JP2005203909A - Photo sensor for sensing medium, and hand dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photo sensor for sensing a medium with high reliability, by automatically detecting a timing wherein noise in synchronism with a commercial power supply and external disturbance light are less so as to automatically adjust the light emission timing of a light-emitting element. <P>SOLUTION: The photo sensor for detecting a medium for optically detecting the medium, by using a combination of an infrared-emitting element 13 and an infrared-receiving element 14, includes a power supply synchronizing pulse generating means 16 for generating a pulse signal in synchronism with the commercial power supply and a CPU that is provided with a timing determining means for consecutively or intermittently confirming an output signal from the infrared-receiving element 14 when the infrared-emitting element 13 is turned off and determining the timing, wherein the variations in the output signal are smaller for half period or one period of the commercial power supply; a light-emitting means for allowing the infrared-emitting element 13 to pulse-emit infrared rays with a timing determined by the timing determining means in synchronism with the commercial power supply; and a discrimination means for confirming the output signal from the infrared-receiving element 14, in matching with the ray emission timing of the infrared-emitting element 13 and discriminating the state of the photo sensor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium detection photosensor that optically detects a medium by combining a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and a hand drying device that operates by detecting a hand with the medium detection photosensor.

  The medium detection photosensor generates a pulse signal at a predetermined timing in synchronization with a commercial power source, and causes the light emitting element to emit light in a lighting period determined by the pulse signal. The timing of the pulse signal can be set in accordance with the timing with less noise generated by the commercial power supply. In addition, as this kind of prior art, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1.

JP-A-6-224726

  Conventional medium detection photosensors can be set in accordance with the timing when there is little noise generated by the commercial power supply, but devices equipped with such medium detection photosensors can be installed in various locations. Often not identified. Noise or disturbance light synchronized with the power supply is generated at a constant timing depending on the generation source, but the timing is different if the generation source is different. Therefore, it is not possible to know the source and timing of noise in advance, and it is necessary to check the timing of noise every time it is installed and set the light emission timing of the light emitting element according to the timing with less noise. It takes.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and the problem is to automatically detect the timing of noise and disturbance light synchronized with a commercial power supply and to detect the light emitting element. It is to obtain a highly reliable medium detection photosensor capable of automatically adjusting the light emission timing, and to provide a hand drying device for detecting a hand using the medium detection photosensor.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention relates to a medium detection photosensor that optically detects a medium by combining a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and a power synchronized pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal synchronized with a commercial power supply. A timing determining means for continuously or intermittently checking the output signal of the light receiving element in the light emitting element off state and determining a timing at which the fluctuation of the output signal is small during a half cycle or one cycle of the commercial power source; A light emitting means for causing the light emitting element to emit light at a timing determined by a timing determining means synchronized with the light receiving element, and a determination means for checking the output signal of the light receiving element in accordance with the light emission timing of the light emitting element and determining the state of the photosensor. Adopt means to prepare.

  In another aspect of the invention, the power supply synchronous pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal synchronized with the commercial power supply and the output signal of the light receiving element in the light emitting element off state are continuously or intermittently confirmed, and the half cycle of the commercial power supply or Timing determining means for determining a timing with little fluctuation of the output signal during one period, light emitting means for causing the light emitting element to emit light at a timing determined by the timing determining means synchronized with the commercial power supply, and light emission timing of the light emitting element The medium detection photo sensor equipped with a determination means that checks the output signal of the light receiving element and determines the state of the photo sensor is inserted into the manual insertion portion configured as a concave space with an open front. A means to be mounted is adopted as a means for detecting that this has been done.

  According to the present invention, since the timing with little noise and disturbance light synchronized with the commercial power supply is automatically detected and the light emission timing of the light emitting element is automatically adjusted, the setting of the light emission timing does not take time and reliability is improved. A high medium detection photosensor can be obtained.

  Further, according to another invention, a medium detection photo sensor that automatically detects a timing with little noise and disturbance light synchronized with a commercial power source and automatically adjusts a light emission timing of the light emitting element is provided at a hand insertion portion. Since it is used as means for detecting insertion, the reliability of the hand dryer can be increased.

  The hand dryer which implemented this invention incorporates the high-pressure airflow generator which produces | generates a high-speed airflow in the main body box which has the hand insertion part comprised as the concave space which the front surface opened. The high-pressure air flow generated by the high-pressure air flow generator is guided to an air nozzle provided on the upper surface of the manual insertion portion. This air nozzle irradiates the hand insertion part with a high-speed air flow, blows away the water adhering to the hand put in the hand insertion part, and collects it in the drain container provided in the water receiving part below the hand insertion part. It is like that.

