CN114204927A - Non-contact switch - Google Patents
Non-contact switch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CN114204927A CN114204927A CN202110917483.1A CN202110917483A CN114204927A CN 114204927 A CN114204927 A CN 114204927A CN 202110917483 A CN202110917483 A CN 202110917483A CN 114204927 A CN114204927 A CN 114204927A
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- China
- Prior art keywords
- light
- sensor
- stereoscopic display
- guide plate
- display unit
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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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- 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
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
- B66B1/00—Control systems of elevators in general
- B66B1/34—Details, e.g. call counting devices, data transmission from car to control system, devices giving information to the control system
- B66B1/46—Adaptations of switches or switchgear
- B66B1/461—Adaptations of switches or switchgear characterised by their shape or profile
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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
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- Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)
- Elevator Control (AREA)
Abstract
The invention provides a non-contact switch, which can clearly receive the position of input operation. The non-contact switch includes: a stereoscopic display unit (11) which displays a stereoscopic image (21) indicating a position where an input operation is received by using light emitted from the first light source (15) while viewing a pattern (22) indicating the position from the front side; a light guide plate (13) which is disposed on the rear surface side of the stereoscopic display unit (11) and directs illumination light emitted from the second light source (16) toward the stereoscopic display unit (11); a light shielding section (12) which is disposed between the stereoscopic display section (11) and the light guide plate (13), and which has a light shielding region (12b) that shields the sensor light and the illumination light, and a light transmitting region (12a) that transmits the sensor light and the illumination light and in which a pattern (22) is formed; a detection unit (14) which is disposed on the rear surface side of the light guide plate (13) and outputs a detection signal when detecting sensor light from an object located at a position where an input operation is received; and a control unit (17) that changes the lighting state of the first light source (15) and the emission color of the illumination light of the second light source (16) in accordance with the detection signal.
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 three-dimensional appearance of an image. However, in order to improve usability, it is preferable to make the position where the input operation is accepted more definite.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a non-contact switch capable of specifying a position to which an input operation is input.
Technical solution for solving technical problem
One embodiment of the present invention provides a non-contact switch. The non-contact switch includes: a first light source; a stereoscopic display unit that displays a stereoscopic image indicating a position to receive an input operation by using light emitted from the first light source while viewing a pattern indicating the position arranged on a rear surface side from a front surface side; a second light source that emits illumination light whose emission color can be changed; a light guide plate disposed on the rear surface side of the stereoscopic display unit, the light guide plate directing illumination light emitted from the second light source toward the stereoscopic display unit; a light shielding section which is disposed between the stereoscopic display section and the light guide plate, has a light shielding region for shielding the sensor light and the illumination light, and a light transmitting region for transmitting the sensor light and the illumination light, and has a pattern which is displayed by the illumination light and indicates a position for receiving an input operation formed in the light transmitting region; a detection unit that is disposed on the rear surface side of the light guide plate, emits sensor light, and outputs a detection signal indicating that the sensor light is detected when the sensor light is reflected or scattered by a predetermined object located at a position where an input operation is received; 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, and that changes the lighting state of the first light source and changes the emission color of the illumination light of the second light source.
With this configuration, the position at which the non-contact switch can definitely receive the input operation can be specified.
In the contactless switch, the predetermined pattern is preferably formed of a material that blocks the illumination light and transmits the sensor light.
With this configuration, since the sensor light can be prevented from being blocked by the predetermined pattern itself, the non-contact switch can suppress a failure in detection of an operation even if the user intends to operate the non-contact switch.
In the non-contact switch, the light emitting element of the optical sensor is preferably arranged to emit sensor light in a direction parallel to the surface of the light guide plate on the back side. The non-contact switch preferably further includes a reflecting member that reflects the sensor light emitted from the detection unit toward the position where the input operation is received, through the light guide plate, the light transmitting region, and the stereoscopic display unit, and reflects the sensor light that is reflected or scattered by a predetermined object located at the position where the input operation is received, and that passes through the stereoscopic display unit, the light transmitting region, and the light guide plate, toward the detection unit.
With this configuration, the non-contact switch can be thinned.
