JP5402723B2 - controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a controller such as a remote controller (remote controller), and more particularly to a controller configured to optically detect an object such as a human finger and output a control signal.

  A controller configured to optically detect an object such as a human finger and output a control signal is known.

  For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-17700 describes an automatic water supply apparatus that controls a solenoid valve based on a relative output change between a plurality of solar cells installed in a faucet (Claim 1). In the same issue, two solar cells A and B are installed in the horizontal direction above the faucet (paragraph 0019). When an operation of moving the hand from the left to the right on the faucet is performed, the shadow of the hand moves on the solar cells A and B, and is detected as a change in the output of the solar cell (paragraph 0029). Water discharge and water stoppage are controlled based on the relative output change between the solar cells A and B due to the movement of the shadow. This prevents malfunction due to changes in room lighting (paragraph 0036).

JP 2000-17700 A

  According to Patent Document 1, malfunction of the faucet due to a change in indoor lighting or a change in sunlight inserted through a window is prevented. However, as the faucet water discharge and water stop operation, it is necessary not only to bring the hand closer to the solar cell but also to move the shadow of the hand sequentially to the plurality of solar cells, which is complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a controller capable of outputting a control signal with high accuracy by bringing an object such as a human finger close to an optical sensor.

The controller of the present invention (Claim 1) is a controller having detection means for detecting an object and signal output means for outputting a control signal based on a signal from the detection means, and constitutes an outer surface of the controller In this controller, the detection means is an optical sensor, and a light introduction part including a concave hole or an opening through which light enters the case is provided. Is also provided on the inner side of the case, and a plurality of the light introduction portions where the light sensors are arranged are provided, and light for detecting the illuminance outside the controller at a position separated from each light introduction portion. Detection means is provided, and the signal output means compares an output difference between the optical sensor and the optical detection means, and outputs a control signal corresponding to the optical sensor having the maximum output difference. And it is characterized in Rukoto.

  The controller according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in claim 1, a light-transmitting cover is disposed at least on the entrance side in the light introducing portion.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, at least a part of the inner surface of the light introducing portion is made of a light absorbing material.

A controller according to a fourth aspect is characterized in that, in any one of the first to third aspects, a solar cell is provided in the controller, and the solar cell also serves as the light detection means.

According to the controller of the present invention (Claim 1), it is possible to reliably detect the approach of a finger or the like to the light introducing portion and output the control signal with high accuracy. Further, by outputting a control signal corresponding to the optical sensor whose light is most blocked by a finger or the like, the control signal can be output with higher accuracy.

  According to the controller of the second aspect, since the translucent cover is disposed at least on the entrance side in the light introducing portion, it is possible to prevent dust and dust from entering the light introducing portion.

  The controller according to claim 3 can more reliably detect the approach of the finger or the like to the light introducing portion because at least a part of the inner surface of the light introducing portion is made of a light absorbing material.

According to the controller of claim 4 , the solar cell also serves as the light detection means, so that the number of parts is reduced.

It is a top view which shows an example of the controller which concerns on embodiment, and an apparatus main body. It is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view which follows the II-II line of the controller of FIG. (A) is the principal part enlarged view of FIG. 2, (b) is the principal part enlarged view which shows a reference example. FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view showing a modification of the controller in FIG. 1. It is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view of the controller which concerns on different embodiment. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing a modification of the controller in FIG. 5.

<First Embodiment>
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a controller and an apparatus main body according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view taken along line II-II of the controller of FIG.

(Configuration of controller)
The outer shell of the controller 10 is composed of a case 1 including a front case 1a and a rear case 1b. The case 1 is made of a light-shielding material that blocks light (ultraviolet light, visible light, and infrared light).

The front side case 1a is provided with light introducing portions 2a to 2c having openings provided at intervals, and translucent covers 3a to 3c are disposed in the light introducing portions 2a to 2c. Yes. The front surfaces of these light introducing portions 2a to 2c are flush with the front surface of the front case 1a. Further, the front case 1a is provided with a solar cell 4 and a light detection means 11 for detecting ambient illuminance. Note that this RaFutoshi solar cell 4 and the optical detector 11 is disposed in a position spaced from the light introducing portion 2 a to 2 c. The interval between the light introducing portions 2a to 2c is about 10 to 30 mm, the depth of the light introducing portions 2a to 2c is about 2 to 20 mm, and the opening diameter of the light introducing portions 2a to 2c is about 1 to 10 mm. Preferably, the solar cell 4 and the light detection means 11 are preferably separated from each light introduction part 2a-2c by 5 mm or more, for example, about 10-30 mm.

