JP7401423B2 - non-contact switch device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a non-contact switch device that can be applied to elevator equipment, lighting equipment, intercoms, etc.

For example, in an operation panel of an elevator system, a plurality of operation switch devices are provided for opening and closing doors, selecting a stop floor, and the like. This operation switch device is composed of a general press switch, and an operation signal is generated by pressing the operation part of the switch.

Further, for example, in a lighting device, a lighting switch device is provided so that the lighting operation of the lighting can be performed from a remote location. Such a lighting switch device is also composed of a press switch, and when the operation part is pressed, a lighting signal is generated, the lighting device is turned on based on this lighting signal, and when this operation part is pressed again, a lights-off signal is generated, The lighting device is turned off based on this lights-off signal.

As described above, since the conventional switch device is operated by pressing directly by the operator, there is a problem that the surface of the operating section of the switch device is easily soiled. Furthermore, when a person infected with a virus presses the button, the infected person's virus may adhere to the surface of the operating section, and the attached virus may infect subsequent operators.

Therefore, there are switch devices that do not require the operator to directly press the operation part of the switch device (so-called non-contact type), such as those that use magnetism (for example, see Patent Document 1), and those that use capacitance. (For example, see Patent Document 2) and the like have been proposed.

In non-contact switching devices that use magnetism, a combination of a magnet and a Hall IC is used as a detection sensor, and when a magnetic body is brought close to the detection sensor, the change in the magnetic field from the magnet is detected by the Hall IC, and this Hall A detection signal (for example, an off-to-on switching signal) is generated based on a change in the output of the IC, and the detection signal thus generated is used for various controls.

In addition, in non-contact switch devices that use capacitance, a capacitance sensor is used as a detection sensor, and the capacitance sensor detects changes in capacitance when an operator's hand approaches the detection sensor, for example. A detection signal (for example, an off-to-on switching signal) is generated based on the change in the output of the capacitance sensor, and the detection signal thus generated is used for various controls.

Patent No. 6373790 Patent No. 3912281

However, this type of conventional non-contact switch device has the following problems. For example, in devices using magnets and Hall ICs, in order to switch the switch device, it is necessary to bring the magnetic material close to the detection sensor, and if you do not have this magnetic material, the switch device cannot be switched, and the switching operation The problem is that it is troublesome. Further, in the case of using a capacitance sensor, there is a problem that the capacitance type detection sensor is expensive, and therefore the switch device itself becomes expensive.

An object of the present invention is to provide a non-contact switch device that allows relatively easy switching operations and can be provided at low cost.

The non-contact switch device of the present invention includes a housing body having an insertion recess on the operation side surface, and first and second detection sensor means disposed on opposite sides defining the insertion recess of the housing body. , operation detection signal generation means for generating an operation detection signal based on the signals from the first and second detection sensor means,
The first detection sensor means includes a first sensor unit having a first light emitting element that emits light and a first light receiving element that receives light, and the second detection sensor means includes a second light emitting element that emits light and a first light receiving element that receives light. The second sensor unit includes a second light-receiving element that receives light, the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit are arranged to face each other, and the first sensor unit receives light from the first light-emitting element of the first sensor unit. 1 detection light is received by the second light receiving element of the second sensor unit, and a second detection light from the second light emitting element of the second sensor unit is received by the first light receiving element of the first sensor unit. is configured to be
When the object to be detected is not inserted into the insertion recess, the first detection light from the first light emitting element of the first sensor unit is received by the second light receiving element of the second sensor unit. At the same time, the second detection light from the second light emitting element of the second sensor unit is received by the first light receiving element of the first sensor unit, and the object to be detected is inserted into the insertion recess. and the first detection light from the first light emitting element of the first sensor unit and/or the second detection light from the second light emitting element of the second sensor unit is reflected by the object to be detected. As a result, the light receiving states of the first and second light receiving elements change, and the operation detection signal generating means generates the operation detection signal based on the change in the light receiving signals of the first and second light receiving elements. It is characterized by

Such a non-contact switch device is provided with an insertion sensitivity adjusting means for adjusting the sensitivity of the inserted state of the object to be detected, and based on the light reception signals of the first and second light receiving elements of the first and second detection sensor means, It is preferable to adjust the sensitivity of the insertion state of the object to be detected, and by doing so, the sensitivity can be adjusted depending on the insertion state of the object to be detected and false detections can be reduced.

