CN114200589A - Non-contact switch - Google Patents
Non-contact switch Download PDFInfo
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- CN114200589A CN114200589A CN202110917672.9A CN202110917672A CN114200589A CN 114200589 A CN114200589 A CN 114200589A CN 202110917672 A CN202110917672 A CN 202110917672A CN 114200589 A CN114200589 A CN 114200589A
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- guide plate
- light guide
- sensor
- input operation
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- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003384 imaging method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920003229 poly(methyl methacrylate) Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004926 polymethyl methacrylate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 208000035473 Communicable disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 229920000089 Cyclic olefin copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004417 polycarbonate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000515 polycarbonate Polymers 0.000 description 1
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- 230000007261 regionalization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
- H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
- H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
- H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
- H03K17/941—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated using an optical detector
- H03K17/943—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated using an optical detector using a plurality of optical emitters or detectors, e.g. keyboard
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
- G02B6/3598—Switching means directly located between an optoelectronic element and waveguides, including direct displacement of either the element or the waveguide, e.g. optical pulse generation
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
- G02B6/3596—With planar waveguide arrangement, i.e. in a substrate, regardless if actuating mechanism is outside the substrate
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
- H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
- H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
- H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
- H03K2217/941—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated using an optical detector
- H03K2217/94102—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated using an optical detector characterised by the type of activation
- H03K2217/94108—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated using an optical detector characterised by the type of activation making use of reflection
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
- H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
- H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
- H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
- H03K2217/941—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated using an optical detector
- H03K2217/94114—Optical multi axis
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
- H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
- H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
- H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
- H03K2217/941—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated using an optical detector
- H03K2217/94116—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated using an optical detector increasing reliability, fail-safe
Abstract
The invention provides a non-contact switch, which can be thinned. The non-contact switch includes: a light guide plate (11) which can display a pattern (21) indicating a position for receiving an input operation by using light from a light source (12); and a detection unit (13) that outputs a detection signal indicating that the sensor light is detected when the sensor light reflected or scattered by a predetermined object located at a position where the input operation is received is detected as the sensor light is emitted. The light guide plate (11) further comprises: a plurality of first prisms (22) which are arranged along the pattern (21) and reflect light emitted from the light source (12) and incident into the light guide plate (11) so as to be emitted from the surface on the front side of the light guide plate (11); and a second prism (23) which reflects the sensor light emitted from the detection unit (13) and incident into the light guide plate (11) toward a position where an input operation is to be performed, and which reflects the sensor light reflected or scattered by a predetermined object located at the position and incident into the light guide plate (11) from a surface on the front side of the light guide plate (11) toward the detection unit (13).
Description
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a non-contact switch capable of inputting an operation by non-contact.
Background
From the viewpoint of hygiene or prevention of transmission of infectious diseases, a non-contact switch that can be operated without a user touching any component has been studied (for example, see patent document 1).
For example, an input device disclosed in patent document 1 includes: a light source, a light guide plate, a sensor, and a second image. The light guide plate guides light from the light source to spatially image the first image. The sensor detects an object in a space including the imaging position of the first image or a space distant from the imaging position of the first image by a predetermined distance. The second image is displayed on a different surface from the surface on which the first image is displayed. Further, the controller changes the displayed first image according to an input action of the user for the first image. Further, a light guide plate or a display device for displaying the second image is provided, and the displayed second image is changed according to the input operation controller.
Documents of the prior art
Patent document
Patent document 1: japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2020-64632
Disclosure of Invention
Technical problem to be solved by the invention
The input device disclosed in patent document 1 is configured to easily obtain a stereoscopic image of an image. However, in the case of a device in which a contactless switch is mounted, there is sometimes no space for disposing the contactless switch. Therefore, it is desired to make the non-contact switch thin.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a non-contact switch that can be thinned.
