JP2013072863A - Active type object detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an active type object detection device capable of easily detecting and controlling a prescribed area electrically and individually among a plurality of detection areas at a low cost in a simple constitution.SOLUTION: A light-projecting optical system 4 and a light-receiving optical system 9 are in a specified combination in which their partitioned directions are a longitudinal direction X and a cross direction Y orthogonal to each other. Light-projecting elements 3 are arranged along the partitioned direction of the light-receiving optical system 9 by the same number as the number of partitions of the light-receiving optical system 9 or by an integral multiple of this number of partitions, and light-receiving elements 8 are arranged along the partitioned direction of the light-projecting optical system 4 by the same number as the number of partitions of the light-projecting optical system 4 or by an integral multiple of this number of partitions. Area individual control means 14 electrically switches the light-projecting elements 3 and the light-receiving elements 8 corresponding to the light-projecting optical system 4 and the light-receiving optical system 9, respectively, to operation or non-operation and performs detection control of a prescribed area of detection areas A individually.

Description

  The present invention sends out detection lines for object detection to a plurality of detection areas, and an object such as a human body is detected when a light reception signal generated when a detection line reflected by the object exceeds a set level. The present invention relates to an active object detection device for detection.

  Conventionally, a detection line for detecting an object that is not visible to the human eye, such as infrared rays, is sent from a projector to a plurality of detection areas, and a light reception signal is generated by receiving the detection line reflected from the object by the light receiver. There is known an active object detection device that detects an object such as a human body when the light reception signal exceeds a set level. This active type object detection device is used for an automatic door sensor for detecting an object for automatic door opening and closing, for example.

  As this conventional apparatus, a plurality of detection areas formed by a projector and a light receiver are arranged in a matrix extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction from a position close to the automatic door to a position far from the automatic door. A detection line for detecting an object is sent from a plurality of light projecting elements through a plurality of divided lenses, and the detection line reflected by the object is similarly divided into a plurality of light receiving elements by a light receiver. An active type object detection device that receives light through a lens and generates a light reception signal (Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the detection area. FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram of the detection area A viewed from the sliding direction of the automatic opening / closing door 18, and FIG. 3B is a plan view showing the detection area A. . As shown in FIG. 3A, the active object detection device 100 is attached to the side surface of the eyeless 50, and the detection area A is a front-rear direction Y that goes from a position close to the installed active object detection device 100 to a position far from it. The detection areas A1 to A4 in each column are each composed of eight areas in the left-right direction X, as shown in FIG. 3B.

  FIG. 10A shows the configuration of the projector 51 and the light receiver 52 in the conventional active object detection apparatus, and FIG. 10B shows the detection area A formed by the projector 51 and the light receiver 52. As shown in FIG. 10A, the light projector 51 divides the light from eight different (A to H) light projecting elements 53 in the left-right (lateral) direction X toward the detection area A in FIG. 10B. A detection line for detecting an object is sent out through the light projecting lens 54, and the light receiving device 52 similarly detects the detection lines reflected by the object by eight different light receiving elements 58 (A to H) in the horizontal direction X. Light is received through the light receiving lens 59 divided into four, and a light reception signal is generated.

JP 2009-92536 A

  By the way, as described above, the active object detection device detects an object using light rays that are invisible to human eyes, such as infrared rays, and a plurality of detection areas formed by the projector and the light receiver are also human. Therefore, it is inherently difficult to identify in which of the plurality of detection areas an object exists.

  In addition, in the area directly below the device in the detection area, for example, when the device vibrates due to invisible vibration due to the opening and closing of the door, and the floor has a contrast with different reflection amounts such as black and white due to slight movement of the device The amount of change in light reflection increases, and erroneous detection of an object is likely to occur. Similarly, erroneous detection of an object is likely to occur in an area where there is a tree swaying in the wind or an object that reflects sunlight. In such a case, it is possible to avoid erroneous detection by invalidating only an area where erroneous detection is likely to occur among a plurality of detection areas. As a method for controlling the area detection, a method of electrically disabling the area and a method of optically excluding the area are known.

