JP2010204079A - Radio wave sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small-sized radio wave sensor of low power consumption, excellentin an S/N ratio, which detects accurately existence or a moving state of a detection object existing in front of the sensor. <P>SOLUTION: The radio wave sensor is equipped with: an oscillation circuit 9 for generating a transmission signal; a grounding electrode 2 working as ground of the transmission signal formed approximately on the whole surface of one surface or the inside of a substrate 1 comprising a dielectric; a rectangular transmitting and receiving electrode 31 formed on the other surface for radiating forward the transmission signal as a radio wave beam and for receiving return radio beam after colliding with a detection object and being reflected thereby as a reception signal; a detection element 5 either terminal of which is connected to only the grounding electrode 2, for detecting the reception signal received by the transmitting and receiving electrode 31; and an output line 6 for outputting the reception signal detected by the detection element 5 to the outside. The other terminal of the detection element 5 and the output line 6 are connected respectively to different positions of the transmitting and receiving electrode 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensing technique using a radio wave beam.

  Conventionally, a radio wave beam is radiated from a transmission antenna provided in a transmission unit, and a reflected wave (reception signal) that has collided with a detected object existing in a detection area and reflected and returned is received by a reception antenna provided in the reception unit. The radio wave sensor (moving body detection sensor) that detects the difference between the frequency of the received radio wave beam and the frequency of the received radio wave beam by a diode and outputs it as a detection signal is used for automobiles and security (frequency used: 24.05). 24.25 GHz) and residential equipment (use frequency: 10.50 to 10.55 GHz).

JP-A-8-56117

In the case of a moving body detection sensor using a radio wave beam, the attenuation of the radio wave beam radiated into the space increases according to the distance as the high frequency signal radiated as the radio wave beam becomes higher. The received power that the reflected radio beam collides with the object to be detected and is reflected and returned decreases, greatly affecting the detection performance. Therefore, in order to suppress a decrease in received power, (1) increase the oscillation power, (2) increase the antenna gain, and (3) electrically connect the transmission unit and the reception unit so that the oscillation power remains the transmission power. The method of separating can be considered. The method (1) is to store a Gunn diode in a cavity resonator and generate a high-frequency signal. The method (2) is to use a horn antenna tener with a relatively high gain for the antenna that transmits and receives radio waves. Are easily put into practical use in the field of automatic doors and automobiles. As a method of (3), a rectenna circuit or the like described in the prior art proposed for communication use is adopted as a receiving unit so that the antennas of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit that are electrically separated have the same directivity direction. It is mentioned to arrange in.
However, the sensor configured by the methods (1) and (2) consumes a relatively large amount of power, and the sensor shape is also large (concave / convex). It is difficult to detect the movement state of feet) and water (urine).
In the case of the method (3), the power consumption is relatively small and the sensor shape can be reduced (thinned), but the transmitter and receiver antennas are appropriately close to each other on the same plane (less than the spatial wavelength of the radio wave beam). ), A high-frequency current flows from the transmission unit to the reception unit, which causes a problem that the radiation direction of the radio wave beam cannot be controlled.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a low-power consumption and small-sized radio wave sensor excellent in S / N ratio, which accurately detects the presence / absence of a detection object existing in front of the sensor and the moving state.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is directed to an oscillation circuit for generating a transmission signal, a substrate made of a dielectric, and a ground of a transmission signal formed on one surface of the substrate or substantially the entire inner surface thereof. A rectangular electrode that is formed on the other surface of the substrate and radiates a transmission signal forward as a radio wave beam and receives the radio wave beam that collides with the object to be detected and returns. A transmitting / receiving electrode having a shape, one of the terminals is connected to the ground electrode, a detection element for detecting a reception signal received by the transmission / reception electrode, and a reception signal detected by the detection element are output to the outside An output line, and the other terminal of the detection element and the output line are respectively connected to different positions of the transmission / reception electrode.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the output line is connected to an end parallel to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a third aspect of the present invention, when the length of an end parallel to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode is L, the output line is an end perpendicular to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode. To 0.5 × L.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the length of an end parallel to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode is L, the length is parallel to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode inside the transmission / reception electrode. A conduction hole penetrating the front and back of the substrate is disposed at a position of 0.5 × L from the end side, and the transmission / reception electrode and the output line are connected through the conduction hole.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the other terminal of the detection element is connected to an end perpendicular to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the other terminal of the detection element is connected to the transmission / reception electrode via a frequency adjustment line for adjusting the frequency of the transmission / reception electrode. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that an electrical line length from a connection point between the transmission / reception electrode and the frequency adjustment line to the ground electrode via the detection element is equal to the frequency of the transmission signal. Is an odd multiple of a quarter wavelength.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the low power consumption excellent in S / N ratio and the small-sized radio wave sensor which detect the presence or absence and moving state of the to-be-detected body which exists in front of a sensor accurately can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS (a) Front view of transmission / reception unit, (b) Rear view of transmission / reception unit, (c) Front view of oscillation unit, (b) Rear view of oscillation unit, showing a first embodiment of a radio wave sensor according to the present invention. . FIG. It is the (a) front view and (b) side view which show an example which applied the radio wave sensor of a 1st embodiment to automation of a faucet device. It is a graph which shows the voltage waveform of the received signal output from a radio wave sensor similarly. It is the (a) front view and (b) back view which show the modification 1 of the transmission / reception part in the electromagnetic wave sensor of 1st Embodiment. It is a front view which shows the modification 2 of the transmission / reception part in the electromagnetic wave sensor of 1st Embodiment. It is a side view which shows 2nd Embodiment of the electromagnetic wave sensor in this invention. (A) Front view, (b) Perspective view of inner layer portion viewed from front side, (c) Rear view. It is a front view which shows 3rd Embodiment of the electromagnetic wave sensor in this invention. It is a front view which shows the modification 1 of the transmission / reception part in the electromagnetic wave sensor of 3rd Embodiment. It is a front view which shows 4th Embodiment of the electromagnetic wave sensor in this invention. It is a front view of the modification 1 same as the above. It is a front view of the modification 2 same as the above. It is an arrangement | positioning figure which shows the positional relationship of a transmission part and a receiving part as another usage pattern of the electromagnetic wave sensor in this invention. It is the (a) front view and (b) back view of a receiver. (A) Front view of modification 1 (b) Front view of modification 2 (A) Front view of modification 3, (b) Front view of modification 4, (c) Front view of modification 5. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the A-A ′ cross section. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the length of an electrical track length, and dark noise. It is a front view of the modification 6 equally. It is a front view which shows 5th Embodiment of the electromagnetic wave sensor in this invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram. It is a front view of the modification 1 same as the above. It is a circuit block diagram of the conventional radio wave sensor. It is a front view which shows 6th Embodiment of the electromagnetic wave sensor in this invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram. It is a front view which shows 7th Embodiment of the electromagnetic wave sensor in this invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram. It is a front view of the modification 1 same as the above. It is a front view which shows 8th Embodiment of the electromagnetic wave sensor in this invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram. FIG. 6 is a circuit configuration diagram of a conventional two-phase output type radio wave sensor. It is (a) front view and (b) circuit block diagram explaining the subject of the radio | wireless sensor of a two phase output system.

Hereinafter, the radio wave sensor according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the following examples, the thickness of the substrate and the pattern dimensions in the drawings are different from actual shapes for convenience of explanation.
1A and 1B show a first embodiment of a radio wave sensor according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is a front view of a transmission / reception unit, FIG. 1B is a rear view of the transmission / reception unit, FIG. 1C is a front view of an oscillation unit, and FIG. It is a rear view. FIG. 2 is an assembly view.

In the radio wave sensor of the present invention, a transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives a radio wave beam and an oscillation unit that generates a high-frequency (for example, microwave or millimeter wave) transmission signal radiated as the radio wave beam are configured separately. A ground electrode 2a that acts as a ground for a transmission signal is formed on almost the entire surface of one surface of the substrate 1a made of a dielectric, and a rectangular shape that radiates a radio wave beam forward as a transmission signal on the other surface of the substrate 1a. A transmission electrode 3 and a rectangular reception electrode 4 that receives a radio beam radiated from the transmission electrode 3 and colliding with a detection object, reflected, and returned as a reception signal are formed. A transmission signal generated by the oscillation circuit 9 formed on the substrate 1b is fed to a feeder 12 (coaxial cable or resin-coated lead) disposed in a through hole 11a penetrating the front and back of the substrate 1a provided inside the transmission electrode 3. Is transmitted directly to the transmission electrode 3 via a line or the like, and is emitted from the transmission electrode 3 as a radio wave beam. The through hole 11a is provided inside the transmission electrode 3 having an impedance of 50Ω.
The transmission electrode 3 is a wavelength of a high-frequency signal propagating through the substrate 1a about a half wavelength (λg / 2: λg... Of a transmission signal (use frequency) on the substrate 1a. λ, where the relative dielectric constant of the substrate 1a is εr, λ = εr1 ^{/ 2} · λg.) is a substantially square-shaped thin film electrode having at least one side length L, and the ground electrode 2a serves as a reflector This is a transmitting microstrip structure transmitting antenna. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently radiate a radio wave beam from the transmission electrode 3 toward the front (the direction in which the transmission electrode 3 is formed with respect to the ground electrode 2a) with the ground electrode 2a as a boundary.

