JP2013004476A - Operation input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation input device which can be operated to optically detect noncontact operation, in which design flexibility when disposing optical means such as light receiving/emitting elements is improved and downsizing is achieved.SOLUTION: An operation switch panel 1 provided with an operation surface 10 to which noncontact operation can be input includes: a detection area 300 provided on a front side of the operation surface 10 to detect the noncontact operation; a light emitting unit 310 provided on a back side of the operation surface 10 so as to project light on the detection area 300; a light receiving unit provided on the back side of the operation surface 10 so as to receive light reflected from the detection area 300; an operation detecting part detecting the noncontact operation by using the reflection light incident on the light receiving unit according to the light projection by the light emitting unit 310; and a reflection plate 14 reflecting the light of the light emitting unit 310 toward the detection area 300 on the front side of the operation surface 10 and reflecting the light from the detection area 300 toward the light receiving unit.

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation input device that optically detects a non-contact operation.

  Conventionally, as an operation input device that inputs various operations for operating the target device, an input that realizes a three-dimensional display as an operation target of a virtual image that emerges and is viewed stereoscopically, and realizes a non-contact operation with respect to the operation target An apparatus is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). Such an operation input device capable of non-contact operation is suitable for application to a kitchen, a wash basin that requires an operation with a wet hand, a multifunctional toilet or the like where touch operation may be avoided.

  As the detection means of such an operation input device, for example, a light emitting unit including a light emitting element such as an LED element and a light receiving unit including a light receiving element such as a PSD (Position Sensitive Detector) are arranged apart from each other. There are known optical detection means. This detection means identifies the position where the reflected light from the detection target is incident on the PSD, and measures the distance to the detection target by the so-called triangulation principle to detect the presence or absence of a non-contact operation. In order to incorporate such a detecting means into the operation input device, it is necessary to set the optical axes of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit so as to go to the detection region of the non-contact operation.

  However, the conventional operation input device has the following problems. That is, there is a problem that the degree of freedom in design is reduced due to restrictions in arranging the light receiving unit and the light emitting unit, and it is difficult to appropriately respond to needs such as compact design.

JP-A-10-223102

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and is an operation input device that optically detects a non-contact operation, and has a degree of design freedom when arranging optical means such as a light emitting and receiving element. It is an invention for providing an operation input device which is improved and downsized.

The present invention is an operation input device having an operation surface capable of inputting a non-contact operation,
A detection region that is provided in a space on the front side of the operation surface and detects a non-contact operation by detecting a human body such as a fingertip;
A light emitting unit disposed on the back side of the operation surface to project light onto the detection region;
A light receiving portion disposed on the back side of the operation surface to receive light from the detection region;
An operation detection unit that detects a non-contact operation using reflected light incident on the light receiving unit according to light projection by the light emitting unit;
A first reflector that reflects the light projected by the light emitting unit toward the detection region on the front side of the operation surface;
A second input plate that reflects light from the detection region toward the light receiving unit.

  In the operation input device of the present invention, the light emitting unit that projects light and the light receiving unit that receives light are disposed on the back side of the operation surface. The light projected by the light emitting unit is reflected toward the detection region by the first reflecting plate. Light from the detection region is reflected toward the light receiving unit by the second reflecting plate.

  In this operation input device, it is not necessary to arrange the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit on the outer peripheral side of the operation surface, and the degree of freedom in design is high. If the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are arranged on the back side of the operation surface instead of the outer peripheral side of the operation surface, the surface area (occupied area) on the operation surface side can be suppressed, and the operation input device can be downsized. It can be realized relatively easily.

The operation input device of the present invention may be a device having only one detection region or a device having a plurality of detection regions.
As the light emitting unit, various types using LED elements, laser elements and the like can be adopted. As the light receiving section, various types using light receiving elements such as PSD, phototransistor, CCD, CMOS, photodiode, photodiode array and the like can be adopted.