  However, in the conventional apparatus, as shown in FIG. 10B, in the plurality of detection areas A, the light projecting elements (A to H) of the light projector 51 and the light receiving elements (A to H) of the light receiver 52 are the same. There are a plurality of areas where the light beams from the light projecting elements (A to H) through the light projecting lens 54 and the light beams from the light receiving elements (A to H) that are arranged at positions overlap each other. Exists. For example, there are four areas where light beams from the light projecting element B and the light receiving element B overlap. Since the electric signals are the same in these four areas, it cannot be determined in which area of the detection area A the object is detected. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to electrically detect and control individually with a simple configuration and low cost so as to invalidate only a predetermined area where erroneous detection is likely to occur among a plurality of detection areas A. there were.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems and provides an active object detection device that can easily and individually control a predetermined area among a plurality of detection areas with a simple configuration and low cost. The purpose is that.

  In order to achieve the above object, an active object detection device according to the present invention includes a projector that sends detection lines for detecting an object from a plurality of light projecting elements to a plurality of detection areas via a light projecting optical system. A light receiver that receives the detection line reflected by the object through a light receiving optical system with a plurality of light receiving elements and generates a light reception signal, and a control unit that performs control to detect the object based on the level of the light reception signal It is also used for opening and closing an automatic opening / closing device. A plurality of detection areas formed by the projector and the light receiver are arranged in a matrix extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction from a position close to the automatic door to a position far from the automatic door. The light projecting optical system of the light projector is divided into n pieces along the front-rear direction or the left-right direction, and the light-receiving optical system of the light receiver is the left-right direction or the front-rear direction orthogonal to the direction in which the light projecting optical system is partitioned. The light projecting elements are divided into m or integer multiples thereof in the direction in which the light receiving optical system is partitioned, and the light receiving elements are partitioned with the light projecting optical system. N or integer multiples thereof are arranged in the direction. The control unit switches the light projecting element and the light receiving element corresponding to the light projecting optical system and the light receiving optical system to be electrically activated or deactivated, and performs detection control of a predetermined area of the plurality of detection areas. Individual area control means for individually performing is provided.

  According to this configuration, the light projecting optical system and the light receiving optical system are set to a specific combination in which the partitioned directions are the left-right direction or the front-rear direction orthogonal to each other, and the light projecting element is positioned in the partitioned direction of the light receiving optical system. And the same number as the number of sections of the light receiving optical system or an integer multiple thereof, and the light receiving elements are arranged along the direction in which the light projecting optical system is partitioned by the same number or an integral multiple of the number of sections of the light projecting optical system. By doing so, it is possible to easily identify an area where an object is detected from a plurality of detection areas with a simple configuration and at low cost, and to perform effective / invalid detection control for a predetermined area electrically individually. Can do.

  Preferably, one of the light projecting elements and the light receiving elements is arranged in a plurality of rows. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a detection area in which the identifiable area is increased more easily and at a low cost.

  Preferably, the light projecting optical system and the light receiving optical system are divided lenses, one of which is a laterally divided lens in which a plurality of lens segments are arranged along the left-right direction, and the other is a plurality of lenses along the front-rear direction. This is a vertically divided lens in which the lens segments are arranged. Alternatively, at least one of the light projecting optical system and the light receiving optical system has a prism combination structure using a single lens and a window part, and the window part that is a light cut filter has a prism shape. Thus, it is divided into a plurality along the left-right direction or the front-rear direction. Therefore, the area where the object is detected can be specified with a simpler configuration, and the valid / invalid detection control for the predetermined area can be electrically performed individually.

  Preferably, on the basis of the detection timing of the object and its position information, the control for maintaining the opening / closing of the automatic door or the detection control for valid / invalid of a predetermined area is performed. Therefore, since the position and direction of the object can be determined, effective control according to the moving state of the object is possible.

  According to the present invention, the light projecting optical system and the light receiving optical system have a specific combination in which the partitioned directions are the left-right direction or the front-rear direction orthogonal to each other, and the light projecting element is aligned along the partitioned direction of the light receiving optical system. Arrange the same number as the number of divisions of the light receiving optical system or an integer multiple thereof, and arrange the light receiving elements as many as the number of divisions of the light projecting optical system or an integer multiple thereof along the direction in which the light projecting optical system is divided. Accordingly, it is possible to easily and individually detect and control a predetermined area among the plurality of detection areas with a simple configuration and low cost.