  The receiving electrode 4 is a receiving antenna having a microstrip structure having the same rectangular thin film electrode as that of the transmitting electrode 3, and has a position where the impedance is 50Ω (the same as the center point of the through hole 11a provided in the transmitting electrode 3). (Corresponding to a portion) is provided with a conduction hole 8a penetrating the front and back of the substrate 1a, and connects the frequency adjustment line 7 and the receiving electrode 4 formed on one surface of the substrate 1a. A cathode terminal of a Schottky diode 5 (hereinafter referred to as a diode) is connected to one end of the frequency adjustment line 7 as a detection element 5 for detecting a reception signal received by the reception electrode 4, and an anode terminal of the diode 5 is a ground electrode 2a. It is connected to the. In addition, in order to output the reception signal detected by the diode 5 as a detection signal to the outside, one end of the output line 6 is connected to one end side parallel to the excitation direction of the reception electrode 4, and the reception signal is transmitted to the substrate 1a. It is transmitted to the connection electrode 14 formed on one surface of the substrate 1a through the conduction hole 8b penetrating the front and back.

  By setting the length of the frequency adjustment line 7 to a predetermined length, the resonance frequency of the reception electrode 4 can be changed in a state where the diode 5 is connected to the reception electrode 4 via the frequency adjustment line 7. Then, the maximum radiation intensity direction of the radio wave beam radiated from the transmission electrode 3 can be set in an arbitrary direction. A detection signal output to the outside through the output line 6 when the length of the frequency adjustment line 7 is set to a length in which the resonance frequencies of the transmission electrode 3 and the reception electrode 4 are substantially the same, that is, an odd multiple of λg / 4. The dark noise can be minimized, and a high S / N ratio can be obtained as a sensor. Further, by adjusting the length of the frequency adjustment line 7 and setting the resonance frequency of the reception electrode 4 to be higher or lower than that of the transmission electrode 3, the reception electrode 4 can act as a waveguide or a reflector. In particular, by causing the reception electrode 4 to act as a director with the diode 5 connected to the reception electrode 4, the reception electrode 4 is radiated from the transmission electrode 3, collided with the object to be detected, reflected, and returned. In addition to receiving the beam and outputting the received signal to the outside, the gain and directivity gain of the radio wave beam to be transmitted and received can be increased, so that the dark noise of the detection signal output to the outside via the output line 6 is slightly The detection range can be narrowed although the S / N ratio decreases and the S / N ratio decreases.

  In addition, when there is no object to be detected in front of the transmission electrode 3 and the reception electrode 4, a radio wave beam (current) radiated from the transmission electrode 3 wraps around the reception electrode 4 and is detected by the detection element 5. Therefore, when the received signal is amplified by the amplifier circuit 16 connected to the subsequent stage of the output line 6, a relatively high amplification factor can be adopted and the detection accuracy is improved.

If the radio wave sensor is provided with the microstrip antenna of this configuration, it is possible to save the transmission power necessary for detecting the motion of the detection object in front of the sensor and reduce the power of the transmission signal generated by the oscillation circuit 9. Therefore, a low-power consumption and compact radio wave sensor can be provided.
In the present embodiment, the transmitting electrode 3 and the receiving electrode 4 are arranged in the same plane so that the end side of the transmitting electrode 3 parallel to the excitation direction and the end side of the receiving electrode 4 parallel to the excitation direction face each other. The transmission electrode may be arranged so that the edge of the transmission electrode orthogonal to the excitation direction and the edge of the reception electrode orthogonal to the excitation direction are opposed to each other. You may arrange | position so that a part may oppose. Then, when the receiving electrode 4 is made to act as a director, the distance from the end face of the opposing transmitting electrode 3 to the end face of the receiving electrode can be further shortened, and a high antenna gain (high directivity gain) can be obtained. Furthermore, the power consumption and size of the sensor can be reduced. Further, the transmission electrode 3 and the reception electrode 4 do not have to be on the same plane. The positional relationship between the transmission electrode 3 and the reception electrode 4 can be freely changed according to the use environment (detection performance). For example, reception is performed rearward with respect to the transmission electrode 3 (the direction opposite to the radiation direction of the radio wave beam). If the electrode 4 is disposed, it is possible to suppress the wraparound of the radio wave beam (current) from the transmission electrode 3 to the reception electrode 4. In addition, the polarization method can be easily changed to a circular polarization method by cutting the shape of the transmission electrode and the reception electrode from a substantially square shape (vertically polarized wave) to a substantially square corner according to the turning direction.

  The output line 6 for outputting the reception signal detected by the detection element 5 (diode) to the outside is preferably connected to the end parallel to the excitation direction of the reception electrode 4. When the output line 6 is connected to an edge perpendicular to the excitation direction of the receiving electrode 4 or the frequency adjustment line 7, an inductance component and a capacitance component held by the output line 6, an amplifier circuit 16 connected to the subsequent stage of the output line 6, etc. Since the resonance frequency of the receiving electrode 4 is greatly affected by the influence, it is difficult to reliably radiate the radio wave beam in a predetermined direction. By connecting the output line 6 to the end parallel to the excitation direction of the reception electrode 4, the influence of the inductance component and the capacitance component of the electric circuit connected to the output line 6 and the subsequent stage of the output line 6 is reduced, and the reception electrode 4. Therefore, it is relatively easy to radiate a radio wave beam in a predetermined direction. More preferably, an output line is provided in the vicinity of the edge of the receiving electrode 4 corresponding to a position of 0.5 × L (L: length of the edge parallel to the excitation direction) from the edge perpendicular to the excitation direction of the receiving electrode 4. 6 is connected. Since there is almost no change in the resonance frequency of the receiving electrode 4 without being affected by the inductance component and the capacitance component of the output line 6 and the electric circuit connected to the subsequent stage of the output line 6, the radio wave beam is reliably radiated in a predetermined direction. be able to.

  As the line width of the output line 6 is narrower, the impedance can be increased and the high frequency is easily cut off (reflected). Therefore, the line width of about 0.1 to 0.5 mm is considered in consideration of a general substrate manufacturing method by the copper foil etching method. Is preferred. In terms of the wavelength on the substrate, the line width of the output line 6 is 1/30 wavelength or less.

  A ground electrode 2b that acts as a ground for a transmission signal is formed on substantially the entire surface of one surface of the substrate 1b made of a dielectric, and an unnecessary electromagnetic wave is shielded on the other surface of the substrate 1b and the top surface facing the substrate 1b. A shield case 10 having a frequency adjusting means (screw) (not shown) for oscillating at a predetermined frequency on the surface is installed, and an oscillation circuit 9 (a field effect transistor and a dielectric resonator is used to generate a transmission signal) Or a transmission signal is generated using a Gunn diode). In addition, an amplification circuit 16 (configured using an operational amplifier) is formed around the shield case 10 to amplify the received signal detected by the detection element 5 for easy comparison. The amplifier circuit 16 may be provided separately from the transmission / reception unit and the oscillation unit, but the structure and length of the conductive wire connecting the reception unit and the amplification circuit 16 constituted by the reception electrode and the detection element, and its installation environment In some cases, noise enters the line on which the received signal is transmitted and affects the detection performance. Therefore, the amplifier circuit 16 is provided at least in the vicinity of the receiver, and the receiver and the amplifier 16 may be connected at a short distance. preferable.

  The outer peripheral shapes of the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b are substantially the same. The ground electrode 2a surface of the substrate 1a and the ground electrode 2b surface of the substrate 1b are opposed to each other, and the ground electrode 2a and the ground electrode 2b are electrically connected through a conductive spacer having the same outer peripheral shape as the substrate 1a. As a result, the ground electrodes 2a and 2b function stably as a common high-frequency ground. Therefore, if a power supply voltage (V · GND) is applied to either the substrate 1a or the substrate 1b, a high-frequency transmission signal having a predetermined power can be efficiently generated by the oscillation circuit formed on the substrate 1b. The transmission signal can be emitted in a predetermined direction as a radio wave beam from the transmission electrode 3 formed on the substrate 1a.

