Patent Description:
In the related art, there is known a device that assists a user in driving a vehicle. For example, Patent Literature <NUM> (PTL <NUM>) discloses a vehicle-installed car navigation system, for example. The car navigation system disclosed in PTL <NUM> assists in driving a vehicle by displaying, for example, the information about the travel route to the destination and the like on a display. PTL <NUM> discloses a control apparatus to be connected to a route guidance apparatus, comprising: a hand information detection part for detecting information on a hand of a user from a taken image; and an operation command generation part for outputting a control command to at least one of the route guidance apparatus and a plurality of apparatus connected to the route guidance apparatus, the operation command generation part being configured to output the control command to the at least one of the route guidance apparatus and the plurality of apparatus based on a direction of the hand of the user detected by the hand information detection part. PTL <NUM> discloses a vehicle distinguishing a gesture of a driver from that of the passenger when a gesture of a user is recognized, and a method for controlling. The vehicle includes a controller configured to recognize the gesture expressed by the object of interest and generate a control signal that corresponds to the gesture when the object of interest belongs to the driver. PTL <NUM> discloses an interactive operating device with a display and a method for operating the same. The method comprises the steps of: displaying graphical information on the display, receiving sensor information, activating of an operating action if it is determined, on the basis of the sensor information, that a body part of a user is within an activation area that is determined spatially relative to a display area of an operating element on the display, to which the operating action is assigned, wherein the received sensor information comprises user information that is evaluated to determine an intention to operate the at least one operating element before the operating action is activated, and the information displayed on the display is adjusted depending on the determined operating intention, so that the at least one operating element is displayed optimized for activating the operating action assigned to the operating element.

PTL <NUM>: <CIT>, PTL <NUM>: <CIT>, PTL <NUM>: <CIT>, PTL <NUM>: <CIT>.

The present invention provides an electronic device according to claim <NUM>, a program according to claim <NUM>, and a control method according to claim <NUM>.

In the related art, a user of car navigation system performs touch input on a display when performing an input operation. However, when the touch input is performed while driving a vehicle, it is difficult to ensure the safety of driving a vehicle. It is an object of this invention to provide an electronic device, a moving body, a program and a control method capable of improving the driving safety of a moving body. According to the electronic device, the moving body, the program and the control method of this invention, the driving safety of a moving body can be improved.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment includes a timer <NUM>, a camera <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a microphone <NUM>, a storage <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, a speaker <NUM>, a proximity sensor <NUM> (gesture sensor) and a controller <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> further includes a UV sensor <NUM>, an illuminance sensor <NUM>, an acceleration sensor <NUM>, a geomagnetic sensor <NUM>, a pressure sensor <NUM> and a gyro sensor <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates an example. The electronic device <NUM> may not include all of the components illustrated in <FIG>. Further, the electronic device <NUM> may include components other than those illustrated in <FIG>.

The electronic device <NUM> may be realized as a variety of devices used for driving or steering a moving body. The moving body may be configured by any movable device. The user may get into the moving body. The moving body may include, for example, a vehicle, a ship and an aircraft. The vehicle may include, for example, an electric car, a hybrid electric car, a gasoline car, a motorcycle, a two wheel, a welfare vehicle and the like. The vehicle may include, for example, a rail vehicle. The moving body may be driven or steered by a user. At least a part of user operation relating to driving or steering of a moving body may be automated. The moving body may be movable autonomously, not by user operation. Description will be given herein assuming that the moving body is a car driven by a user.

When the moving body is a car, the electronic device <NUM> may be realized as an in-vehicle device such as a car navigation system installed in a car, for example. The electronic device <NUM> may be realized, for example, as a mobile phone terminal, a phablet, a tablet personal computer (PC), a smart phone, a feature phone, or the like. In this case, the electronic device <NUM> may be communicably connected wired or wirelessly to the system installed in a car driven by a user. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may be realized as a smart phone, and may be communicably connected to a system installed in a car over Bluetooth®. The electronic device <NUM> is not limited to the above examples, and may be realized as any device used in driving or steering a moving body. The electronic device <NUM> may be realized, for example, as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a remote controller terminal, a mobile music player, a game machine, an e-book reader, household appliances or industrial equipment (FA equipment) and the like. Here an explanation is given assuming that the electronic device <NUM> is realized as a car navigation system installed in a car.

The timer <NUM> receives an instruction of timer operation from the controller <NUM> and outputs, after a predetermined time, a signal indicating so to the controller <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the timer <NUM> may be provided independently from the controller <NUM> or may be configured to be built in the controller <NUM>.

The camera <NUM> takes an image of an object around the electronic device <NUM>. As an example, the camera <NUM> is provided on a surface of the electronic device <NUM> where the display <NUM> is provided.

The display <NUM> displays a screen. The screen includes at least one of characters, images, symbols, figures and the like. The display <NUM> may be a Liquid Crystal Display, an Organic Electro-Luminescence (EL) Panel, an Inorganic Electro-Luminescence Panel or the like. In this embodiment, the display <NUM> is a touch panel display (touch screen display). The touch panel display detects a touch of a finger, a stylus pen and the like and determines the touched position. The display <NUM> can simultaneously detect a plurality of positions touched by a finger, a stylus pen and the like.

The microphone <NUM> detects sound, including human voice, around the electronic device <NUM>.

The storage <NUM> serves as a memory and stores programs and data. The storage <NUM> temporarily stores the processing results of the controller <NUM>. The storage <NUM> may include any storage device such as a semiconductor storage device or a magnetic storage device. The storage <NUM> may include some kinds of storage devices. The storage <NUM> may include a combination of a portable storage medium such as a memory card and a reader of the storage medium.

Programs stored in the storage <NUM> include applications performed in foreground or background and control programs that support operation of applications. An application causes the controller <NUM> to perform processing in response to a gesture, for example. The control program is an operating system (OS), for example. Applications and control programs may be installed in the storage <NUM> via communication by the communication unit <NUM> or via a storage medium.

The communication unit <NUM> is an interface for wired or wireless communications. The communication method performed by the communication unit <NUM> according to the embodiment is a wireless communication standard. For example, the wireless communication standard includes cellular phone communication standards such as <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. Cellular phone communication standards include, for example, Long Term Evolution (LTE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), CDMA2000, Personal Digital Cellular (PDC), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM®), Personal Handy-phone System (PHS) and the like. Wireless communication standards include, for example, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), IEEE802. <NUM>, Bluetooth®, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Near Field Communication (NFC), and the like. The communication unit <NUM> can support one or more of the above described communication standards.

