Operating apparatus and operating system

• US 20090174578A1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Taki, Kazunari
• Application Number:
  US12/320,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174578A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/002 for measuring two or more coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/03 by measuring coordinates of points
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection

Abstract

An operating apparatus has a ring body to be mounted on a human body so that an irradiation light emitted from LED is irradiated to a part of the human body of an operator and a plurality of photodetectors configured to receive scattering light or transmission light irradiated to a part of the human body at an irradiation portion, and on the basis of a combination of a light receiving result of the irradiation light at these plurality of photodetectors, an operation signal corresponding to an operation state of the operator is outputted.

Claims

1. An operating apparatus comprising:

a mounting device mounted on a body of an operator;

at least one light emitting device configured to emit predetermined irradiation light, provided at said mounting device;

a plurality of light receiving devices configured to receive reflection light or scattering light or transmission light of said irradiation light, provided at said mounting device; and

a signal output portion configured to output an operation signal corresponding to an operation state of the operator on the basis of a combination of light-receiving results at said plurality of light receiving devices.

2. The operating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said mounting device is mounted on said body so that said irradiation light emitted from said light emitting device is irradiated to a part of said body;

said plurality of light receiving devices receive scattering light or transmission light at an irradiation portion of said irradiation light irradiated to a part of said body; and

said signal output portion outputs the operation signal corresponding to an operation state of the operator on the basis of a combination of light receiving results of said scattering light or said transmission light at said plurality of light receiving devices.

3. The operating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said mounting device is mounted on a wrist of said operator;

said light emitting device emits said predetermined irradiation light to the side of the back of hand of said operator;

said plurality of light receiving devices receive said reflection light or said scattering light at a finger part of said operator from the side of said back of hand; and

said signal output portion outputs the operation signal corresponding to an operation state of the operator on the basis of a combination of light receiving results of said reflection light or said scattering light at said plurality of light receiving devices.

4. The operating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said light receiving devices are arranged capable of receiving reflection light or scattering light of said irradiation light at least at a palm of said operator.

5. The operating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

said light receiving devices are arranged so that the focus positions of light receiving devices are in the vicinity of the palm position of said operator.

6. The operating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said light receiving devices are arranged capable of receiving reflection light or scattering light of said irradiation light at least at the finger part of said operator.

7. The operating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

said light receiving devices are arranged capable of receiving the reflection light of said irradiation light reflected at a reflecting body provided at the finger of said operator.

8. The operating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pattern detecting portion configured to detect said light emitting device and at least one of said light receiving devices that received said irradiation light from the light emitting device or reflection light or scattering light of said irradiation light as a light receiving pattern, wherein

said signal output portion outputs said operation signal on the basis of the light receiving pattern detected by said pattern detecting portion.

9. The operating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said pattern detecting portion obtains said light receiving pattern from a differential signal between a light receiving result at said plurality of light receiving devices at non light emission of said light emitting devices and a light receiving result at said plurality of light receiving devices at light emission of said light emitting devices.

10. The operating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one light emitting device and said plurality of light receiving devices are arranged substantially annularly with respect to said mounting device.

11. The operating apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of light-emitting/light-receiving device groups including one said light emitting device and at least one said light receiving device, wherein

each of the plurality of light-emitting/light-receiving device groups is arranged on said mounting device in rotation symmetry to each other.

12. The operating apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

a comparing portion for position detection configured to compare a light receiving pattern detected by said pattern detecting portion and a reference position light receiving pattern set in advance; and

a position detecting portion configured to detect a position of the operating apparatus along a rotating direction on the basis of a comparison result by said comparing portion for position detection, wherein

said signal output portion outputs said operation signal on the basis of the light receiving pattern detected by said pattern detecting portion and a position detection result of said position detecting portion.

13. The operating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:

said comparing portion for position detection carries out said comparison by checking matching or non-matching between said detected light receiving pattern and said reference position light receiving pattern, by quantifying similarity between said detected light receiving pattern and said reference position light receiving pattern by a predetermined function and selecting a case not less than a predetermined value, or by a method of neural network using a weighted repeat calculation, and

said operating apparatus further comprises a determination comparing device provided with a learning mode in which parameters required for determination are obtained on the basis of a teacher signal and a determination mode in which a determination is made from the parameters and obtained data and having a memory portion in which said parameters are stored.

14. The operating apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a correcting portion configured to correct a light receiving pattern detected by said pattern detecting portion according to a position detection result of said position detecting portion, wherein

said signal output portion outputs said operation signal on the basis of a light receiving pattern corrected by said correcting portion.