According to the non-contact switch device of the present invention, it includes a housing body in which an insertion recess is provided on the operation side surface, and first and second detection sensor means disposed on opposite sides of the housing body, The first and second detection sensor means include first and second sensor units having first and second light emitting elements and first and second light receiving elements, the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit facing each other. The first detection light from the first light emitting element of the first sensor unit is received by the second light receiving element of the second sensor unit, and the second detection light from the second light emitting element of the second sensor unit is received by the second light receiving element of the second sensor unit. Since the structure is such that the light is received by the first light receiving element of the first sensor unit, when the object to be detected is not inserted into the insertion recess of the housing main body, the light from the first light emitting element of the first sensor unit is The first detection light is received by the second light receiving element of the second sensor unit, and the second detection light from the second light emitting element of the second sensor unit is received by the first light receiving element of the first sensor unit.

When the object to be detected is inserted into this insertion recess, the first detection light from the first light emitting element of the first sensor unit and/or the second detection light from the second light emitting element of the second sensor unit is emitted. , is reflected by this object to be detected, thereby changing the light receiving state of the first and second light receiving elements of the first and second sensor units, and the light receiving state of the first and second light receiving elements of the first and second sensor units changes. Based on the change in the light reception signal, it is possible to detect in a non-contact manner that the object to be detected is inserted into the insertion recess and input operation is performed, and an operation detection signal can be generated.

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a part of an operation panel equipped with a non-contact switch device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view taken along II-II in FIG. 1 of the non-contact switch device in FIG. 1; A sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a light emitting circuit and a light receiving circuit in the non-contact switch device of FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an input operation state in the non-contact switch device of FIG. 2; 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of a detection operation using the non-contact switch device of FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts of a non-contact switch device according to another embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing input operation states in the non-contact switch device of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining light receiving patterns of first and second light receiving elements in the non-contact switch device of FIG. 7; 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of a detection operation using the non-contact switch device of FIG. 7. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of a detection operation based on light emission from the first light emitting element. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of a detection operation based on light emission from a second light emitting element.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of a non-contact switch device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an embodiment of a non-contact switch will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In addition, in this embodiment, the non-contact switch device is applied to an elevator device as an example.

In FIG. 1, the illustrated non-contact switch devices 2 (2A, 2B) are provided on the operation panel 4 of the elevator system. For example, the switch device 2A on the left side is for generating an open signal for opening the door. Also, for example, the right switch device 2B is applied to generate a closing signal for closing the door. Note that these switch devices 2A and 2B can also be applied to select a stop floor (stop floor) on which an elevator stops among multiple floors of a building, and other than such elevator devices It can be similarly applied to lighting devices, intercoms, etc. The switch devices 2A and 2B have substantially the same configuration, and one switch device 2A (2B) will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

The illustrated switch device 2A (2B) includes a rectangular housing body 6 and a connection base 8 attached to the bottom side of the housing body 6. This housing body 6 has a pair of horizontal side parts 10, 12 and a pair of vertical side parts 14, 16, and inner surfaces 18, 20 of these horizontal side parts 10, 12 and inner surfaces of these vertical side parts 14, 16. The side surfaces 22 and 24 define an insertion recess 26 having a rectangular cross-section in a central portion of the housing body 6, and the insertion recess 16 is open to the surface on the operation side where the operator performs an input operation, and the insertion recess 16 is opened to the surface on the operation side where the operator performs an input operation, and the insertion recess 16 is opened to the surface on the operation side where the operator performs input operations. A detected object F such as the above is inserted into the insertion recess 26.