  In the operation input device according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first reflecting plate and the second reflecting plate may be integrated and configured as a single reflecting plate. Moreover, although the said 1st or 2nd reflecting plate may be only one sheet, you may comprise combining several reflecting plates. For example, in the case of the first reflecting plate in which a plurality of reflecting plates are combined, the light emitted from the light emitting unit is reflected toward the detection region after being repeatedly reflected a plurality of times.

In the operation input device according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that a stereoscopic display means for stereoscopically displaying an operation target corresponding to the detection area is provided on the operation surface side.
In this case, the arrangement | positioning freedom degree of the said light emission part and the said light-receiving part can be improved with respect to the component of the said three-dimensional display means. A compact design is facilitated for the operation input device including the stereoscopic display means.

In the operation input device according to a preferable aspect of the present invention, the stereoscopic display unit divides the left image to be observed by the left eye in a predetermined direction and the right image to be observed by the right eye in a predetermined direction. A parallax sheet that divides a 3D original image in which the divided right image is alternately arranged into a left eye line-of-sight direction that looks at the divided left image and a right eye line-of-sight direction that looks at the divided right image is laminated 3D display sheet
The stereoscopic display sheet has a transmission window that transmits the light of the light emitting portion reflected by the first reflecting plate to the front side of the operation surface and transmits the light from the detection area to the back side of the operation surface. Is preferably provided.

  In this case, it is not necessary to arrange a reflecting plate on the outer peripheral side of the stereoscopic display sheet. By arranging the first and second reflectors on the back side of the stereoscopic display sheet, the operation input device can be configured compactly.

The operation input device according to a preferred aspect of the present invention includes a light shielding plate that blocks light incident directly on the light receiving unit without passing through the front side of the operation surface out of the light projected by the light emitting unit. Good to be.
In this case, reflection can be repeated inside the operation input device, and the possibility that the light projected by the light emitting unit may directly enter the light receiving unit can be suppressed. By avoiding such a short circuit (short) of the optical path and suppressing the incidence of noisy light on the light receiving unit, the detection performance of the non-contact operation can be further improved.

The perspective view which shows the operation switch panel in an Example. The front view which shows the washstand in which the operation switch panel was attached in the Example. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of the operation switch panel in an Example. Explanatory drawing which shows the assembly structure of the operation switch panel in an Example. Explanatory drawing which shows the laminated structure of the three-dimensional display sheet in an Example. The block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the operation switch panel in an Example. Explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a non-contact operation is detected in an Example. The perspective view which shows the internal structure of the operation switch panel which attached the light-shielding plate which prevents the short circuit (short) of an optical path | route in an Example. Explanatory drawing which shows the other arrangement structure of the light emitting / receiving unit in an Example. Explanatory drawing which shows the other arrangement structure of the light emitting / receiving unit in an Example.

(Example)
This example relates to an operation switch panel (operation input device) 1 that optically detects a non-contact operation. This content will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation switch panel 1 of this example is an operation input device for turning on / off the illumination lamp 71 of the washstand 7 and the anti-fogging heater (not shown) of the mirror 72. The operation switch panel 1 is attached to the front surface of a bowl-shaped counter 73 provided along the lower edge of the mirror 72.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, two operation switches 15 are provided on the smooth operation surface 10 without unevenness of the operation switch panel 1. The operation switch 15 includes a left illumination switch 15A and a right anti-fogging switch 15B. Each operation switch 15 is a non-contact switch in which a three-dimensionally displayed operation mark (operation target) 200 and a detection area 300 (FIG. 3) for detecting a non-contact operation are combined.