In this case, the reflecting member preferably has a reflecting surface that totally reflects the sensor light, and reflects the sensor light emitted from the detection unit toward the position where the input operation is received by transmitting the light guide plate, the light transmitting region, and the stereoscopic display unit, and reflects the sensor light that is reflected or scattered by a predetermined object located at the position where the input operation is received and that has transmitted the stereoscopic display unit, the light transmitting region, and the light guide plate toward the detection unit by the reflecting surface.
With this configuration, since loss in the reflected sensor light can be suppressed, the non-contact switch can detect the operation of the user with high sensitivity.
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 side sectional view of a non-contact switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view of a mask sheet.
Fig. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a non-contact switch according to a modification.
Fig. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a non-contact switch according to another modification.
Fig. 6 is a view showing another mode of the mirror plate in the modification shown in fig. 5.
Fig. 7(a) and 7(b) are schematic side sectional views 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. The non-contact switch can display a three-dimensional image indicating a position where an input operation is received on a side facing a user (hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, may be referred to as a front side), and can display a predetermined pattern indicating a position where an input operation is received by using illumination light guided by a light guide plate. The non-contact switch transmits sensor light from a photosensor disposed on the opposite side of a light guide plate for guiding illumination light to a user (hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, may be referred to as a back side) through the front side, and detects sensor light reflected or scattered by a user's finger or the like, thereby detecting an input operation by the user. In this non-contact switch, a light shielding portion for shielding sensor light and illumination light is provided between a three-dimensional display portion for displaying a three-dimensional image and a light guide plate in a region other than a light transmission region in which a predetermined pattern is provided, so that the predetermined pattern is easily visible and a position where an input operation is received is clarified.
In the embodiments described below, the non-contact switch is operated by a finger of the 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 for performing 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, or an object that is provided by the user or held by the user and that 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. Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of a non-contact switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. The non-contact switch 1 includes: the stereoscopic display device includes a stereoscopic display unit 11, a mask sheet 12, a light guide plate 13, a light sensor 14, a first light source 15, a second light source 16, and a control unit 17. The above-described components are housed in the housing 18. The stereoscopic display unit 11, the mask sheet 12, the light guide plate 13, and the optical sensor 14 among the above-described units are arranged in this order from the front side to the rear side. The first light source 15 is disposed to face an incident surface 11a formed on a side surface of the stereoscopic display unit 11. Similarly, the second light source 16 is disposed to face the incident surface 13a formed on the side surface of the light guide plate 13. The control unit 17 controls the first light source 15 and the second light source 16 based on the detection result of the optical sensor 14. Next, each part of the contactless switch 1 will be described in detail.
The stereoscopic display unit 11 displays the stereoscopic image 21 in the air near the position where the input operation is received on the front side of the stereoscopic display unit 11 by the light emitted from the first light source 15 and incident from the incident surface 11 a. The stereoscopic image 21 indicates a position at which an input operation is accepted. The stereoscopic display unit 11 is configured such that a pattern 22 indicating a position at which an input operation is received, which is disposed on the rear surface side thereof, is visible from the front surface side. Therefore, the stereoscopic display portion 11 is configured as a light guide plate formed in a plate shape by molding a material transparent to visible light, for example, an optical resin such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate, or cycloolefin polymer. A plurality of prisms (not shown) formed into triangular prism-shaped grooves for respective points of the three-dimensional image 21 displayed in the air and arranged at different positions are provided on the rear surface side of the three-dimensional display unit 11. One surface of each prism faces the first light source 15, and is formed as a reflection surface that totally reflects light that is incident from the incident surface 11a and propagates through the stereoscopic display unit 11 toward the front surface side. Then, for each point of the stereoscopic image 21 displayed in the air, a plurality of prisms corresponding to the point are arranged so as to reflect light that is incident from the incident surface 11a and propagates through the stereoscopic display unit 11 toward the point. Therefore, light from a plurality of prisms arranged at different positions from each other is collected at each point of the stereoscopic image 21 displayed in the air. Therefore, the user positioned on the front surface side can see light emitted from each point of the stereoscopic image displayed in the air. Therefore, the user can observe the stereoscopic image 21 displayed in the air.
