JPH10134680A - Detecting sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely detect a hand or a foot separately from a detected material by setting multiple detection areas at least on both sides to evade the detected material such as water. SOLUTION: A curve section is formed between the base section and tip section of the faucet 3 of an automatic faucet device 19, and a hand detecting sensor 20 controlling the flow of water from a discharge port 4 based on its output is fitted to the base section. A light projection section and a light reception section are stored above and below in the main body case of the sensor 20, the light from the light emission element of the light projection section is converted into the collimated light by a light projecting lens, and it is divided into two by a light dividing element. The light entering the detection areas At, An overlapped with light projection and light reception areas and reflected on a hand 14 is detected by the light reception section. The areas AL, AR become the central region in the vertical direction. The hand 14 is detected even if it enters from any direction of the front, rear, right, or left, and flowing water exists outside the detection areas AL, AR. Since the direction of the detection areas AL, AR is not limited, the erroneous detection by the reflection on the bottom face Za of a wash basin 2 is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a detection sensor. For example, the present invention relates to a detection sensor for detecting a detection target such as an inserted limb or the like and discharging water or soap liquid or the like, and stopping discharge of water or soap liquid or the like when limb or the like is no longer detected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic faucet device provided in a wash basin or the like, a hand is detected by a sensor and water is discharged, and when no hand is detected, the water is stopped. However, when the sensor erroneously detects the water discharged from the automatic faucet device as a hand, the water once discharged does not stop.

Therefore, it is necessary to reliably detect a hand with a sensor provided in a water faucet or a washbasin, and to distinguish the hand from the water so that the water is not erroneously detected as a hand.

(First Conventional Example) FIG. 1 (a) is a side view showing a state in which a hand-sensing sensor 1 according to a conventional example is attached to a faucet 3 of a basin 2, and FIG. It is a top view. In this conventional example, the hand-sensing sensor 1 is disposed immediately before the discharge port 4 of the faucet 3, and the detection area 5 is provided with running water 6.
It is almost parallel to and oriented almost directly below. Thus, since the detection area 5 is parallel to the running water 6, the running water 6 is not detected.

However, by receiving the light reflected on the bottom surface of the basin 2, the hand sensor 1 may erroneously detect a hand. In this case, the water is discharged and does not stop.

Alternatively, since the hand detection sensor 1 is housed at the tip of the faucet 3, the faucet 3 becomes large, and it is difficult for a person washing his / her hands to hide in the faucet 3 so that the hand is difficult to see and wash. In addition, there is a problem in that the design of the basin 2 is deteriorated due to an increase in the tip of the faucet 3 and the aesthetic appearance is impaired.

(Second Conventional Example) FIG. 2A is a side view showing a state in which a hand-sensing sensor 10 according to another conventional example is attached to a faucet 3 of a basin 2, and FIG. Is a plan view of the same. In this conventional example, in order to avoid the tip of the faucet 3 becoming large or erroneous detection due to the running water 6 or the reflected light on the bottom surface of the basin 2, the faucet 3 is detached from the faucet 3 at the rear of the basin 2 on either side. The hand-sensing sensor 10 is placed at a position where the light-emitting area 11 and the light-receiving area 12 overlap.
(The shaded area in FIG. 2A) is directed forward. In this way, the hand-sensing sensor 10 is disposed so as not to detect the flowing water 6 while avoiding the position where the flowing water 6 is discharged.

[0008] However, as shown in FIG.
If the hand 14 is inserted from a direction away from the detection area 13 of the hand detection sensor 10, the hand 14 may not be detected and may not operate. Therefore, there is a problem that the feeling of use is deteriorated due to water coming out or not coming out.

(Third Conventional Example) FIG. 3A is a side view showing a state in which the hand detection sensor 15 is attached to the faucet 3 of the basin 2, and FIG. 3B is a plan view of the same. is there. In this conventional example, in order to solve the problems of the first and second conventional examples, a hand detection sensor 15 is provided near the base of the faucet 3 distant from the discharge port 4, and a detection area 16 of the hand detection sensor 15 is provided.
Is almost forward. However, by making the angle θ between the center (sensor finger axis) of the detection area 16 of the hand detection sensor 15 and the flowing water smaller than 90 degrees, the hand detection sensor 15
Of the hand-sensing sensor 15
This prevents the water 6 from being erroneously detected as the hand 14.