Depending on the radiation power of the radio wave beam radiated from the transmission electrode 3 and the positional relationship between the transmission electrode 3 and the reception electrode 4, the voltage value level of the reception signal obtained by the detection element 5 changes to the plus side or the minus side. Accordingly, either the cathode terminal or the anode terminal is connected to the receiving electrode 4 via the frequency adjustment line 7 according to the radiation power of the radio wave beam radiated from the transmitting electrode 3 and the positional relationship between the transmitting electrode 3 and the receiving electrode 4. If the other terminal is connected to the ground electrode 2a, the amplifier circuit 16 connected to the subsequent stage of the output line 6 can efficiently amplify the received signal with a single power source (plus side or minus side).
A conductive terminal 13 penetrating the front and back of the substrate 1b is connected to one surface of the substrate 1b, and a received signal transmitted to the connection electrode 14 formed on one surface of the substrate 1a is amplified through the conductive terminal 13. 16 is transmitted. The amplification factor in the amplifier circuit 16 may be set as appropriate according to the use environment and detection performance. If the amplifier circuit 16 having the same magnification (voltage follower: ratio of output 1 to input 1) or more is integrally provided, noise will be increased. The tolerance is improved, and fluctuations in the voltage value of the received signal output from the radio wave sensor to the outside can be suppressed. Although not described in the present embodiment, a filter circuit that extracts only a necessary frequency component can be incorporated in the preceding stage or the subsequent stage of the amplifier circuit as necessary.

  In addition, the radio wave sensor according to the present invention has an operation determination circuit that determines the movement of the detected object based on the amplified received signal (comparison circuit: configuration using a comparator, CPU: configuration using a central processing unit, etc.) If an output circuit that outputs a drive signal for driving a load according to the determination result of the operation determination circuit to the outside by wire or wirelessly is provided, it can be used as a non-contact radio switch. The operation determination circuit may determine the movement of the detected object directly or according to the input timing and input period of the received signal input to the input port of the microcomputer (CPU) via the comparator. Furthermore, when it is desired to accurately determine the movement of the detected object, the received signal may be input to an AD conversion function port having a function of converting the analog voltage of the CPU into a digital voltage.

  In the case of a Doppler detection type radio wave sensor that extracts the frequency difference between the transmitted signal and the received signal and detects the movement of the detected object, the Doppler signal output from the sensor when the detected object's movement becomes extremely slow or stationary The voltage level of no longer fluctuates. The radio wave sensor of the present invention receives a radio wave beam that has collided with a detection object, reflected, and returned by the reception electrode 4 and flows to the reception electrode 4 by the detection element 5 electrically connected only to the reception electrode 4. The current component is detected and the received signal is output to the outside. Therefore, the presence or absence of the detected object in front of the sensor, the moving state, the relatively slow movement or stationary state of the detected object such as a person or hand, with the sensor hidden behind the pottery or resin, It can be easily detected from the (temporal) change in the voltage value level or voltage amplitude value of the received signal regardless of the moving speed of the detected object.

A light projecting element and a light receiving element are arranged one by one on the same substrate as in this embodiment, a photoelectric beam is irradiated forward by the light projecting element, collides with the detection object, and reflects and returns the photoelectric beam. In the case of an infrared sensor that receives light from a light receiving element, the presence or absence of a detection object in front of the sensor can be detected from an instantaneous voltage value level change of a reception signal output through the light receiving element. On the other hand, since one wavelength of the sensor element is about several nanometers, it is difficult to detect the moving speed of the detected object approaching the sensor from the received signal.
When the radio wave sensor of the present invention uses a microwave or millimeter wave band as the frequency band of the transmission signal, the power distribution in front of the sensor is zero at a half wavelength interval of the frequency of the transmission signal due to the influence of the standing wave. The region that changes from the maximum to the maximum continuously occurs. Therefore, the received signal changes to a rectangular wave or a triangular wave with respect to the movement of the detected object approaching the sensor. For this reason, it is difficult to accurately detect the presence or absence of an object to be detected in front of the sensor from an instantaneous voltage value level change of the received signal like an infrared sensor, but the period and transmission of the received signal output from the radio wave sensor are difficult. It is possible to easily detect the moving speed of the detected object approaching the sensor from the frequency of the signal. For example, if the frequency of the transmission signal is 10 gigahertz, one wavelength is about 30 millimeters, and the power distribution in front of the sensor continuously has a region where it changes from zero to the maximum at intervals of about 15 millimeters. Since the relative movement distance is determined by the frequency of the transmission signal, the time from the rise of the previous pulse (or voltage peak value) to the rise of the next pulse (or voltage peak value) based on the received signal output from the sensor. If the time is extracted, it is possible to easily detect the moving speed with respect to the moving distance of about 15 millimeters. Further, if this moving speed is continuously detected, the change in the moving state of the detected object can be easily recognized.

FIG. 3A is a front view and FIG. 3B is a side view showing an example in which the radio wave sensor according to the present invention is applied to automation of a faucet device. FIG. 4 is a graph showing a voltage waveform of a reception signal output from the radio wave sensor.
The automatic water faucet device shown in FIG. 3 has an electromagnetic valve (not shown) that is directly connected to a water pipe and has a structure capable of electrically switching between water flow and water interruption, and a discharge provided at the other end when tap water flows from one end. The faucet device 21 flows out from the water port and the radio wave sensor of the first embodiment described above. A solenoid valve (not shown) and one end of the faucet device 21 are connected to each other by a water supply hose (not shown) so that when a user puts his hand into the wash bowl 22 toward the water outlet, water automatically flows out from the water outlet. , A radio wave sensor, an operation determination circuit (not shown), an output circuit (not shown), and a solenoid valve (not shown) are electrically connected in this order. The faucet device 21 is fixed to the wall 23 so that the water outlet is located on the center line of the wash bowl 22, and the receiving electrode 4 is located on the back side of the wash bowl 22, which is closer to the wall 23 than the water outlet. A radio wave sensor is installed so as to be close to the water discharge port side, and a radio wave beam is radiated obliquely upward with respect to the surface of the transmission electrode 3. Here, the radiation direction of the radio wave beam indicates the maximum radiation intensity direction, and it is preferable that the radio wave beam radiation direction and the approach direction of the hand approaching the spout are opposed to each other.

The voltage waveform of CASE 1 shown in FIG. 4 is the state before the user puts his hand into the wash bowl 22, and the voltage waveform of CASE 2 is the user putting his hand into the wash bowl 22 toward the spout (the hand is facing the sensor). The voltage waveform of CASE3 is the state when water flows out from the spout and the user is washing hands, and the voltage waveform of CASE4 is when the user finishes hand washing and water flows out of the spout It is a voltage waveform which shows the time change of the received signal output from a radio wave sensor only in the state which exists. The inside of the wash bowl 22 here also includes the zenith direction inside the wash bowl.
As indicated by CASE 2, when the hand approaches the water outlet, the voltage value level of the received signal output from the sensor increases in a pulse shape, and the voltage amplitude value increases as the water outlet (radio wave sensor) approaches. Although not described in the present embodiment, the voltage value level of the received signal decreases in a pulse shape when the hand moves away from the spout.
In addition, when the user moves his / her hands in the front-rear direction in the vicinity of the spout for washing the hand, the hand (fingertip) continuously repeats approaching and moving away from the sensor. Thus, although the frequency tends to be relatively low, the voltage amplitude value fluctuates to some extent.
The phenomenon of CASE2 and CASE3 is caused by the wavelength of the radio wave sensor as described above. For example, if the frequency of the transmission signal of the radio wave sensor is 10.50 to 10.55 GHz, which is permitted to be used by the Radio Law, one wavelength is about 28 millimeters and the radiation intensity of the radio wave in front of the sensor at intervals of about 14 millimeters. A region in which changes from zero to maximum occurs continuously. Therefore, the unevenness of the radiation intensity in front of the sensor is reflected from the hand as it is and is received by the receiving electrode 4, so that a pulse-like received signal is received from the sensor with respect to the movement approaching from the front toward the sensor (water outlet). Will be output. Therefore, if the temporal change in the voltage amplitude value of the received signal is extracted, it is possible to easily detect whether the hand approaches the sensor or whether the hand moves away from the sensor. Furthermore, since the distance from the rise (or peak voltage value) of the previous pulse to the rise (or peak voltage value) of the next pulse is determined by the frequency of the transmission signal, the relative moving speed can be obtained by extracting the elapsed time t. Can be easily detected.