The speaker <NUM> outputs sound. The speaker outputs, for example, a voice that guides the input route of the car to the destination. When the electronic device <NUM> is realized as a device capable of making a call, the voice of the other party is output from the speaker <NUM> during a call. Further, when news or weather forecast is read out, the content thereof is output from the speaker <NUM> as sound.

The proximity sensor <NUM> contactlessly detects a distance relative to an object around the electronic device <NUM> and the moving direction of the object, and the like. In this embodiment, the proximity sensor <NUM> has one infrared light emitting diode (LED) for light source and four infrared photodiodes. The proximity sensor <NUM> irradiates infrared light from the infrared LED for light source to the object. In the proximity sensor <NUM>, the light reflected from the object is the incident light to the infrared photodiodes. The proximity sensor <NUM> can then measure the distance relative to the object based on the output current from the infrared photodiodes. Further, the proximity sensor <NUM> detects the moving direction of the object based on the difference between the times at which light reflected from the object enters each of the infrared photodiodes. Therefore, the proximity sensor <NUM> can detect an operation using an air gesture (hereinafter referred merely as a "gesture") by the user of the electronic device <NUM> made without touching the electronic device <NUM>. Here, the proximity sensor <NUM> may have visible light photodiodes.

The controller <NUM> is a processor such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), for example. The controller <NUM> may also be an integrated circuit such as a System-on-a-Chip (SoC) in which other components are integrated. The controller <NUM> may be configured by combining a plurality of integrated circuits. The controller <NUM> controls overall operation of the electronic device <NUM> to realize a variety of functions.

When the electronic device <NUM> is realized as a car navigation system installed in a car, the controller <NUM> included in the electronic device <NUM> may be configured as an Electric Control Unit or an Engine Control Unit (ECU) installed in a car, for example.

Specifically, the controller <NUM> refers to data stored in the storage <NUM> as needed. The controller <NUM> realizes a variety of functions by executing instructions included in program stored in the storage <NUM> to control the other functional units such as the display <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> obtains data of contact by the user from a touch panel. For example, the controller <NUM> obtains information related to a gesture made by the user, which is detected by the proximity sensor <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> grasps the starting state of an application, for example.

The UV sensor <NUM> can measure the amount of ultraviolet rays contained in the sunlight and the like.

The illuminance sensor <NUM> detects the illuminance of ambient light incident on the illuminance sensor <NUM>.

The acceleration sensor <NUM> detects the direction and the size of acceleration acting on the electronic device <NUM>. The acceleration sensor <NUM> is a triaxial (3D) type acceleration sensor that detects acceleration in x-axial, y-axial and z-axial directions, for example. The acceleration sensor <NUM> may be a piezoresistive type or a capacitance type acceleration sensor, for example.

The geomagnetic sensor <NUM> detects the direction of geomagnetism to allow for measurement of the direction of the electronic device <NUM>.

The pressure sensor <NUM> detects the pressure (atmospheric pressure) outside of the electronic device <NUM>.

The gyro sensor <NUM> detects the angular velocity of the electronic device <NUM>. The controller <NUM> can measure the change in the orientation of the electronic device <NUM> through time integration of the angular velocity obtained by the gyro sensor <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a state where the user operates the electronic device <NUM> with gestures. In <FIG>, as an example, the display <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> is provided on the console panel of the car, for example. Alternatively, the electronic device <NUM> may be supported by a supporting tool, provided in the car, to support the electronic device <NUM>. When the proximity sensor <NUM> detects a user's gesture, the controller <NUM> performs processing based on the gesture detected. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the processing based on a gesture is, for example, an adjustment of volume of the sound output from the speaker <NUM>. For example, when the user makes a gesture of moving his/her hand upward in the lateral direction of the electronic device <NUM>, the volume increases as the user's hand moves. Further, when the user makes a gesture of moving his/her hand downward in the lateral direction of the electronic device <NUM>, the volume decreases as the user's hand moves.

The processing based on a gesture is not limited to volume adjustment. The processing based on a gesture may be other processing that can be performed based on a gesture detected. For example, the processing based on a gesture may include enlargement or reduction in the information displayed on the display <NUM>, adjustment of the brightness of the display on the display <NUM>, start of reading of predetermined information by voice and stop of the reading by voice, and the like.

Here, a method in which the controller <NUM> detects a user's gesture based on output from the proximity sensor <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the proximity sensor <NUM> when the electronic device <NUM> is viewed from the front. The proximity sensor <NUM> has an infrared LED for light source <NUM> and four infrared photodiodes, SU, SR, SD and SL. The four infrared photodiodes, SU, SR, SD and SL detect the light reflected from an object to be detected through a lens <NUM>. The four infrared photodiodes, SU, SR, SD and SL are symmetrically disposed about the center of the lens <NUM>. Here, assuming that the virtual line D1 illustrated in <FIG> is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electronic device <NUM>. The infrared photodiodes SU and SD are disposed separately on the virtual line D1 in <FIG>. Further, the infrared photodiodes SR and SL are disposed between the infrared photodiodes SU and SD in the direction of the virtual line D1 in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates changes in detection values when the object to be detected (e.g. a user's hand and the like) by the four infrared photodiodes, SU, SR, SD and SL, moves along the direction of the virtual line D1 in <FIG>. Here, the distance between the infrared photodiodes SU and SD is the largest in the direction of the virtual line D1. Thus, as illustrated in <FIG>, the time difference between the change (e.g. an increase) in the detection value of the infrared photodiode SU (dashed line) and the change (e.g. an increase) in the detection value of the infrared photodiode SD (thin solid line) is the largest. The controller <NUM> can determine the moving direction of the object to be detected by grasping the time difference of a predetermined change in the detection values of the photodiodes SU, SR, SD and SL.

The controller <NUM> obtains detection values of the photodiodes SU, SR, SD and SL from the proximity sensor <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may then integrate a value obtained by subtracting a detection value of the photodiode SU from a detection value of the photodiode SD over a predetermined time to grasp the movement of the object to be detected in the direction of the virtual line D1. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the integrated value is nonzero in regions R41 and R42. The controller <NUM> can grasp the movement of the object to be detected in the direction of the virtual line D1 based on this change in the integrated value (e.g. a change of positive value, zero and negative value).