While the first light source 15 is turned on, a stereoscopic image is displayed by the stereoscopic display unit 11. On the other hand, when the first light source 15 is turned off, the stereoscopic image is not displayed on the stereoscopic display portion 11. Therefore, as will be described later in detail, the control unit 17 can switch whether or not to display a stereoscopic image by switching the lighting and lighting-off of the first light source 15 based on the detection result of the light sensor 14. Therefore, the user can recognize the operation state of the non-contact switch 1 by whether or not the stereoscopic image is displayed.
The mask sheet 12 is an example of a light shielding portion, and is a sheet-like member disposed between the stereoscopic display portion 11 and the light guide plate 13, and displays a pattern 22 indicating a position to receive an input operation by the illumination light from the second light source 16, and shields a portion other than the pattern 22 from the illumination light directed from the back surface side to the front surface side and the sensor light from the light sensor 14.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the mask sheet 12. The mask sheet 12 is formed of an opaque member that blocks the sensor light from the light sensor 14 and the light from the second light source 16. The pattern 22 is provided so as to overlap with the bottom of a perpendicular line that hangs down from the vicinity of the position where the input operation is received, for example, a predetermined point of the three-dimensional image 21 (for example, the center of gravity of the three-dimensional image 21) toward the mask sheet 12. The pattern 22 is formed by applying a material, such as ink or paint, which does not transmit the illumination light to the front surface side of the light guide plate 13, to the light transmission region 12a provided by cutting the mask sheet 12 so as to transmit the sensor light from the photosensor 14 and the illumination light from the second light source 16, for example. Thus, by illuminating second light source 16, pattern 22 is visible to the user. As a material for forming the pattern 22, for example, when the sensor light is infrared light, it is preferable to use ink that transmits infrared light as a material that does not transmit illumination light from the second light source 16 but transmits sensor light from the photosensor 14. Alternatively, the periphery of the pattern 22 in the light-transmitting region 12a may be covered with a material that blocks the illumination light from the second light source 16 and transmits the sensor light from the photosensor 14, and the pattern 22 itself may be formed so as to transmit both the illumination light and the sensor light. This can prevent the sensor light from being blocked by the pattern 22 itself, and thus can prevent the optical sensor 14 from failing to detect the user's finger even if the user moves the finger at or near the position where the user accepts the input operation. The periphery of the light-transmitting region 12a is formed as a light-blocking region 12b that blocks the illumination light and the sensor light. Accordingly, the illumination light and stray light directed from the back surface side to the front surface side of the mask sheet 12 are blocked except for the periphery of the pattern 22, so that the user can easily see the pattern 22 and the three-dimensional image, and as a result, can easily grasp the position to which the input operation is received.
The light guide plate 13 is a member formed in a plate shape by molding a material transparent to visible light, for example, an optical resin such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate, or cycloolefin polymer, and is disposed on the rear surface side of the mask sheet 12.
An incident surface 13a facing the second light source 16 is formed on one side surface of the light guide plate 13. Further, a plurality of prisms for totally reflecting light propagating through the light guide plate 13 toward the front surface side are formed on the surface on the rear surface side of the light guide plate 13. Each prism is formed as a triangular prism-shaped groove, for example. Therefore, the illumination light emitted from the second light source 16 and incident into the light guide plate 13 from the incident surface 13a is totally reflected and propagates between the front surface side and the back surface side of the light guide plate 13, is totally reflected by any prism provided on the back surface side of the light guide plate 13, and is emitted from the front surface side. Among the emitted light, the illumination light transmitted through the light-transmitting region 12a of the mask 12 illuminates the pattern 22 from the back side, and further transmits through the stereoscopic display unit 11. Thus, by illuminating second light source 16, the user can see pattern 22.