  On the other hand, the received signal output from the radio wave sensor when handwashing is completed and water is just flowing out of the spout has a voltage amplitude value that is a value even if the voltage level varies slightly as shown in CASE4. Compared to the case where the finger and the finger are near the water outlet, the size is significantly reduced. Furthermore, the water continuously flowing out from the water outlet looks like a flat plate or columnar reflector from the sensor side. Therefore, if the sensor is installed on the back side of the wash bowl 22 so that the water outflow path is at a position where the above-described power distribution is almost zero, the sensor outputs the water when it is just flowing out of the water outlet. Since the voltage value level of the received signal hardly fluctuates from the voltage value level of the received signal output from the sensor before the user puts his hand into the wash bowl 22, there is a hand near the spout. It becomes easier to identify whether or not. In addition, the electric circuit configuration and control program of the operation determination circuit (not shown) can be simplified, and the sensor can be reduced in size and mass productivity can be improved.

  In this way, if a temporal change in the voltage amplitude value of the received signal is detected by an operation determination circuit (not shown), it is possible to easily control water discharge / water stoppage of water flowing out from the water discharge port. For example, water can be automatically discharged from the spout only when the user's hand moves close to the spout, and water and electricity can be saved.

5A is a front view and FIG. 5B is a rear view showing a first modification of the transmission / reception unit in the radio wave sensor according to the first embodiment.
Hereinafter, description of the description of the part which overlaps with the Example mentioned above is abbreviate | omitted.
The transmission / reception unit of the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 1 is a patch antenna having a microstrip structure, whereas the transmission / reception unit of the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 5 is a dipole antenna having a microstrip structure. On the other surface of the substrate 1a, a rectangular thin film electrode having a length L corresponding to about one-half wavelength of the frequency of the transmission signal is formed as the transmission electrode 3 on the substrate 1a. A through hole 11a penetrating the front and back of the substrate 1a is provided at a substantially central portion of the transmission electrode 3 to connect the power supply line 12. Since the ground electrode 2a formed on one surface of the substrate 1a acts as a reflecting plate, it is a dipole antenna but is not omnidirectional but is directed forward (in the direction in which the transmission electrode 3 is formed with respect to the ground electrode 2a). Can emit a beam. Further, two reception electrodes 4a and 4b each having a thin film rectangular shape are formed in a straight line with a predetermined interval so as to be parallel to the transmission electrode 3, and are received from the end side of the reception electrode 4a that is orthogonal to and opposite to the excitation direction. A diode 5 is disposed as a detector 5 at a substantially intermediate position up to the end side of 4b. An anode terminal of the diode 5 is connected in the vicinity of the end of the receiving electrode 4a, and a conduction hole 8a penetrating the front and back of the substrate 1a is provided in the vicinity of the end of the receiving electrode 4a opposite to the end of the receiving electrode 4b. The ground electrode 2a formed on one surface of 1a and the receiving electrode 4a are connected via a conduction hole 8a. The cathode terminal of the diode 5 is connected in the vicinity of the end of the receiving electrode 4b, and the output line 6 for outputting the received signal detected by the diode 5 to the outside is connected to the end of the receiving electrode 4b parallel to the excitation direction. It is connected. And the connection electrode 14 and the output line 6 which were formed in one surface of the board | substrate 1a are connected via the conduction | electrical_connection hole 8b which penetrates the front and back of the board | substrate 1a.

  The resonance frequency of the pair of reception antennas composed of the reception electrodes 4a and 4b and the diode 5 is higher than the frequency of the transmission signal, and acts as a director. Compared to the microstrip antenna shown in FIG. 1A, the antennan gain is lower and the radiation pattern (half-value angle) of the radio wave beam is wider. Therefore, the amount of radio wave beam (current) radiated from the transmission electrode 3 wraps around the reception electrode 4, and the voltage level of the reception signal detected by the diode 5 is initial (the object to be detected exists in front of the transmission electrode 3). It tends to be higher than Therefore, although it is difficult to detect minute movements of the detected object, both the transmission electrode 3 and the reception electrodes 4a and 4b can be shortened in the length of the end perpendicular to the excitation direction. When the highest priority is given, the antenna structure is optimum.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a second modification of the transmission / reception unit in the radio wave sensor according to the first embodiment.
With respect to the microstrip antenna shown in FIG. 1A, rectangular receiving electrodes 4a and 4b are formed on the other surface of the substrate 1a at symmetrical positions around the rectangular transmitting electrode 3. Therefore, adjusting the frequency adjustment line (not shown) connected through the conduction holes 8a and 8c provided inside the receiving electrodes 4a and 4b and causing the receiving electrodes 4a and 4b to function as a waveguide improves the antenna gain. A sharper radio wave beam can be emitted in the vertical direction with respect to the surface of the transmission electrode 3. Accordingly, it is possible to further suppress the sneaking of the radio beam (current) from the transmission electrode 3 to the reception electrodes 4a and 4b, and the voltage value of the reception signal detected by the diodes 5a and 5b (not shown) connected through the conduction holes 8b and 8d. The level can be lowered from the initial stage (a state in which there is no object to be detected in front of the transmission electrode 3). On the other hand, the reception pattern of the radio wave beam at the reception electrode 4a is inclined in the direction in which the reception electrode 4b is arranged from the vertical direction with respect to the surface of the transmission electrode 3, and the reception pattern of the radio wave beam at the reception electrode 4b is vertical to the surface of the transmission electrode 3 The direction is inclined in the direction in which the receiving electrode 4a is disposed. At this time, the overlapping area of the transmission pattern of the radio wave beam radiated from the transmission electrode and the reception pattern of the radio wave beam at the reception electrode 4a, the reception pattern of the radio wave beam radiated from the transmission electrode and the reception of the radio wave beam at the reception electrode 4b The overlapping area with the pattern is separated symmetrically about the transmission electrode. Accordingly, if the microstrip antenna having this configuration is provided in the radio wave sensor, the voltage level of the received signal and the temporal change (phase difference) of the voltage amplitude value at the receiving electrode 4a and the receiving electrode 4b are compared, so Identifying the position and moving state of the detection object in front of the sensor with the sensor hidden behind the resin (moving direction and speed approaching and moving away from the sensor, moving direction and speed crossing the front of the sensor) it can. In addition, the radio wave beam radiated from the transmission electrode 3 has a wide directivity angle compared to a sensor using infrared rays, and the detection ranges where the reception signals can be obtained at the reception electrodes 4a and 4b overlap. Can be easily recognized whether or not is a continuous movement.

  The relative permittivity and thickness of the substrate 1a and the substrate 1b are not necessarily the same, and can be changed according to the use environment and detection performance. For example, the transmission electrode 3 and the reception electrode 4 are formed on the substrate 1b forming the oscillation circuit by using a substrate material having a small relative dielectric constant variation and a small tan δ (dielectric loss tangent) in order to efficiently generate a transmission signal. A substrate material having a high relative dielectric constant is used for the substrate 1a to be formed in order to form more receiving electrodes 4 and improve the sensing resolution.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a second embodiment of the radio wave sensor according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is (a) a front view, (b) a perspective view of an inner layer viewed from the front side, and (c) a rear view.
The radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 1 has a transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives a radio beam and an oscillation unit that generates a high-frequency transmission signal that becomes a radio beam, whereas the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. Using a substrate 1 in which a ground electrode 2 acting as a ground for a transmission signal is embedded and laminated, a transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives a radio beam and an oscillation unit that generates a high-frequency transmission signal that becomes a radio beam are integrated It is configured.
On one surface of the substrate 1 made of a dielectric, a rectangular transmission electrode 3 that radiates a radio wave beam forward as a transmission signal, and a radio wave beam that is radiated from the transmission electrode 3, collides with the object to be detected, is reflected and returned. A rectangular receiving electrode 4 that receives a received signal is formed. In order to connect one end of the transmission line 17 to the transmission electrode 3, a necessary notch is provided according to the line width (1 impedance) of the transmission line 17, and one end of the transmission line 17 is connected thereto. A conduction hole 8a penetrating the front and back of the substrate 1 is provided at the end, and a transmission signal generated by the oscillation circuit 9 formed on the other surface of the substrate 1 is propagated to the transmission electrode 3 through the conduction hole 8a. . The transmission electrode 3 is a rectangular thin film electrode having a length L corresponding to about one-half wavelength of the frequency of the transmission signal on at least one side on the substrate 1, and a microstrip in which the ground electrode 2 acts as a reflector. It is a transmitting antenna of structure.

  The reception electrode 4 is a reception antenna having a microstrip structure having a rectangular thin film electrode, and a diode 5 as a detection element 5 for detecting a reception signal received at the center of one end of the reception electrode 4 orthogonal to the excitation direction. The anode terminal of the diode 5 is connected to the ground electrode 2 formed inside the substrate 1 through a conduction hole 8b penetrating the front and back of the substrate 1. In the radio wave sensor shown in the first embodiment, the resonant frequency of the receiving electrode 4 is changed by setting the length of the frequency adjustment line to a predetermined length so that the receiving electrode 4 acts as a waveguide or a reflector. However, if the external dimensions of the receiving electrode 4 are changed with the diode 5 connected to the receiving electrode 4, the resonance frequency of the receiving electrode 4 changes, and the receiving electrode 4 can act as a waveguide or a reflector. it can. In particular, by causing the receiving electrode 4 to act as a director with the diode 5 connected, the receiving electrode 4 receives a radio wave beam that has been radiated from the transmitting electrode 3 and collided with the object to be detected and reflected back. In addition to outputting the reception signal to the outside, the gain of the radio wave beam radiated from the transmission electrode 3 can be increased.