Technical solution for solving technical problem
One embodiment of the present invention provides a non-contact switch. The non-contact switch includes: a light source; a light guide plate which is formed of a transparent member into a flat plate shape, has a first incident surface and a second incident surface, and can display a pattern indicating a position where an input operation is received; a light source arranged to face the first incident surface; a detection unit that is disposed so as to face the second incident surface and outputs a detection signal indicating that the sensor light is detected when the sensor light reflected or scattered by a predetermined object located at a position where the input operation is received is detected as the sensor light is emitted; and a control unit that outputs a signal indicating that an input operation has been performed, when the detection signal is received from the detection unit. Further, the light guide plate includes: a plurality of first prisms arranged along a pattern indicating a position where an input operation is received on a first surface of the light guide plate on a side opposite to the position where the input operation is received, the first prisms reflecting light emitted from the light source and incident into the light guide plate from the first incident surface so as to be emitted from a second surface of the light guide plate on the side where the input operation is received; and at least one second prism provided on the first surface of the light guide plate, which emits the sensor light emitted from the detection unit and incident into the light guide plate from the second incident surface, from the second surface of the light guide plate, reflects the sensor light to a position where an input operation is received, and reflects the sensor light, which is reflected or scattered by a predetermined object located at the position and incident into the light guide plate from the second surface, toward the detection unit.
With this configuration, since the sensor light is also propagated through the light guide plate indicating the position to receive the input operation, the detection unit may not be disposed on the opposite side of the position to receive the input operation through the light guide plate, and as a result, the non-contact switch can be thinned.
In the contactless switch, the light guide plate has a plurality of second prisms provided on the first surface, and the plurality of second prisms are preferably arranged such that distances between the second prisms and positions where input operations are received are the same.
With this configuration, the non-contact switch can make the light quantity of the sensor light emitted from the detection unit and reaching the position where the input operation is received substantially uniform for each of the second prisms, and as a result, the input operation of the user can be detected with high accuracy without depending on the direction of the sensor light reflected or scattered by the predetermined object located at the position where the input operation is received.
Alternatively, in the contactless switch, the light guide plate may include a plurality of second prisms provided on the first surface, and the plurality of second prisms may be formed such that the larger the distance between positions where the input operation is received, the larger the reflection surface that reflects the sensor light.
With this configuration, the non-contact switch can make the light quantity of the sensor light emitted from the detection unit and reaching the position where the input operation is received substantially uniform for each of the second prisms, and as a result, the input operation of the user can be detected with high accuracy without depending on the direction of the sensor light reflected or scattered by the predetermined object located at the position where the input operation is received.
In the contactless switch, the first incident surface and the second incident surface are preferably provided on different side surfaces of the light guide plate.
With this configuration, the non-contact switch can prevent the arbitrary first prism from reflecting the sensor light toward the position where the input operation is received, or the arbitrary first prism from reflecting the sensor light reflected or scattered by the object located at the position different from the position where the input operation is received toward the detection portion, and therefore can prevent erroneous detection of an input operation unintended by the user.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a non-contact switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the light guide plate along the line indicated by arrow AA' in fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the light guide plate taken along the line indicated by arrow BB' in fig. 1.
Fig. 4(a) is a perspective schematic view of a light guide plate according to a modification, and fig. 4(b) is a front schematic view of the light guide plate according to the modification.
Fig. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a non-contact switch according to another modification.
Detailed Description
Next, a non-contact switch according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this non-contact switch, a plurality of prisms that reflect light from a light source, which is incident into the light guide plate from one incident surface of the light guide plate and propagates through the light guide plate, toward a user side (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a front surface side for convenience of description) are arranged in the light guide plate along a pattern indicating a position where an input operation is received, and the pattern can be displayed. The non-contact switch is configured such that the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the optical sensor are disposed to face the other incident surface of the light guide plate, and a prism that reflects the sensor light emitted from the light emitting element of the optical sensor and incident into the light guide plate and traveling in the light guide plate toward the front side, and that reflects the sensor light reflected or scattered by a finger or the like of a user and incident from the surface of the front side of the light guide plate into the light receiving element of the optical sensor is provided separately from the prism for pattern formation. Thus, the non-contact switch can be thinned.
In the embodiments described below, the non-contact switch is operated by a finger of a user. That is, the input operation is accepted by detecting sensor light reflected or scattered by a finger of the user placed at the position where the input operation is accepted. The finger of the user is an example of a predetermined object for performing an input operation to the non-contact switch. However, the predetermined object used for the input operation is not limited to the finger of the user, and may be another part of the user such as the hand of the user, an object provided for the user, or an object which is held by the user and which can reflect or scatter the sensor light.
Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a non-contact switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. The non-contact switch 1 includes: light guide plate 11, light source 12, light sensor 13, and control unit 14. The above-described components are housed in a casing (not shown).