In this embodiment, the bottom side of the insertion recess 26 is formed in a square shape, the opening side thereof is formed in a vertically long rectangular shape, and as can be understood from FIGS. 1 to 3, the lateral sides of the insertion recess 26 That is, the inner surfaces 18, 20 of the horizontal side portions 10, 12 slightly expand outward at a large inclination angle from the bottom side toward the opening side, and the vertical side surfaces of the insertion recess 26, that is, the inner surfaces of the vertical side portions 14, 16. The side surfaces 22 and 24 widen outward from the bottom side toward the opening side at a smaller inclination angle than the inner surfaces 18 and 20. The bottom side and the opening side of the insertion recess 26 are formed in a square shape, and the inner surfaces 18, 20 of the horizontal side parts 10, 12 and the inner surfaces 22, 24 of the vertical side parts 14, 16 are made to have the same inclination angle. You may also do so.

The bottom side of the housing body 6 is closed by a bottom member 28. An attachment hole 30 is provided in the center of the bottom member 28, and an LED unit 32 is attached to this attachment hole 30. The LED unit 32 has a built-in illumination LED (not shown), and for example, a full-color LED is used as the illumination LED. In this embodiment, as will be described later, the full-color LED changes to white or white depending on the operating state of the detection. It lights up in green.

A diffusion plate 34 is disposed inside this LED unit 32 (that is, on the opening side of the insertion recess 26), and this diffusion plate 34 diffuses the irradiated light from the full-color LED, making the entire bottom of the insertion recess 26 bright. Diffuse the illumination light so that

This housing body 6 is provided with a detection sensor means 34 for detecting an object to be detected F (for example, an operator's finger). The illustrated detection sensor means 34 includes a sensor unit 36, which includes a light-emitting element 38 that emits light (for example, composed of an LED) and a light-receiving element 40 that receives light (for example, a PD (photodiode)). ), the surface sides of the light emitting element 38 and the light receiving element 40 are covered with a transparent cover 42, through which the detection light from the light emitting element 38 is projected, and the transparent cover 42 Detection light is received by the light receiving element 40 through the light receiving element 40 .

In this embodiment, the light from the light emitting element 38 of the sensor unit 36, that is, the detection light, is projected at a predetermined angle toward the opening of the insertion recess 26, as shown in FIG. Preferably, this inclination angle α (see FIG. 2) is, for example, 5 to 20 degrees. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, when the object to be detected F is not inserted into the insertion recess 26 of the housing main body 6, most of the detection light from the light emitting element 38 is transmitted through this insertion. The detection light leaks to the outside through the opening of the recess 26, or leaks to the outside through the opening of the insertion recess 26 after being reflected on the inner measurement surface of the lateral side part 10, and therefore, this detection light is almost never received by the light receiving element 40. Therefore, false detection of the detected object F can be reduced.

A light emitting circuit 82 (LED) including the light emitting element 38 and a light receiving circuit 84 including the light receiving element 40 (PD) are configured as shown in FIG. 4, for example. In this form, the light emitting circuit 82 includes a lighting signal generation circuit 86 that generates a lighting signal, a frequency signal generation circuit 88 that generates a signal with a frequency of 30 to 40 kHz, for example, 38 kHz, and a lighting signal generation circuit 86 that generates a lighting signal and a frequency signal. The light emitting element 38 (LED) emits light based on the light emitting signal from the AND circuit 90. The light-receiving circuit 84 also includes an amplifier circuit 92 that amplifies the light-receiving signal from the light-receiving element 40 (PD), and a band-pass filter circuit 94 that passes a frequency component around 38 kHz of the light-receiving signal from the amplifier circuit 92. Contains.

By using such a light emitting circuit 82 and a light receiving circuit 84, the light emitting element 38 (LED) emits light and blinks at a carrier frequency of, for example, 38 kHz, and the light receiving signal from the light receiving element 40 (PD) has a frequency centered at, for example, 38 kHz. The bandpass filter circuit 94 extracts only the carrier component of the received light signal, thereby making it possible to prevent false detection decisions due to external light.

