Movement control apparatus and movable body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12223145-B2
Application number	US-202017600680-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2020
Priority date	Apr 8, 2019
Publication date	Feb 11, 2025
Grant date	Feb 11, 2025

Abstract

[Object] To provide a movement control apparatus that is capable of controlling the movement of a movable body using an intuitive operation, and the movable body.
[Solving Means] A movement control apparatus according to the present technology includes a motion controller and an operation instructing section. The motion controller causes a movable body to perform motion. The operation instructing section gives an instruction to the motion controller on the basis of output of a sensor such that the movable body performs motion, the sensor detecting a distribution of pressure applied to a detection surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A movement control apparatus, comprising:
a motion controller that causes a movable body to perform motion; and
an operation instructing section that gives an instruction to the motion controller on a basis of output of a sensor such that the movable body performs motion, the sensor detecting a distribution of pressure applied to a detection surface, wherein
the detection surface is provided on a first side of a clearance layer, and a second side of the clearance layer is stacked on a sensor section that includes the sensor,
the distribution of pressure applied to the detection surface that is detected is applied by a shape with the distribution of pressure being in a Z-direction within an XY-plane of the detection surface, and a plurality of sensing portions across the X-direction and Y-direction in the XY-plane detecting a pressure in the Z-direction resulting in the detected distribution of pressure applied to the detection surface,
the operation instructing section acquires the distribution of the pressure and a shearing force from the sensor, the pressure being a force in a direction orthogonal to the detection surface, the shearing force being a force in a direction parallel to the detection surface,
the operation instructing section gives the instruction to the motion controller on a basis of the pressure and the shearing force, and
the operation instructing section
identifies a user who is pressing the detection surface,
determines a set value according to a result of the identification, and
gives the instruction to the motion controller on the basis of the output of the sensor when the pressure or the shearing force exhibits a value greater than the set value.

2. The movement control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
when the pressure or the shearing force is applied to the detection surface in a traveling direction of the movable body while the movable body is stopped, the operation instructing section gives the instruction to the motion controller such that the movable body starts moving.

3. The movement control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
when the pressure or the shearing force is applied to the detection surface in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the movable body while the movable body is moving, the operation instructing section gives the instruction to the motion controller such that the movable body is stopped.

4. The movement control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
when the pressure or the shearing force is applied to the detection surface, the operation instructing section gives the instruction to the motion controller while the pressure or the shearing force is being applied, such that the movable body moves in a direction in which the pressure or the shearing force is being applied.

5. The movement control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
from the distribution of the pressure applied to the detection surface, the operation instruction section acquires the type of a pressing object pressed against the detection surface, and the number of the pressing objects, and
the operation instruction section gives the instruction to the motion controller according to the type of the pressing object and the number of the pressing objects.

6. The movement control apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
when the pressing object is a certain number of fingers or more, or a palm of a hand, the operation instructing section gives the instruction to the motion controller according to the output of the sensor, and
when the pressing object is fewer than the certain number of fingers, the operation instructing section does not give the instruction to the motion controller according to the output of the sensor.

7. The movement control apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
when the pressing object is a single hand, the operation instructing section gives the instruction to the motion controller such that the movable body goes straight, and
when the pressing object is a plurality of hands, the operation instructing section gives the instruction to the motion controller such that the movable body moves with a turn.

8. The movement control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
when the detection surface is pressed in a state in which a destination of the movable body in autonomous driving has been set, the operation instructing section gives the instruction to the motion controller such that the movable body moves toward the destination.

9. The movement control apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein
when the detection surface is pressed after the movable body leaves for the destination, the operation instructing section gives the instruction to the motion controller such that the movable body is stopped.

10. The movement control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
according to an angle formed by the detection surface and a movement direction that is a direction in which the movable body is movable, the operation instructing section selects a force used to give the instruction to the motion controller from the pressure and the shearing force.

11. The movement control apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein
when the detection surface is parallel to the movement direction, the operation instructing section uses the shearing force to give the instruction to the motion controller, and
when the detection surface is orthogonal to the movement direction, the operation instructing section uses the pressure, and the shearing force in a direction parallel to the movement direction to give the instruction to the motion controller.

12. The movement control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
when the detection surface is pressed with a pressing object while the movable body is moving, the operation instructing section gives the instruction to the motion controller such that the movable body moves while keeping in contact with the pressing object.

13. A movable body, comprising:
a sensor that detects a distribution of pressure applied to a detection surface;
a traveling apparatus that causes the movable body to perform motion;
a motion controller that controls the traveling apparatus such that the movable body performs motion; and
an operation instructing section that gives an instruction to the motion controller on a basis of output of the sensor such that the movable body performs motion, wherein
the detection surface is provided on a first side of a clearance layer, and a second side of the clearance layer is stacked on a sensor section that includes the sensor,
the distribution of pressure applied to the detection surface that is detected is applied by a shape with the distribution of pressure being in a Z-direction within an XY-plane of the detection surface, and a plurality of sensing portions across the X-direction and Y-direction in the XY-plane detecting a pressure in the Z-direction resulting in the detected distribution of pressure applied to the detection surface,
the operation instructing section acquires the distribution of the pressure and a shearing force from the sensor, the pressure being a force in a direction orthogonal to the detection surface, the shearing force being a force in a direction parallel to the detection surface,
the operation instructing section gives the instruction to the motion controller on a basis of the pressure and the shearing force, and
the operation instructing section
identifies a user who is pressing the detection surface,
determines a set value according to a result of the identification, and
gives the instruction to the motion controller on the basis of the output of the sen

Assignees

• Sony Group Corp

Inventors

• Ebihara Munetake
• Nishikawa Toshiaki
• Fujisawa Akira

Classifications

• B60K35/53

  Movable instruments, e.g. slidable · CPC title

• B60K35/60

  Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60K35/10 Primary

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• B60K35/80

  Arrangements for controlling instruments · CPC title

• G06F2203/04105

  Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position · CPC title