The optical sensor 14 is an example of a detection unit, and is disposed on the rear side of the light guide plate 13 to detect an input operation by a user. Therefore, the photosensor 14 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 that is not visible to the user, and the light-emitting element may thus be, for example, an infrared light-emitting diode that emits infrared light as 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, as indicated by a line 201 in fig. 2, the optical sensor 14 is attached to the side surface of the housing 18 so that the sensor light emitted from the light emitting element travels in a direction substantially parallel to the surface on the back side of the light guide plate 13. The direction in which the sensor light is directed may be a direction in which the intensity is highest in the intensity distribution of the sensor light emitted from the light emitting element of the light sensor 14. By disposing the optical sensor 14 in this manner, the non-contact switch 1 can be made thin. The sensor light emitted from the light emitting element is regularly reflected by the mirror 181 provided on the bottom surface of the housing 18, passes through the light guide plate 13, then passes through the light transmission region 12a of the mask sheet 12 and the stereoscopic display portion 11, and is directed to a position on the front surface side of the stereoscopic display portion 11 where an input operation is received. The mirror plate 181 is an example of a reflecting member. 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 is transmitted through the stereoscopic display unit 11, the light-transmitting region 12a of the mask sheet 12, and the light guide plate 13 again, and then reflected regularly by the mirror 181 and returned to the light sensor 14. The light receiving element of the optical sensor 14 outputs a detection signal to the control unit 17 when detecting the returned sensor light. This enables detection of an input operation by the user. In this example, since the path through which the sensor light emitted from the light emitting element passes substantially coincides with the path through which the sensor light detected by the light receiving element passes, the position at which the input operation is received may be set on the path through which the air sensor light on the front side of the stereoscopic display unit 11 passes.
The first light source 15 includes a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode that emits light having a predetermined emission color, and a light emitting surface of the light emitting element is disposed to face the incident surface 11a of the stereoscopic display unit 11. Light emitted from the first light source 15 enters the stereoscopic display unit 11 from the entrance surface 11a, travels through the stereoscopic display unit 11, and is reflected by each of the plurality of prisms provided on the rear surface of the stereoscopic display unit 11, thereby being emitted from the front surface side of the stereoscopic display unit 11, and a stereoscopic image 21 is formed near the position where the input operation is received.
The first light source 15 is turned on or off in accordance with a control signal from the control section 17. That is, when the stereoscopic image 21 is projected into the air, the first light source 15 is turned on. On the other hand, when the first light source 15 is turned off, the stereoscopic image 21 is not visible.
The second light source 16 emits illumination light that illuminates the pattern 22. Therefore, the second light source 16 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 emission colors different from each other. That is, the second light source 16 can change the emission color of the illumination light. Each light emitting element may be, for example, a light emitting diode. Illumination light emitted from the light emitting elements of the second light source 16 is incident into the light guide plate 13 from the incident surface 13a, propagates through the light guide plate 13, and is reflected by the plurality of prisms provided on the rear surface of the light guide plate 13, thereby being emitted from the front surface side of the light guide plate 13 and illuminating the pattern 22 provided on the mask sheet 12.
Each light emitting element of the second light source 16 is controlled to turn on a certain light emitting element and turn off the other light emitting elements in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 17. That is, the color of the illumination light illuminating the pattern 22 changes according to the light emitting element that emits light among the light emitting elements included in the second light source 16. Therefore, the control unit 17 switches the light emitting element to emit light each time the user's input operation is accepted, and thereby the user can easily recognize the operation state of the non-contact switch 1.
When receiving the detection signal from the light sensor 14, the control section 17 outputs a signal indicating that an input operation has been performed, and changes the lighting state of the first light source 15 and the color of the illumination light emitted from the second light source 16. Therefore, the control unit 17 includes, for example: one or more microprocessors, semiconductor memory, and interfaces for connecting other devices.
When the user input operation is not accepted, the control unit 17 turns on the first light source 15, turns on one of the light emitting elements (for example, the first light emitting element that emits blue light) included in the second light source 16, and turns off the other light emitting elements. Thereby, near the position where the input operation is accepted, the three-dimensional image 21 is displayed in the air, and the pattern 22 illuminated with the illumination light having the emission color of the first light-emitting element is displayed.
After that, when the control section 17 receives the detection signal from the light sensor 14, a signal indicating that the operation state has been the first state (e.g., on state) is output to the other device via the interface. Then, the control unit 17 turns off the first light source 15. This prevents the stereoscopic image 21 from being displayed. The control unit 17 turns off a first light-emitting element among the light-emitting elements of the second light source 16 and turns on the other light-emitting elements (for example, a second light-emitting element that emits red light). Thereby, the color of the illumination light illuminating the pattern 22 changes (for example, the color of the illumination light 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 recognize that the input operation has been accepted and the operation state has changed.