Returning again to FIGS. 1 to 3, the connection base 8 includes a base main body 46 provided with an accommodation recess 44, and a cover member 48 that covers the accommodation recess 44 of the base main body 46, and the cover member 48 has a connection opening. 50 are provided. In this embodiment, a lighting LED board 52 is installed in the housing recess 44 of the base body 46, and a board-side connecting portion 54 provided on the lighting LED board 52 is located in the connecting opening 50 of the cover member 48. A connecting portion 56 on the LED unit 32 side is electrically connected to the substrate side connecting portion 54 .

This housing body 6 is configured to have the following size. The vertical length (L) (see FIG. 1) of the opening of the insertion recess 26 in the housing body 6 is, for example, 20 to 50 mm, for example, about 40 mm in this embodiment, and the horizontal length (W) of the opening (see FIG. 1). ) is, for example, 20 to 50 mm, in this embodiment approximately 30 mm, and the depth (D) of this insertion recess 26 (see FIG. 3) is, for example, 7 to 20 mm, in this embodiment approximately 12 mm, for example. It is.

Next, the detection operation of this non-contact switch device 2 (2A, 2B) when applied to an elevator system, for example, will be explained. Mainly referring to FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, when a person boarding the elevator approaches the switch device 2 (2A, 2B), a person detection sensor (not shown) detects the person, and the step The process advances from S1 to step S2. In this way, the LED unit 32 (illumination LED) lights up, for example, in white to notify that the non-contact switch 2 is now operable, and the detection sensor means 34 is activated to become in a detectable state (step S3). .

When the detection sensor means 34 operates in this manner, the light emitting element 38 of the sensor unit 36 emits light (step S4), and the detection light from the light emitting element 38 is projected into the insertion recess 26 of the housing body 6. . At this time, when the detected object F (for example, the operator's finger) is not inserted into the insertion recess 26, the detection light from the light emitting element 38 is not received by the light receiving element 40, as shown in FIG. First, based on the light reception signal (L level light reception signal), the sensor unit 36 generates a "non-detection" signal indicating that the object to be detected F is not inserted.

When the detected object F is inserted into the insertion recess 26 of the housing body 6 in such a "non-detected" state, the process advances to step S6, and as shown in FIG. 4, the light emitting element of the sensor unit 36 The detection light from 38 is reflected by the detected object F and then received by the light receiving element 40, the light receiving signal changes, and based on this light receiving signal (H level light receiving signal), the sensor unit 36 detects the detected object. A "detection" signal (ie, a detection signal) indicating that the detection object F is inserted is generated.

In association with this sensor unit 36, an operation detection signal generation means (not shown) is provided which detects input operation of the switch device 2 (2A, 2B) and generates an operation detection signal. The detection signal generation means generates an operation detection signal based on this "detection" signal (detection signal), assuming that the switch device 2 has been input operated.

When this operation detection signal is generated, the illumination LED of the LED unit 32 switches from white to green (step S7), and the operator inserts the detected object F (for example, a finger) and inputs the switch device 2. It can be confirmed that the switch device 2 (2A, 2B) can be operated without contact by simply inserting the object F into the insertion recess 26 of the housing body 6. This makes it possible to keep the switch device 2 in a clean state.

The generated operation detection signal is used, for example, to control the elevator system (step S8). For example, if the switch is for "door opening", the door is controlled to be opened based on this operation detection signal. For example, in the case of a "door close" switch, the door is controlled to close based on this operation detection signal.

When a person who approaches the elevator device leaves without operating the switch device 2 (2A, 2B), the person detection sensor (not shown) no longer detects the person, and in this case, the process proceeds from step S5 to step S9. Proceeding to S10, the sensor unit 36 is deactivated, the light emitting element 38 stops emitting light, the LED unit 32 is turned off (step S11), the switch device 2 enters a standby state, and the process returns to step S1. In this embodiment, a person detection sensor (not shown) is installed and the switch device 2 is activated when a person (operator) approaches, but this person detection sensor is omitted and the switch device 2 is activated when a person (operator) approaches. The device 2 may be kept in operation at all times.