The controller <NUM> may also integrate a value obtained by subtracting the detection value of the photodiode SR from the detection value of the photodiode SL over a predetermined time. The controller <NUM> can grasp the movement of the object to be detected in the direction orthogonal to the virtual line D1 (e.g. the direction approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electronic device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, for example) based on the change in the integrated value (e.g. a change of positive value, zero and negative value).

Alternatively, the controller <NUM> may perform an operation by using all detection values of the photodiodes SU, SR, SD and SL. That is, the controller <NUM> may grasp the moving direction of the object to be detected without separating into longitudinal and lateral components of the electronic device <NUM> for operation.

Gestures to be detected include, for example, a side-to-side gesture, an up-and-down gesture, a diagonal gesture, a gesture forming a circle in a clockwise manner and a gesture forming a circle in a counterclockwise manner. For example, the side-to-side gesture is a gesture made in the direction approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electronic device <NUM>. The up-and-down gesture is a gesture performed in the direction approximately parallel to the lateral direction of the electronic device <NUM>. The diagonal gesture is a gesture performed in a direction which is parallel to neither the longitudinal direction nor the lateral direction of the electronic device <NUM> on a plane approximately parallel to the front of the electronic device <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a state where the user operates the electronic device <NUM> with gestures. As illustrated in <FIG>, for example, the electronic device <NUM> is disposed such that the display <NUM> is centered in the console panel of the car. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the user gets into a car installed with the electronic device <NUM> and drives the car while displaying a route to the destination on the display <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> and referring to the route displayed. At this time, the proximity sensor <NUM> is in a state where it can detect a user's gesture. The controller <NUM> performs processing based on a gesture detected by the proximity sensor <NUM>.

For example, the controller <NUM> can perform processing of adjusting the volume of the sound output from the electronic device <NUM> in response to a specific gesture (e.g. a user' gesture to move his/her hand up and down). The electronic device <NUM> can accept a touch input from the user on a touch screen display. However, if the user tries to perform touch input while driving, he/she may make a mistake in operating a steering when reaching for the touch screen display. Further, when the user transfers his/her gaze to the display <NUM> to confirm the position of touch input on the display while driving, the confirmation of the surrounding situation may be neglected. In this case, the driving safety of the car may be reduced. On the other hand, as with this embodiment, when the electronic device <NUM> can accept input operation by gestures, the user can perform input operation without touching the electronic device <NUM>. In this manner, the driving safety can be easily secured even if the user performs input operation while driving.

Here, the electronic device <NUM> may have a plurality of modes. A mode refers to an operating mode (operating condition or state) that limits the overall operation of the electronic device <NUM>. Only one mode can be selected simultaneously. In this embodiment, the modes of the electronic device <NUM> include a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is a normal operating mode (normal mode) suitable for use in states other than driving, for example. The states other than driving may include any one of the states where, for example, the car engine is not running, the shift lever is in a predetermined range (e.g. a parking range), a brake is pressed and a route to the destination is not displayed. The second mode is an operating mode (car mode) of the electronic device <NUM> suitable for driving a car by displaying a route to the destination on the display <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>. As described above, in the case of the second mode, it is preferable that input with gestures is possible. That is, when the mode of the electronic device <NUM> is switched to the second mode, it is preferable to operate the proximity sensor <NUM> in conjunction therewith to enable gesture detection. The electronic device <NUM> may switch the mode of the electronic device <NUM> based on a predetermined input operation to the electronic device <NUM> or a predetermined input operation to the car by the user.

Next, processing of determining a gesture direction by the controller <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> will be described. The processing of determining a gesture direction by the controller <NUM> may be performed, for example, when the electronic device <NUM> is in the above described car mode.

In the electronic device <NUM>, the direction detected as a gesture may be determined in advance. For example, the direction detected as a gesture may be determined to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, in order to simplify the explanation, explanation is given below assuming that, in the electronic device <NUM>, the direction detected as a gesture is determined in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. That is, in this embodiment, a gesture in the diagonal direction is not considered, which, however, does not limit the direction detected as a gesture in the electronic device <NUM> according to this invention. Therefore, the electronic device <NUM> may detect a gesture in the diagonal direction in the same manner as described below.

If the direction detected as a gesture in the electronic device <NUM> is determined to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, when the controller <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> detects a gesture, it determines whether the detected gesture is the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. For example, the controller <NUM> can determined if the detected gesture is the vertical operation or the horizontal operation. For example, when detecting a gesture, the controller <NUM> breaks down the gesture into the vertical component (moving amount) and the horizontal component (moving amount). The controller <NUM> then determines that the gesture is the vertical gesture when the vertical component is larger than the horizontal component. On the other hand, the controller <NUM> determines that the gesture is the horizontal gesture when the horizontal component is larger than the vertical component.

The controller <NUM> determines the gesture direction using a determination criterion, for example. The determination criterion is a criterion for determining the direction of the gesture, and may be stored in advance in the storage <NUM>.

<FIG> is a conceptual diagram for explaining a method for determining a direction of a gesture using a determination criterion. In <FIG>, a rectangular coordinate system is set, and x-axis and y-axis are associated with the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, respectively. As illustrated as an example in <FIG>, the determination criterion includes two straight lines L1 and L2. Hereinafter, when referring to an angle, the x-axis positive direction is a reference (<NUM> degree) and the counterclockwise is a positive direction of angle. Therefore, the y-axis positive direction is <NUM> degrees.

In the determination criterion illustrated in <FIG>, the straight line L1 is set to <NUM> degrees and the straight line L2 is set to -<NUM> degrees (i.e. <NUM> degrees). That is, in the determination criterion illustrated in <FIG>, the straight line L1 and the straight line L2 are orthogonal to each other. Four regions divided by the straight line L1 and the straight line L2 are associated with the up direction, the down direction, the right direction and the left direction, respectively. Specifically, with respect to the four regions divided by the two straight lines L1 and L2, the region from -<NUM> to <NUM> degrees, the region from <NUM> to <NUM> degrees, the region from <NUM> to <NUM> degrees and the region from <NUM> to <NUM> degrees are associated with the right direction, the up direction, the left direction and the down direction, respectively. The determination criterion illustrated in <FIG> is hereinafter also referred to as the "standard determination criterion.