The light guide plate 11 is a member formed in a flat plate shape that is transparent to the light emitted from the light source 12 and the sensor light emitted from the light sensor 13. The light guide plate 11 is formed by molding a resin such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate, or cycloolefin polymer, which is transparent to the light emitted from the light source 12 and the sensor light emitted from the light sensor 13. The light guide plate 11 displays a pattern 21 indicating a position to receive an input operation by light emitted from the light source 12 and incident into the light guide plate 11 and propagating through the light guide plate 11. Further, the light guide plate 11 directs the sensor light emitted from the light sensor 13 and incident into the light guide plate 11 and propagating through the light guide plate 11 toward the position where the input operation is accepted, and directs the sensor light reflected or scattered by the finger of the user placed at the position where the input operation is accepted and incident into the light guide plate 11 toward the light sensor 13.
Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the light guide plate 11 along the line indicated by the arrow AA' in fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the light guide plate 11 along the line indicated by the arrow BB' in fig. 1. One side surface of the light guide plate 11 is formed as a first incident surface 11a for allowing light emitted from the light source 12 to enter the light guide plate 11. Further, a plurality of prisms 22 (first prisms) arranged along the pattern 21 are formed on a surface (first surface) on the rear surface side of the light guide plate 11. Each prism 22 is formed as a triangular prism-shaped groove, for example, and one surface of the groove is arranged to face the light source 12 as a reflection surface. Each prism 22 totally reflects light from the light source 12, which is incident into the light guide plate 11 from the first incident surface 11a and propagates through the light guide plate 11, and emits the light from the front surface side (second surface) of the light guide plate 11, thereby displaying the pattern 21. The pattern 21 is displayed in the vicinity of a position where an input operation is accepted, in order to indicate the position. For example, the display position of the pattern 21 may be set by overlapping the bottom of a perpendicular line that is drawn from the position where the input operation is accepted to the front surface side of the light guide plate 11 with the pattern 21.
The pattern 21 may be displayed in the air as a three-dimensional image on the front side of the light guide plate 11. In this case, a plurality of prisms 22 are provided for each point of the pattern 21. For each point of the pattern 21, each of the plurality of prisms 22 corresponding to the point is arranged so as to reflect light that is incident from the incident surface 11a and propagates through the light guide plate 11 toward the point. Therefore, light from the plurality of prisms 22 arranged at different positions from each other is collected at each point of the pattern 21, which is a three-dimensional image displayed in the air. Therefore, the user positioned on the front surface side can see light emitted from each point of the pattern 21 displayed in the air. Therefore, the pattern 21 displayed in the air can be observed from the user's perspective.
In addition, two or three side surfaces of the light guide plate 11 may be formed as the first incident surface. Further, the light source 12 may be disposed to face each first incident surface.
The other side surface of the light guide plate 11 perpendicular to the first incident surface 11a is formed as a second incident surface 11b for allowing the sensor light emitted from the photosensor 13 to enter the light guide plate 11. At least one prism 23 (second prism) is formed on the rear surface of the light guide plate 11. The prism 23 is formed, for example, as a triangular prism-shaped groove, and one surface of the groove is disposed as a reflection surface so as to face the optical sensor 13. The prism 23 totally reflects the sensor light incident from the second incident surface 11b and propagating through the light guide plate 11, directs the light to a position where an input operation is received, and emits the light from a surface on the front side of the light guide plate 11. Further, the prism 23 totally reflects the sensor light reflected or scattered by the finger of the user placed at the position to accept the input operation and incident from the face on the front side of the light guide plate 11 into the light guide plate 11, and directs the light toward the light sensor 13.
In the present embodiment, first incident surface 11a is orthogonal to second incident surface 11b, light source 12 is provided so as to face first incident surface 11a, and light sensor 13 is provided so as to face second incident surface 11 b. Therefore, the reflection surface of each prism 22 and the reflection surface of the prism 23 forming the pattern 21 are also oriented in different directions. Therefore, each prism 22 does not reflect the sensor light emitted from the optical sensor 13 and propagating through the light guide plate 11 toward the front side, and does not reflect the sensor light incident from the surface on the front side of the light guide plate 11 toward the optical sensor 13. Therefore, the sensor light can be prevented from being reflected or scattered by an object placed at a position different from the position at which the input operation is accepted and returned to the optical sensor 13, so that it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of an input operation unintended by the user.