Next, other embodiments of the non-contact switch device will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 12. In this other embodiment, two detection sensor means, namely a first and second detection sensor means, are used to detect the non-detection object. In addition, in this other embodiment, members that are substantially the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the illustrated non-contact switch device 2C includes a housing body 6C, and the configuration of the housing body 6C and a connection base (not shown) attached thereto is similar to that of the embodiment described above. That's fine.

In this embodiment, first and second detection sensor means 62 and 64 are attached to a pair of opposing lateral side portions 10C and 12C of the housing body 6. In this embodiment, the first sensor unit 66 of the first detection sensor means 62 is attached to the left lateral side 10C in FIGS. 7 and 8, and the second detection sensor is attached to the right lateral side 12C in FIGS. 7 and 8. A second sensor unit 68 of the means 64 is attached. The first and second sensor units 66 and 68 of the first and second detection sensor means 62 and 64 may have the same configuration as described above, including the light emitting element 38 and the light receiving element 40.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first and second detection sensor means 62 and 64 are arranged to face each other, but the light emitting element 38 of the first detection sensor means 62 The light receiving element 40 (functioning as a second light receiving element) of the second detection sensor means 64 is arranged opposite to the light emitting element 38 (functioning as a first light emitting element) of the second detection sensor means 64 (functioning as a first light emitting element). The light-receiving element 40 (functioning as a first light-receiving element) of the first detection sensor means 62 is arranged opposite to the light-emitting element 40 (functioning as a first light-emitting element) of the first and second detection sensor means 62 and 64. The detection light is projected parallel to the opening surface of the housing body 6C.

Since it is arranged in this way, as shown in FIG. The detection light (first detection light) from the second detection sensor means 64 is received by the light receiving element 40 (second light receiving element) of the second detection sensor means 64, and is also received by the light emitting element 38 (second light emitting element) of the second detection sensor means 64. The detection light (second detection light) from is received by the light receiving element 40 (first light receiving element) of the first detection sensor means 38. The other configurations in this other embodiment are substantially the same as in the embodiment described above.

A detection state in which the object to be detected F is not inserted is a detection pattern A shown in FIG. 9(a). At this time, the first and second detection sensor means 62 and 64 generate the light reception signals shown in the right table of FIG. 9(a), and the operation signal generation means (not shown) A non-operation signal is generated based on the light reception signals of the means 62 and 64.

In this other embodiment, since the first and second detection sensor means 62, 64 are arranged as described above, for example, representative detection patterns A to 1 as shown in FIG. For example, based on these detection patterns A to F, the operation signal generation means (not shown) detects a non-detection state in which the object to be detected F is not inserted into the insertion recess 26 of the housing body 6C. An operation signal is generated, and an operation detection signal is generated when the non-detectable object F is inserted into the insertion recess 26 and an input operation is performed.

In the detection pattern B shown in FIG. 9(b), the object to be detected F is inserted into the insertion recess 26 of the housing main body 6C as required, and in this state, the first detection sensor means 62 The first detection light from the first light emitting element 38 is reflected by the object to be detected F and then received by the first light receiving element 40 of the first detection sensor means 62, and the second light emission from the second detection sensor means 64 The second detection light from the element 38 is reflected by the object F and then received by the second light receiving element 40 of the second detection sensor means 64 .

In the detection pattern C shown in FIG. 9(c), the detected object F is shallowly inserted into the insertion recess 26 of the housing main body 6C, and in this state, the first detection sensor means 62 emits the first light. The first detection light from the element 38 is blocked by the object F and does not reach the second light receiving element 40 of the second detection sensor means 64, but the first detection light from the second light emitting element 38 of the second detection sensor means 64 is blocked by the object F to be detected. The second detection light passes below the object F to be detected and is received by the first light receiving element 40 of the first detection sensor means 62.

