Operation signal generation device

• US 20080186169A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kawaguchi, Kazuo
• Application Number:
  US12/010,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20080186169A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1663 using seismic sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes

Abstract

An operation signal generation device generating an operation signal for operating an electronic instrument. The operation signal generation device includes: a vibration detection sensor which detects vibrations of a building, a constructed product secured on a building, or a stationary article; and an operation signal generation section which determines whether or not an output signal from the vibration detection sensor satisfies a predetermined condition, and generates the operation signal when the output signal satisfies the predetermined condition.

Claims

1. An operation signal generation device generating an operation signal for operating an electronic instrument, the operation signal generation device comprising:

a vibration detection sensor which detects vibrations of a building, a constructed product secured on a building, or a stationary article; and

an operation signal generation section which determines whether or not an output signal from the vibration detection sensor satisfies a predetermined condition, and generates the operation signal when the output signal satisfies the predetermined condition.

2. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a holding member which holds the vibration detection sensor and is able to function as part of the building, the constructed product, or the article.

3. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 2,

a main surface of the holding member having a vibration input area;

and

the vibration input area and a peripheral area of the vibration input area on the main surface being formed flat.

4. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 2,

the holding member engaging with an opening of a depression formed in the building, the constructed product, or the article so that the holding member is integrated with the building, the constructed product, or the article, an outer surface of the holding member serving as a vibration input area.

5. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 3,

a fluorescent coating being at least partially applied to the vibration input area.

6. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 3, further comprising:

a light-emitting component,

the vibration input area at least partially transmitting light emitted from the light-emitting component.

7. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a board on which the vibration detection sensor is mounted,

the board being disposed at an interval from the holding member.

8. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 7,

the board being held by the holding member at one or more points.

9. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 7,

the board being held by the holding member through a resin member.

10. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a board on which the vibration detection sensor is mounted,

the board being in contact with the holding member.

11. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a waterproof housing in which at least the vibration detection sensor is disposed.

12. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

an airtight housing in which at least the vibration detection sensor is disposed.

13. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a determination condition storage section which stores the predetermined condition; and

a determination condition setting section which causes the determination condition storage section to store the predetermined condition based on the output signal from the vibration detection sensor.

14. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 1,

the operation signal generation section determining whether or not a hit input is performed to the building, the constructed product, or the article based on the output signal from the vibration detection sensor, and generating the operation signal corresponding to the hit input when the operation signal generation section has determined that the hit input has been performed.

15. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 14,

wherein the operation signal generation section determines whether or not a hit input is performed to a plurality of switch areas respectively set at different positions of the vibration input area based on the output signal from the vibration detection sensor;

and

wherein, when the operation signal generation section has determined that the hit input has been performed to a switch area among the switch areas, the operation signal generation section generates the operation signal corresponding to the switch area.

16. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 14,

wherein the operation signal generation section determines whether or not a hit point is performed to a plurality of switch areas respectively set at different positions of the vibration input area based on change in output signals from a plurality of the vibration detection sensors respectively disposed at different positions of the holding member;

and

wherein, when the operation signal generation section has determined that the hit input has been performed to a switch area among the switch areas, the operation signal generation section generates the operation signal corresponding to the switch area.

17. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 14,

wherein the operation signal generation section includes:

a hit count detection section detecting a hit count which is a number of hits at the building, the constructed product, or the article by a user based on the output signal from the vibration detection sensor; and

a correspondence relationship storage section storing a correspondence relationship between the hit count and the operation signal; and

wherein the operation signal generation section generates the operation signal corresponding to the hit count detected by the hit count detection section based on the correspondence relationship.

18. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 17, further comprising:

a correspondence relationship setting section which sets the correspondence relationship between the hit count and the operation signal and causes the correspondence relationship storage section to store the correspondence relationship.

19. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 17,

the correspondence relationship storage section storing the correspondence relationship between the hit count and the operation signal in units of processing systems,

the operation signal generation device further comprising a processing system switching section which selects a processing system from a plurality of processing systems;

and

the operation signal generation section generating the operation signal associated with the generated hit count based on the correspondence relationship in the selected processing system.

20. The operation signal generation device as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a setting means which enables or disables an operation of the electronic instrument based on the output signal from the vibration detection sensor.