15. The operating apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a first attitude calculating portion configured to calculate an attitude of an operation portion of said operator or a change mode of the attitude on the basis of a light receiving pattern corrected by said correcting portion, wherein

said signal output portion outputs said attitude or the change mode of said attitude calculated by said first attitude calculating portion as said operation signal.

16. The operating apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a first comparing portion for attitude detection configured to compare a reference attitude light receiving pattern set according to living body information distribution corresponding to a predetermined reference attitude of an operation portion of the operator and a light receiving pattern corrected by said correcting portion, wherein

said first attitude calculating portion calculates said attitude or said change mode of the attitude according to a comparison result at said first comparing portion for attitude detection.

17. The operating apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

said first comparing portion for attitude detection carries out said comparison by checking matching or non-matching between said detected light receiving pattern and said reference attitude light receiving pattern, by quantifying similarity between said detected light receiving pattern and said reference attitude light receiving pattern by a predetermined function and selecting a case not less than a predetermined value, or by a method of neural network using a weighted repeat calculation.

18. The operating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said light receiving device and said pattern detecting portion are configured so that a movement of at least one finger of said operator can be detected as said light receiving pattern.

19. The operating apparatus according to claim 18, wherein:

said light receiving device and said pattern detecting portion are configured so that movements of five fingers of said operator can be detected as said light receiving pattern.

20. The operating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a second attitude calculating portion configured to calculate an attitude of a finger part of said operator or a change mode in the attitude on the basis of a light receiving pattern detected by said pattern detecting portion, wherein

said signal output portion outputs said attitude or said change mode of the attitude calculated by said second attitude calculating portion as said operation signal.

21. The operating apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a second comparing portion for attitude detection configured to compare a reference attitude light receiving pattern set according to living body information distribution corresponding to a predetermined reference attitude of a finger part of said operator and a light receiving pattern detected by said pattern detecting portion, wherein

said second attitude calculation portion calculates said attitude or said change mode of the attitude according to a comparison result at said second comparing portion for attitude detection.

22. The operating apparatus according to claim 21, wherein:

said second comparing portion for attitude detection carries out said comparison by checking matching or non-matching between said detected light receiving pattern and said reference attitude light receiving pattern, by quantifying similarity between said detected light receiving pattern and said reference attitude light receiving pattern by a predetermined function and selecting a case not less than a predetermined value, or by a method of neural network using a weighted repeat calculation.

23. The operating apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising a determination comparing device provided with a learning mode in which parameters required for determination are obtained on the basis of a teacher signal and a determination mode in which a determination is made from the parameters and obtained data and having a memory portion in which said parameters are stored.

24. The operating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a first selection instruction determining portion configured to determine whether a selection instruction has been inputted or not, said selection instruction being to select a plurality of modes set in relation to attitude recognition of a finger part of said operator on the basis of said operation signal.

25. The operating apparatus according to claim 24, wherein:

said first selection instruction determining portion includes a first comparing portion for mode instruction configured to compare said light receiving pattern detected by said pattern detecting portion and a light receiving pattern for mode instruction set in advance and determines whether said selection instruction has been inputted or not according to a comparison result of said first comparing portion for mode instruction.

26. The operating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a start instruction determining portion configured to determine whether a start instruction to start output of said operation signal by said signal output portion has been inputted or not, wherein

said signal output portion outputs said operation signal when determination at said start instruction determining portion is satisfied.

27. The operating apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

said start instruction determining portion includes a comparing portion for start instruction detection configured to compare said light receiving pattern detected by said pattern detecting portion and a light receiving pattern for start instruction set in advance and determines on whether said start instruction has been inputted or not according to a comparison result of said comparing portion for start instruction detection.

28. The operating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a stop instruction determining portion configured to determine whether a stop instruction to stop output of said operation signal by said signal output portion has been inputted or not, wherein

said signal output portion stops output of said operation signal when the determination by said stop instruction determining portion is satisfied.

29. The operating apparatus according to claim 28, wherein:

said stop instruction determining portion includes a comparing portion for stop instruction detection configured to compare said light receiving pattern detected by said pattern detecting portion and a light receiving pattern for stop instruction set in advance and determines whether said stop instruction has been inputted or not according to a comparison result of said comparing portion for stop instruction detection.

30. The operating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said light emitting device emits said irradiation light with a wavelength included in a range from visible light band to near infrared light band, and

said light receiving device receiving said irradiation light with the wavelength included in the visible light band is arranged so that the focus position of the light receiving device is in the vicinity of the back of hand of said operator.