The controller <NUM> calculates the direction of the vector indicated by the gesture based on the output (detection value) from the proximity sensor <NUM>, and determines, using the determination criterion, the direction indicated by the calculated vector. For example, when the vector of the gesture calculated based on the output from proximity sensor <NUM> is oriented <NUM> degrees as indicated by the arrow A1 in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> can determine that the gesture is an upward gesture, using the standard determination criterion illustrated in <FIG>. Further, for example, when the vector of the gesture calculated based on the output from the proximity sensor <NUM> is oriented <NUM> degrees as indicated by the arrow A2 in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> can determine that the gesture is a rightward gesture, using the standard determination criterion illustrated in <FIG>.

When the direction of the gesture is determined using the standard determination criterion, a user's gesture may not be determined as a gesture in the direction intended by the user. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, assuming that, in the car, the display <NUM> and the proximity sensor <NUM> are disposed in the center of the console panel and the driver's seat is disposed on the right side in the traveling direction, and, for example, when the user sitting in the driver's seat performs an input with a gesture, he/she makes a gesture of moving his/her hand from downward to upward with the intention of performing the upward operation. In the car, the driver's seat is disposed on the right side in the traveling direction and the proximity sensor <NUM> is disposed at the center. Thus, when the user sitting in the driver's seat performs an input with a gesture, it is natural for the user to make a gesture with his/her left hand. At this time, due to the structure of the human body, the palm of the left hand moves in an arc with the elbow or shoulder of the left hand as an axis, as schematically indicated by the arrow A3 in <FIG>. In this case, the gesture made by the user has an upward component intended by the user and a rightward component caused by the arc drawn by the palm.

When the gesture schematically indicated by the arrow A3 is made, the controller <NUM> calculates the direction of the vector indicated by the gesture based on the output from the proximity sensor <NUM> that detects the gesture. Specifically, the controller <NUM> calculates the sizes of the upward component and the rightward component based on the output from the proximity sensor <NUM>, and calculates the direction of the vector indicated by the gesture (i.e. the direction schematically indicated by the arrow A4 in <FIG>), based on the sizes of the upward component and the rightward component. The controller <NUM> determines the direction of the gesture using the determination criterion, based on the direction of the vector calculated.

In the gesture schematically indicated by the arrow A3, when the rightward component is larger than the upward component, the direction of the vector indicated by the gesture is less than <NUM> degrees. In this case, when the controller <NUM> determines the direction of the vector indicated by the gesture using the standard determination criterion, the gesture is determined to be a rightward gesture. However, in the above gesture, the gesture intended by the user is an upward operation. Thus, when the controller <NUM> determines that the gesture is a rightward gesture and performs rightward processing, an erroneous operation occurs.

The controller <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to this embodiment determines a hand of the user used for operating an own device (electronic device <NUM>) according to the driver's seat position, and according to the determined hand of the user used for operation, determines the direction of the user's gesture. In this manner, the above described erroneous operation can be prevented easily. Specifically, the controller <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to this embodiment determines the driver's seat position in the car installed with the electronic device <NUM>, and determines a hand of the user used for operating an own device according to the determined driver's seat position. Furthermore, the controller <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> determines the determination criterion for determining the direction of the gesture according to the determined hand used for operating the own device, and determines the direction of the gesture using the determined determination criterion. In this manner, the electronic device <NUM> can prevent erroneous operation easily. Control performed by the controller <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to this embodiment will be described in detail below.

The controller <NUM> determines a driver's seat position in the car installed with the electronic device <NUM>. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the car <NUM> has two seats in each of the front row and the rear row in the traveling direction, and two seats on each of the right side and the left side. That is, the car <NUM> has seats <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> on the right side of the front row on, on the left side of the front row, on the right side of the rear row and the left side of the rear row, respectively. Further, in the car <NUM>, the display <NUM> and the proximity sensor <NUM> are disposed in the center on the front side of the front row. The controller <NUM> determines which of the seats from <NUM> to <NUM> is a driver's seat in the car <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, for example. The controller <NUM> can determine the driver's seat position by using one of the methods or by combining two or more methods described herein.

It is to be noted that the driver's seat is a seat in which a driver who drives the car <NUM> sits. When the car <NUM> has a steering and the user operates the steering to drive, the driver's seat is a seat in front of the position where the steering is disposed. Normally, the steering of the car <NUM> is disposed in front of either one of the seats in the front row, and therefore the seat <NUM> on the right side of the front row or the seat <NUM> on the left side of the front row is determined as a driver's seat position.

For example, the controller <NUM> may determine in advance the driver's seat position based on the information stored in the storage <NUM> in advance. For example, when the electronic device <NUM> is installed in the car <NUM> in advance, the information on the driver's seat position may be stored in the storage <NUM>. Alternatively, when the user inputs the information on the driver's seat position by performing input operation to the electronic device <NUM>, the information on the driver's seat position may be stored in the storage <NUM>. In this case, the controller <NUM> can determine the driver's seat position based on the information on the driver's seat position stored in the storage <NUM>.

For example, the controller <NUM> may determine the driver's seat position based on an image taken by the camera <NUM>. Specifically, the controller <NUM> activates the camera <NUM> when performing control based on a gesture (e.g. when the electronic device <NUM> is in a first operating mode). The camera <NUM> takes an image of the front side of the display <NUM>, that is, inside of the car <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may analyze the image taken by the camera <NUM> and determine the position of the seat in front of the steering as a driver's seat position. The controller <NUM> analyzes the image taken by the camera <NUM>, and if the user is seen in the seat in front of the steering in the image, the controller <NUM> may determine the position of the seat as the driver's seat position. When determining the driver's seat position, the controller <NUM> may stop operating the camera <NUM>. In this manner, the controller <NUM> can reduce the power consumption of the camera <NUM>.

For example, when each of the seats from <NUM> to <NUM> is provided with a pressure sensor, the controller <NUM> may determine the driver's seat position based on the output of the pressure sensors. The pressure sensor may be provided below a seating surface of each of seats <NUM> to <NUM> to which a load is applied when the user sits therein. The pressure sensor detects a pressure applied to the seating surface of each of the seats <NUM> to <NUM>. When the user gets in the car and sits in the seat, the controller <NUM> can determine the seat in which the user sits based on the output from the pressure sensor disposed at the seat. The controller <NUM> may determine the position of the seat in which the user sits as a position of the driver's seat. This method can be used, for example, when only one user gets in the car.