After that, when the detection signal is not received from the optical sensor 14 for a while and the detection signal starts to be received again, the control unit 17 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 17 turns on the first light source 15 again. This causes the stereoscopic image 21 to be displayed again. Further, the control unit 17 turns off the second light emitting element among the light emitting elements of the second light source 16 and turns on the first light emitting element. Thereby, the color of the illumination light illuminating the pattern 22 is changed 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 recognize that the input operation is accepted again and the operation state has been restored to the original state.
As described above, since the non-contact switch can detect an input operation by moving the finger of the user to a position in the air where the user accepts the input operation, the user can operate the device to which the non-contact switch is actually attached by non-contact. In addition, the non-contact switch changes the illumination color of the pattern indicating the presence or absence of the display of the stereoscopic image and the position at which the input operation is received every time the input operation is received, so that the user can easily determine whether or not the input operation is received. In addition, the non-contact switch is configured such that a mask sheet is disposed on the front side of a light guide plate illuminating a pattern indicating a position to receive an input operation, and illumination light and stray light directed from the rear side to the front side are blocked outside the periphery of the pattern. Therefore, the non-contact switch can be made independent of the operation state, allowing the user to easily see the pattern. As a result, the non-contact switch can specify the position at which the input operation is accepted.
According to a modification, the non-contact switch may be configured to realize the functions of a plurality of switches independent of each other.
Fig. 4 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 and 2 in that three switches are implemented and a pattern and a three-dimensional image are displayed for each switch. Therefore, the following description deals with the differences and related parts among the contactless switches 2. In fig. 4, the main components of the structure that are not related to the differences are not illustrated.
In this modification, the non-contact switch 2 has three switches. Therefore, the stereoscopic display unit 11 is configured to form three stereoscopic images 21-1 to 21-3 in the air by the light from the first light source 15. Each image of the three-dimensional images 21-1 to 21-3 is displayed in the vicinity of a position for receiving an input operation for a corresponding switch among the three switches. In order to form the three-dimensional images 21-1 to 21-3, the three-dimensional display unit 11 is formed as a light guide plate in the same manner as the above-described embodiment, and has a plurality of prisms on the surface on the rear surface side thereof, which allow light emitted from the first light source 15 and incident into the three-dimensional display unit 11 to be emitted from the surface on the front surface side and totally reflected. Then, for each of the three-dimensional images 21-1 to 21-3, a plurality of prisms, which correspond to respective points of the three-dimensional image and are disposed at different positions from each other, are formed so that light from the first light source 15 incident into the three-dimensional display unit 11 is directed toward the points, thereby displaying each of the three-dimensional images.
In this modification, the first light source 15 includes light emitting elements for each of the three-dimensional images 21-1 to 21-3, and the light emitting elements are disposed to face different side surfaces of the three-dimensional display unit 11. Each side surface of the stereoscopic display unit 11 is configured as an incident surface. In addition, for each of the three-dimensional images 21-1 to 21-3, the prisms corresponding to the respective points of the three-dimensional image are arranged such that the light emitting elements corresponding to the three-dimensional image face the reflection surface. Accordingly, the control unit 17 controls each switch to turn on and off the corresponding light emitting element according to the operation state of the switch, thereby enabling each switch to independently change whether or not a stereoscopic image is displayed.
In addition, patterns 22-1 to 22-3 indicating positions for receiving input operations are formed on the mask sheet 12 for each switch. The patterns 22-1 to 22-3 are arranged at positions overlapping with the bottom of a perpendicular line that depends from a predetermined point (for example, the center of gravity) of the corresponding three-dimensional image toward the front surface of the mask sheet 12. The patterns 22-1 to 22-3 may be the same pattern or different patterns. The patterns 22-1 to 22-3 are illuminated from the back side by illumination light emitted from the second light source 16 and propagating through the light guide plate 13, respectively, and thus can be seen by a user. In this modification, the second light source 16 has light emitting elements of different emission colors for each of the patterns 22-1 to 22-3, and the light emitting elements of the respective patterns are arranged to face mutually different side surfaces of the light guide plate 13. Each side surface is configured as an incident surface. For each of the patterns 22-1 to 22-3, the light emitting elements corresponding to the pattern are arranged so as to face the reflection surface. Thus, the control unit 17 can control the light-emitting elements corresponding to the switches to be turned on and off according to the operation states of the switches, and thereby can change the color of the illumination light illuminating the pattern independently for each switch.