Two side surfaces that are opposite to each other with the light guide plate 11 interposed therebetween may be formed as the first incident surface 11a and the second incident surface 11b, respectively. In this case as well, as in the above-described embodiment, since each prism 22 does not reflect the sensor light emitted from the optical sensor 13 and propagating inside the light guide plate 11 toward the front side, and does not reflect the sensor light incident from the surface on the front side of the light guide plate 11 toward the optical sensor 13, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of an input operation unintended by the user.
Alternatively, a collimator lens may be disposed between the light source 12 and the light sensor 13, and the side surface of the light guide plate 11 forming the incident surface. In this case, since the light emitted from the light source 12 and the sensor light emitted from the light sensor 13 are parallel to each other and are incident on the light guide plate 11, the light from the light source 12 and the sensor light from the light sensor 13 travel in parallel to each other in the light guide plate 11. Therefore, in this case, since the prisms 22 can be arranged at positions where the sensor light does not propagate, the first incident surface and the second incident surface can be the same side surface of the light guide plate 11.
The light source 12 emits light for displaying the pattern 21. Therefore, the light source 12 includes two or more light emitting elements (for example, a first light emitting element that emits blue light and a second light emitting element that emits red light) having different emission colors. That is, the light source 12 can change the emission color of the illumination light. Each light emitting element may be, for example, a light emitting diode. Each light emitting element of the light source 12 has a light emitting surface arranged to face the first incident surface 11a of the light guide plate 11. Light emitted from each light emitting element of the light source 12 enters the light guide plate 11 through the first incident surface 11a, propagates through the light guide plate 11, is reflected by the plurality of prisms 22 provided on the rear surface of the light guide plate 11, and is emitted from the front surface side of the light guide plate 11, thereby displaying the pattern 21.
Each light emitting element of the light source 12 is controlled to turn on a certain light emitting element and turn off the other light emitting elements in response to a control signal from the control unit 14. That is, the color of light of the display pattern 21 changes depending on the light emitting element that emits light among the light emitting elements of the light source 12. Therefore, the control unit 14 switches the light emitting element to emit light every time the user's input operation is received, and the user can easily recognize the operation state of the non-contact switch 1.
The optical sensor 13 is an example of a detection unit that detects an input operation by a user. Therefore, the photosensor 13 has: a light emitting element (not shown) that emits sensor light, and a light receiving element (not shown) that detects the sensor light reflected or scattered by the user's finger and outputs a detection signal indicating that the sensor light has been detected. The sensor light is preferably light invisible to the user, and therefore, the light emitting element may be, for example, an infrared light emitting diode that emits infrared light as the sensor light. The light receiving element may be a light receiving element having sensitivity to sensor light, for example, a photodiode having sensitivity to infrared light.
In the present embodiment, the light sensor 13 is arranged such that the light emitting surface of the light emitting element and the light receiving surface of the light receiving element included in the light sensor 13 face the second incident surface 11b of the light guide plate 11. The sensor light emitted from the light emitting element of the optical sensor 13 enters the light guide plate 11 through the second incident surface 11b, propagates through the light guide plate 11, is totally reflected by the prism 23, exits from the front surface of the light guide plate 11, and is directed to a position where an input operation is received. When the user brings the finger close to the position to receive the input operation, a part of the sensor light reflected or scattered by the user's finger enters the light guide plate 11 again from the front surface side of the light guide plate 11, and then is totally reflected by the prism 23 and returns to the light sensor 13. The light receiving element of the optical sensor 13 outputs a detection signal to the control unit 14 when detecting the returned sensor light. Thereby, the input operation by the user is detected. In this way, the light sensor 13 is disposed so that not only the light from the light source 12 for displaying the pattern 21 but also the sensor light propagates in the light guide plate 11, and the prism 23 for reflecting the sensor light to the position where the input operation is received is provided, whereby the non-contact switch 1 can be thinned. In this example, since the path through which the sensor light emitted from the light emitting element passes and the path through which the sensor light detected by the light receiving element passes substantially coincide, the position at which the input operation is received may be set on the path through which the air sensor light on the front surface side of the light guide plate 11 passes.
When receiving the detection signal from the light sensor 13, the control section 14 outputs a signal indicating that an input operation has been performed, and changes the color of the illumination light emitted from the light source 12. Therefore, the control section 14 has, for example, one or more microprocessors, a semiconductor memory, and an interface for connecting with other devices.
When the user input operation is not accepted, the control unit 14 turns on one of the light emitting elements (for example, the first light emitting element that emits blue light) included in the light source 12 and turns off the other light emitting elements. Thereby, a pattern 21 having the emission color of the first light-emitting element is displayed near the position where the input operation is accepted.