In the detection pattern D shown in FIG. 9(d), the object to be detected F is inserted a little deeper into the insertion recess 26 of the housing body 6C than the state shown in FIG. 9(c), and in this state, The first detection light from the first light emitting element 38 of the first detection sensor means 62 is reflected by the object F and then received by the first light receiving element 40 of the first detection sensor means 62. The second detection light from the second light emitting element 38 of the means 64 passes below the object F to be detected and is received by the second light receiving element 40 of the first detection sensor means 62.

Further, in the detection pattern E shown in FIG. 9(e), the object to be detected F is inserted into the insertion recess 26 of the housing main body 6C at a relatively large angle, and in this state, the first detection sensor means The first detection light from the first light emitting element 38 of 62 is largely reflected to the bottom side of the insertion recess 26 by the object F and is not received by the first light receiving element 40 of the first detection sensor means 62. The second detection light from the second light emitting element 38 of the second detection sensor means 64 is largely reflected by the object F toward the opening of the insertion recess 28 and is not received by the second light receiving element 40 of the second detection sensor means 64. .

Furthermore, in the detection pattern F shown in FIG. 9(f), the object to be detected F is inserted into the insertion recess 26 of the housing main body 6C with a relatively small inclination, and in this state, the first detection sensor means The first detection light from the first light emitting element 38 of 62 is slightly reflected toward the bottom side of the insertion recess 26 by the object F to be detected, but is received by the first light receiving element 40 of the first detection sensor means 62. The second detection light from the second light emitting element 38 of the second detection sensor means 64 is slightly reflected toward the opening side of the insertion recess 28 by the object F to be detected. The light is received by the

The operation detection signal generation means (not shown) detects the light reception states of the first and second light receiving elements 40 of the first and second detection sensor means 62, 64 (first and second sensor units 66, 68), that is, the An operation detection signal is generated based on the light reception signals of the first and second light receiving elements 38 and 40, for example, using the detection patterns A to F of FIGS. Using the combination of F, it is detected in a non-contact manner that the object to be detected F is inserted into the insertion recess 26 of the housing main body 6C and an operation input is performed.

For example, when the light receiving state (light receiving signal) of the light receiving elements 40 of the first and second detection sensor means 62 and 64 is detection pattern A, it is determined that no input operation has been made; When the received light signal) changes and becomes a detection pattern B to F, it is determined that an input operation has been performed (for detection pattern E, it is determined that the previous detection pattern C and/or D is used, or the detection pattern of these detection patterns When such a determination is made, an operation detection signal generating means (not shown) generates an operation detection signal.

In other embodiments, although not shown, an insertion sensitivity adjustment means may be provided in conjunction with the operation signal generation means. In this case, the insertion sensitivity adjustment means adjusts the insertion sensitivity of the object F. This can reduce false detections of operation inputs. For example, when the object to be detected F is inserted into the insertion recess 26 of the housing main body 6C and an input operation is performed, the insertion state of the object to be detected changes every moment, and the first and second detection sensor means 62 change depending on the insertion state. , 64, the light receiving states (light receiving signals) of the first and second light receiving elements 40 change. Therefore, the detection patterns (i.e., detection patterns A to F) of the light reception states (light reception signals) that change over time of the first and second light receiving elements 40 are combined in conjunction with the insertion operation, and these combinations are used. By detecting the insertion of the detected object F, it becomes possible to accurately detect the input operation by the detected object F, and the combination of the light receiving states (light receiving signals) of the first and second light receiving elements 40 is changed. By this, the detection sensitivity of the insertion state of the object to be detected F can be adjusted.

For example, a plurality of combinations of the light reception states (light reception signals) of the first and second light receiving elements 40 of the first and second detection sensor means 62 and 64 are set, and the insertion sensitivity adjustment means (not shown) is used to set these combinations. By selecting a desired combination from the combinations, it is possible to adjust the insertion sensitivity of the object F to be detected.

Next, the detection operation of the non-contact switch device 2C of this other embodiment will be described with reference mainly to FIGS. 8 and 10 to 12. Similarly to the embodiment described above, when the human detection sensor (not shown) detects a human and the process proceeds from step S21 to step S22, the LED unit 32 (illumination LED) lights up in white, for example, and the non-contact switch 2 turns on. It is notified that the device is ready for operation, and the first and second detection sensor means 62 and 64 are activated to become detectable (step S23).