For example, the controller <NUM> may determine the driver's seat position based on the direction in which the gesture is first detected after power is supplied to the electronic device <NUM>. After power is supplied to the electronic device <NUM> by turning on the electronic device <NUM> or by starting the engine to use the electronic device <NUM>, the user puts his/her hand closer to the electronic device <NUM> to operate it. In this case, the user extends his/her hand from the direction of the seat in which the user sits. That is, when the user sits on the right side in the traveling direction, the user's hand extends from the right side of the proximity sensor <NUM> in the traveling direction. On the other hand, when the user sits on the left side in the traveling direction, the user's hand extends from the left side of the proximity sensor <NUM> in the traveling direction. In this manner, the electronic device <NUM> can determine that the user exists in the direction in which the gesture is first detected by the proximity sensor <NUM>. The user who tries to operate the electronic device <NUM> when driving the car <NUM> is usually considered to be a user who drives the car <NUM>. Thus the controller <NUM> can determine that the driver's seat is positioned in the direction in which the gesture is first detected.

For example, when a human detection sensor is provided in front of each of the seats from <NUM> to <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may determine the driver's seat position based on the output from the human detection sensor. The human detection sensor may detect whether the user sits in one of the seats from <NUM> to <NUM> or not by detecting a change in the ambient temperature using infrared rays, for example. When the user gets in the car and sits in a seat, the controller <NUM> can determine the seat in which the user sits based on the output from the human detection sensor disposed in front of the seat. The controller <NUM> may determine the position of the seat in which the user sits as a driver's seat position. This method can be used when only one user gets in the car, for example.

For example, the controller <NUM> may determine the driver's seat position based on opening and closing of the door of the car <NUM>. For example, the car <NUM> is assumed to have a door near each of the seats from <NUM> to <NUM>. Specifically, the car <NUM> is assumed to have a door on each of the right side of the seat <NUM> on the right side of the front row, the left side of the seat <NUM> on the left side of the front row, the right side of the seat <NUM> on the right side of the rear row and the left side of the seat <NUM> on the left side of the rear row. Further, each door is assumed to be provided with a sensor configured to detect opening and closing. The controller <NUM> can determine that the user sits in the seat closest to the door that is opened/closed. This is because it is considered that the user usually gets in the car <NUM> from the door closest to the seat in which the user intends to sit. The controller <NUM> may determine the position of the seat determined as the seat in which the user sits as a driver's seat position. This method can be used when only one user gets in the car, for example.

For example, the controller <NUM> may determine the driver's seat position based on the position at which the door of the car <NUM> is unlocked. When a plurality of doors are provided to the car <NUM> as described above, the controller <NUM> can determine that the user sits in the seat closest to the door to which unlock operation is performed. This is because it is considered that the user unlocks the door closest to the seat in which the user intends to sit and gets in the car <NUM> from the door. The controller <NUM> may determine the position of the seat determined in which the user is going to sit as a driver's seat position. This method can be used when only one user gets in the car, for example.

For example, the controller <NUM> may determine the driver's seat position based on the hand used for operating the touch screen display. For example, the user stores in advance the fingerprint data of right and left fingers in the storage <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>. For example, the user performs input operation for registering the fingerprint data to store the fingerprint data in the storage <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>. When the user's finger touches the touch screen display in a state where the power is supplied to the electronic device <NUM> to drive the car <NUM>, the controller <NUM> reads a fingerprint of the finger that touches the touch screen display to determine whether the finger is the right hand finger or the left hand finger of the user. The controller <NUM> determines that the seat on the opposite side of the direction of the hand determined (i.e. a right hand or a left hand) is a seat in which the user sits. For example, when the user sits in the seat on the right side, it is assumed that the user performs touch input with his/her left hand to the touch screen display disposed in the center. Thus, when determining that the finger that touches the touch screen display is the user's left hand, the controller <NUM> determines that the user sits in the seat on the right side. On the contrary, when the user sits in the seat on the left side, it is assumed that the user performs touch operation to the touch screen display disposed at the center with his/her right hand. Thus, when determining that the finger that touches the touch screen display is the user's right hand, the controller <NUM> determines that the user sits in the seat on the left side. The controller <NUM> may determine the position of the seat in which the user is determined to be sitting as a driver's seat position.

For example, the controller <NUM> may determine the driver's seat position based on the sound detected by the microphone <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> determines the direction from which the sound is generated based on the sound detected by the microphone <NUM>. The controller <NUM> can determine that the direction from which the determined sound is generated as the direction in which the user exists. Thus the controller <NUM> may determine the position of the seat that exists in the direction from which the sound is generated as a driver's seat position.

The controller <NUM> determines a hand of a user used for operating an own device based on the driver's seat position. The hand of a user used for operating an own device may be a hand of a user used for making a gesture for operating the own device. For example, when the user makes a gesture with his/her right hand to operate the own device with a gesture, the hand used for operating the own device means his/her right hand. On the contrary, when the user makes a gesture with his/her left hand, the hand used for operating the own device means his/her left hand.

The controller <NUM> may determine, for example, the hand on the side opposite to the driver's seat position determined as above as a hand of the user used for operating the own device. That is, when determining that the driver's seat position is located on the right side in the traveling direction, for example, the controller <NUM> may determine the left hand as a hand used for operating the own device. Similarly, when determining that the driver's seat position is located on the left side in the traveling direction, for example, the controller <NUM> may determine the right hand as a hand used for operating the own device. When the proximity sensor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> is disposed in the center of the console panel, for example, the controller <NUM> can accurately determine the hand of the user used for operating the electronic device <NUM> easily by determining a hand used for operating the own device as described above.

It is to be noted that the controller <NUM> may determine, depending on the position of the proximity sensor <NUM> in the car, the hand used for operating the own device with a method different from that described above. The controller <NUM> may determine the hand of the user, who sits in the driver's seat, that is more likely to be used for performing gesture operation as a hand of the user used for operating the own device, according to the positional relationship between the proximity sensor <NUM> and the driver's seat. The controller <NUM> may, for example, determine the hand closer to the proximity sensor <NUM> as a hand used for operating the own device.