  A substrate 5 is installed inside the case 1. This board | substrate 5 is installed in the inner surface of the rear side case 1b. Optical sensors 6 a to 6 c are installed at positions facing the light introducing portions 2 a to 2 c in the substrate 5. The optical sensors 6a to 6c and the light introducing portions 2a to 2c constitute first to third operation switches, respectively.

  A capacitor power supply circuit 7, an illuminance comparison circuit 8, and a transmission circuit 9 are installed on the substrate 5. The illuminance comparison circuit 8 and the transmission circuit 9 constitute a signal output means. The capacitor power supply circuit 7 is connected to the solar cell 4 and can store energy generated by the solar cell 4. The capacitor power supply circuit 7 is connected to the illuminance comparison circuit 8 and the transmission circuit 9 so that power can be supplied thereto. The illuminance comparison circuit 8 is connected to the light sensors 6a to 6c and the light detection means 11, and the output difference between the light sensor 6a and the light detection means 11, the output difference between the light sensor 6b and the light detection means 11, and It is possible to compare the magnitude relationship of the output difference between the optical sensor 6c and the optical detection means 11. The transmission circuit 9 is connected to the illuminance comparison circuit 8 and can output a control signal based on a signal from the illuminance comparison circuit 8.

  In the present embodiment, the controller 10 is a remote controller, and the device main body 15 is installed at a position separated from the controller 10. The device main body 15 receives the control signal from the transmission circuit 9, and the function corresponding to the control signal is activated or stopped. The device main body 15 includes a human body detection unit (not shown) that detects a human body approaching the controller 10, and a transmission unit (not shown) such as an LED that transmits a human body detection signal to the signal reception unit of the controller 10. have.

(Operation switch operation example)
Next, an operation example of the operation switch (FIG. 3 (a)) used in the present embodiment will be described in comparison with an operation example of the operation switch (FIG. 3 (b)) according to the reference example.

  In FIG. 3 (a) (this embodiment), when the user brings his finger (solid line in the figure) close to the light introducing portion 2a in order to operate the first operation switch (optical sensor 6a), this finger Will block the light a which tries to enter the light introduction part 2a from the outside, and the illuminance detected by the optical sensor 6a becomes weak. The light b incident obliquely with respect to the surface direction of the front case 1a enters the light introducing portion 2a as shown in FIG. 3 (a). However, the incident light b is attenuated when entering the inner surface of the light introducing portion 2a. As a result, the illuminance of the light detected by the optical sensor 6a when the finger is brought close to the light introducing part 2a is remarkably reduced, and it is possible to accurately detect the presence or absence of the switch operation.

  Further, when the user brings his finger (two-dot chain line in the figure) close to the light introducing portion 2b in order to operate the second operation switch (optical sensor 6b), the light b incident on the first operation switch. Will be blocked. However, as described above, since the light b is hardly irradiated to the optical sensor 6a even when it is not blocked by the finger, there is a large difference in the output value of the optical sensor 6a depending on whether or not the second operation switch is operated. There is nothing. This reliably prevents the first operation switch from malfunctioning when the second operation switch is operated.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 3B (reference example), the translucent cover 3a is omitted, and the optical sensor 6a is disposed in the light introducing portion 2a. The front surface of the optical sensor 6a is flush with the front surface of the front case 1a. For this reason, the light b incident obliquely with respect to the surface direction of the front case 1a is directly applied to the optical sensor 6a. Thereby, even if a finger is brought close to the light introduction part 2a, the light detected by the optical sensor 6a is not weakened as in the present embodiment, and the detection accuracy of the presence or absence of the switch operation is inferior to the present embodiment.

  Further, when the user brings his finger (two-dot chain line in the figure) close to the light introducing portion 2b in order to operate the second operation switch (optical sensor 6b), the light b incident on the first operation switch. Will be blocked. For this reason, a big difference arises in the output value of the optical sensor 6a by the presence or absence of operation of a 2nd operation switch. This may cause the first operation switch to malfunction when the second operation switch is operated.

(Example of operation of controller 10)
In the controller 10 configured as described above, when there is no human body around the controller 10, the controller 10 is in a standby mode. In this standby mode, the optical sensors 6a to 6c are in an undetectable state, and the transmission circuit 9 is unable to transmit. However, the light detection means 11, the illuminance comparison circuit 8, the solar battery 4, and the capacitor power supply circuit 7 are in an activated state, and the energy generated by the solar battery 4 is stored in the capacitor power supply circuit 7.

