboard pattern in a plan view.

[0013] The plurality of electrodes Tx, Rx are provided on a sensor substrate 11. An electrode protection layer 15 and a substrate 2 are laminated on the surface of the sensor substrate 11 on which the plurality of electrodes Tx, Rx are provided.

[0014] 3 , an LC parallel circuit 35 is provided inside the block 3. The electrodes 31 and 32 at both ends of the LC parallel circuit 35 are arranged to overlap the electrodes Tx and Rx of the detection panel 10 in the z direction. In the present disclosure, the resonant frequencies of the LC parallel circuits 35 of the multiple blocks 3 are different from each other.

[0015] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a processing circuit, and Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the connection between the LC parallel circuit and the processing circuit in the block.

[0016] 4 , the processing circuit 20 includes a drive circuit 21, a detection circuit 22, an analysis circuit 23, and a memory circuit 24. The processing circuit 20 detects the position of the block 3 by utilizing a change in mutual capacitance between the drive electrode Tx and the detection electrode Rx and resonance of the LC parallel circuit 35 in the block 3.

[0017] The drive circuit 21 supplies a drive signal VD to the drive electrodes Tx. The detection circuit 22 acquires a detection signal Vdet for each detection electrode Rx output from the detection panel 10 and generates a signal value Vo. The detection circuit 22 is, for example, an analog front end (AFE) IC. The output stage of the detection circuit 22 is, for example, a sample-and-hold circuit.

[0018] When the resonant frequency of the LC parallel circuit 35 of the block 3 arranged on the substrate 2 matches the frequency of the drive signal VD supplied from the drive circuit 21 via the drive electrode Tx, the amplitude of the detection signal Vdet input to the detection circuit 22 via the detection electrode Rx increases, and the signal value Vo output from the detection circuit 22 increases.

[0019] The analysis circuit 23 and the storage circuit 24 are configured with, for example, an MCU (Micro Control Unit), RAM, EEPROM, ROM, and the like.

[0020] The analysis circuit 23 detects the block 3 arranged on the substrate 2 based on the signal value Vo for each detection electrode Rx output from the detection circuit 22, and obtains the position of the block 3 on the substrate 2. Specifically, for example, the signal value Vo for each detection electrode Rx is subjected to threshold determination to obtain the position of the block 3 on the substrate 2. The threshold for the signal value Vo for each detection electrode Rx is stored in the memory circuit 24.

[0021] In the present disclosure, the analysis circuit 23 also has a function of acquiring attributes of the detected blocks 3. The attributes of each of the multiple blocks 3 are set corresponding to the resonant frequency of each of the LC parallel circuits 35. The correspondence between the attributes of each of the multiple blocks 3 and the resonant frequency of the LC parallel circuit 35 is stored in the memory circuit 24.

[0022] The electrode arrangement on the detection panel 10 is not limited to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a plan view schematically showing a modified example of the electrode arrangement on the detection panel.

[0023] 6, a plurality of drive electrodes Tx extending in the x direction (first direction) may be arranged in the y direction (second direction), and a plurality of detection electrodes Rx extending in the y direction (second direction) may be arranged in the x direction (first direction) on the surface on which the plurality of drive electrodes Tx are provided. As a result, the drive electrodes Tx and the detection electrodes Rx are arranged in a checkerboard pattern in a plan view, similar to FIG. 2.

[0024] 7 and 8 are top views showing examples of block arrangements on a substrate. In Fig. 7, the electrode arrangement on the detection panel 10 is the same as that shown in Fig. 2, and in Fig. 8, the electrode arrangement on the detection panel 10 is the same as that shown in Fig. 6.

[0025] 7 and 8 illustrate an example in which lines HL and VL are provided to divide the surface of the substrate 2 into 8 × 8 = 64 sections, and the drive electrodes Tx and detection electrodes Rx of the detection panel 10 correspond to each section. In this example, for example, a block 3 is placed in a section on the substrate 2 assigned with address "c6." As a result, the drive electrodes Tx of the detection panel 10 and the electrodes 31 (or 32) of the block 3 overlap in the z direction, and the detection electrodes Rx of the detection panel 10 and the electrodes 32 (or 31) of the block 3 overlap in the z direction. When the resonant frequency of the LC parallel circuit 35 of the block 3 matches the frequency of the drive signal VD supplied from the drive circuit 21 via the drive electrodes Tx, it can be detected that the block 3 is placed in the section on the substrate 2 assigned with address "c6."