  Therefore, if the microstrip antenna of this configuration is provided in the radio wave sensor, it is necessary for efficiently transmitting the transmission signal generated by the oscillation circuit 9 to the transmission electrode 3 and detecting the motion of the detection object in front of the sensor. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the transmission power generated by the oscillation circuit 9 and reduce the power of the transmission signal. Therefore, it is possible to provide a low-power consumption and compact radio wave sensor. Further, it is preferable that the detection element 5 is disposed on the same substrate surface as the reception electrode 4 and one end of the detection element 5 is directly connected to the reception electrode 4. By doing so, fluctuations in the electrical line length (impedance from the reception electrode 4 to the ground electrode 2 via the detection element 5) due to variations in the members and the manufacturing process can be minimized, so that the resonance frequency of the reception electrode 4 Therefore, it is possible to prevent the radiation direction of the radio wave beam from being greatly different for each sensor.

  In order to output the reception signal detected by the detection element 5 to the outside, a conduction hole 8 c penetrating the front and back of the substrate 1 is provided in a substantially central portion of the reception electrode 4. Then, the amplification circuit 16 formed on the other surface of the substrate 1 and the reception electrode 4 are connected via the conduction hole 8c. The conduction hole 8c here is a part of the output line, and a land (electrode) (not shown) formed on the other surface of the substrate 1 in order to form the conduction hole 8c at the time of manufacture can also be regarded as the output line. The noise resistance of the sensor is obtained by using the component connection electrode for connecting the terminal portion of the electronic component such as a semiconductor (op-amp), resistor, capacitor, etc. constituting the amplifier circuit 16 with solder as a land (not shown) of the conduction hole 8c. Thus, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the radio wave sensor shown in FIG.

  The output line that outputs the reception signal detected by the detection element 5 to the outside is 0.5 × L ((L: length of the end parallel to the excitation direction) from the end orthogonal to the excitation direction of the reception electrode 4. It is preferable that a conduction hole 8c is provided inside the reception electrode 4 corresponding to the position of), and the reception electrode 4 and an output line (not shown) (land of the conduction hole 8c) are connected via the conduction hole 8c. A conduction hole 8c is provided at substantially the center of the reception electrode 4, and the reception electrode 4 and an output line (not shown) are connected through the conduction hole 8c, so that an electric circuit connected to the subsequent stage of the conduction hole 8c. Since there is almost no change in the resonance frequency of the reception electrode 4 without being affected by the inductance component and the capacitance component, the radio wave beam can be surely radiated in a predetermined direction, and in front of the transmission electrode 3 and the reception electrode 4. To be detected Since the radio wave beam (current) radiated from the transmitting electrode 3 wraps around the receiving electrode 4 and the voltage level of the received signal detected by the detecting element 5 can be suppressed from increasing, When a received signal is amplified by the amplifier circuit 16 connected at the subsequent stage, a relatively high amplification factor can be adopted to improve the detection accuracy, and the amplifier circuit 16 can be operated at a short distance without routing an output line (not shown). It is possible to transmit the received signal until it is excellent in noise resistance.

  On the other surface of the substrate 1, there is installed a shield case 10 having a frequency adjusting means (screw) (not shown) for shielding unnecessary electromagnetic waves and causing the top surface facing the substrate 1 to oscillate at a predetermined frequency. An oscillation circuit 9 (a transmission signal is generated using a field effect transistor and a dielectric resonator, or a transmission signal is generated using a Gunn diode) and a reception signal detected by the detection element 5 are amplified and compared. An amplifier circuit 16 (configured using an operational amplifier) is formed to facilitate the operation. The oscillation circuit 9 and the amplifier circuit 16 are separated in high frequency by partition means 18 provided on the concave surface of the shield case 10. Therefore, the radio beam does not enter the amplifier circuit 16 from the oscillation circuit 9 side, but the radio beam radiated from the transmission electrode 3 wraps around the back surface of the substrate 1 and comes on the line of the amplifier circuit 16. Can be prevented. Therefore, compared with the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to accurately detect a small movement of the detection object in front of the sensor. The partition means 18 is preferably provided as a metal member integrally with the shield case 10 in consideration of productivity. As another method, the amplifier circuit 16 may be covered with a radio wave absorbing material.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a third embodiment of the radio wave sensor according to the present invention.
While the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 1 has one transmission electrode and one reception electrode for the transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives radio beams, the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 9 has a plurality of transmission electrodes and one reception electrode. It consists of electrodes.
A rectangular transmission electrode 3a, 3b that radiates a radio wave beam forward as a transmission signal and the transmission electrode 3a, 3b are radiated from one surface of the substrate 1 made of a dielectric material and collide with the object to be detected and reflected back. A rectangular receiving electrode 4 for receiving the received radio wave beam as a received signal is formed. The transmission electrodes 3a and 3b are connected to each other through a transmission line 17 serving as an equal power distribution circuit, and a transmission signal generated by an oscillation circuit 9 (not shown) is propagated to the transmission electrodes 3a and 3b through the through hole 11. The transmission electrodes 3a and 3b are rectangular thin film electrodes having a length L corresponding to about a half wavelength of the frequency of the transmission signal on at least one side on the substrate 1, and are formed on the inside of the substrate 1 or on the other surface. A transmission antenna having a microstrip structure in which the formed ground electrode 2 (not shown) acts as a reflector.

  The reception electrode 4 is a reception antenna having a microstrip structure having a rectangular thin film electrode, and a diode 5 as a detection element 5 for detecting a reception signal received at the center of one end of the reception electrode 4 orthogonal to the excitation direction. The anode terminal of the diode 5 is connected to the ground electrode 2 through a conduction hole 8 a penetrating the front and back of the substrate 1. The resonance frequency of the reception electrode 4 can be made substantially the same as the frequency of the transmission signal by setting the length of the frequency adjustment line 7 to a predetermined length, and the radio wave that has collided with the detected object and reflected back. The beam can be received efficiently. Then, a reception signal is output to the outside from an output line (not shown) through a conduction hole 8b disposed at a substantially central portion of the reception electrode.

  The reception electrode 4 is disposed at a position where the end sides of the transmission electrodes 3a and 3b connected to each other through the transmission line 17 serving as an equal power distribution circuit do not face the end sides of the reception electrode 4. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the radio wave beam radiated from the transmission electrodes 3a and 3b from traveling around the reception electrode 4 and causing a current to flow through the reception electrode 4 to increase the DC voltage value level (offset voltage) of the reception signal. As a result, when the received signal is amplified by the amplifier circuit 16 (not shown), the gain at the DC voltage level can be set high to obtain a high S / N ratio, and the minute movement of the detected object can be reduced. It becomes easy to detect.

  The radio wave sensor of the present invention disperses the energy of transmission signals transmitted to individual transmission electrodes (transmission antennas) by connecting a plurality of transmission electrodes to each other via a transmission line 17 serving as a power equal distribution circuit. The amount of current flowing around the receiving electrode (receiving antenna) can be reduced. One reception electrode is arranged for a plurality of transmission electrodes, for example, a transmission / reception unit in which one end of the transmission electrode 3a or the transmission electrode 3b and the end of the reception electrode 4 are arranged to face each other is provided. The radio wave sensor can obtain a higher S / N ratio than a radio wave sensor including a transmission / reception unit in which one reception electrode is arranged for one transmission electrode.