  When the user approaches the controller 10 in this standby mode, a human body detection signal is transmitted from the device main body 15 and received by the light detection means 11 of the controller 10, and the controller 10 switches to the remote control operable mode. In the remote control operable mode, in the standby mode, the optical sensors 6a to 6c can be further detected, and the transmission circuit 9 is in a transmittable state.

  In the remote control operable mode, the light sensors 6 a to 6 c and the light detection means 11 detect the illuminance and transmit a detection signal to the illuminance comparison circuit 8. Based on the detection signal, the illuminance comparison circuit 8 outputs an output difference (voltage difference) between the optical sensor 6a and the optical detection means 11, an output difference (voltage difference) between the optical sensor 6b and the optical detection means 11, and light. An output difference (voltage difference) between the sensor 6c and the light detection means 11 is calculated, and it is determined whether any of these three output differences exceeds a threshold value. When the user is not operating the switch, the three output differences do not exceed the threshold value, so it is determined that there is no switch operation.

  In this remote control operable mode, when the user brings his finger close to one of the operation switches (for example, the first operation switch having the optical sensor 6a), the optical sensor (optical sensor 6a) of the operation switch is detected as described above. Illuminance to be reduced. The operation switch located near the operation switch also becomes a shadow of the user's hand or arm, and the illuminance detected by the optical sensors (photosensors 6b and 6c) of the operation switch in the vicinity may be somewhat weakened. However, the illuminance detected by the optical sensor (optical sensor 6a) of the operation switch that performed the switch operation is the weakest. In this way, among the three output differences, at least the output difference between the optical sensor (optical sensor 6a) on which the switch operation is performed and the optical detection means 11 is equal to or greater than the threshold value. Thereby, the illuminance comparison circuit 8 selects the operation switch (first operation switch having the optical sensor 6a) having the maximum output difference among these three output differences, and the control corresponding to the operation switch from the transmission circuit 9 is performed. Output a signal. The device body 15 receives this control signal, and the function corresponding to this control signal is activated or stopped. When the user moves away from the device main body 15, a human body non-detection signal is transmitted from the device main body 15, received by the signal receiving means of the controller 10, and the controller 10 returns to the standby mode. In addition, as this signal receiving means, although the transmission / reception circuit 9, the solar cell 4, or the optical sensors 6a-6c is mentioned, you may provide a signal receiving means separately from these.

  The controller 10 is clean because it can be operated without directly touching the controller 10. Moreover, according to this controller 10, since the presence or absence of switch operation is determined based on the illuminance difference between the optical sensors 6a to 6c and the light detection means 11, the switch operation is accurately performed without being affected by the intensity of ambient illuminance. The presence or absence of can be determined.

<Modification of the first embodiment>
FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are longitudinal sectional views for explaining modifications of the first embodiment.

  In the controller of FIG. 4 (a), a light absorbing material 16 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the light introducing portion 2a. Although not shown, this light absorbing material 16 is also formed in the light introducing portions 2b and 2c of the second and third operation switches. Other configurations are the same as those of the controller 10. According to the controller of FIG. 4 (a), the light b incident obliquely with respect to the surface direction of the front case 1a is absorbed by the light absorbing material 16 and attenuates well. Thereby, the illuminance of the light detected by the optical sensor 6a is significantly weakened, and it is possible to detect the presence / absence of the switch operation with higher accuracy.

  The light absorbing material 16 can be formed by applying a black paint in the light introducing portion 2a. Further, the portion of the front case 1a that constitutes the inner peripheral surface of the light introducing portion 2a itself may be formed of the light absorbing material 16, and the entire front case 1a is formed of the light absorbing material 16. May be.

  In FIG. 4 (b), the translucent cover 3a is arrange | positioned at the entrance side (upper half part of FIG. 4 (a)) of the light introduction part 2a. The front surface of the translucent cover 3a and the front surface of the front case 1a are flush with each other. Even in this case, dust or the like is prevented from entering the light introducing portion 2a. Further, a light-absorbing material 16 is formed on the lower half side of the inner peripheral surface of the light introducing portion 2a where the translucent cover 3a is not disposed. Even in this case, the light b incident obliquely with respect to the surface direction of the front side case 1a is absorbed by the light absorbing material 20 and attenuated. In FIG. 4 (b), the width of the light introducing portion 2a (the width in the left-right direction in FIG. 4 (b)) is made larger than the width of the optical sensor 6a. May be.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a controller according to another embodiment.