The controller <NUM> determines the determination criterion according to a hand of the user used for operating the own device determined as described above, for example. That is, the controller <NUM> determines, in a state where the hand of the user used for making a gesture is determined, the determination criterion according to the hand for making a gesture.

When the hand used for making a gesture is a left hand, the controller <NUM> uses a left hand determination criterion to determine the direction of the gesture. The left hand determination criterion is a determination criterion that facilitates determination of the direction of the gesture according to the intention of the user when operation is performed with a left hand, in consideration of the nature of movement with a left hand. The nature of movement with a left hand includes, as described with reference to <FIG>, a nature that the rightward component is likely to be included with respect to the upward operation, for example. The nature of movement with a left hand includes, for example, a nature that the leftward component is likely to be included with respect to the downward operation, for the same reason as described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a left hand determination criterion. As illustrated in <FIG> as an example, the left hand determination criterion includes two straight lines L1R and L2R. The straight lines L1R and L2R are obtained, respectively, by rotating the straight lines L1 and L2 indicated by the broken line in <FIG> to the right direction (negative direction) by a predetermined angle. In <FIG>, the predetermined angle is <NUM> degrees. That is, the straight lines L1R and L2R illustrated in <FIG> are obtained by rotating the straight lines L1 and L2, respectively, to the right direction (negative direction) by <NUM> degrees.

In the left hand determination criterion illustrated in <FIG>, the four regions divided by the two straight lines L1R and L2R are associated with the upward direction, the downward direction, the rightward direction and the left ward direction, respectively. Specifically, of four regions divided by the two straight lines L1R and L2R, the region of -<NUM> to <NUM> degrees, the region of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees, the region of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees and the region of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees are associated with the rightward direction, the upward direction, the leftward direction and the downward direction, respectively.

When the left hand determination criterion illustrated in <FIG> is used, the controller <NUM> can determine, when a vector of a gesture calculated based on the output from the proximity sensor <NUM> is the direction of <NUM> degrees as indicated by the arrow A1, that the gesture is an upward gesture. Further, the controller <NUM> can also determine, when a vector of a gesture calculated based on the output from the proximity sensor <NUM> is the direction of <NUM> degrees as indicated by the arrow A2, that the gesture is an upward gesture. That is, when using a standard determination criterion, the gesture in the direction of <NUM> degrees indicated by the arrow A2 is determined as a rightward gesture, however, when using the left hand determination criterion, it is determined as an upward gesture.

When a gesture is made with a left hand, as described above, the rightward component is likely to be included with respect to the upward gesture. When a gesture made by the user with an intention of upward operation includes the rightward component, and if the gesture is determined as a gesture in the direction of <NUM> degrees indicated by the arrow A2, the controller <NUM> determines the gesture as a rightward gesture when using a standard determination criterion. However, since the gesture intended by the user is an upward gesture, the determination that the gesture is a rightward gesture may cause erroneous operation. On the contrary, even with the same gesture, when using the left hand determination criterion, the controller <NUM> determines the gesture as an upward gesture. Thus, use of the left hand determination criterion may allow the controller <NUM> to perform a control intended by the user more easily. Thus, according to the electronic device <NUM>, erroneous operation can be easily prevented in input operation with a gesture.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating another example of the left hand determination criterion. The left hand determination criterion illustrated in <FIG> includes two straight lines L1R and L2. The straight line L1R is obtained by rotating the straight line L1 to the right direction (negative direction) by a predetermined angle (e.g. <NUM> degrees). The straight line L2 is the same straight line described with reference to <FIG>.

In the left hand determination criterion illustrated in <FIG>, the four regions divided by the two straight lines L1R and L2R are associated with the upward direction, the downward direction, the rightward direction and the leftward direction, respectively. Specifically, of four regions divided by the two straight lines L1R and L2R, the region of -<NUM> to <NUM> degrees, the region of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees, the region of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees and the region of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees are associated with the rightward direction, the upward direction, the leftward direction and the downward direction, respectively.

Even when the left hand determination criterion illustrated in <FIG> is used, the controller <NUM> determines the gesture in the direction of <NUM> degrees indicated by the arrow A1 as an upward gesture, and the gesture in the direction of <NUM> decrees indicated by the arrow A2 as an upward gesture. Thus, even when the left hand determination criterion illustrated in <FIG> is used, the controller <NUM> is also easily perform the control intended by the user, as with the case where the left hand determination criterion illustrated in <FIG> is used. In this manner, according to the electronic device <NUM>, erroneous operation can be easily prevented when input operation is performed with a gesture.

When a gesture is made with a left hand, because of the structure of human body, even if the user intentionally makes a gesture in any of up, down, left and right directions, the gesture is hard to be detected as a gesture that includes a lower right direction component and an upper left direction component. Thus, also in the left hand determination criterion, with respect to the straight line L2 that forms a boundary from the lower right direction to the upper left direction, the same straight line as that of the standard determination criterion. illustrated in <FIG>, can be used.

When the hand used for making a gesture is a right hand, the controller <NUM> uses a right hand determination criterion to determine the direction of the gesture. The right hand determination criterion is a determination criterion that facilitates determination of the direction of the gesture according to the intention of the user when operation is performed with a right hand, in consideration of the nature of movement with a right hand. The nature of the right-hand movement is symmetrical to the left-hand movement, and includes a nature that the leftward component is likely to be included with respect to the upward operation. The nature of the right-hand movement includes a nature that the rightward component is likely to be included with respect to the downward operation.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a right hand determination criterion. The right hand determination criterion includes two straight lines L1L and L2L, as illustrated as an example in <FIG>. The straight lines L1L and L2L are obtained by rotating the straight lines L1 and L2 indicated by broken line in <FIG> to the left direction (positive direction) by a predetermined angle. In <FIG>, the predetermined angle is <NUM> degrees. That is, the straight lines L1L and L2L illustrated in <FIG> are obtained by rotating the straight lines L1 and L2, respectively, to the left direction (positive direction) by <NUM> degrees.