(A) is an example of the structure of the light projector and light receiver in the active type object detection apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (B) shows a detection area formed by this light projector and light receiver. It is a schematic front view which shows the active type object detection apparatus based on the embodiment. (A) is explanatory drawing of the detection area seen from the sliding direction side of the automatic opening / closing door in the embodiment, (B) is a top view which shows a detection area. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of an active type object detection apparatus same as the above. (A)-(C) are explanatory drawings which show an example of operation | movement of an active type object detection apparatus same as the above. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of operation | movement of an active type object detection apparatus same as the above. (A) is a configuration of a projector and a light receiver in the active object detection apparatus according to the second embodiment, and (B) is a detection area formed by the light projector and the light receiver. (A) is a configuration of a projector and a light receiver in the active object detection device according to the third embodiment, and (B) is a detection area formed by the light projector and the light receiver. (A)-(E) are figures which show the structure of the light projector and light receiver of the active type object detection apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. (A) shows a configuration of a projector and a light receiver in a conventional active object detection device, and (B) shows a detection area formed by the light projector and the light receiver.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 3, the active object detection device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is an AIR (active infrared method) sensor that uses near infrared rays as the detection line R, for example, and is attached to the side surface of the eyeless 50. It has been. This active object detection device 100 is used for opening and closing an automatic door 18 which is a kind of automatic opening and closing device. As described above, the detection areas A are arranged in four rows in the front-rear (vertical) direction Y, for example, from a position close to the active object detection device 100 to a position far from the active object detection apparatus 100, as shown in FIG. The detection areas A1 to A4 in each row are each composed of eight areas in the left-right (lateral) direction X, as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic front view, partly broken, of the active object detection device 100 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, in the active object detection device 100, the projector 1 and the light receiver 2 are arranged apart from each other in the lateral direction X, and the projector 1 is formed in a detection area A (see FIG. 2) formed below the device 100. 3 (B)), a detection line R for object detection is sent out from a plurality of light projecting elements 3 through a light projecting optical system (light projecting lens) 4 partitioned in the lateral direction X. The detection line R reflected by the object is received by a plurality of light receiving elements 8 through a light receiving optical system (light receiving lens) 9 partitioned in the longitudinal direction Y to generate a light receiving signal, and the object is based on the level of the light receiving signal. Is detected. The light projecting lens 4 and the light receiving lens 9 are disposed in the vicinity of the window portion 5 formed by the window frame 6 on the bottom surface of the apparatus. On the front outer surface of the apparatus 100, a dip switch that is a detection area on / off setting means 14 to be described later is provided.

  FIG. 1A shows an example of the configuration of a projector and a light receiver in the active object detection apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B shows a detection area A formed by the light projector 1 and the light receiver 2. Show. As shown in FIG. 1A, the light projector 1 includes a total of eight (A to H) different light projecting elements 3 in which two in the horizontal direction X and four in the vertical direction Y are arranged. The near infrared rays transmitted from the element 3 are projected into a plurality of, for example, four predetermined patterns such as four predetermined patterns so that each row A1 to A4 has eight areas. 4-4, 4-3, and 4-4). The light receiver 2 collects four different (a to d) light receiving elements 8 arranged in the horizontal direction X and near infrared rays reflected from the detection areas A in the respective rows and columns so as to enter the light receiving elements 8. And a light receiving lens 9 composed of lens segments (9-1, 9-2, 9-3, 9-4) divided into four in the vertical direction Y to emit light.

  In the first embodiment, the light projecting lens 4 of the light projector 1 is divided into n (4) pieces along the horizontal direction X, and the light receiving lens 9 of the light receiver 2 is divided into m (4) pieces in the vertical direction Y. In this case, the light projecting element 3 of the light projector 1 includes m (4) elements in the vertical direction Y in which the light receiving lens 9 of the light receiver 2 is divided, and 2 in the horizontal direction X. The light receiving elements 8 of the light receiver 2 are arranged in the horizontal direction X in which the light projecting lens 4 of the light projector 1 is divided, and the same number (n) of the light receiving elements 8 are arranged. Among the light receiving elements 8, the light receiving elements 8 are arranged only in the horizontal direction X of the horizontal direction X and the vertical direction Y, that is, in a single row.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (B), the detection area A is arranged in four rows (A1 to A4) in the vertical direction Y by the configuration in which the projector 1 and the light receiver 2 are combined, and each row A1 to A4. Are arranged in 8 rows in the horizontal direction X. Each of the rows A1 to A4 corresponds to the projections A to H of the light projecting element 3, and extends in the horizontal direction X. The first row A1 is ABABABAB, the second row A2 is CDCDCDCD, A3 in the third column is arranged in EFEFEFEEF, and A4 in the fourth column is arranged in GHGHGHGH. Each row (1st to 8th rows) corresponds to the light reception of the four a to d of the light receiving element 8 and is formed extending in the vertical direction Y. For convenience of the following explanation, ACGE, BDFH) are formed by four ad groups. Note that the detection area A is formed in the opposite directions in both the horizontal direction X and the vertical direction Y with respect to these positions by the action of the light projecting lens 4 and the light receiving lens 9.