However, in this conventional example, since the detection area 16 is set toward the flowing water 6, the risk of malfunction due to the detection of the flowing water 6 is not completely eliminated, and the reliability and Low reliability.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and has as its object to detect a limb or the like to be detected and a limb or the like to be detected. An object of the present invention is to provide a detection sensor capable of reliably detecting a limb or the like by distinguishing it from a substance such as water supplied in conjunction with the above.

[0012]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A detection sensor according to claim 1 is a detection sensor for detecting a detection target and supplying a predetermined substance such as water, and detects a position of the substance when the substance is supplied. In order to avoid this, a plurality of detection areas are set on at least both sides thereof.

[0013] In the detection sensor according to the first aspect,
Since the detection area is set so as to avoid the position of the supplied substance, the substance is not detected, and the supplied substance is not erroneously detected as the detection target. Therefore, the detection accuracy is improved, and the reliability is improved.

Further, since a plurality of detection areas are set at least on both sides of the position where the substance to be supplied is present, it is possible to detect when the detection target approaches from any direction.

Further, since the direction of the detection area is not limited, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection due to reflection on the bottom surface of a basin or the like.

Alternatively, since the mounting position of the detection sensor is not limited, the member (water faucet or the like) to which the detection sensor is mounted does not become large and the detection target does not become difficult to see. In addition, the appearance of the member to which the detection sensor is attached, for example, a faucet, a basin, and the like does not deteriorate.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a plan view of an automatic faucet device 19 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side view of the automatic faucet device 19 of the above. The automatic faucet device 19 includes the basin 2, the faucet 3, and the hand sensor 20 and is attached to the basin 2a.

The basin 2 is a general one protruding from a wall of a restroom of a restroom toward the room, and a drain pipe 2b is connected to the bottom of the ball portion 2a.

The faucet 3 has a tip provided with a discharge port 4, a base attached to the edge of the basin 2, and a curved portion therebetween, and a hand-sensing sensor 20 is attached to the base.

The end of the base of the faucet 3 is attached to the end of a water supply pipe laid in the wall, so that tap water in the water supply pipe flows out from the discharge port 4 vigorously.

The curved portion of the faucet 3 has a base near the edge of the basin 2 and a discharge port just above the drain pipe 2b (drain port) while securing a space for washing the hands 12 and the face. And 4.

Water discharge from the discharge port 4 of the faucet 3 or water stoppage is controlled by opening and closing an electromagnetic open / close valve (not shown) based on the output of the hand sensor 20. Flood the water energetically or stop the flooding.

FIG. 6A is a front view of the hand detection sensor 20, FIG. 6B is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of the hand detection sensor 20, and FIG. 6C is a horizontal sectional view of the same. It is. The hand-sensing sensor 20 includes a light projecting unit 23 and a light receiving unit 24 arranged above and below a rectangular main body case 21, and a light splitting element 22 for dividing the collimated light emitted from the light projecting unit 23 into two. Attached to the light exit surface of

The light projecting section 23 converts light from a light emitting element (LED) 25 into collimated light by a light projecting lens 26, and the light receiving section 24 has a detection area (two on the left and right sides, area 20b and is overlapped area) a _L, the light reflected by such a hand 14 that has entered the a _R, is condensed by the light receiving lens 27, a light receiving element (PD)
At 28, detection is performed.

As shown in FIG. 6C, the light splitting element 22 is composed of a plurality of narrow triangular prisms 22a integrally formed on the lens cover of the main body case 21.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the light splitting element 22. The diffused light R ₀ emitted from the LED 25 is converted into the collimated light R ₁ by the light projecting lens 26,
The light enters the light splitting element 22. At this time, the collimated light R
₁ is incident on one of the two inclined surfaces of the strips triangular prism 22a, the light R _L of the two directions according to the inclination of the incident slopes, and is divided into R _R. It should be noted that if the light is converted into parallel light (collimated light) by the light projecting lens 26 in theory, if the light is parallel light, the lights R _L and R _R split by the light splitting element 22 including the narrow triangular prism 22a. Are also almost parallel light. Therefore, depending on the application,
The light projection lens 26 can use other than parallel light in the application of the present invention (the light splitting element 22 is an application of a prism).