[0026] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detection process in the detection system according to the embodiment.

[0027] In the block detection process shown in Figure 9, the processing circuit 20 resets the block attribute number n (n is an integer from 0 to N, N is the number of attributes of block 3) (n = 0, step S001), increments the block attribute number n (n = n + 1, step S002), sets the frequency f of the drive signal VD to the resonant frequency fn corresponding to the block attribute number n (f = fn, step S003), and executes the detection process for block 3 for each assigned section on the substrate 2 (step S004).

[0028] Specifically, the drive circuit 21 supplies a drive signal VD of frequency fn to the drive electrodes Tx, and the detection circuit 22 acquires a signal value Vo of the detection electrodes Rx.

[0029] The analysis circuit 23 determines that block 3 with block attribute number n exists in the section where the signal value Vo of the detection electrode Rx is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (step S005; Yes), stores the address (position) of the section and the attribute of block 3 in the memory circuit 24 (step S006), and proceeds to processing in step S007.

[0030] Furthermore, if the signal value Vo of the detection electrodes Rx of all sections assigned on the substrate 2 becomes less than a predetermined threshold value, the analysis circuit 23 determines that block 3 with block attribute number n does not exist on the substrate 2 (step S005; No), and proceeds to processing of step S007.

[0031] The processing circuit 20 determines whether the detection process has been performed for all attributes of the block 3 (step S007), and if there are attributes for which the detection process has not been performed (step S007; No), repeats the processes from step S002 onwards. When the detection process has been performed for all attributes of the block 3 (n=N, step S007; Yes), the detection process shown in FIG. 9 ends.

[0032] Fig. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a specific example of a block. Fig. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a first example of a correspondence relationship between the attributes of each block and the resonant frequency of an LC resonant circuit. Figs. 10 and 11 show an example in which block 3 is a block of uppercase letters.

[0033] 10 and 11 , in a mode in which the block 3 is an uppercase alphabet block, the block 3 to be detected has 26 different attributes (N=26), namely, "A," "B," "C," ..., "Z." In this case, in the detection process shown in Fig. 9 , the processing circuit 20 first sets the resonant frequency f1 corresponding to the alphabet block with the attribute "A" and attribute number n=1 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD to be supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f1, step S003), and then executes the detection process for the alphabet block with the attribute "A" (steps S004 to S006).

[0034] Next, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f2 corresponding to the alphabet block of attribute "B" with attribute number n=2 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f2, step S003), and performs detection processing for the alphabet block of attribute "B" (steps S004 to S006).

[0035] Next, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f3 corresponding to the alphabet block of attribute "C" with attribute number n=3 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f3, step S003), and performs detection processing for the alphabet block of attribute "C" (steps S004 to S006).

[0036] The processing circuit 20 sequentially increments the attribute number n (step S002). When the attribute number n reaches 26, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f26 corresponding to the alphabet block of the attribute "Z" as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f26, step S003), executes the detection process for the alphabet block of the attribute "Z" (steps S004 to S006), and ends the detection process shown in FIG. 9.

[0037] This allows the order of the letter blocks on the base of an educational toy, in which the letter blocks are arranged side by side, to be acquired. In other words, it allows the recognition of words made up of the letter blocks arranged on the base.

[0038] 12 is a conceptual diagram showing a second example of the correspondence between the attribute of each block and the resonant frequency of the LC resonant circuit, in which the block 3 is a chess piece.

[0039] 12, in an aspect in which the block 3 is a chess piece, the block 3 to be detected has six different attributes (N=6), namely, "king," "queen," "rook," "bishop," "knight," and "pawn." In this case, in the detection process shown in FIG. 9, the processing circuit 20 first sets the resonant frequency f1 corresponding to the chess piece with the attribute "king" and attribute number n=1 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f1, step S003), and then executes the detection process for the chess piece with the attribute "king" (steps S004 to S006).

[0040] Next, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f2 corresponding to block 3 of the attribute "Queen" with attribute number n=2 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f2, step S003), and executes the detection process for the chess piece of the attribute "Queen" (steps S004 to S006).