  Corresponding to the lens segments (4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4) divided into four in the horizontal direction X of the light projecting lens 4, two light projecting elements 3 in the horizontal direction X are provided. Are mounted in a total of eight groups (AB, CD, EF, GH) in the vertical direction Y and divided into four in the vertical direction Y of the light receiving lens 9 (9-1, 9-2, 9-3, Corresponding to 9-4), four light receiving elements 8 (a, b, c, d) are mounted in the lateral direction X. Four rows (A1 to A4) of detection areas A are assigned to four sets of light projecting elements 3 in the vertical direction Y through the light projection lens 4 divided into four in the horizontal direction X, and four in the vertical direction Y. Through the divided light receiving lenses 9, eight rows of four groups (groups a to d) each having two rows in the detection area A are assigned to the four light receiving elements 8 in the horizontal direction X. Therefore, the light projecting element 3 and the light receiving element 8 are divided into four columns 8 (= 2 ×) by the corresponding light projecting lens 4 divided into four in the horizontal direction X and light receiving lens 9 divided into four in the vertical direction Y. 4) Set the detection area A for the row.

  In this case, with respect to the light receiving element a and the light projecting elements A to H through the light projecting lens 4 and the light receiving lens 9, respectively, a group of 4 columns and 2 rows, to the light receiving element b and the light projecting elements A to H. B group of 4 columns and 2 rows, c group of 4 columns and 2 rows for the light receiving element c and the light projecting elements A to H, and d group of 4 columns and 2 rows for the light receiving element d and the light projecting elements A to H A detection area A is formed. That is, 32 areas of 8 rows and 4 columns in the detection area A are specified by 8 A to H of the light projecting element 3 and 4 a to d of the light receiving element 8, respectively.

  As a result, in 32 areas of the detection area A, the electrical signals differ depending on the combination of the light projecting elements 3 and the light receiving elements 8, so it is determined in which of the plurality of detection areas A the object is detected. be able to.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the active object detection device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the active object detection apparatus 100, each light projecting element 3 (A to H) is individually controlled by the drive circuit 7 under the control of the control unit 10 formed of a microcomputer, so that the near-infrared detection line can be detected. Sends to detection area A. The light reception signals output from the light receiving elements 8 (a to d) that have received near infrared rays reflected from the detection area A are individually amplified by the amplifier circuit 11 and output to the control unit 10.

  The control unit 10 controls the entire apparatus, and receives the light receiving level determining means 12 for determining whether or not the light receiving signal input individually for each light receiving element 8 exceeds the set level, the light projecting lens 4 and the light receiving lens. An area individual control means 13 for individually performing detection control of a predetermined area of the plurality of detection areas A by switching the light projecting element 3 and the light receiving element 8 corresponding to the lens 9 to be electrically activated or deactivated. I have. The area individual control means 13 performs detection control for each predetermined area, for example, based on the on / off setting of the detection area on / off switch 14 such as the Dip switch in FIG.

  As described above, the active object detection apparatus 100 uses a combination of the light projecting lens 4 divided into four in the horizontal direction X and the light receiving lens 9 divided into four in the vertical direction Y, and uses the combination of the light projecting element 3 in the vertical direction Y. Are arranged in the same number as the number of divisions of the light-receiving lens 9 and the light-receiving elements 8 are arranged in the same number as the number of divisions of the light-projecting lens 4 along the horizontal direction X, so It is possible to determine whether or not an object is detected in the area, and to electrically detect and control the predetermined area so as to invalidate only the predetermined area where erroneous detection is likely to occur. Further, by using the combination of the above lenses, the number of the light receiving elements 8 of the light receiving device 52 of the conventional active object detection apparatus of FIG. it can.