  Further, when the transmission electrode and the reception electrode are arranged to face each other, the transmission electrode and the reception electrode that are orthogonal to the excitation direction are arranged to face each other, and the excitation direction. There is a form in which the edge of the transmission electrode and the edge of the reception electrode that are parallel to each other are arranged to face each other, but the former can suppress the amount of current that wraps around the reception electrode and gives it to the radiation form of the radio wave beam There is little influence. In the transmission / reception unit shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of transmission electrodes 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d are arranged in a lattice pattern on one surface of the substrate 1, and transmission signals generated by an oscillation circuit (not shown) are evenly distributed. It propagates through the power supply holes 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d. The reception electrode 4 is arranged so that the point where a plurality of straight lines connecting the central points of the transmission electrodes 24 a and 24 d and the transmission electrodes 24 b and 24 c intersect with the central point of the reception electrode 4. The end side of the reception electrode 4 does not face any end side of the transmission electrodes 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d. A diode 5 (not shown) is connected to the receiving electrode through a conduction hole 8, and a reception signal detected by the detection element 5 from the through hole 11 is output to the outside. Thus, by arranging the transmitting electrodes 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d at symmetrical positions with the receiving electrode 4 as the center, current wraparound to the receiving electrode is suppressed and the radio wave beam is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the substrate 1. Radiating in the direction, it is possible to enlarge the overlapping portion of the transmission area and reception area of the radio wave beam. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a wide detection range even when the radio wave beam is narrowed in a compact form.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing a fourth embodiment of the radio wave sensor according to the present invention.
The radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 1 has one transmission electrode and one reception electrode for the transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives radio beams, whereas the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 11 has a plurality of transmission electrodes and a plurality of reception electrodes. It consists of electrodes.
A rectangular transmission electrode 3a, 3b that radiates a radio wave beam forward as a transmission signal and the transmission electrode 3a, 3b are radiated from one surface of the substrate 1 made of a dielectric material and collide with the object to be detected and reflected back. Rectangular reception electrodes 4a and 4b for receiving the received radio wave beam as a reception signal are formed. The transmission electrodes 3a and 3b and the reception electrodes 4a and 4b are connected to each other by transmission lines 17a and 17b serving as an equal power distribution circuit, and a transmission signal generated by an oscillation circuit 9 (not shown) is transmitted through the through hole 11a. Propagated to 3a and 3b. The transmission electrodes 3a and 3b are rectangular thin film electrodes having a length L corresponding to about a half wavelength of the frequency of the transmission signal on at least one side on the substrate 1, and are formed on the inside of the substrate 1 or on the other surface. A transmission antenna having a microstrip structure in which the formed ground electrode 2 (not shown) acts as a reflector.

  The reception electrodes 4a and 4b are reception antennas having a microstrip structure having rectangular thin film electrodes, and a detection element 5 for detecting a reception signal received at a substantially central portion of one end of the reception electrode 4b parallel to the excitation direction. The anode terminal of the diode 5 is connected via the frequency adjustment line 7, and the cathode terminal of the diode 5 is connected to the ground electrode 2 via the conduction hole 8 penetrating the front and back of the substrate 1. The resonance frequency of the receiving electrodes 4a and 4b can be made substantially the same as the frequency of the transmission signal by setting the length of the frequency adjustment line 7 to a predetermined length, and it collides with the detected object and is reflected and returned. Radio waves can be received efficiently. Then, a reception signal is output to the outside from the output line 6 connected to the substantially central portion of one end side parallel to the excitation direction of the reception electrode.

  As described above, even when the antenna gain of the transmission / reception unit is improved, the dark noise of the detection signal output to the outside via the output line 6 can be reduced and the S / N ratio can be improved as in the above-described embodiment. it can. Further, as compared with the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 1, it is natural that the detection distance is extended, and since the overlapping area of the radiation pattern at the time of radio beam transmission and the radiation pattern at the time of reception increases, the detection range orthogonal to the excitation direction. And the movement of the detected object can be sensed in a wider range.

  As in the modification shown in FIG. 12, the diodes 5a and 5b can be connected to both the reception electrodes 4a and 4b via the frequency adjustment lines 7a and 7b. Then, the output line 6 is connected to the substantially central portion of the opposite sides of the receiving electrode 4a and the receiving electrode 4b, and the detection signal is output to the outside through the through hole 11b. A high S / N ratio can be obtained in the same level as the radio wave sensor shown in FIG.

  As in the modification shown in FIG. 13, a diode is connected to the transmission line 17b, which is a power equal distribution circuit that connects the reception electrodes 4a and 4b to each other via the frequency adjustment line 7, and the reception electrode 4a or reception parallel to the excitation direction. Even if the output line 6 is connected to the central portion of either one of the electrodes 4b and a detection signal is output to the outside, the same effect as the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 11 can be obtained. In the present embodiment, the diode 5 is disposed on the same surface of the substrate 1 as the receiving electrode 4, but can be disposed on the back surface of the same substrate 1 as the ground electrode 2 (not shown).

FIG. 14 shows a positional relationship between the transmission unit and the reception unit when the radio wave sensor according to the present invention is used as a combination mobile body detection sensor in which the transmission unit and the reception unit are respectively configured on different substrates. FIG.
The transmitter includes an oscillation circuit 7 that generates a high-frequency signal and a transmission electrode 3 that radiates the high-frequency signal generated by the oscillation circuit forward as a radio wave beam. The receiving unit includes a receiving electrode 4 that receives a reflected wave that is reflected by a radio wave beam emitted forward and collides with a detection target, a frequency adjustment line 7 that adjusts a resonance frequency of the receiving electrode 4, and a receiving electrode. 4 includes a diode 5 for detecting the received signal received at 4 and an output line 6 for outputting the detected signal to the outside. Then, at least a part of the radio wave beam radiation pattern of the transmission electrode 3 and the radio wave beam reception pattern of the reception electrode 4 overlap, and the reception signal received by the reception unit increases when there is a detection object ahead. A transmitting unit and a receiving unit are arranged to do this.

FIG. 15A is a front view and FIG. 15B is a rear view illustrating the configuration of the receiving unit.
When the receiving unit of this configuration is a detection device, the detection device includes a reception antenna (reception electrode 4), a frequency adjustment line 7, a detection element (diode 5), and an output line 6. The reception electrode 4 is a reception antenna having a microstrip structure having a rectangular thin film electrode, and is a diode as a detection element 5 that detects a reception signal received at a substantially central portion of one end of the reception electrode 4 parallel to the excitation direction. 5 is connected to the ground electrode 2 through a conduction hole 8 penetrating the front and back of the substrate 1. An output line 6 that outputs a detection signal detected by the diode to the outside is connected to a substantially central portion of one end parallel to the excitation direction of the receiving electrode 4.
The resonance frequency of the reception electrode 4 can be freely changed by setting the length of the frequency adjustment line 7 to a predetermined length, and the high frequency of the radio wave beam radiated from a transmission electrode (not shown) arranged separately. If the signal frequency and the resonance frequency of the receiving electrode are set to be substantially the same (for example, the resonance frequency exists in a frequency band of −10 dB or less), the output line is the same as the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. The dark noise of the detection signal output to the outside via 6 can be minimized, and a high S / N ratio can be obtained.

  The modification shown in FIG. 16 differs from the detection device of FIG. 15 in the connection position of the reception electrode 4 and the output line. The through-hole 11 disposed inside the receiving electrode 4 serves as an output line that outputs a detection signal to the outside. The position where the receiving electrode 4 and one end of the output line 6 are connected is the excitation direction in which the high-frequency current flowing through the receiving electrode 4 is minimized when the length of the receiving electrode 4 in the excitation direction is L (≈λg / 2). A position of 0.5 × L (≈λg / 4) from the orthogonal end is preferable. Then, the detection signal can be output to the outside with almost no influence on the resonance frequency of the receiving electrode 4 set by the frequency adjustment line 7. Further, if necessary, an output line connected to the through hole 11 may be formed by cutting out a part of the ground electrode 2 (not shown) formed on the substantially entire back surface of the substrate 1. It is desirable to draw the line in parallel with the excitation direction.

  The modification shown in FIG. 17 differs from the detection device of FIG. 15 in the connection position of the frequency adjustment line 7 to which the reception electrode 4 and the diode 5 are connected. The detector shown in (a) cuts out the inner side of the receiving electrode 4 to connect the frequency adjustment line 7 and the receiving electrode 4, and the detector shown in (b) is shown on the same surface as the ground electrode 2 (not shown) of the substrate 1. The frequency adjustment line 7 and the diode 5 that are not to be disposed are disposed, and the frequency adjustment line 7 and the reception electrode 4 that are not illustrated disposed on the substrate 1 are connected via a conduction hole 8 provided inside the reception electrode 4. In the detection device shown in (c), the diode 5 is directly connected to the reception electrode 4 without the frequency adjustment line 7. In that case, the shape of the receiving electrode 4 may be adjusted so that the resonance frequency of the receiving electrode 4 becomes a desired value. In this way, by connecting the frequency adjustment line 7 and the reception electrode 4 or the diode 5 and the reception electrode 4 at a position on the center line of the reception electrode 4 parallel to the excitation direction excluding the substantially central portion of the reception electrode 4, The high-frequency current at a position of 0.5 × L from the end orthogonal to the excitation direction of the electrode 4 can be reduced in the resonance frequency band. As a result, a detector with low dark noise and a high S / N ratio can be realized. In particular, as shown in FIG. 18, in a state where the diode 5 is connected to the reception electrode 4 via the frequency adjustment line 7, the connection point between the reception electrode 4 and the frequency adjustment line 7 to the connection point between the diode and the ground electrode 2. When the electric line length is λg / 4, as shown in FIG. 19, the dark noise of the detection signal output to the outside via the output line 6 can be minimized, and the highest S / N ratio can be obtained. Further, when a detection signal output via the output line 6 is amplified, an increase in dark noise can be prevented by directly connecting the input terminal of the operational amplifier 25 constituting the amplifier circuit 25 and the output line 6. The amplifier circuit 25 may be disposed on another substrate, but it is preferable that the amplifier circuit 25 is disposed on the same substrate 1 as shown in FIG. 20 and at least the amplification factor is set to 1 (voltage follower).