In the non-contact switch 2 of this modification, the optical sensors 14-1 to 14-3 are provided for each switch. The optical sensors 14-1 to 14-3 each have a light emitting element and a light receiving element, as in the optical sensor 14 of the above embodiment. The sensor light emitted from the light emitting elements of the photosensors 14-1 to 14-3 is reflected by the reflection mirror 181, passes through the light guide plate 13, the light transmitting region of the corresponding pattern provided on the mask sheet 12, and the stereoscopic display unit 11, and is directed to a position where an input operation of the corresponding switch is received. In each switch, the sensor light reflected or scattered by the finger of the user placed at the position receiving the input operation of the switch passes through the light-transmitting region corresponding to the stereoscopic display unit 11 and the mask sheet 12 and the light guide plate 13, is reflected by the mirror 181, and is received by the light-receiving element of the corresponding optical sensor. Thereby, the input operation is accepted for each switch.
The control unit 17 controls the light emitting elements of the first light source 15 and the second light source 16 corresponding to the switches so as to change the presence or absence of illumination light for displaying a three-dimensional image and a pattern, and outputs a signal indicating the operation state for the switches to other devices, every time an input operation to the switches is detected, as in the above-described embodiment.
According to this modification, the non-contact switch can realize a plurality of switches, and the presence or absence of display of a stereoscopic image and the illumination color of a pattern are changed in accordance with an input operation received for each switch, so that the user can easily grasp the switch that has been operated.
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 3 of this modification is different from the non-contact switch 1 shown in fig. 1 and 2 in the structure of the optical sensor. Therefore, in the following, the difference and the related part among the non-contact switches 3 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 141 and the light-receiving element 142 of the optical sensor 14 are disposed at different positions from each other. For example, the light emitting element 141 and the light receiving element 142 are arranged in a direction along the incident surface 13a of the light guide plate 13 so that the position where the input operation is received, the three-dimensional image 21 displayed by the three-dimensional display unit 11, and the pattern 22 provided on the mask sheet 12 are positioned between the light emitting element 141 and the light receiving element 142.
The housing 18 is formed with two mirrors 181 and 182. The mirror 181 is formed so as to reflect the sensor light emitted from the light emitting element 141 regularly toward the position on the front surface side of the non-contact switch 3, which receives the input operation, at a position along the normal direction of the incident surface 13a from the light emitting element 141. That is, the reflecting surface of the mirror 181 is inclined toward the display position of the stereoscopic image 21 and the light receiving element 142 side with respect to the direction facing the light emitting element 141. On the other hand, the mirror plate 182 is formed by regularly reflecting the sensor light reflected or scattered by the finger of the user and transmitted through the stereoscopic display unit 11, the light transmitting region of the mask sheet 12, and the light guide plate 13 toward the light receiving element 142 at a position along the normal direction of the incident surface 13a from the light receiving element 142. That is, the reflection surface of the mirror plate 182 is inclined toward the display position of the stereoscopic image 21 and the light emitting element 141 side with respect to the direction facing the light receiving element 142. Therefore, in this modification, the position to receive the input operation is a position in which the direction in which the sensor light reflected by the mirror 181 is directed as indicated by an arrow 501 intersects with the direction in which the sensor light reflected or scattered by the finger of the user is reflected by the mirror 182 and directed to the position at which the light receiving element 142 can receive light as indicated by an arrow 502. As a result, the position P at which the input operation is accepted is defined as compared with the above embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a situation in which, although the user does not intend to operate the non-contact switch 3, the user erroneously detects the operation as the non-contact switch 3 because the user once approaches the non-contact switch 3. In this modification, in order to suppress erroneous contact of the non-contact switch 3 by the user, it is preferable to set the position P for receiving the input operation so that the distance between the position P for receiving the input operation and the stereoscopic display unit 11 is larger than the distance between the stereoscopic display unit 11 and the position for displaying the stereoscopic image 21. The distance from the stereoscopic display unit 11 to the position P where the input operation is received is set by the distance between the light emitting element 141 and the light receiving element 142 of the optical sensor 14 and the angle formed by the reflection surface of the reflection mirror 181 and 182 and the bottom surface of the housing 18. Therefore, as described above, in order to set the position for receiving the input operation, the distance between the light emitting element 141 and the light receiving element 142 of the optical sensor 14 and the angle formed by the reflection surfaces of the reflection mirrors 181 and 182 and the bottom surface of the housing 18 can be adjusted.