After that, when receiving the detection signal from the light sensor 13, the control section 14 outputs a signal indicating that the operation state has been the first state (e.g., on state) to the other device via the interface. Then, the control unit 14 turns off a first light emitting element among the light emitting elements of the light source 12 and turns on the other light emitting elements (for example, a second light emitting element that emits red light). Thereby, the color of light of the display pattern 21 changes (i.e., the color of the pattern changes from the emission color of the first light-emitting element to the emission color of the second light-emitting element). Therefore, the user can easily see that the operation state is changed by receiving the input operation.
After that, when the control unit 14 does not receive the detection signal from the optical sensor 13 for a while and then starts receiving the detection signal again, it outputs a signal indicating that the operation state is the second operation state (for example, the off state) to another device via the interface. Then, the control unit 14 turns off the second light emitting element among the light emitting elements of the light source 12 and turns on the first light emitting element. Thereby, the color of light of the display pattern 21 changes from the emission color of the second light-emitting element to the emission color of the first light-emitting element. Therefore, the user can easily see that the input operation is accepted again and the operation state is returned to the original state.
The control unit 14 may change the lighting state of the light source 12 other than the emission color every time the detection signal is received from the light sensor 13. For example, the control unit 14 may blink the light source 12 at a predetermined cycle when the operation state is the first operation state by receiving the detection signal from the photosensor 13. The control unit 14 may turn on the light source 12 when the operation state is set to the second operation state by receiving the detection signal again after the detection signal is not received from the optical sensor 13 for a while. Alternatively, the control unit 14 may control the light source 12 such that the light emission intensity of the light source 12 is different between when the operation state is the first operation state and when the operation state is the second operation state.
As described above, since the non-contact switch can detect an input operation by moving a finger to a position in the air where the user receives the input operation, the user can operate a device to which the non-contact switch is attached by non-contact. In addition, the non-contact switch changes the display color of the pattern indicating the position at which the input operation is accepted every time the input operation is accepted, so that the user can easily determine whether the input operation is accepted. Further, since the non-contact switch is provided with the optical sensor by causing the sensor light to propagate through the light guide plate which displays the pattern indicating the position to receive the input operation, the optical sensor may not be provided on the rear surface side of the light guide plate, and as a result, the non-contact switch can be thinned.
According to the modification, when the plurality of prisms 23 are formed on the light guide plate 11, it is preferable that the prisms 23 are each arranged such that the reflection surface thereof faces the optical sensor 13.
Fig. 4(a) is a perspective schematic view of the light guide plate 11 of this modification, and fig. 4(b) is a front schematic view of the light guide plate 11 of this modification. In this modification, a plurality of prisms 23 are formed on the rear surface of the light guide plate 11. Each prism 23 is arranged along an arc centered on the photosensor 13. The prisms 23 are arranged such that the reflection surfaces of the prisms 23 face the optical sensor 13. That is, in each prism 23, on a surface parallel to the surface on the back side of the light guide plate 11, the normal direction of the reflection surface of each prism 23 is substantially parallel to a line connecting the optical sensor 13 and the reflection surface of the prism 23. The prisms 23 are formed so that the reflection surfaces of the prisms 23 and the surface on the back side of the light guide plate 11 have the same inclination angle. Thus, the sensor light emitted from the optical sensor 13 and incident into the light guide plate from the second incident surface 11b is directed by the plurality of prisms 23 toward the position P set on the front side of the light guide plate 11 to receive an input operation, and therefore, the light amount of the sensor light at the position P can be increased. Further, since the sensor light reflected or scattered by the finger of the user placed at the position P where the input operation is received is incident into the light guide plate 11 from the front surface side of the light guide plate 11, and is then totally reflected by the plurality of prisms 23 and directed toward the optical sensor 13, the light amount of the sensor light returned to the optical sensor 13 can be increased. Therefore, according to this modification, the non-contact switch can detect the input operation by the user with high sensitivity.
The plurality of prisms 23 may not be arranged in one circular arc shape centering on the optical sensor 13, and the prisms 23 may be arranged at different distances from the optical sensor 13 for two or more prisms among the plurality of prisms 23. In this case, in order to totally reflect the sensor light emitted from the optical sensor 13 and incident into the light guide plate 11 toward the same position P, it is preferable to arrange the prisms 23 so that the longer the distance from the optical sensor 13 to the prism 23 is, the larger the inclination angle between the reflection surface of the prism 23 and the surface on the back surface side of the light guide plate 11 is.