The floating amount of the operation mark 200 is set so as to substantially match the height of the detection area 300. In the operation switch panel 1, the corresponding operation switch 15 can be operated in a non-contact manner by operating any one of the operation marks 200 with a fingertip or the like.
On the operation surface 10, a function display 155 for displaying the switch function in a two-dimensional (non-three-dimensional) manner is disposed at an adjacent position above each operation switch 15. Furthermore, a translucent belt-like window 12 that transmits LED light is formed over the entire width direction at the lower part of the operation surface 10 corresponding to the lower side of each operation switch 15.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the operation switch panel 1 is formed using a box-shaped housing 11 having a shallow bottom. A stereoscopic display sheet (stereoscopic display means) 2 for displaying the operation mark 200 in a three-dimensional manner is attached to the surface on the operation surface 10 side. Inside the housing 11, the control board 3, the reflection plate 14 that forms an optical element, and the like are accommodated. At a position expected through the belt-like window 12, a long and thin rectangular plate-like reflecting plate 14 is disposed in an inclined state with respect to the operation surface 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the stereoscopic display sheet 2 includes a 3D image sheet 25 on which a 3D original image 200 </ b> S is printed, a lenticular lens sheet (parallax sheet) 23, and a transparent sheet 21, in order from the back side. It has a three-layer structure. The stereoscopic display sheet 2 is formed with a transmission window 20 constituting the window 12 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the 3D image sheet 25 is a sheet in which a 3D original image 200 </ b> S that is an original picture of the operation mark 200 is printed on the surface of the transparent base sheet. In the 3D image sheet 25, a strip-shaped left image area 251 printed with a divided left image obtained by dividing the left image observed in the left eye in the vertical direction, and a divided right image obtained by dividing the right image observed in the right eye in the vertical direction. Strip-shaped right image areas 253 on which images are printed are alternately arranged in the left-right direction corresponding to the parallax direction. The 3D original image 200S is an original picture of a stereoscopic image in which a predetermined parallax is provided between the left image and the right image. In this example, an original picture corresponding to the operation mark 200 of the illumination switch 15A and an original picture corresponding to the operation mark 200 of the anti-fogging switch 15B are provided as the 3D original image 200S.

A function display 155 (see FIG. 1) for displaying a switch function is printed on the upper side of each 3D original image 200S. The function display 155 is printed so that the parallax between the left image and the right image is zero and the stereoscopic display effect does not occur.
A strip-shaped transparent region 250 on which nothing is printed is formed across the entire width direction below the 3D original image 200S. This transparent region 250 forms the transmission window 20 of the stereoscopic display sheet 2.

  The lenticular lens sheet 23 is a transparent sheet in which a plurality of ridge-shaped convex portions 231 that cover one set of the left image area 251 and the right image area 253 are provided for each set of the left image area 251 and the right image area 253. Each one of the hook-shaped convex portions 231 produces a lens effect in which the left image of the 3D image sheet 25 is formed on the retina of the viewer's left eye and the right image is formed on the retina of the right eye.

  The transparent sheet 21 is a colorless and transparent smooth film sheet. The transparent sheet 21 is affixed to the lenticular lens sheet 23 with a transparent adhesive applied in the form of dots (dots) over the entire back surface. According to the transparent sheet 21, the smooth operation surface 10 can be realized, the aesthetic appearance of the operation switch panel 1 can be improved, the adhesion of dirt to the operation surface 10 can be suppressed, and the wiping work can be facilitated.

  When the 3D image sheet 25 is viewed through the lenticular lens sheet 23, the right image is visually recognized by the viewer's right eye and the left image is visually recognized by the left eye. In the 3D image sheet 25 of this example, the parallax between the left image and the right image is set for the 3D original image 200S that is the original picture of the operation mark 200 (see FIG. 1). Therefore, the operation mark 200 is three-dimensionally raised from the operation surface 10 and is visually observed. On the other hand, each function display 155 in which the parallax between the left image and the right image is zero is viewed in a plane without appearing to rise from the operation surface 10.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the control board 3 detects a light emitting unit 31 using an LED element, a light receiving unit 33 using a PSD (light position sensor), a detection control unit 301 that controls the light emitting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 33, and detects an operation. An operation detecting unit 302 that performs switching operation (on / off operation) according to the operation. On the substrate of the control board 3, in addition to the one-chip microcomputer 30 having the functions of the detection control unit 301, the operation detection unit 302 and the switching control unit 303, the light emitting unit 310 that forms the light emitting unit 31 and the light receiving unit that forms the light receiving unit 33. 330 and the like are arranged (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  In the control board 3 of this example, two sets of light emitting units 310 and light receiving units 330 are arranged. One set corresponds to the lighting switch 15A (see FIG. 1), and the other set corresponds to the anti-fogging switch 15B (see FIG. 1). On the control board 3, the light emitting unit 310 and the light receiving unit 330 are arranged so as to look at the reflecting plate 14.