  The manual insertion unit is provided with a medium detection photosensor that detects a hand that is an inserted medium. When the hand is detected by the medium detection photosensor, the high-pressure airflow generator is operated by the control means, and a high-speed airflow is jetted into the hand insertion portion to blow off water adhering to the hand. When the hand detection is lost, the high-pressure airflow generator is stopped.

  The medium detection photosensor optically detects a hand by combining an infrared light emitting element and an infrared light receiving element, and has a CPU as a core. The CPU receives an output signal of power supply synchronization pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal synchronized with the commercial power supply. The CPU determines the timing at which the output signal of the infrared light receiving element is continuously or intermittently checked when the infrared light emitting element is in the off state, and the timing at which the fluctuation of the output signal is small during a half cycle or one cycle of the commercial power supply is determined. Means for causing the infrared light emitting element to emit light through the light emitting element driving circuit at the timing determined by the timing determining means. The CPU also includes determination means for checking the output signal of the infrared light receiving element in accordance with the light emission timing of the infrared light emitting element and determining the state of the photosensor.

  The CPU confirms the output signal of the infrared light receiving element continuously or intermittently with the infrared light emitting element turned off during the half cycle or one cycle of the commercial power supply in accordance with the power supply synchronization timing. The timing with little fluctuation of the output signal is determined by the delay time from the power supply synchronization pulse. Next, the infrared light emitting element is caused to emit light after the determined delay time according to the power supply synchronization pulse after the next time, and the output signal of the infrared light receiving element is confirmed. In other words, it automatically detects the timing of noise and disturbance light synchronized with the commercial power supply, and automatically adjusts the light emission timing of the infrared light emitting element, so it takes no effort to set the light emission timing and provides high reliability.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the entire hand drying apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hand detection photosensor, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing waveforms of respective parts of the hand detection photosensor. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU of the photo sensor for hand detection. In the hand drying device of the present embodiment, the high pressure air by the high pressure air flow generator 3 incorporated in the main body box 2 having the hand insertion portion 1 is sent to the vicinity of the hand insertion port, and the process following the hand insertion port. A high-speed air flow is formed as a working air flow related to hand drying that blows away moisture into the hand insertion portion 1 as a space. The main body box 2 is composed of a base 4 forming a rear outer shell and a resin front panel 5 forming a front outer shell.

  The hand insertion portion 1 is formed as a concave sink-like space in which the front and both sides are open and can be inserted and removed in the lower front portion of the main body box 2, and has a lower jaw portion 6 constituting a water receiving portion of the lower structure. The upper jaw 7 of the upper structure. The lower jaw 6 is inclined downward toward the front, and a drain outlet is provided at the lower end of the inclination. A drain container 8 having an open container structure for storing water dripped from the drain port is provided below the lower jaw part 6 so as to be detachable in the front-rear direction. The drain container 8 is provided with a removable lid.

  The high-pressure airflow generator 3 includes a motor 9 and a turbo fan that is rotated by the motor 9. In this embodiment, the intake side is set directly above the manual insertion portion 1 of the main body box 2 and the base 4 side is provided. Installed. The intake side of the high-pressure airflow generator 3 faces a ventilation path open at the lower end provided in the vertical direction on the back side of the main body box 2 in the vicinity of the back side of the manual insertion portion 1. The air can be sucked in through the air filter 10 that can be removed by inserting and removing in the front-rear direction.

  A plurality of air outlets of the high-pressure airflow generator 3 are opened in the radial direction at intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of the circular cup-shaped fan casing. The outside of the fan casing is covered with a circular cup-shaped casing provided with a guide path in a direction along the rotational direction of the turbofan, and the high-pressure air sent from the high-pressure airflow generator 3 is received at the end of the guide path of the casing. An air nozzle 11 that is converted into a high-speed air flow and blows out to the manual insertion portion 1 is connected. The air nozzle 11 is assembled with an opening formed in the upper part of the hand insertion portion 1 near the hand insertion port with a jet port facing downward, and a high-speed air current is blown to the hand placed in the hand insertion portion 1 to The water droplets on the hand are peeled off and blown away from the surface of the hand without rubbing. The upper jaw 7 on the back side of the air nozzle 11 has a window fitted with a translucent window member, and a hand detecting photosensor 12 for detecting a hand is incorporated in the window.

  The photo sensor 12 for hand detection optically detects the hand by combining the infrared light emitting element 13 and the infrared light receiving element 14, and is configured with the CPU 15 as a core. The CPU 15 receives a signal from a power supply synchronization pulse generating means 16 that generates a pulse signal as shown in FIG. The CPU 15 confirms the output signal of the infrared light receiving element 14 continuously or intermittently from the light receiving signal amplification circuit 17 when the infrared light emitting element 13 is in an off state, and the output signal fluctuates during a half cycle or one cycle of the commercial power supply. Timing determining means for determining a timing with a small amount of light, and the infrared light emitting element 13 emits pulses through the light emitting element driving circuit 18 at the timing determined by the timing determining means (light emission signal in FIG. 3). The CPU 15 is also provided with a determination unit that checks the output signal of the infrared light receiving element 14 in accordance with the light emission timing of the infrared light emitting element 13 and determines the state of the hand detection photosensor 12.