[0041] Next, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f3 corresponding to the chess piece with the attribute "rook" and attribute number n=3 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f3, step S003), and executes the detection process for the chess piece with the attribute "rook" (steps S004 to S006).

[0042] The processing circuit 20 sequentially increments the attribute number n (step S002). When the attribute number n=6, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f6 corresponding to the chess piece with the attribute "pawn" as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f6, step S003), executes the detection process for the chess piece with the attribute "pawn" (steps S004 to S006), and ends the detection process shown in FIG.

[0043] This allows the placement of the chess pieces on the chess board to be obtained.

[0044] 13 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a first modified example of a block 3a, in which an LC parallel circuit 35a corresponding to the first surface SF1 and an LC parallel circuit 35b corresponding to the second surface SF2 are provided inside the block 3a.

[0045] 14 is a conceptual diagram showing a first example of the correspondence between the attributes of each face of a block and the resonant frequency of an LC resonant circuit, in which block 3 is a reversi piece.

[0046] 14, in the case where block 3 is a Reversi piece, the faces of block 3 to be detected have two attributes (N=2): "white" for the first face SF1 of the Reversi piece, and "black" for the second face SF2 of the Reversi piece. In this case, in the detection process shown in FIG. 9, the processing circuit 20 first sets the resonant frequency f1 corresponding to the "white" face with attribute number n=1 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f1, step S003), and then executes the detection process for the "white" face (steps S004 to S006).

[0047] Next, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f2 corresponding to the attribute "black" surface with attribute number n=2 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f2, step S003), executes the detection process for the attribute "black" surface (steps S004 to S006), and terminates the detection process shown in Figure 9.

[0048] This allows the placement of the Reversi pieces on the Reversi board to be obtained.

[0049] 15 is a conceptual diagram showing a second example of the correspondence between the attributes of each face of a block and the resonant frequency of an LC resonant circuit, in which a block 3 is a shogi piece.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 15, in an embodiment in which block 3 is a shogi piece, the faces of block 3 to be detected have 15 different attributes (N=15): "King", "Golden General", "Bishop" on the first face SF1 of the "Bishop", "Dragon Horse" on the second face SF2 of the "Bishop", "Bishop" on the first face SF1 of the "Rook", "Dragon" on the second face SF2 of the "Rook", "Silver" on the first face SF1 of the "Silver General", "Promoted Silver" on the second face SF2 of the "Silver General", "Knight" on the first face SF1 of the "Knight", "Promoted Knight" on the second face SF2 of the "Knight", "Bishop" on the first face SF1 of the "Bishop", "Promoted Bishop" on the second face SF2 of the "Bishop", "Pawn" on the first face SF1 of the "Pawn", and "Tokin" on the second face SF2 of the "Pawn". In this case, in the detection process shown in Figure 9, the processing circuit 20 first sets the resonant frequency f1 corresponding to the attribute "King General" with attribute number n = 1 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f = f1, step S003), and then executes the detection process for the attribute "King General" (steps S004 to S006).

[0051] Next, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f2 corresponding to the attribute "King" with attribute number n=2 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f2, step S003), and executes the detection process for the attribute "King" (steps S004 to S006).

[0052] Next, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f3 corresponding to the attribute "Golden General" with attribute number n=3 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f3, step S003), and executes the detection process for the attribute "Golden General" (steps S004 to S006).

[0053] Next, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f4 corresponding to the attribute "corner" of attribute number n=4 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f4, step S003), and executes the detection process for the attribute "corner" (steps S004 to S006).

[0054] Next, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f5 corresponding to the attribute “Ryuma” with attribute number n=5 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f5, step S003), and executes the detection process for the attribute “Ryuma” (steps S004 to S006).

[0055] The processing circuit 20 sequentially increments the attribute number n (step S002). When the attribute number n=15, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f15 corresponding to the attribute "and gold" as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f15, step S003), executes the detection process for the attribute "and gold" (steps S004 to S006), and ends the detection process shown in FIG.

[0056] This allows the placement of the shogi pieces on the shogi board to be obtained.