Fig. 6 is a view showing another mode of the mirror plate according to the modification shown in fig. 5. In this modification, the mirror 181 for reflecting the sensor light from the light emitting element 141 of the optical sensor 14 toward the position where the input operation is received is formed such that the reflection surface thereof is convex with respect to the light emitting element 141. On the other hand, the mirror plate 182 for reflecting the sensor light incident into the non-contact switch 3 from the position where the input operation is received toward the light receiving element 142 of the optical sensor 14 is formed so that the reflecting surface thereof is concave with respect to the light receiving element 142. Particularly, the mirror plate 182 is preferably formed such that the focal length of the reflecting surface on the concave surface is such that the center of the range in which the input operation is received and the light receiving element 142 are in an image forming relationship. This diffuses the sensor light reflected by the mirror 181, and therefore the range of receiving an input operation is expanded. On the other hand, since the sensor light reflected or scattered by the user's finger in the range of receiving the input operation and entering the non-contact switch 3 is collected by the mirror 182, the light receiving element 142 can detect the sensor light with higher sensitivity. Therefore, the non-contact switch 3 of this modification can detect the operation of the user with high sensitivity. The reflecting surface of the mirror plate 182 for directing the sensor light incident into the non-contact switch 3 to the light receiving element 142 may be formed in a planar shape.
In the above embodiment or each modification, a prism may be disposed instead of the mirror for reflecting the sensor light.
Fig. 7(a) and 7(b) are schematic side sectional views of the non-contact switch according to the modification. As shown in fig. 7(a), according to this modification, a prism 19 formed in a fan-shaped cross section is disposed on the bottom surface of the housing 18. In this example, the prism 19 is disposed such that an incident surface 19a, which is one plane of the prism 19, faces the light emitting element of the optical sensor 14, and an output surface 19b, which is the other plane of the prism 19, is parallel to the light guide plate 13. The sensor light emitted from the light emitting element of the optical sensor 14 enters the prism 19 from the entrance surface 19a, is totally reflected by the reflection surface 19c of the prism 19 formed into a curved surface, and then is emitted from the emission surface 19b toward the front side of the non-contact switch. The reflecting surface 19c may be formed in a concave shape with respect to the optical sensor 14 on a surface orthogonal to the bottom surface of the housing 18 and along a direction facing the light emitting element of the optical sensor 14, and may be formed in a linear shape in a direction parallel to the bottom surface of the housing 18, or may be formed in a convex shape or a concave shape with respect to the optical sensor 14. On the other hand, the sensor light entering the non-contact switch from the position where the input operation is received enters the prism 19 from the exit surface 19b, is totally reflected by the reflection surface 19c, and then exits from the entrance surface 19a to be directed to the light receiving element of the optical sensor 14.
In the example shown in fig. 7(b), the incident surface 19a is inclined toward the bottom surface of the housing 18, which is different from the example shown in fig. 7 (a). In this example, the sensor light emitted from the light emitting element of the optical sensor 14 is refracted by the incident surface 19a, enters the prism 19, is totally reflected by the reflection surface 19c of the prism 19, and then is emitted from the emission surface 19b toward the front side of the contactless switch. On the other hand, the sensor light entering the non-contact switch from the position where the input operation is received enters the prism 19 from the exit surface 19b, is totally reflected by the reflection surface 19c, is refracted by the entrance surface 19a, is emitted, and is directed to the light receiving element of the optical sensor 14.
In the examples shown in fig. 7(a) and 7(b), the sensor light changes its direction by total reflection, and therefore, the loss of the sensor light can be suppressed. Therefore, the non-contact switch can detect the operation of the user with high sensitivity.