  The control unit 10 uses the area individual control means 13 to select only one corresponding to a predetermined area of the detection area set to ON by the detection area ON / OFF switch (Dip switch) 14 among the light projecting elements 3A to 3E. Commands the drive circuit 7 to drive. Further, when the control unit 10 determines whether or not the received light signal individually input for each light receiving element 8 exceeds the set level by the received light level determining means 10a, and determines that it exceeds the set level. Then, an object detection signal is output to the open / close control device 17 of the automatic door 18.

  The opening / closing control device 17 for the automatic door 18 installed outside the active object detection device 100 opens and closes the automatic door 18 and an activation circuit 22 that outputs a door opening signal when an object detection signal is input from the control unit 10. A door engine 24 to be operated and a door engine controller 23 for opening the door engine 24 when a door opening signal is received from the activation circuit 22 are provided.

  Hereinafter, an operation example of the active object detection device 100 configured as described above will be described. Detection control for each predetermined area is performed by the area individual control means 13 based on the on / off setting of the Dip switch 14 of FIG. In this example, as shown in FIG. 5A, for example, the 1st to 8th rows of the detection area A correspond to the 8-bit Dip switches 14 (1 to 8). In the example of FIG. 5A, the first to third and eighth lines of the detection area A are areas where erroneous detection is likely to occur. For this reason, the DIP switches 14 to 7 are turned on and 4 to 7 of the detection area A are turned on. The rows are enabled, the dip switches 14 1 to 3 and 8 are turned off, and the rows 1 to 3 and 8 are disabled. In this way, it is possible to select valid / invalid detection for each row.

  In the example of FIG. 5B, in the detection area A, for example, directly below the device, the device vibrates due to invisible vibration caused by opening and closing of the automatic door 18, and the slight movement of the device causes the floor to be black and white. When the amount of change in light reflection is large when the contrast is different and the object is likely to be erroneously detected, while the automatic door 18 is closed by using a limit switch (not shown) of the automatic door 18 or the like. Controls the A and B of the light projecting element 3 and the b and c of the light receiving element 8 so as not to project and receive the area immediately below the detection area A (the fourth row and fifth row area of the first column). .

  In the example of FIG. 5C, when the door is provided, on the side where the automatic door 18 opens, the DIP switch 14 is turned on to enable the first to fourth lines of the detection area A, and the DIP switch 14 5 -8 is turned off, and the 5th to 8th lines are disabled. For the purpose of safety in the door pocket, when an object such as a human body is detected in the fifth to eighth lines of the detection area A, the automatic door 18 is opened so that the automatic door 18 is not opened and the human body is not caught between the doors. It is possible to prevent the user from opening or to output a voice prompting the human body to leave.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of the operation of the active object detection device. (A) is a figure which shows the approach directions (alpha) and (beta) of the object in the detection area A, (B) is a figure which shows the detection timing chart. In this other example, based on the detection timing of the object and its position information, control for maintaining the opening / closing of the automatic door 18 or detection control for valid / invalid of a predetermined area is performed. In the approach direction α after passing through the automatic door 18 as shown in (A), as shown in (B), the first column, first row, second column, third row, third column, third row, 3 The human body is detected as the row 4th row, the 4th row 4th row, and the human body that has passed through the automatic door 18 can be controlled to close the automatic door 18 quickly according to its position and direction. As shown in (A), in the approach direction β, the vehicle enters in parallel with the automatic door 18, and the human body is sequentially detected in the same manner as in (B). In this case, control is performed so as not to open the automatic door 18. it can. Thus, effective control according to the moving state of the object can be performed by determining the position and direction of the object.

  Although not shown, when the automatic door 18 is completely closed during the doorway function in which the first row of the detection area A is set inside the automatic door 18, the first row area is invalidated and the automatic door 18 is opened. When starting, the effective area is increased from the center in accordance with the movement, and conversely, when the automatic door 18 starts to close, the effective area can be disabled from both ends. This makes it possible to ensure safety until immediately before the automatic door is closed.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the light projecting lens 4 and the light receiving lens 8 have a specific combination in which the divided (partitioned) directions are the horizontal direction X and the vertical direction Y that are orthogonal to each other. Are arranged in the vertical direction Y in which the light receiving lens 9 is divided, as many as the number of the light receiving lenses 9, and the light receiving element 8 is arranged in the horizontal direction X in which the light projecting lens 4 is divided. By arranging the same number as the number of sections, it is possible to easily identify the area where the object is detected among the plurality of detection areas A with a simple configuration and low cost, and to perform valid / invalid detection control for a predetermined area. It can be done electrically individually. As will be described later, the light projecting elements 3 are arrayed by an integral multiple of the number of sections of the light receiving lenses 9 along the longitudinal direction Y in which the light receiving lenses 9 are partitioned, and the light receiving elements 8 are partitioned of the light projecting lenses 4. It can be arranged along the horizontal direction X by an integral multiple of the number of sections of the projection lens 4.