The detection control unit 301 controls the light emitting unit 310 and the light receiving unit 330 so that the light receiving and emitting operations are executed in synchronization, and takes in the sensor signal output from the PSD constituting the light receiving unit 330 to the operation detecting unit 302. input.
The operation detection unit 302 specifies the incident position of the reflected light with respect to the PSD based on the sensor signal acquired from the detection control unit 301, and measures the distance to the detection target based on the principle of triangulation. The operation detection unit 302 determines that there is an operation when a distance corresponding to the detection region 300 (see FIG. 3) is measured, and outputs an operation detection signal. The operation detection signal includes a signal corresponding to the lighting switch 15A and a signal corresponding to the anti-fogging switch 15B.

  The switching control unit 303 executes a predetermined switch operation when the operation detection signal is received from the operation detection unit 302. When the operation detection signal corresponding to the illumination switch 15A is captured, the illumination lamp 71 is switched on / off. When the operation detection signal corresponding to the anti-fogging switch 15B is received, the anti-fogging heater (not shown) is switched on / off.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the operation switch panel 1 configured as described above specifies the position where the reflected light (from the detection target) according to the light projection by the light emitting unit 310 enters the PSD (light receiving unit 330). Then, the distance to the object to be detected is measured by the principle of so-called triangulation. Then, the presence / absence of a non-contact operation is detected according to the measurement distance, and the corresponding operation switch 15 is switched on / off according to the detection. According to the operation switch panel 1, an on / off operation of the illumination lamp 71 and the like can be performed by a non-contact operation with respect to the operation mark 200 displayed in 3D.

  In particular, in the operation switch panel 1 of the present example, as shown in FIG. 7, the angle θ1 between the incident light and the reflected light on the reflection plate 14 and the incident light on the light receiving unit 330 in the path of the projection light by the light emitting unit 310. Of these paths, the angle θ2 formed between the incident light and the reflected light with respect to the reflecting plate 14 is set to a narrow angle of less than 90 degrees. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the angle θs (angle on the side where the 3D original image 200S is arranged) formed by the path direction of the projection light and the reflected light passing through the window 12 and the operation surface 10 is also less than 90 degrees. It is set to a narrow angle.

  In the operation switch panel 1 of the present example, the light emitting unit 310 and the light receiving unit 330 whose optical axes are substantially parallel to the operation surface 10 can be arranged on the back side of the 3D original image 200S by the setting as described above. (See FIG. 3). The projection light from the light emitting unit 310 is reflected by the reflecting plate 14, then passes through the window 12 provided at the lower part of the operation surface 10, and is projected onto the detection region 300 so as to wrap around the 3D original image 200S. Similarly, the light from the detection region 300 passes through the window 12 and is reflected by the reflecting plate 14, and enters the light receiving unit 330 so as to wrap around the back side of the 3D original image 200S.