  The controller 20 is different from the controller 10 of the first embodiment in the shape of the front case 1a.

  That is, the outer shell of the controller 20 includes a case 21 including a front side case 21a and a rear side case 21b. The case 21 is also made of a light shielding material. The left half 22 of the front case 21a is thicker than the right half. In FIG. 5, the lower surface of the left half 22 is slightly separated from the substrate 5, but it may be in contact. Light introducing portions 2 a to 2 c are provided at positions facing the optical sensors 6 a to 6 c in the left half portion 22. Translucent covers 3a to 3c are arranged on the upper side in FIG. 5 of these light introducing portions 2a to 2c. The front surfaces of these translucent covers 3a to 3c are flush with the front surface of the front case 21a. Optical sensors 6a to 6c are accommodated on the back side (the lower side in the drawing) of these light introducing portions 2a to 2c. Other configurations are the same as those of the controller 10 according to the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals denote the same parts.

  Even in the controller 20, as with the controller 10, it is possible to accurately detect the presence or absence of a switch operation.

  In the controller 20 as well, the light absorbing material 16 may be formed on the inner surfaces of the light introducing portions 2a to 2c. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the light-absorbing material 16 may be formed on the lower half side of the inner surfaces of these light introducing portions 2a to 2c. As shown in FIG. 6 (b), these light introducing portions. The light absorbing material 16 may be formed on the entire inner surface of 2a to 2c.

  The above embodiment is an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the number of operation switches is three, but may be one, two, or four or more. In the above embodiment, the remote controller is exemplified as the controller, but a controller installed in the apparatus main body may be used.

  The translucent covers 3a to 3c in the light introducing portions 2a to 2c may be omitted, but it is preferable not to omit them in order to prevent entry of dust or the like into the controller 10.

  In the controller 20, the case 21 is made of a light-shielding material. As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the optical sensors 6a to 6c are arranged in the light introducing portions 2a to 2c, and the light introducing portion. When the light-absorbing material 16 is formed on the inner surfaces of 2a to 2c, the case 21 may be a light-transmitting material.

  Moreover, you may install the optical sensors 6a-6c in the light introduction parts 2a-2c. In this case, it is necessary to install the optical sensors 6a to 6c so that the front surfaces of the optical sensors 6a to 6c are located inside the case relative to the front surfaces of the front cases 1a and 21a, and the optical sensors 6a to 6c in the light introducing portions 2a to 2c. It is preferable to install the translucent covers 3a to 3c on the outside of the case.

  Further, the light introducing portions 2a to 2c may be formed as a concave hole instead of the opening, and the optical sensors 6a to 6c may be disposed in the inner portion of the concave hole. Also in this case, it is necessary to install the optical sensors 6a to 6c so that the front surfaces of the optical sensors 6a to 6c are located on the inner side of the case relative to the front surfaces of the front cases 1a and 21a. It is preferable to install the translucent covers 3a to 3c on the outer side (inlet side) of the case than ˜6c.

  In the said embodiment, you may abbreviate | omit the light detection means 11, and it may comprise so that the solar cell 4 may serve as the light detection means 11. FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,21 Case 1a, 21a Front side case 1b, 21b Rear side case 2a-2c Light introduction part 3a-3c Translucent cover 4 Solar cell 5 Board | substrate 6a-6c Photosensor 7 Capacitor power supply circuit 8 Illuminance comparison circuit 9 Transmission circuit 10, 20 Controller 11 Light detection means 15 Device body 16 Light absorbing material

Claims (4)

A controller having detection means for detecting an object and signal output means for outputting a control signal based on a signal from the detection means;
In a controller having a case constituting the outer surface of the controller,
The detection means is an optical sensor,
A light introduction part consisting of a concave hole or an opening for light to enter the case is provided,
The optical sensor is provided in the inner part of the case or deeper in the light introduction part ,
A plurality of the light introduction portions in which the light sensors are arranged are provided;
Light detection means for detecting the illuminance outside the controller is provided at a position separated from each light introduction part,
Said signal output means, a controller, characterized in der Rukoto outputs a control signal to the optical sensor to compare the output difference between the light detection means, corresponding to the light sensor output difference becomes maximum.   2. The controller according to claim 1, wherein a light-transmitting cover is disposed at least on the entrance side in the light introducing portion.   3. The controller according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the inner surface of the light introducing portion is made of a light absorbing material. 4. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein a solar cell is provided in the controller, and the solar cell also serves as the light detection means.

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