[0057] Fig. 16 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a second modified example of a block. In the second modified example shown in Fig. 16, the block 3b is a cube, and the block 3b is provided therein with an LC parallel circuit 35a corresponding to the first surface SF1, an LC parallel circuit 35b corresponding to the second surface SF2, an LC parallel circuit 35c corresponding to the third surface SF3, an LC parallel circuit 35d corresponding to the fourth surface SF4, an LC parallel circuit 35e corresponding to the fifth surface SF5, and an LC parallel circuit 35f corresponding to the sixth surface SF6. Note that the fifth surface SF5, the LC parallel circuit 35e, the sixth surface SF6, and the LC parallel circuit 35f are omitted from Fig. 16.

[0058] 17 is a conceptual diagram showing a third example of the correspondence between the attributes of each face of a block and the resonant frequency of an LC resonant circuit, in which the block 3 is a die.

[0059] 17, in an embodiment in which the block 3 is a die, the faces of the block 3 to be detected have six different attributes (N=6): "1", "2", "3", ..., "6". In this case, in the detection process shown in Fig. 9, the processing circuit 20 first sets the resonant frequency f1 corresponding to the result of the attribute "1" of attribute number n=1 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f1, step S003), and then executes the detection process for the result of the attribute "1" (steps S004 to S006).

[0060] Next, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f2 corresponding to the result of the attribute "2" of attribute number n = 2 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f = f2, step S003), and performs the detection process of the result of the attribute "2" (steps S004 to S006).

[0061] Next, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f3 corresponding to the result of the attribute "3" with attribute number n = 3 as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f = f3, step S003), and performs the detection process of the result of the attribute "3" (steps S004 to S006).

[0062] The processing circuit 20 sequentially increments the attribute number n (step S002). When the attribute number n=6, the processing circuit 20 sets the resonant frequency f6 corresponding to the result of the attribute "6" as the frequency f of the drive signal VD supplied to the drive electrode Tx (f=f6, step S003), executes the detection process for the result of the attribute "6" (steps S004 to S006), and ends the detection process shown in FIG.

[0063] This allows the results of the dice rolls on the base 2 to be obtained.

[0064] In the above-described embodiment, the processing circuit 20 detects the block 3 placed on the substrate 2 by utilizing the change in mutual capacitance between the drive electrode and the detection electrode and the resonance of the LC parallel circuit 35 in the block 3. However, the processing circuit 20 may detect the block 3 placed on the substrate 2 by utilizing, for example, the change in self-capacitance of the detection electrode and the resonance of the LC parallel circuit 35 in the block 3.

[0065] Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to such embodiments. The contents disclosed in the embodiments are merely examples, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present disclosure. Appropriate modifications made within the scope of the present disclosure also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0066] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 detection system 2 substrate 3 block 4 detection device 10 detection panel 11 sensor substrate 15 electrode protection layer 20 processing circuit 21 drive circuit 22 detection circuit 23 analysis circuit 24 memory circuit 31, 32 electrodes 35 LC parallel circuit Rx detection electrode (electrode) Tx drive electrode (electrode)

Claims

1. A detection system comprising: a flat substrate; a block placed on the substrate; and a detection device that detects the block, wherein an LC parallel circuit is provided inside the block, and the detection device comprises: a detection panel having a plurality of electrodes provided on a surface facing the substrate; and a processing circuit that acquires at least the position of the block on the substrate based on signals transmitted and received between the detection panel and the LC parallel circuit via the plurality of electrodes of the detection panel.

2. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein the block is arranged such that both end electrodes of the LC parallel circuit are respectively overlapped with different electrodes of the detection panel.

3. The detection system according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a plurality of the blocks, each of the plurality of blocks having a different resonant frequency of the LC parallel circuit.

4. The detection system according to claim 3, wherein an attribute corresponding to a resonant frequency of each of the plurality of blocks is set for each of the plurality of blocks, and the processing circuit acquires the attribute for each of the plurality of blocks.

5. The detection system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of LC parallel circuits each having a different resonance frequency are provided corresponding to a plurality of faces constituting the block.

6. The detection system according to claim 5, wherein attributes corresponding to the resonant frequencies of the respective LC parallel circuits are set for the respective plurality of surfaces, and the processing circuit acquires the attributes for each of the plurality of surfaces.

7. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the substrate is wood.

8. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the block is wood.

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