Further, in the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. 4, the light projecting area 20a and the light receiving area 20b are divided into two right and left parts while avoiding the flowing water 6.
a and the light receiving area 20b are similarly divided into two, so that the detection areas A _L and A _R that are the overlapping areas are also divided into the light emitting area 20.
a and the light receiving area 20b. In the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper light projecting area 20a and the lower light receiving area 20b
The overlapped central areas are the detection areas A _L and A _R. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4, even if the hand 14 has entered the basin 2 from any of the front, left, and right directions, it is possible to detect the hand 14 even if the hand 14 is released.
Is outside the detection areas A _L and A _R , so that the flowing water 6 is not erroneously detected as the hand 14. In the forward direction, the running water 6 has a diameter of 30
mm or less and the hand 14 is sufficiently large
Detection is performed within the detection areas A _L and A _R.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a processing circuit for driving the hand sensor 20 and processing a detection signal.
This processing circuit includes an amplifying circuit 30 for amplifying a light receiving signal of a PD (photodiode) 28 and an IC (integrated circuit) 31
And a power supply circuit 33 for supplying power to each circuit. The IC 31 includes a light emitting pulse driving circuit 34 that drives the LED (light emitting diode) 25 to emit light,
Comparator 36 for comparing the received light signal with a threshold value Vth
And a timer circuit 37. The switching of the electromagnetic on-off valve is performed according to the comparison result from the output circuit 32.

FIG. 9 is a time chart of the processing circuit when the power is turned on and the hand is washed. Thus, when the power supply of the power supply circuit 33 is turned on, the light emission pulse drive circuit 34 starts the light emission drive of the LED 25. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, when the user puts his hand below the discharge port 4 to start the hand washing of the automatic faucet device 19, a part of the hand 14 enters the detection areas A _L and A _R , and the hand 14 is moved in two directions. divided light R _L, R _L passes through the light receiving area 20b is reflected on the hand 14 enters the PD28 in hand detecting sensor 20, in the light receiving level rises (hand washing operation of the light receiving signal is varied to ). This light receiving level is amplified by the amplifier circuit 30 and the comparator 3
The threshold value Vth is compared with the threshold value Vth, and if the light receiving level is equal to or higher than the threshold value Vth (High), an ON signal is output to the output circuit 32 immediately. Then, the output circuit 32 outputs an electromagnetic switching valve switching signal, the electromagnetic switching valve opens, and the flowing water 6 flows out of the discharge port 4.

After that, the hand washing is completed and the detection area A
_{When the} hand 14 is moved away from _L and A _R , the light receiving level decreases, becomes lower than or equal to the threshold value Vth (Low), and time counting by the timer circuit 37 is started. Then, after a certain time (off delay time) has elapsed, an off signal is output to the output circuit 32, and the output circuit 32 outputs a switching signal for the electromagnetic on-off valve. Then, the electromagnetic opening / closing valve closes and the water stops.

As described above, since the light dividing element 22 divides the detection areas A _L and A _R in two directions so as to keep the flowing water 6 away, the hand 14 is reliably detected without detecting the flowing water 6. Can be detected. In addition, since it has detection areas A _L and A _R in two directions, the hand 1 approaching from the right
4 and the hand 14 approaching from the left can also be detected.

Further, the light R _L, since the projecting R _R in a substantially horizontal (forward), less risk of erroneous detection due to light reflected by the bottom surface of the ball portion 2a.

Further, since the flowing water 6 is not detected in the area, the reflected signal from the flowing water 6 does not need to be distinguished from the reflected signal by the hand 14 by software. Hand detection can be performed.