Further, it is preferable that the plurality of prisms 23 are arranged so that the distances from the prism 23 to the position P where the input operation is accepted are the same as each other. This makes it possible to make uniform the light quantity of the sensor light emitted from the light sensor 13 and directed to the position P where the input operation is received, or the light quantity of the sensor light returned from the position P where the input operation is received to the light sensor 13 for each prism 23. As a result, the non-contact switch can accurately detect the input operation by the user without depending on the direction of the sensor light reflected or scattered by the finger of the user placed at the position receiving the input operation.
Alternatively, it is preferable that each of the plurality of prisms 23 is formed such that the larger the distance from the prism 23 to the position P at which the input operation is received, the larger the reflection surface. In this case, the light quantity of the sensor light emitted from the light sensor 13 and directed to the position P where the input operation is received, or the light quantity of the sensor light returned from the position P where the input operation is received to the light sensor 13 can be made uniform for each prism 23. Therefore, in this case, the non-contact switch can accurately detect the input operation by the user, regardless of the direction of the sensor light reflected or scattered by the finger of the user placed at the position receiving the input operation.
According to another modification, the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element of the optical sensor may be disposed at different positions.
Fig. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a non-contact switch according to this modification. The non-contact switch 2 of this modification is different from the non-contact switch 1 shown in fig. 1 in the structure of the optical sensor. Therefore, in the following, the difference and the related part among the non-contact switches 2 are explained. In fig. 5, the main components of the structure that are not related to the differences are not shown.
In this modification, the light emitting element 131 and the light receiving element 132 of the optical sensor 13 are disposed so as to face the second incident surface 11b of the light guide plate 11 at different positions. For example, the light emitting element 131 and the light receiving element 132 are arranged such that a position for receiving an input operation is positioned between the light emitting element 131 and the light receiving element 132 in a direction along the second incident surface 11b of the light guide plate 11. The light emitting element 131 and the light receiving element 132 may be disposed to face different side surfaces of the light guide plate 11, or may be disposed to face cutouts provided at two corners of the light guide plate 11. In this case, the side surface or the notch facing the light emitting element 131 and the side surface or the notch facing the light receiving element 132 are other examples of the second incident surface.
At least one prism 23-1 is provided on the rear surface of the light guide plate 11, and the at least one prism 23-1 totally reflects the sensor light emitted from the light emitting element 131 of the optical sensor 13 and incident into the light guide plate 11 through the second incident surface 11b toward the position on the front surface side of the light guide plate 11 where the input operation is received. Further, at least one prism 23-2 is provided on the surface of the back surface side of the light guide plate 11, and the at least one prism 23-2 is used to totally reflect or scatter the sensor light, which is reflected or scattered by the finger of the user placed at the position receiving the input operation and is incident into the light guide plate 11 from the surface on the front surface side of the light guide plate 11, toward the light receiving element 132 of the photosensor 13. In this example, the light emitting element 131, the position where the input operation is received, and the light receiving element 132 are arranged in this order in the direction along the second incident surface 11b, and the light emitting element 131 and the light receiving element 132 are arranged. Therefore, each prism 23-1 is provided so that the reflection surface of the prism 23-1 is rotated closer to the light receiving element 132 side than the direction facing the light emitting element 131 on the surface parallel to the surface on the back side of the light guide plate 11 in order to direct the sensor light emitted from the light emitting element 131 to the position where the input operation is received. On the other hand, each prism 23-2 is provided so that the reflection surface of the prism 23-2 is rotated closer to the light emitting element 131 than the direction facing the light receiving element 132 on the surface parallel to the surface on the back surface side of the light guide plate 11 so that the sensor light from the position where the input operation is received is directed to the light receiving element 132.
In the non-contact switch of this modification, as in the non-contact switch of the above-described embodiment, the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element of the optical sensor are disposed on the side of the light guide plate, and therefore, the non-contact switch can be made thinner.
As described above, those skilled in the art can make various modifications in combination with the embodiments within the scope of the present invention.
Description of the reference numerals
1, 2 non-contact switches; 11a light guide plate; 11a first incident surface; 11b a second incident surface; 12 light source; 13 a light sensor; 131 a light emitting element; 132 a light receiving element; 21 pattern; 22 a first prism; 23, 23-1, 23-2 second prisms; 14 a control unit.
Claims (4)
1. A non-contact switch, comprising:
a light source;
a light guide plate which is formed of a transparent member into a flat plate shape, has a first incident surface and a second incident surface, and can display a pattern indicating a position where an input operation is received;
a light source arranged to face the first incident surface;
a detection unit that is disposed so as to face the second incident surface and outputs a detection signal indicating that the sensor light is detected when the sensor light reflected or scattered by a predetermined object located at a position where the input operation is received is detected as the sensor light is emitted;
a control unit that outputs a signal indicating that the input operation has been performed, when receiving the detection signal from the detection unit;
the light guide plate has:
a plurality of first prisms arranged along the pattern on a first surface of the light guide plate on a side opposite to a position where the input operation is received, the first prisms reflecting light emitted from the light source and incident into the light guide plate from the first incident surface so as to be emitted from a second surface of the light guide plate on the side where the input operation is received;
and at least one second prism provided on the first surface of the light guide plate, the second prism being configured to emit the sensor light emitted from the detection unit and incident into the light guide plate from the second incident surface, to reflect the sensor light toward a position where the input operation is received, and to reflect the sensor light reflected or scattered by the predetermined object located at the position and incident into the light guide plate from the second incident surface toward the detection unit.
2. The non-contact switch of claim 1,
the light guide plate has a plurality of second prisms disposed on the first surface,
the plurality of second prisms are respectively arranged so that distances between the second prisms and the positions are the same.
3. The non-contact switch of claim 1,
the light guide plate has a plurality of second prisms disposed on the first surface,
the plurality of second prisms are formed such that the larger the distance to the position, the larger the reflection surface that reflects the sensor light.
4. The non-contact switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
the first incident surface and the second incident surface are disposed on different side surfaces of the light guide plate.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2020-157739 | 2020-09-18 | ||
| JP2020157739A JP2022051320A (en) | 2020-09-18 | 2020-09-18 | Non-contact switch |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN114200589A true CN114200589A (en) | 2022-03-18 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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| CN202110917672.9A Pending CN114200589A (en) | 2020-09-18 | 2021-08-11 | Non-contact switch |
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| JP (1) | JP2022051320A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN114200589A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE102021121066A1 (en) |
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| CN101819490A (en) * | 2009-02-27 | 2010-09-01 | 索尼公司 | Reflection detection apparatus, display apparatus, electronic apparatus, and reflection detection method |
| WO2011119483A1 (en) * | 2010-03-24 | 2011-09-29 | Neonode Inc. | Lens arrangement for light-based touch screen |
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| CN107111150A (en) * | 2015-01-13 | 2017-08-29 | 欧姆龙株式会社 | Optical device and operation input unit |
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| CN109002231A (en) * | 2017-06-06 | 2018-12-14 | 欧姆龙株式会社 | Input unit |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2020064632A (en) | 2018-10-11 | 2020-04-23 | オムロン株式会社 | Input device |
| JP2020157739A (en) | 2019-03-28 | 2020-10-01 | 日本スピンドル製造株式会社 | Rotor and mixer |
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2020
- 2020-09-18 JP JP2020157739A patent/JP2022051320A/en active Pending
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- 2021-08-11 CN CN202110917672.9A patent/CN114200589A/en active Pending
- 2021-08-13 DE DE102021121066.6A patent/DE102021121066A1/en active Pending
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN101819490A (en) * | 2009-02-27 | 2010-09-01 | 索尼公司 | Reflection detection apparatus, display apparatus, electronic apparatus, and reflection detection method |
| WO2011119483A1 (en) * | 2010-03-24 | 2011-09-29 | Neonode Inc. | Lens arrangement for light-based touch screen |
| CN103186289A (en) * | 2011-12-28 | 2013-07-03 | 富泰华工业（深圳）有限公司 | Touch control display device |
| US8643628B1 (en) * | 2012-10-14 | 2014-02-04 | Neonode Inc. | Light-based proximity detection system and user interface |
| CN107111150A (en) * | 2015-01-13 | 2017-08-29 | 欧姆龙株式会社 | Optical device and operation input unit |
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| CN109002231A (en) * | 2017-06-06 | 2018-12-14 | 欧姆龙株式会社 | Input unit |
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| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE102021121066A1 (en) | 2022-03-24 |
| JP2022051320A (en) | 2022-03-31 |
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