  FIG. 7A shows a configuration of a projector and a light receiver in the active object detection apparatus according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 7B shows a detection area formed by the light projector and the light receiver. As shown in FIG. 7A, in the second embodiment, the light projecting lens 4 of the light projector 1 is divided into n (4) pieces along the horizontal direction X, and the light receiving lens 9 of the light receiver 2 is moved in the vertical direction Y. Are divided into m (3), the number of the light projecting elements 3 of the projector 1 is the same number m (3) in the vertical direction Y in which the light receiving lens 9 of the light receiver 2 is divided. The light receiving elements 8 of the light receiver 2 are arranged in the horizontal direction X in which the light projecting lens 4 of the light projector 1 is divided in the same number n (4). The elements 3 and the light receiving elements 8 are arranged in a single row in the vertical direction Y and the horizontal direction X, respectively.

  With the configuration of the projector 1 and the light receiver 2 in FIG. 7A, a detection area A of 4 rows and 3 columns is formed as shown in FIG. 7B. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, in the twelve areas of the detection area A, the electrical signals differ depending on the combination of the light projecting elements 3 and the light receiving elements 8, so It is possible to determine in which area the object is detected.

  FIG. 8A shows a configuration of a projector and a light receiver in the active object detection apparatus according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 8B shows a detection area formed by the light projector and the light receiver. As shown in (A), in the third embodiment, the light projecting lens 4 of the light projector 1 is divided into n (4) along the horizontal direction X, and the light receiving lens 9 of the light receiver 2 is m in the vertical direction Y. (3) When divided into three, the light projecting element 3 of the light projector 1 has m (3) as many as the number of division in the vertical direction Y in which the light receiving lens 9 of the light receiver 2 is divided, and Three (9 in total) are arranged in the horizontal direction X, and the light receiving elements 8 of the light receiver 2 have the same number n (4) as the number of division in the horizontal direction X in which the light projecting lens 4 of the light projector 1 is divided. The light receiving elements 8 are arranged in a single row only in the horizontal direction X.

  The configuration of the projector 1 and the light receiver 2 in FIG. 8A forms a detection area A of 12 rows and 3 columns as shown in FIG. 8B. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, in the 36 areas of the detection area A, the electrical signals differ depending on the combination of the light projecting elements 3 and the light receiving elements 8, so It is possible to determine in which area the object is detected. Unlike the three light projecting elements 3 in the second embodiment arranged in the vertical direction Y, the three light projecting elements 3 in the third embodiment are arranged in three in the vertical direction Y and three in the horizontal direction X, respectively. By increasing the number in the horizontal direction X, the number of rows can be increased.

  As in the third embodiment, when the number of light projecting elements 3 is increased to an integral multiple (three times) of the number of divisions of the light receiving lens 9 as compared to the second embodiment, the number of detection areas increases. In the light projecting area and light receiving area that constitute the detection area, there is a possibility that the light projecting area will be enlarged and the light projecting area may be irradiated outside the light receiving area, and the area in which the object is detected is identified in the detection area It can happen when you can't. In order to cope with this, the number of light receiving elements 8 can be increased to an integral multiple of the number of divisions of the light projecting lens 4 to increase the light receiving area. For example, in the third embodiment, only four light receiving elements 8 are arranged along the X direction as one piece per division according to the four divisions of the light projecting lens 4. In order to cope with this increase, the number of the light receiving elements 8 can be increased to a total of eight and arranged along the X direction by using two pieces per division (electrically handling one piece). Thereby, even if the number of detection areas increases, it is possible to reliably specify the area where the object is detected.

  FIG. 9 shows an active object detection device 110 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a side view of the projector 1, (B) is a front view of the projector 1, (C) is a front view of the light receiver 2, and (D) is a side view of the light receiver 2. In the fourth embodiment, the light receiving lens 9 divided (partitioned) in the vertical direction Y is used in the light receiving optical system in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and instead, a single light receiving lens 9a and a vertical light receiving lens 9a are used. The prism 9b partitioned in the direction Y is used. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In this apparatus 110, as shown in (D), the window portion 5 which is a visible light cut filter is divided into four in the vertical direction Y by making the shape of the prism 9b. The light receiving lens 9a of the light receiving optical system 9 is preferably a cylindrical lens that polarizes in the horizontal direction X, corresponding to the area extending in the horizontal direction X by the light projecting lens 4 divided in the horizontal direction X.