In the right hand determination criterion illustrated in <FIG>, the four regions divided by the two straight lines L1L and L2L are associated with the upward direction, the downward direction, the rightward direction and the leftward direction, respectively. Specifically, of four regions divided by the two straight lines L1L and L2L, the region of -<NUM> to <NUM> degrees, the region of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees, the region of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees and the region of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees are associated with the rightward direction, the upward direction, the leftward direction and the downward direction, respectively.

When the right hand determination criterion illustrated in <FIG> is used, the controller <NUM> can easily perform a control intended by the user with respect to the gesture made by a right hand, for the same reason as described in detail with respect to the above described left hand determination criterion.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating another example of the right hand determination criterion. The right hand determination criterion illustrated in <FIG> includes two straight lines L1 and L2L. The straight line L2L is obtained by rotating the straight line L2 to the left direction (positive direction) by a predetermined angle (e.g. <NUM> degrees). The straight line L1 is the same straight line as described with reference to <FIG>.

In the right hand determination criterion illustrated in <FIG>, the four regions divided by the two straight lines L1 and L2L are associated with the upward direction, the downward direction, the rightward direction and the leftward direction, respectively. Specifically, of four regions divided by the two straight lines L1 and L2L, the region of -<NUM> to <NUM> degrees, the region of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees, the region of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees and the region of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees are associated with the rightward direction, the upward direction, the leftward direction and the downward direction, respectively.

Even when the right hand determination criterion illustrated in <FIG> is used, the controller <NUM> can easily perform a control intended by the user with respect to the gesture made by a right hand, for the same reason as described in detail with respect to the above described left hand determination criterion. Thus, according to the electronic device <NUM>, erroneous operation can be easily prevented in input operation with a gesture.

In the description of <FIG>, a case where the rotation angle of the straight lines constituting the determination criterion (a predetermined angle) is <NUM> degrees is described. However, the predetermined angle is not limited to <NUM> degrees. The predetermined angle may be any angle with which the direction of the gesture is easy to be determined to the direction intended by the user.

Further, the left hand determination criterion and the right hand determination criterion are not limited to those illustrated in <FIG>. The left hand determination criterion and the right hand determination criterion can be any criterion with which the direction of the gesture is easy to be determined to the direction intended by the user, according to the hand used for making a gesture.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by the controller <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> determines a driver's seat position in a car by the method described above (step S1).

The controller <NUM> determines a hand of the user used for operating an own device, that is, a hand used for making a gesture, based on the driver's seat position determined in step S1 (step S2).

The controller <NUM> determines, in a state where the hand used for making a gesture is determined in step S2, a determination criterion used for determining the direction of the gesture, based on the hand used for making a gesture (step S3).

The controller <NUM> obtains output from the proximity sensor <NUM> (step S4).

The controller <NUM> determines the direction of the gesture, based on the output from the proximity sensor <NUM> obtained in step S4, using the determination criterion determined in step S3 (step S5).

The controller performs control according to the direction of the gesture determined in step S5 (step S6).

As described above, in the electronic device <NUM> according to this embodiment, the hand of the user used for making a gesture is determined according to the driver's seat position, and according to the determined hand of the user used for making a gesture, the direction of the gesture made by the user is determined based on the output from the proximity sensor <NUM>. Thus, it is easier for the electronic device <NUM> to detect the gesture made by the user as an operation intended by the user. In this manner, erroneous operation can be easily prevented in input operation with a gesture. Further, if erroneous operation occurs in the input operation with a gesture while driving, a user driving a car may shift his/her gaze to the display <NUM> to grasp the content of the processing based on the input operation. According to the electronic device <NUM> of this embodiment, it is easy to prevent the gaze of the user from being shifted to the display <NUM> by preventing erroneous operation. Thus the user can easily concentrate on driving, and driving safety is improved.

In the above embodiment, although the gesture has been described to be detected by the proximity sensor <NUM>, the gesture does not necessarily have to be detected by the proximity sensor <NUM>. The gesture may be detected by any sensor that can detect a user's gesture without touching the own device. An example of such sensor includes the camera <NUM> and the like, for example.

The sensor that can detect a user's gesture without touching the own device may include a distance measurement sensor, for example. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may include, instead of the proximity sensor <NUM>, or with the proximity sensor <NUM>, the distance measurement sensor, and a gesture may be detected by the distance measurement sensor.

The distance measurement sensor is a sensor that can measure a distance to an object. The distance measurement sensor may be configured as a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor. The distance measurement sensor configured as a ToF sensor includes an optical emitter configured to irradiate sine wave modulated light (infrared laser light) to an object and an optical detector configured to receive reflected infrared laser light from the object. The optical detector has an image sensor in which a plurality of light receiving elements are disposed, for example. The ToF sensor measures the time (flight time) from irradiation of infrared laser light to reception of reflection light at each light receiving element. The ToF sensor can measure the flight time based on the phase difference between the irradiated infrared laser light and the received reflected light. The ToF sensor can measure the distance to the object that reflects the infrared laser light irradiated, based on the measured flight time. The ToF sensor can detect the moving direction of the object based on the difference in time at which the reflected light from the object enters each of a plurality of light receiving elements. In this manner, the ToF sensor can also detect the gesture made by the user based on the same principle as that described with respect to the proximity sensor <NUM>. The distance measurement sensor may be disposed on the same surface as that on which the proximity sensor <NUM> is disposed, for example, in the electronic device <NUM>.

Here, a method in which the controller <NUM> detects a user's gesture based on the output from the distance measurement sensor will be described with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is a diagram schematically illustrating a distance measurement sensor <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the distance measurement sensor <NUM> in a side view. The distance measurement sensor <NUM> includes an optical emitter 26a and an optical detector 26b. It is assumed that the optical emitter 26a and the optical detector 26b are disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electronic device <NUM>. The optical emitter 26a irradiates infrared laser light to the object. The optical detector 26b receives reflected infrared light from the object.

The optical detector 26b may include a plurality of light receiving elements. For example, the optical detector 26b may include <NUM> light receiving elements arranged in <NUM> rows and <NUM> columns as illustrated in <FIG>. The <NUM> light receiving elements each receives reflected light from the object. In the upper stage of the optical detector 26b, three light receiving elements of Ch11, Ch12 and Ch13 are disposed in order from the left in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electronic device <NUM>. In the middle stage of the optical detector 26b, three light receiving elements of Ch21, Ch22 and Ch23 are disposed in order from the left in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electronic device <NUM>. In the lower stage of the optical detector 26b, three light receiving elements of Ch31, Ch32 and Ch33 are disposed in order from the left in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electronic device <NUM>.