31. The operating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said light emitting devices are provided in plural; and

those plurality of light emitting devices emit the same irradiation light included in the near infrared band, respectively, and

said operating apparatus further comprises a time-difference light emission control portion configured to sequentially emit light of said plurality of light emitting devices with a time difference.

32. The operating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said light emitting devices are provided in plural; and

those plurality of light emitting devices emit irradiation light with a plurality of wavelength, at least one of which is included in the near infrared band, and

said operating apparatus further comprises;

a simultaneous light emission control portion configured to simultaneously emit light of said plurality of light emitting devices; and

a filter device configured to separate said irradiation light by predetermined wavelength band, said irradiation light simultaneously emitted from said plurality of light emitting devices on the basis of control of said simultaneous light emission control portion and received by said plurality of light receiving devices.

33. An operating system comprising:

an operating apparatus having a mounting device mounted on a body of an operator;

at least one light emitting device configured to emit predetermined irradiation light, provided at said mounting device;

a plurality of light receiving devices configured to receive reflection light or scattering light or transmission light of said irradiation light, provided at said mounting device; and

a signal output portion configured to output an operation signal corresponding to an operation state of the operator on the basis of a combination of light-receiving results at said plurality of light receiving devices; and

a controller having an attitude calculating portion configured to calculate an attitude of an operation portion of said operator or a change mode in the attitude on the basis of a light receiving pattern obtained from said operation signal inputted from said signal output portion.

34. The operating system according to claim 33, wherein:

in said operating apparatus,

said mounting device is mounted on said body so that said irradiation light emitted from said light emitting device is irradiated to a part of said body;

said plurality of light receiving devices receive scattering light or transmission light at an irradiation portion of said irradiation light irradiated to the part of said body is provided;

a pattern detecting portion configured to detect said light emitting device and at least one said light receiving device that received said irradiation light from the light emitting device as a light receiving pattern is provided;

said signal output portion outputs said operation signal corresponding to an operation state of said operator on the basis of said light receiving pattern detected by said pattern detecting portion; and

said attitude calculating portion of said controller is a first attitude calculating portion configured to calculate an attitude of an operation portion of said operator or a change mode of the attitude on the basis of said light receiving pattern obtained from said operation signal inputted from said signal output portion.

35. The operating system according to claim 34, wherein:

said controller has a first comparing portion for calculation configured to compare a reference attitude light receiving pattern set according to living body information distribution corresponding to a predetermined attitude of an operation portion of said operator and said obtained light receiving pattern; and

said first attitude calculating portion calculates said attitude or the change mode of said attitude according to a comparison result of said first comparing portion for calculation.

36. The operating system according to claim 33, wherein:

in said operating apparatus,

said mounting device is mounted on a wrist of said operator;

said light emitting device emits said predetermined irradiation light to the side of the back of hand of said operator;

said plurality of light receiving devices receive said reflection light or scattering light at a finger part of said operator from the side of said back of hand;

a pattern detecting portion configured to detect said light emitting device and at least one said light receiving device that receives reflection light or scattering light of said irradiation light from the light emitting device as a light receiving pattern is provided;

said signal output portion outputs said operation signal corresponding to an operation state of the finger part of said operator on the basis of said light receiving pattern detected by said pattern detecting portion; and

said attitude calculating portion of said controller is a second attitude calculating portion configured to calculate an attitude or a change mode of the attitude of the finger part of said operator on the basis of said light receiving pattern obtained from said operation signal inputted from said signal output portion.

37. The operating system according to claim 36, wherein:

said controller has a second comparing portion for calculation configured to compare a reference attitude light receiving pattern set according to living body information distribution corresponding to a predetermined attitude of the finger part of said operator and said obtained light receiving pattern; and

said second attitude calculating portion calculates said attitude or said change mode of said attitude according to a comparison result of said second comparing portion for calculation.

38. The operating system according to claim 36, wherein:

said controller includes a second selection instruction determining portion configured to determine if a selection instruction to select a plurality of modes set in relation to attitude recognition of the finger part of the operator on the basis of said operation signal has been inputted from said operating apparatus or not.

39. The operating system according to 38, wherein:

said second selection instruction determining portion of said controller includes a second comparing portion for mode instruction configured to compare said light receiving pattern detected by said pattern detecting portion and a light receiving pattern for mode instruction set in advance and determines whether said selection instruction has been inputted or not according to a comparison result of said second comparing portion for mode instruction.