At least one of the incident surface 19a and the output surface 19b of the prism 19 may be formed as a lens surface having positive refractive power. In this case, the lens surface may be a fresnel lens surface or a diffraction lens. This makes it possible to collect sensor light emitted from the light emitting element of the optical sensor 14 in the vicinity of the position where the input operation is received, or to collect sensor light reflected or scattered by a finger of the user placed at the position where the input operation is received in the vicinity of the light receiving element of the optical sensor 14. Therefore, the non-contact switch can detect the operation of the user with high sensitivity.
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, 3 non-contact switches; 11a stereoscopic display unit; 11a incident surface; 12a mask sheet; 12a light-transmitting region; 12b a light-blocking area; 13a light guide plate; 13a an incident surface; 14, 14-1 to 14-3 optical sensors; 141 a light emitting element; 142 a light receiving element; 15 a first light source; 16 a second light source; 17 a control unit; 18 a basket body; 181, 182 mirror plates; 19a prism; 21, 21-1 to 21-3 stereoscopic images; 22, 22-1 to 22-3 patterns.
Claims (4)
1. A non-contact switch, comprising:
a first light source;
a stereoscopic display unit that is capable of displaying a stereoscopic image representing a position to which an input operation is to be accepted, the stereoscopic display unit being arranged on a rear surface side of the stereoscopic display unit, the stereoscopic display unit being capable of viewing a pattern representing the position from a front surface side, the pattern being capable of displaying a stereoscopic image representing the position by light emitted from the first light source;
a second light source that emits illumination light whose emission color can be changed;
a light guide plate disposed on a rear surface side of the stereoscopic display unit, the light guide plate directing illumination light emitted from the second light source toward the stereoscopic display unit;
a light shielding section which is disposed between the stereoscopic display section and the light guide plate, has a light shielding region for shielding the sensor light and the illumination light, and a light transmitting region for transmitting the sensor light and the illumination light, and forms a pattern which indicates the position and is displayed by the illumination light in the light transmitting region;
a detection unit that is disposed on a rear surface side of the light guide plate, emits the sensor light, 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 the position is detected;
and a control unit that outputs a signal indicating that the input operation has been performed, and changes a lighting state of the first light source and changes a light emission color of the illumination light of the second light source, when receiving the detection signal from the detection unit.
2. The non-contact switch of claim 1,
the predetermined pattern is formed of a material that blocks the illumination light and transmits the sensor light.
3. The non-contact switch according to claim 1 or 2,
the detection unit is configured to emit the sensor light in a direction parallel to a surface on the back side of the light guide plate,
the light guide plate, the light-transmitting region, and the stereoscopic display portion are configured to transmit the sensor light emitted from the detection portion to the position, and the light-transmitting region and the stereoscopic display portion are configured to transmit the sensor light to the position.
4. The non-contact switch of claim 3,
the reflecting member has a reflecting surface that totally reflects the sensor light, and reflects the sensor light emitted from the detection unit toward the position by the reflecting surface through the light guide plate, the light transmitting region, and the stereoscopic display unit, and reflects the sensor light that is reflected or scattered by the predetermined object located at the position and that has passed through the stereoscopic display unit, the light transmitting region, and the light guide plate toward the detection unit.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2020157725A JP2022051309A (en) | 2020-09-18 | 2020-09-18 | Non-contact switch |
| JP2020-157725 | 2020-09-18 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN114204927A true CN114204927A (en) | 2022-03-18 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN202110917483.1A Pending CN114204927A (en) | 2020-09-18 | 2021-08-11 | Non-contact switch |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP2022051309A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN114204927A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE102021121067A1 (en) |
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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 |
| JP7310216B2 (en) | 2019-03-28 | 2023-07-19 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | liquid container and liquid consumption device |
-
2020
- 2020-09-18 JP JP2020157725A patent/JP2022051309A/en active Pending
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2021
- 2021-08-11 CN CN202110917483.1A patent/CN114204927A/en active Pending
- 2021-08-13 DE DE102021121067.4A patent/DE102021121067A1/en active Pending
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| JP2022051309A (en) | 2022-03-31 |
| DE102021121067A1 (en) | 2022-03-24 |
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