A plurality of (two directions) detection areas A _L and A _R are obtained by adding a light splitting element 22 to one hand detection sensor 20.
Therefore, the cost is low, the structure is simple, and the incorporation into the basin 2 or the faucet 3 is simplified.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an automatic faucet apparatus 40 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
In the automatic faucet device 40 of the present embodiment, the second hand detection sensor 41 is added to compensate for the blind spot (front of the faucet) B of the detection area A in the first embodiment, and the detection area becomes 3 The areas are book areas A _L , A _R , and A _X.

In the first embodiment, since the detection area is divided into two detection areas A _L and A _R in order to avoid the running water 6, in the case of a small hand such as a child's hand, the front of the faucet 3 is placed. There is a concern about blind spot B. Therefore, in this embodiment, the edge of the basin 2, while avoiding running water 6, by attaching a second hand detection sensor 41 having a detection area A _X including the blind spot B, and to solve this problem.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an automatic faucet device 45 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In the automatic faucet device 45 of this embodiment, the first
In order to compensate for the blind spot B of the detection areas A _L and A _R in the embodiment, the detection areas A _L , A _R , A _L ′ and A _R ′ are provided in four directions.
Is provided.

The light splitting element comprises detection areas A _L , A _R ,
In order to divide A _L ′ and A _R ′ into four, the same narrow triangular prism 22a as in the first embodiment and the narrow triangular prism with a different slope of the slope are alternately provided inside the lens cover. It is arranged side by side.

Detection areas A in four directions_L, A_R,
A_L', A_R'Two detection areas A_L, A_RIs the first
The same as in the first embodiment, and similar to the first embodiment,
Triangular prism with a different angle of inclination from the angular prism 22a
Two detection areas A obtained by the L ', A_R′ Is a mirror
The blind spot B extends in front of the faucet 3 through 49. mirror
49 are attached to the left and right of the edge of the basin 2.

As described above, since the blind spot B in front of the faucet 3 is eliminated without increasing the number of the hand sensing sensors 46, the cost is reduced.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an automatic faucet device 50 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In the automatic faucet device 50 of the present embodiment, two hand-sensing sensors 51 and 52 are provided at the edges of the left and right basins 2 at the base of the faucet 3, and the detection areas A of both sensors 51 and 52 are provided. , A ′ intersect at a blind spot B in front of the faucet 3. In addition, the variation which comprises a several detection area in order to eliminate the blind spot B which arises in front of the faucet 3 etc. is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but can be considered innumerably, but it is impossible to list all of them. Only four embodiments will be described.

(Other Embodiments) It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, it can be used for an automatic faucet device such as a foot washing place of a water-reservation facility.
This automatic faucet device detects a foot and discharges water. Further, the detection medium is not limited to light, but may be an ultrasonic wave or the like. In this case, a small radar device is attached to the automatic faucet device or the washing place (basin) as a hand-sensing sensor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a side view showing a state in which a conventional hand-sensing sensor is attached to a faucet of a basin;
(B) is a top view of the same.

FIG. 2 (a) is a side view showing a state in which another conventional hand-sensing sensor is attached to a faucet of a basin, and FIG. 2 (b) is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 3A is a side view showing a state in which a hand-sensing sensor according to another conventional example is attached to a faucet of a basin, and FIG. 3B is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an automatic faucet device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the automatic faucet apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a front view of a hand detection sensor, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the structure of a hand-sensing sensor, and FIG. 2C is a horizontal sectional view of the same.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of the light splitting element.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a processing circuit that drives a hand-sensing sensor, processes a detection signal, and the like.

FIG. 9 is a time chart of a processing circuit when hand washing is performed after the power is turned on.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of hand washing.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an automatic faucet apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an automatic faucet apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an automatic faucet apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 faucet 6 running water 14 hand 20,41,46,51,52 hand detecting sensor _{A L, A R, A L} ', A R', A, A ' detection area

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A detection sensor for detecting a detection target and supplying a predetermined substance such as water, wherein a plurality of detection sensors are provided at least on both sides thereof so as to avoid the position of the substance when the substance is supplied. A detection sensor characterized by setting a detection area of: