Information processing apparatus for inputting a signal, and method therefor

• US 20020185999A1
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tajima, Shigeru, Rekimoto, Junichi, Ayatsuka, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 6,777,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/76.75
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals

Abstract

When a human body touches any of linear electrode array mutually isolated and arranged in X and Y directions of an input device, an inducing signal from wiring of a commercial power supply is transmitted by way of the human body, so that an inducing voltage is generated at the linear electrode to which the human body touches. The input device detects the inducing voltage and outputs the detected inducing voltage to a signal processing section. The signal processing section detects a coordinate where the input device detects the inducing voltage, identifies a frequency of the inducing signal transmitted by way of the human body, and outputs the information to an output terminal.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

generator means for generating an alternating current signal; and

inducing means for inducing said alternating current signal generated by said generator means to a human body.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said generator means generates said alternating current signal that can be identified with respect to an alternating current signal generated by another information processing apparatus.

3. An information processing apparatus comprising:

inducing means extending in a first and a second directions and inducing an inducing voltage from a neighboring human body;

inducing voltage detection means for detecting said inducing voltage induced by said inducing means; and

coordination detecting means for detecting a coordination at which said inducing means induces said inducing voltage based on said inducing voltage detected by said inducing voltage detection means.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

frequency identification means for identifying a frequency of said inducing voltage.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

said frequency identification means identifies a frequency of a commercial power supply as said frequency of said inducing voltage.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

said frequency identification means identifies a frequency of a signal outputted from the other information processing apparatus worn on a human body as said frequency of said inducing voltage.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

reception means for receiving information transmitted from said other information processing apparatus worn on said human body.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

transmission means for transmitting, by way of said human body, information to said other information processing apparatus worn on a human body.

9. An information processing method comprising the steps of:

an inducing step of inducing an inducing voltage from a neighboring human body by way of inducing means extending in a first direction and a second direction;

an inducing voltage detection step of detecting said inducing voltage induced at said inducting step; and

a coordinate detection step of detecting a coordinate at which said inducing step induces said inducing voltage based on said inducing voltage detected at said inducing voltage detection step.