  In this operation switch panel 1, it is not necessary to arrange the light emitting unit 310 and the light receiving unit 330 on the outer peripheral side of the operation surface 10, and the degree of freedom in design when arranging these units is high. If the light emitting unit 310 and the light receiving unit 330 can be arranged on the back side of the operation surface 10, it is possible to reduce the size of the operation switch panel 1 while suppressing the surface area on the operation surface 10 side. Further, as in this example, when the light emitting unit 310 or the light receiving unit 330 whose depth in the optical axis direction is longer than the height or width direction is adopted, the light emitting unit 310 / light receiving unit along the operation surface 10 is used. By arranging 330, a remarkable effect that the dimension in the thickness direction can be reduced is produced. Compared with the case where a specially-designed light emitting unit or the like that suppresses the dimension in the optical axis direction is adopted, inexpensive parts can be used and the product cost can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in the operation switch panel 1 of this example, the light emitting unit 310 and the light receiving unit 330 are attached to the surface of the control board 3. As compared with the case where the light emitting unit 310 and the light receiving unit 330 are attached separately from the control board 3, it is easy to ensure the assembly position accuracy of these units. Further, the number of parts to be assembled in the assembly work of the operation switch panel 1 can be reduced, and the production cost can be reduced by suppressing the cost required for the assembly work. Furthermore, if the light emitting unit 310 or the like is attached to the control board 3, the light emitting unit 310 or the light receiving unit 330 of a chip component that can be displayed and mounted can be employed. Since the chip component is much smaller than the case where it is housed in a package, it is effective in reducing the size.

As shown in FIG. 8, a light shielding plate 145 for preventing a short circuit of the optical path between the light emitting unit 310 and the light receiving unit 330 may be provided. If such a light shielding plate 145 is provided, the amount of light incident directly on the light receiving unit 330 by being repeatedly reflected inside the operation switch panel 1 in the projection light of the light emitting unit 310 can be effectively suppressed. If noise light incident on the light receiving unit 330 is suppressed, the detection performance of the non-contact operation can be improved and the operability can be improved.
In this example, the reflecting plate 14 in which the first reflecting plate constituting the light projection path by the light emitting unit 310 and the second reflecting plate constituting the light incident path with respect to the light receiving unit 330 are integrated. This is an example of adopting. Instead of this, the first and second reflectors may be provided separately.

  In this example, one light emitting unit 310 and one light receiving unit 330 are arranged corresponding to each device switch 15. Instead of this, as shown in FIG. 9, two light receiving units 330 may be arranged for one light emitting unit 310. In this case, the influence of disturbance light incident from a predetermined direction can be suppressed, the distance measurement accuracy by the light receiving unit 330 can be improved, and the operation detection accuracy can be improved. In FIG. 9, for easy understanding, the optical path reflected and reversed by the reflecting plate 14 is shown linearly. The same applies to FIG. 10 to be referred to next.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, two light emitting units 310 and two light receiving units 330 may be arranged corresponding to each operation switch 15. In this case, operability can be improved by expanding the detection region 300 in the width direction in the arrangement direction. Further, in this case, the light receiving units 330 may be arranged on both sides so as to sandwich the two light emitting units 310. According to such an arrangement, it is possible to suppress a possibility that a dead zone with insufficient detection sensitivity is generated in the center of the detection region 300. Further, it may be controlled so that the two light receiving units 330 receive the reflected light according to the light projection by each light emitting unit 310. By controlling in this way, the same effect as the configuration of FIG. 9 can be obtained.

  In addition, although this example is an example regarding the operation switch panel 1 of the wash basin, the operation object includes a toilet with a shower function, a hot water supply device, an air conditioner, a water supply device, a kitchen faucet, and a kitchen stove. Etc. When the hot water supply device is an operation target, an operation panel similar to the operation switch panel 1 of this example may be set on a wall surface of a bathroom or the like. Furthermore, the operation input device of this example can be incorporated in the target device.

  In addition, this example is an example which employ | adopted the three-dimensional display means using the lenticular lens sheet | seat 23. FIG. As a stereoscopic display method, instead of the lenticular method of this example, a parallax barrier (parallax barrier) method that realizes stereoscopic display by forming different images on the left and right eyes using a slit, liquid crystal, or the like, Other three-dimensional display methods such as a holographic method that enables three-dimensional display using a hologram and a microlens array can also be employed.

  In this example, the non-contact operation is optically detected by the combination of the LED element and the PSD. Instead of the PSD, a light receiving unit that detects the presence or absence of light reception may be employed. According to this configuration, it is possible to detect a fingertip or the like inserted into the detection region based on the presence or absence of reflected light. Furthermore, a light receiving unit capable of measuring the amount of received light can be applied instead of PSD. According to this configuration, the distance can be measured according to the attenuation ratio of the reflected light with respect to the projection light, and a non-contact operation can be detected.