FIG. 21 is a front view showing a fifth embodiment of the radio wave sensor according to the present invention.
In the radio wave sensor of the first embodiment described above, the transmission electrode and the reception electrode are each arranged on the surface of the substrate. However, the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 21 radiates a transmission signal forward as a radio wave beam, A rectangular transmission / reception electrode 31 that receives a radio wave beam that has collided and reflected back as a reception signal is disposed on the surface of the substrate 1. One terminal of the detection element 5 is connected to a substantially central portion of the end face orthogonal to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode 31 via the frequency adjustment line 7, and an output is provided to a substantially central part of the end face parallel to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode 31. Line 6 is connected. Then, a high-frequency signal (transmission signal) generated by an oscillation circuit (not shown) is propagated to the transmission / reception electrode 31 through a power supply hole 32 installed inside the transmission / reception electrode 31. One terminal of the detection element 5 is connected to a ground electrode 2 (not shown) formed inside or on the back surface of the substrate 1. At this time, one terminal of the detector element and the ground electrode 2 may be connected via a resistor that limits the amount of current flowing through the detector element 5.

FIG. 22 shows a circuit configuration diagram of the radio wave sensor according to the present invention. In the conventional radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 24, the anode terminal of the diode 5 is connected in the middle of the path of the transmission lines 17a and 17b connecting the oscillation circuit 7 and the transmission / reception electrode 31, and the detection stub 33 and the output line 6 are connected to the cathode terminal. Is connected. A high-frequency cutoff stub is connected to the output line 6 to output a detection signal to the outside. On the other hand, the radio wave sensor of the present invention does not connect the diode 5 in the middle of the path from the oscillation circuit 7 to the transmission / reception electrode 31, but the cathode terminal of the diode 5 is connected to the transmission / reception electrode 31 via the frequency adjustment line 7. An output line 6 that outputs a detection signal to the outside is connected to a position different from the frequency adjustment line 7 connected to the electrode 31. A filter line 35 corresponding to the frequency of the transmission signal is provided between the oscillation circuit 9 and the transmission / reception electrode 31, and the oscillation circuit 9 and the transmission / reception electrode 31 are separated in a direct current manner. A high-frequency component that functions as a filter may be arranged instead of the filter line as long as it can be separated in a direct current manner. In addition, if the end of the transmission circuit 9 that outputs a transmission signal and the transmission / reception electrode 31 are separated in a direct current manner by the circuit configuration of the oscillation circuit 9, there is no need to provide a filter line.
Since the radio wave sensor of the present invention can shorten the transmission distance (transmission line length) for propagating a high-frequency signal (transmission signal) from the oscillation circuit 7 to the transmission / reception electrode 31, it can efficiently propagate the high-frequency signal to the transmission / reception electrode 31. In addition, a detection stub is not required, and by connecting the output line 6 to the substantially central portion of the end face parallel to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode 31, a detection signal can be transmitted with almost no influence on the resonance frequency and phase of the transmission / reception electrode 31. Output to the outside. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress leakage of a high-frequency signal to the outside without connecting the high-frequency cutoff stub 34 to the output line 6. Therefore, the radio wave sensor of the present invention can be downsized as compared with the conventional radio wave sensor.

  By using both the transmission electrode and the reception electrode, the size can be further reduced as compared with the radio wave sensor shown in the first embodiment. In addition, although the directivity gain is reduced, a radio wave beam is radiated in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the substrate surface, and the received signal is detected by a simple detection circuit having a relatively short transmission line, so that the radio wave has an excellent S / N ratio. A sensor can be provided. In particular, in a state where the diode 5 is connected to the transmission / reception electrode 31 via the frequency adjustment line 7, the electrical line length from the connection point between the transmission / reception electrode 31 and the frequency adjustment line 7 to the connection point between the diode 5 and the ground electrode 2 is λg. At / 4, the dark noise of the detection signal output to the outside via the output line 6 can be minimized, and the highest S / N ratio can be obtained. In the present embodiment, the transmission / reception electrode 31 and the diode 5 are connected via the frequency adjustment line 7, but the other terminal of the diode 5 is connected via the frequency adjustment line 7 by directly connecting one terminal of the transmission / reception electrode 31 and the diode 5. These terminals may be connected to the ground electrode 2.

When the anode terminal of the diode 5 is connected to the ground electrode 2 and the cathode terminal is connected to the frequency adjustment line 7, the signal level output from the output line 6 swings to the positive voltage side, and the anode terminal is connected to the frequency adjustment line 7. When the cathode terminal is connected to the ground electrode 2, the signal level output from the output line 6 swings to the negative voltage side. Therefore, signal processing is facilitated by connecting a positive power supply or negative power supply amplifier circuit as necessary.
Further, as shown in FIG. 23, the frequency adjustment can be performed by changing the shape (length of one side) of the transmission / reception electrode so that the resonant frequency is substantially the same as the transmission signal in a state where the detection element 5 is connected to the transmission / reception electrode 31. Even if the line 7 is not used, the same effect can be obtained.

FIG. 25 is a front view showing a radio wave sensor according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 26 is a circuit configuration diagram thereof.
In the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 25, one end of each of feed holes 32a and 32b penetrating the front and back of the substrate 1 is connected inside rectangular transmission / reception electrodes 31a and 31b formed at a predetermined interval on the substrate 1. . A power distribution circuit 36 is connected to each other end of the power supply holes 32a and 32b, and a transmission signal from which power is distributed from the oscillation circuit 9 via the filter circuit 35 is propagated to the transmission / reception electrodes 31a and 31b. The anode terminal of the detection element 5 (diode) is connected to the substantially central portion of the end orthogonal to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode 31b via the frequency adjustment line 7, and the cathode terminal is connected to the ground electrode. The output line 6 is connected to a substantially central portion of the end parallel to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode 31a.

  Since the transmission / reception electrode 31a and the transmission / reception electrode 31b are electrically connected to each other by the power distribution circuit 36, the antenna gain can be improved, and the reception signal received by the transmission / reception electrode 31a and the transmission / reception electrode 31b is efficiently detected by the diode 5. Therefore, it is possible to provide a small-sized radio wave sensor having an excellent S / N ratio in the classification of radio wave sensors having a relatively narrow detection range. In this embodiment, two transmission / reception electrodes are arranged, but a plurality of transmission / reception electrodes may be further arranged to improve the directivity gain. Moreover, although the detection element 5 and the output line 6 are connected to different transmission / reception electrodes, the same effect can be obtained even if they are connected to different positions of the same transmission / reception electrode. It is also possible to easily radiate the radio beam in a desired direction by adjusting the length of the transmission line constituting the power distribution circuit and controlling the directivity of the radio beam.

FIG. 27 is a front view showing a radio wave sensor according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 28 is a circuit configuration diagram thereof.
In the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 27, a rectangular transmitting / receiving electrode 31 and a receiving electrode 4 are arranged at a predetermined interval on the surface of a substrate 1 on which a ground electrode 2 is formed. Here, the predetermined interval means that when the substrate surface on which the transmission / reception electrode and the reception electrode are formed is a radiation surface, most of the radio wave beam radiated from the transmission / reception electrode is radiated forward with respect to the radiation surface, and a part is predetermined. And is re-radiated by moving to the receiving electrodes arranged at intervals of. Therefore, as the distance between the transmission / reception electrode and the reception electrode becomes wider, the transmission / reception of the radio wave beam is delayed with respect to the phase of the transmission / reception electrode, and the phase of the reception electrode is delayed relative to the phase of the transmission / reception electrode. The phase of the receiving electrode is delayed or advanced. In the present invention, it is described that the receiving electrode is arranged at a predetermined distance from the transmitting / receiving electrode. This is because the phase of the receiving electrode is 45 to 135 degrees with respect to the phase of the transmitting / receiving electrodes at the frequency of the transmission signal (the optimum is 90 degrees: This refers to the positional relationship between the transmitting and receiving electrodes and the receiving electrode that is delayed or advanced.