The distance measurement sensor <NUM> can measure the distance from each of <NUM> light receiving elements to the object based on the phase difference between the infrared laser light irradiated by the optical emitter 26a and the reflected light received by each of the <NUM> light receiving elements of the optical detector 26b. The distance measurement sensor <NUM> can detect a gesture based on the distance from each of the <NUM> light receiving elements to the object and the change in the distance over time.

For example, assuming that the user makes a gesture of moving his/her hand from left to right. At this time, for example, the distances to the object detected by the light receiving elements Ch21, Ch22 and Ch23 in the middle stage, for example, are defined as D21, D22 and D23, respectively. <FIG> is a diagram schematically illustrating a distance to the object detected by each light receiving element. For example, as schematically illustrated in <FIG>, a hand, which is an object, first comes close to the light receiving element Ch21 disposed on the left side. Thus the distance D21 from the object detected by the light receiving element Ch21 is reduced. After that, when a hand, which is an object, comes close to the light receiving element Ch22 disposed in the center, the distance D22 from the object detected by the light receiving element Ch22 is reduced. Finally, when a hand, which is an object, moves to the right side, the distance D23 from the object detected by the light receiving element Ch23 disposed on the right side is reduced. The hand coming close to each of the light receiving elements of Ch21, Ch22 and Ch23 moves away therefrom in the order of Ch21, Ch22 and Ch23. Thus each distance of D21, D22 and D23 is increased in this order (return to the initial value). The gesture in the vertical direction can also be detected by the same principle, for example, using the light receiving elements Ch12, Ch22 and Ch32 disposed in the lateral direction, for example. In this manner, the distance measurement sensor <NUM> can detect a gesture based on the distance from each of the <NUM> light receiving elements to the object and the change in the distance over time.

It is to be noted that, here, although an explanation has been given assuming that the optical detector 26b includes <NUM> light receiving elements, the number of the light receiving elements included in the optical detector 26b is not limited thereto. Disposition of the light receiving elements is not limited to that illustrated in <FIG>. The number and disposition of the light receiving elements included in the optical detector 26b may be determined appropriately according to the type of the gesture detected.

Further, the optical emitter 26a of the distance measurement sensor <NUM> may include a plurality of light emitting elements. In this case, a distance from each of <NUM> light emitting elements to the object can be measured based on the phase difference between the infrared laser light emitted from each light emitting element and the reflected light received by the optical detector 26b. Even in this case, the distance measurement sensor <NUM> can detect a gesture by applying the above described principle based on the distance from each of the <NUM> light emitting elements to the object and a change in the distance over time.

In the above embodiment, the controller <NUM> may change the detection range of the gesture by the proximity sensor <NUM> according to the driver's seat position determined. The detection range of the gesture may include the direction that can be detected by the proximity sensor <NUM>. For example, assuming that the proximity sensor <NUM> is provided movable in the horizontal direction in the console panel, the controller <NUM> may control such that the proximity sensor <NUM> is directed to the direction of the driver's seat determined. That is, for example, when determining that the driver's seat is located on the right side in the traveling direction, the controller <NUM> may turn the proximity sensor <NUM> to the right side in the traveling direction. Similarly, when determining that the driver's seat is located on the left side in the traveling direction, the controller <NUM> may turn the proximity sensor <NUM> to the left side in the traveling direction. In the proximity sensor <NUM>, the viewing angle capable of detecting a gesture is limited. Thus, even if the user makes a gesture, the user's gesture is not detected if it is out of the range that can be detected by the proximity sensor <NUM>. However, by changing the detection range of the proximity sensor <NUM> and turning the detection range of the proximity sensor <NUM> to the direction of the driver's seat in which the user sits, for example, the proximity sensor <NUM> can easily detect a user's gesture. When the proximity sensor <NUM> detects a user's gesture easily, input by a gesture is less likely to be missed. Thus the user can concentrate on driving further, and as a result the driving safety is improved.

Much of the subject matter in this invention is described as a series of operations executed by a computer system and other hardware that can execute program instructions. Examples of the computer system and other hardware include, for example, a general-purpose computer, a Personal Computer (PC), a dedicated computer, a workstation, a Personal Communications System (PCS), a mobile (cellular) phone, a mobile phone provided with a data processing function, a RFID receiver, a game machine, an electronic notepad, a laptop computer, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other programmable data processing apparatuses. It should be noted that, in each embodiment, various operations or control methods are executed by a dedicated circuit (for example, individual logical gates interconnected in order to execute a particular function) implemented by program instructions (software), or by a logical block and/or program module executed by one or more processors, and the like. The one or more processors that execute a logical block and/or program module, and the like, include, for example, one or more microprocessors, central processing unit (CPU), Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Digital Signal Processor (DSP), Programmable Logic Device (PLD), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), processor, controller, microcontroller, microprocessor, electronic device, other apparatuses designed to be capable of executing the functions described herein, and/or a combination of any of these. The embodiment described herein is, for example, implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or a combination of any of these. The instruction may be a program code or a code segment for executing necessary tasks. The instruction can then be stored in a machine readable non-transitory storage medium and other media. Code segments may be a combination of any of procedure, function, subprogram, program, routine, subroutine, module, software package, class or instruction, data structure or program statement. The code segment sends and/or receives information, data argument, variable or stored contents with the other code segment or hardware circuit, and as a result the code segment is connected to the other code segment or hardware circuit.

Claim 1:
An electronic device (<NUM>), comprising:
a sensor (<NUM>) configured to detect a gesture without touching an own device; and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to:
determine whether a hand of a user used for operation is a left hand or a right hand, according to a driver's seat position;
determine a determination criterion for determining a direction of the gesture according to whether the hand of the user used for operation is the left hand or the right hand; and
the controller is characterised in that it is further configured to :
determine, using the determined determination criterion, a direction of the gesture, based on an output from the sensor (<NUM>),
wherein:
when the hand of the user used for operation is the left hand, the controller (<NUM>) determines the direction of the gesture using a left hand determination criterion; and
when the hand of the user used for operation is the right hand, the controller (<NUM>) determines the direction of the gesture using a right hand determination criterion.