  In the case of an operation switch panel operated with a fingertip as in this example, as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable to dispose the reflector 14 on the side assumed to be the base side of the operated finger. As shown in the figure, the light projected from the light emitting unit 310 is reflected by the belly of the finger (fingerprint portion) instead of the fingertip, and the amount of reflected light incident on the light receiving unit 330 increases. Reflector plates may be disposed on the upper and lower sides of the operation switch panel. When operated with the hand from the lower side, the optical path passing through the reflector disposed on the lower side of the operation surface 10 works effectively, and when operated from the upper side, the optical path passes upward. The arranged reflector is effective.

In this example, an on / off switch is illustrated as an operation switch. The operation switch may be a switch for inputting a slide operation for moving the fingertip horizontally along the operation surface or a dial operation for moving the fingertip along the operation surface so as to draw an arc. Furthermore, a switch for inputting a three-dimensional operation for moving the fingertip closer or away along the normal direction of the operation surface may be used.
In this example, as the operation switch panel 1, an apparatus having a planar operation surface 10 is illustrated. The operation surface is not limited to a flat surface, and may be a curved surface.

  As described above, specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail as in the embodiments. However, these specific examples merely disclose an example of the technology included in the scope of claims. Needless to say, the scope of the claims should not be construed as limited by the configuration, numerical values, or the like of the specific examples. The scope of the claims includes techniques obtained by variously modifying or changing the specific examples using known techniques, knowledge of those skilled in the art, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Operation switch panel (operation input device), 10 ... Operation surface, 12 ... Window, 14 ... Reflecting plate, 145 ... Shading plate, 15 ... Operation switch, 155 ... Function display, 2 ... 3D display sheet (3D display means) 20 ... Transparent window, 200 ... Operation mark (operation target), 200S ... 3D original image, 21 ... Transparent sheet, 23 ... Lenticular lens sheet, 25 ... 3D image sheet, 3 ... Control board, 30 ... 1-chip microcomputer, 300 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Detection area, 302 ... Operation detection part, 31 ... Light emission part, 310 ... Light emission unit, 33 ... Light reception part, 330 ... Light reception unit, 7 ... Wash-stand, 71 ... Illumination lamp, 72 ... Mirror

Claims (4)

An operation input device having an operation surface capable of inputting a non-contact operation,
A detection region that is provided in a space on the front side of the operation surface and detects a non-contact operation by detecting a human body such as a fingertip;
A light emitting unit disposed on the back side of the operation surface to project light onto the detection region;
A light receiving portion disposed on the back side of the operation surface to receive light from the detection region;
An operation detection unit that detects a non-contact operation using reflected light incident on the light receiving unit according to light projection by the light emitting unit;
A first reflector that reflects the light projected by the light emitting unit toward the detection region on the front side of the operation surface;
An operation input device comprising: a second reflecting plate that reflects light from the detection region toward the light receiving unit.   The operation input device according to claim 1, wherein a stereoscopic display unit that stereoscopically displays an operation target corresponding to the detection area is provided on the operation surface side. 3. The stereoscopic display unit according to claim 2, wherein the stereoscopic display means alternately includes a divided left image obtained by dividing the left image observed in the left eye in a predetermined direction and a divided right image obtained by dividing the right image observed by the right eye in a predetermined direction. A three-dimensional display sheet in which a parallax sheet that divides the line-of-sight direction of the left eye that looks at the divided left image and the line-of-sight direction of the right eye that looks at the divided right image is stacked on the arranged 3D original image,
The stereoscopic display sheet has a transmission window that transmits the light of the light emitting portion reflected by the first reflecting plate to the front side of the operation surface and transmits the light from the detection area to the back side of the operation surface. An operation input device provided.   4. The operation according to claim 1, further comprising: a light shielding plate that blocks light incident directly on the light receiving unit without passing through the front side of the operation surface among the light projected by the light emitting unit. Input device.

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