Electronic apparatus, input device, and input method
A walking sensor is attached to a shoe of the user and cooperates with an input device including a detection section detecting a movement of a user's leg, a signal conversion section converting a detection result of the detection section into a control signal, and an output section outputting the control signal to an external device.
1. An input device for enabling a user to provide a command to a device external to the user, said input device comprising:
a number of sensors operable to detect movement of the user;
detection means for detecting a movement pattern of the user based on the detected movement obtained from the number of sensors;
a database operable to store therein a plurality of predetermined movement patterns and a control signal corresponding to each of the predetermined movement patterns;
signal conversion means for comparing a detected movement pattern obtained from the detection means with the predetermined movement patterns stored in the database and, when a match is obtained, for obtaining a respective control signal corresponding thereto; and
output means for outputting the respective control signal as a desired command to an external device.
2. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a command for controlling the external device.
3. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the detection means is attached to at least one portion of shoes, instep, toe, ankle, calf, knee, or thigh of the user.
4. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the detection means is attached to at least one portion of body trunk, lumbar part, or head of the user.
5. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the detection means is one of a bending sensor, a pressure sensor, a ranging sensor, and acceleration sensor, a skew sensor, a magnetic sensor, a current sensor, an electrical potential sensor, or an electromagnetic induction sensor.
6. The input device according to claim 1 , further comprising rhythm generation means for generating a rhythm pattern from the detection result of the detection means.
7. An input method for enabling a user to provide a command to a device external to the user, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a number of sensors operable to detect movement of the user;
detecting a movement pattern of the user based on the detected movement obtained from the number of sensors;
storing in a database a plurality of predetermined movement patterns and a control signal corresponding to each of the predetermined movement patterns;
comparing a detected movement pattern obtained from the detecting step with the predetermined movement patterns stored in the database and, when a match is obtained, obtaining a respective control signal corresponding thereto; and
outputting the respective control signal as a desired command to an external device.
8. An input device for enabling a user to provide a command to a device external to the user, said input device comprising:
a number of sensors operable to detect movement of the user;
a detection section operable to detect a movement pattern of the user based on the detected movement obtained from the number of sensors;
a database operable to store therein a plurality of predetermined movement patterns and a control signal corresponding to each of the predetermined movement patterns;
a signal conversion section operable to compare a detected movement pattern obtained from the detection section with the predetermined movement patterns stored in the database and, when a match is obtained, to obtain a respective control signal corresponding thereto; and
an output section operable to output the respective control signal as a desired command to an external device.