  Accordingly, in the fourth embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the light projecting optical system (light projecting lens) 4 and the light receiving optical system 9 are divided into the horizontal direction X or the vertical direction Y in which the divided directions are orthogonal to each other. The light projecting elements 3 are arranged in the vertical direction Y by the same number as the number of sections of the light receiving lens 9, and the light receiving elements 8 are arranged in the horizontal direction X (divided). By arranging the same number as the number), the area where the object is detected can be easily identified from the plurality of detection areas A with a simple configuration and at low cost, and valid / invalid detection control for a predetermined area Can be performed electrically individually.

  In each of the above embodiments, the light projecting optical system of the light projector is partitioned in the horizontal direction X, and the light receiving optical system of the light receiver is partitioned in the vertical direction Y, but the light projecting optical system of the light projector is used. You may use what divided the vertical direction Y and divided the light-receiving optical system of the light receiver in the horizontal direction X.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, although the some detection area A is made into 8 rows 4 columns, 4 rows 3 columns, 12 rows 3 columns, it is not limited to this at all, A thing with more number of rows and columns than this, In addition, a small detection area is included. Furthermore, although one set of the projector and the light receiver is provided, two or more sets in the lateral direction X may be provided.

  In each of the above embodiments, near infrared rays are used for the detection lines. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and far infrared rays, ultrasonic waves, radio waves, or the like may be used. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to an automatic shutter that opens and closes up and down.

1: Projector 2: Light receiver 3: Projector element 4: Projection optical system (projection lens sectioned in the horizontal direction)
5: Window portion 8: Light receiving element 9: Light receiving optical system (light receiving lens partitioned in the vertical direction)
13: Area individual control means 14: Detection area on / off setting means 18: Automatic opening / closing door (automatic door)
100, 110: Active type object detection apparatus A (A1 to A4): Detection area X: Left / right (horizontal) direction Y: Front / rear (vertical) direction

Claims (5)

A projector that sends detection lines for detecting an object from a plurality of light projecting elements to a plurality of detection areas via a light projecting optical system, and the detection lines reflected by the object are received by a plurality of light receiving elements through a light receiving optical system. An active object detection device used for opening and closing an automatic opening and closing device, comprising: a light receiver that receives light and generates a light reception signal; and a control unit that performs control for detecting an object based on a level of the light reception signal,
A plurality of detection areas formed by the projector and the light receiver are arranged in a matrix extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction from a position close to the automatic door to a position far from the automatic door,
The light projecting optical system of the light projector is divided into n pieces along the front-rear direction or the left-right direction, and the light-receiving optical system of the light receiver is the left-right direction or the front-rear direction orthogonal to the direction in which the light projecting optical system is partitioned. The light projecting elements are divided into m or integer multiples thereof in the direction in which the light receiving optical system is partitioned, and the light receiving elements are partitioned with the light projecting optical system. N or integer multiples thereof are arranged in the direction,
The control unit switches the light projecting element and the light receiving element corresponding to the light projecting optical system and the light receiving optical system to be electrically activated or deactivated, and performs detection control of a predetermined area of the plurality of detection areas. It is equipped with individual area control means to perform individually,
Active object detection device. In claim 1,
An active object detection apparatus, wherein either one of the light projecting elements and the light receiving elements is arranged in a plurality of rows. In claim 1 or 2,
The light projecting optical system and the light receiving optical system are divided lenses, one of which is a laterally divided lens in which a plurality of lens segments are arranged along the left-right direction, and the other is a plurality of lens segments along the front-rear direction. Is a vertically divided lens,
Active object detection device. In claim 1 or 2,
The light projecting optical system and the light receiving optical system have a prism combination structure in which at least one of them uses a single lens and a window part, and the window part which is a light cut filter has a prism shape, An active-type object detection device that is partitioned into a plurality along the left-right direction or the front-rear direction. 5. The active object detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the automatic door opening / closing maintenance control or the valid / invalid detection control of a predetermined area is performed based on the object detection timing and the position information thereof.

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