The transmission / reception electrode 31 is provided with a power supply hole 32 penetrating the front and back of the substrate 1, and a transmission signal is propagated from the oscillation circuit 9 to the power supply hole 32 through the transmission lines 17 a and 17 c. Between the transmission line 17a and the transmission line 17c, an anode terminal of a diode 5a (first detection element) for detecting a reception signal received by the transmission / reception electrode 31 is connected, and a cathode terminal of the diode 5a is connected to a detection stub 33a. Is done. A first output line 6a that outputs a detection signal detected by the diode 5a to the outside is connected to the cathode terminal side of the diode 5a, and a high-frequency cutoff stub 34a is connected midway along the path of the first output line 6a. .
A cathode terminal of a diode 5b (second detection element) that detects a reception signal received by the reception electrode 4 through the frequency adjustment line 7 is connected to the reception electrode 4 and the anode terminal of the diode 5b is grounded through the conduction hole 8. It is connected to the electrode 2. On the other hand, the second output line 6b for outputting the reception signal detected by the diode 5b to the outside is substantially the center of the end parallel to the excitation direction of the reception electrode 4 (the length of the end parallel to the excitation direction of the reception electrode 4). Where L is a position of 0.5 × L). The wiring pattern forming the second output line 6b is preferably a straight line whose electrical length is longer than a half wavelength at the frequency of the transmission signal, and has a line width as thin as possible (impedance is high). When connecting a high-frequency cutoff stub to the second output line 6b or when connecting a voltage detection pull-down resistor, the second output line 6b is connected in the middle of the path of the second output line 6b that is more than half a wavelength away from the edge of the receiving electrode 4. It is desirable.

  A diode 5b is connected to either one of the edges orthogonal to the excitation direction of the reception electrode 4, and any one of the edges parallel to the excitation direction of the reception electrode 4 that hardly affects the resonance frequency or phase of the reception electrode 4. By connecting the second output line 6b on one side, the phase difference control between the transmission / reception electrode 31 and the reception electrode 4 is facilitated, and the presence / absence of the detection object existing in front of the sensor and the proximity or separation of the detection object. It is possible to provide a radio wave sensor that detects the moving state with high accuracy and has an excellent S / N ratio. Further, by connecting the second output line 6b to the substantially central portion of the end parallel to the excitation direction of the receiving electrode 4, the high-frequency cutoff stub 34a connected in the middle of the path of the first output line 6a The output line 6b becomes unnecessary and the area occupied by the circuit pattern is reduced, so that the radio wave sensor can be downsized.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 29, the receiving electrode 4a and the receiving electrode 4b, to which the second detection elements 5b and 5c and the second output lines 6b and 6c are respectively connected in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, are arranged around the transmitting / receiving electrode 31 and the like. It can also be arranged at intervals or at different intervals. For example, by arranging the reception electrode 4a and the reception electrode 4b at equal intervals around the transmission / reception electrode 31, a radio beam having a high directivity gain is radiated in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the surface of the substrate 1, and the operation of the detected object The frequency detection accuracy can be improved. At this time, the second detection element 5c and the second output line 6c are not connected to the reception electrode 4b, but the first detection line 5a and the second output are the results of detection by the first detection element 5a and the second detection element 5b. You may output each from the track | line 6b. Further, around the transmission / reception electrode 31, the reception electrode 4a and the reception electrode 4b are connected to the transmission / reception electrode so that either the phase of the reception electrode 4a or 4b is about 60 degrees with respect to the phase of the transmission / reception electrode 31 and the other phase is about 120 degrees. By arranging them at different intervals from the opposing edges of 31, it is possible to detect radio wave beams with high directivity gain and to detect the moving states of approaching and moving away with higher accuracy.

FIG. 30 is a front view showing an eighth embodiment of the radio wave sensor according to the present invention, and FIG. 31 is a circuit configuration diagram thereof.
The radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 30 is different from the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. 27 in the connection position of the detection element 5a (first detection element) connected to the transmission / reception electrode 31 and the first output line 6a. The diode 5a is connected to either one of the ends orthogonal to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode 31 via the frequency adjustment line 7a, and is parallel to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode 31 that hardly affects the resonance frequency and phase of the transmission / reception electrode 31. The first output line 6a is connected to either one of the end sides. The cathode terminal of the diode 5a is connected to the transmission / reception electrode 31 via the frequency adjustment line 7a, and the anode terminal is connected to a ground electrode (not shown). A filter line 35 corresponding to the frequency of the transmission signal is provided between the oscillation circuit 9 and the transmission / reception electrode 31 as a separating means for separating the oscillation circuit 9 and the transmission / reception electrode 31 in a DC manner. Are separated in a direct current manner. A high-frequency component that functions as a filter may be arranged instead of the filter line as long as it can be separated in a direct current manner. In addition, if the end of the transmission circuit 9 that outputs a transmission signal and the transmission / reception electrode 31 are separated in a direct current manner by the circuit configuration of the oscillation circuit 9, there is no need to provide a filter line.

Since the transmission signal can be propagated from the oscillation circuit 9 to the transmission / reception electrode 31 through the feeding hole 32, the transmission lines 17a and 17c used in the radio wave sensor shown in FIG. The radio wave sensor can be further miniaturized. Further, the electric length from the connection point between the transmission / reception electrode 31 and the frequency adjustment line 7a to the ground electrode 2 via the diode 5a is set to about a quarter wavelength of the transmission signal, whereby the radio wave beam is efficiently transmitted from the transmission / reception electrode 31. And the dark noise of the detection signal from the first output line 6a at the time of non-detection can be minimized.
In the present embodiment, the diodes 5a and 5b are connected to the transmission / reception electrode 31 and the reception electrode 4 via the frequency adjustment lines 7a and 7b, respectively. However, as described above, the diodes 5a and 5b are connected to the transmission / reception electrode 31 and the reception electrode 4, respectively. The same effect can be obtained even by direct connection.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this embodiment is only the illustration for description of this invention, and is not the meaning which limits the scope of the present invention only to this embodiment. The present invention can be implemented in various other modes without departing from the gist thereof.

  The radio wave sensor of the present invention places great importance on designability, but is excellent as a sensing means for consumer and industrial equipment where the sensor installation space is narrow and the required detection range is relatively short distance. Most suitable for water-related devices such as toilets and automatic faucets.

1, 1a, 1b Substrate 2, 2a, 2b Ground electrode 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d Transmitter electrode 4, 4a, 4b Receive electrode 5, 5a, 5b Detector element (Schottky diode)
6, 6a, 6b Output line 7, 7a, 7b Frequency adjustment line 8, 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d Conduction hole 9 Oscillation circuit 10 Shield case 11, 11a, 11b Through hole 12 Feed line 13 Conduction terminal 14 Connection electrode 15 Spacer DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 Amplifier circuit 17, 17a, 17b Transmission line 18 Partition means 21 Faucet device 22 Washing ball 23 Wall 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d Feed hole 25 Amplifier circuit (op amp)
31 Transmission / reception electrode 32 Feed hole 33 Stub for detection 34 Stub for high frequency cutoff 35 Filter line 36 Power distribution circuit

Claims (6)

An oscillation circuit for generating a transmission signal;
A dielectric substrate;
A ground electrode that acts as a ground for a transmission signal formed on one surface of the substrate or substantially the entire inner surface thereof;
A rectangular transmission / reception electrode that is formed on the other surface of the substrate, radiates a transmission signal forward as a radio wave beam, receives a radio wave beam that collides with a detection object, reflects, and returns as a reception signal;
Either one of the terminals is connected to the ground electrode, and a detection element that detects a reception signal received by the transmission / reception electrode;
An output line for outputting the reception signal detected by the detection element to the outside;
With
The output line is connected to an end parallel to the excitation direction of the receiving electrode,
The other terminal of the detection element is connected to a position different from a position where the output line of the transmission / reception electrode is connected directly or via a frequency adjustment line for adjusting the frequency of the transmission / reception electrode. Sensor.   When the length of the end parallel to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode is L, the output line is connected to a position of 0.5 × L from the end perpendicular to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode. The radio wave sensor according to claim 1.   When the length of the side edge parallel to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode is L, the front and back sides of the substrate are placed at a position of 0.5 × L from the side edge inside the transmission / reception electrode and perpendicular to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode. The radio wave sensor according to claim 1, wherein a conduction hole penetrating the antenna is disposed, and the transmission / reception electrode and the output line are connected via the conduction hole.   The radio wave sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the other terminal of the detection element is connected to an end perpendicular to the excitation direction of the transmission / reception electrode.   5. The radio wave sensor according to claim 1, wherein the other terminal of the detection element is connected to the transmission / reception electrode via a frequency adjustment line for adjusting a frequency of the transmission / reception electrode.   The electrical line length from the connection point of the transmission / reception electrode and the frequency adjustment line to the ground electrode through the detection element is an odd multiple of a quarter wavelength of the substrate with respect to the frequency of the transmission signal. The radio wave sensor according to claim 5.

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