  The CPU 15 operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, in step # 1 of FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not the sensor state is to be determined. If the determination is to be performed, the process proceeds to step # 2, and if not, step # 1 is repeated. In step # 2, it is determined whether or not there is a power supply synchronization pulse input. If there is a power supply synchronization pulse input, the process proceeds to step # 3. If not, step # 2 is repeated. In step # 3, a light reception signal check is performed to confirm the output signal of the infrared light receiving element 14 continuously or intermittently with the infrared light emitting element 13 turned off, and the process proceeds to step # 4. In step # 4, it is determined whether or not the light reception signal check period has passed a half cycle or one cycle of the commercial power supply. If it has elapsed, the process proceeds to step # 5. If not, the process of step # 3 is performed. Return to. In step # 5, a process of determining a timing at which the fluctuation of the output signal is small in the light reception signal check period based on the delay time from the power supply synchronization pulse is performed, and the process proceeds to step # 6. In step # 6, it is determined whether or not there is a power supply synchronization pulse input. If there is a power supply synchronization pulse input, the process proceeds to step # 7, and if not, step # 6 is repeated. In step # 7, it is determined whether or not a delay time from the power supply synchronization pulse has elapsed. If the delay time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step # 8, the process of causing the infrared light emitting element 13 to emit light is performed, and the process proceeds to step # 9. If the delay time has not elapsed, step # 7 is repeated. In step # 9, the sensor state is determined, that is, the received light signal is checked, and the process proceeds to step # 10. In step # 10, the infrared light emitting element 13 is caused to emit light, and the process returns to step # 1.

  That is, the hand detection photosensor 12 continuously or intermittently outputs the output signal of the infrared light receiving element 14 with the infrared light emitting element 13 turned off during a half cycle or one cycle of the commercial power supply in accordance with the power supply synchronization timing. In the meantime, the timing at which the fluctuation of the output signal of the infrared light receiving element 14 is small is determined by the delay time from the power supply synchronization pulse. Next, the infrared light emitting element 13 is caused to emit light after the determined delay time according to the power supply synchronization pulse after the next time, and the output signal of the infrared light receiving element 14 is confirmed. In other words, it automatically detects the timing with little noise and disturbance light synchronized with the commercial power supply, and automatically adjusts the emission timing of the infrared light emitting element 13, so that it does not take time to set the emission timing, and high reliability is obtained. It is done.

  Generation of noise due to power on / off of the noise source, etc. by periodically obtaining the timing at which the fluctuation of the output signal of the infrared light receiving element 14 is small, for example, immediately before the detection timing of the photo sensor 12 for hand detection Even if the state changes, the state of the hand detection photosensor 12 can always be determined at a timing with little influence of noise or disturbance light.

  The present invention is not limited to a hand dryer, and can be widely used for devices equipped with a medium detection photosensor that optically detects a medium by combining a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

It is sectional drawing of a hand dryer. (Embodiment 1) It is a block block diagram of the photo sensor for hand detection. (Embodiment 1) It is explanatory drawing which shows the waveform of each part of the photo sensor for hand detection. (Embodiment 1) It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of CPU of the photo sensor for a hand detection. (Embodiment 1)

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hand insertion part, 3 High pressure airflow generator, 12 Hand detection photo sensor, 13 Infrared light emitting element, 14 Infrared light receiving element, 15 CPU, 16 Power supply synchronous pulse generation means.

Claims (3)

  A photo sensor for detecting a medium optically detecting a medium by combining a light emitting element and a light receiving element, comprising a power supply synchronous pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal synchronized with a commercial power source, and a light receiving element in an off state. Timing determination means for confirming an output signal continuously or intermittently and determining a timing with little fluctuation of the output signal during a half cycle or one cycle of the commercial power supply; and the timing determination means synchronized with the commercial power supply A medium comprising: light emitting means for causing the light emitting element to emit light at a timing determined by the above; and a determination means for checking the output signal of the light receiving element in accordance with the light emission timing of the light emitting element and determining the state of the photosensor Photo sensor for detection.   2. The medium detection photosensor according to claim 1, wherein the pulse emission timing of the light emitting element determined by the timing determination means is periodically updated.   3. A hand dryer in which the medium detection photosensor according to claim 1 or 2 is mounted as a means for detecting that a hand has been inserted into a hand insertion portion configured as a concave space having an open front surface. apparatus.

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