In this way, the first light emitting element 38 of the first detection sensor means 62 (first sensor unit 64) emits light (step S24), a detection operation is performed by the light emission of this first light emitting element 38, and then a second detection The second light emitting element 38 of the sensor means 64 (second sensor unit 68) emits light (step S25), a detection operation is performed by the light emission of this second light emitting element 28, and a detection operation by the first light emitting element 38 and a second light emitting element 38 are performed. A detection operation by the light emitting element 38 is performed for a predetermined detection time (for example, 0.1 seconds) (step S26).

The detection operation based on light emission from the first light emitting element 38 of the first detection sensor means 62 is performed, for example, according to the flow shown in FIG. 11. That is, the first light emitting element 38 of the first sensor unit 66 emits light, and it is determined whether the detected light from the first light emitting element 38 is received by the first light receiving element 40 of the first sensor unit 66 (step S24-2). ), if the light reception level of the first light receiving element 40 is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, a determination of "light reception" is made (step S24-3), and the result of this light reception determination is stored; If there is, a determination of "non-light reception" is made (step S24-4), and the result of this non-light reception determination is stored.

Next, it is determined whether the detected light from the first light emitting element 38 is received by the second light receiving element 40 of the second sensor unit 68 (step S24-5), and the light is received by the second light receiving element 40 of the second sensor unit. If the light reception level is above a predetermined level, a determination of "light reception" is made (step S24-6), and the result of this light reception determination is stored; on the other hand, if the light reception level is less than a predetermined level, a determination of "no light reception" is made. The determination is made (step S24-7), and the result of this non-light reception determination is stored. In this way, the light receiving state of the first light receiving element 40 of the first sensor unit 66 and the second light receiving element 40 of the second sensor unit 68 is sequentially detected for the detected light from the first light emitting element 38 of the first sensor unit 66. be done.

Further, the detection operation based on the light emission from the first light emitting element 38 of the second detection sensor means 64 is performed, for example, according to the flow shown in FIG. 12. That is, the second light emitting element 38 of the second sensor unit 66 emits light, and it is determined whether the detected light from the second light emitting element 38 is received by the first light receiving element 40 of the first sensor unit 66 (step S25-2). ), if the light reception level of the first light receiving element 40 is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, a determination of "light reception" is made (step S25-3); on the other hand, if the light reception level is less than a predetermined level, a determination of "no light reception" is made. is carried out (step S25-4).

Next, it is determined whether the detection light from the second light emitting element 38 is received by the second light receiving element 40 of the second sensor unit 68 (step S25-5), and the light is received by the second light receiving element 40 of the second sensor unit. If the level is above a predetermined level, a determination is made as to "light reception" (step S25-6), while if the light reception level is below a predetermined level, a determination is made as "no light reception" (step S25-7). Note that the results of light reception determination and non-light reception determination of the first and second light receiving elements 40 are stored in the same manner as described above.

In this way, regarding the detected light from the second light emitting element 38 of the second sensor unit 66, the light receiving states of the first light receiving element 40 of the first sensor unit 66 and the second light receiving element 40 of the second sensor unit 68 are sequentially changed. Detected. Then, the detection operation based on the light emission of the first light emitting element 38 and the detection operation based on the light emission of the second light emitting element 38 are repeatedly performed over a predetermined detection time.

When these detection operations are performed for a predetermined detection time, the process advances from step S26 to step S27, and light reception determination and non-detection of the first and second light receiving elements 40 of the first and second detection sensor means 62 and 64 are performed for a predetermined detection time. Based on the light reception determination result (in other words, the light reception signals of the first and second light receiving elements 40), the detected object F is inserted into the insertion recess 26 of the housing body 6C (in other words, the input operation of the switch device 2C) (step S27).

Then, when it is detected that the detected object F has been inserted and the input operation has been performed, a detection determination is made that the detected object F has been detected (step S28), and based on the detection determination of the detected object F, , the operation detection signal generation means (not shown) generates an operation detection signal (step S29). Then, as described above, the illumination LED of the LED unit 32 is switched from white to green based on this operation detection signal (step S30), and in this way, the detected object F is inserted into the insertion recess 26 of the housing body 6. By the operation of inserting the , it becomes possible to perform an input operation on the switch device 2C without contact. In this case as well, the generated operation detection signal is used, for example, to control the elevator system (step S31).

When a person who approaches the elevator device leaves without operating the switch device 2C, the person detection sensor (not shown) no longer detects the person, and in this case, the process moves from step S27 to step S33 via step S32. , the first and second detection sensor means 62 and 64 stop operating, the first and second light emitting elements 38 stop emitting light, the LED unit 32 turns off (step S34), and the switch device 2C goes into a standby state. Then, the process returns to step S21.

Although the embodiments of the non-contact switch device according to the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the LED unit 32 is provided at the bottom of the housing body 6 (6C) and the LED unit 32 is turned on when an input operation is detected, but this LED unit 32 is omitted. Good too.

Further, in this embodiment, the LED unit 32 is lit in white and green, but the lighting color can be set as appropriate. For example, instead of white or green, the LED unit 32 may be lit in red or blue. You can. Alternatively, instead of such a configuration, the LED unit 32 may be turned on only when an input operation is detected.

2, 2A, 2B, 2C Non-contact switch device 6, 6C Housing body 26 Insertion recess 32 LED unit 34 Detection sensor means 36 Sensor unit 38 Light emitting element 40 Light receiving element 62 First detection sensor means 64 Second detection sensor means 66 First Sensor unit 68 Second sensor unit 82 Light emitting circuit 84 Light receiving circuit F Detected object

Claims (4)

a housing main body having an insertion recess provided on an operation side surface; first and second detection sensor means disposed on opposing sides defining the insertion recess of the housing main body; and the first and second detection sensors. and operation detection signal generation means for generating an operation detection signal based on the signal from the means,
The first detection sensor means includes a first sensor unit having a first light emitting element that emits light and a first light receiving element that receives light, and the second detection sensor means includes a second light emitting element that emits light and a first light receiving element that receives light. The second sensor unit includes a second light-receiving element that receives light, the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit are arranged to face each other, and the first sensor unit receives light from the first light-emitting element of the first sensor unit. 1 detection light is received by the second light receiving element of the second sensor unit, and a second detection light from the second light emitting element of the second sensor unit is received by the first light receiving element of the first sensor unit. is configured to be
When the object to be detected is not inserted into the insertion recess, the first detection light from the first light emitting element of the first sensor unit is received by the second light receiving element of the second sensor unit. At the same time, the second detection light from the second light emitting element of the second sensor unit is received by the first light receiving element of the first sensor unit, and the object to be detected is inserted into the insertion recess. and the first detection light from the first light emitting element of the first sensor unit and/or the second detection light from the second light emitting element of the second sensor unit is reflected by the object to be detected. As a result, the light receiving states of the first and second light receiving elements change, and the operation detection signal generating means generates the operation detection signal based on the change in the light receiving signals of the first and second light receiving elements. A non-contact switch device characterized by: In association with the operation detection signal generation means, there is provided an insertion sensitivity adjustment means for adjusting the sensitivity of the inserted state of the object to be detected, and the insertion sensitivity adjustment means is arranged to 2. The non-contact switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensitivity of the insertion state of the object to be detected is adjusted based on the light reception signals of the first and second light receiving elements. The insertion recess of the housing body defines a rectangular opening, and the opening has a vertical length (L) of 20 to 50 mm and a horizontal length (W) of 20 to 50 mm, and the depth of the insertion recess is The non-contact switch device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein (D) is 7 to 20 mm. An LED unit is disposed at the bottom of the insertion recess of the housing body via a diffusion plate that diffuses light, and when the operation detection signal generation means generates the operation detection signal, the operation detection signal is The non-contact switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the LED unit lights up or changes its lighting color based on the LED unit.

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