JP7134011B2 - SPATIAL PROJECTION DEVICE AND NON-CONTACT INPUT DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to spatial projection devices and non-contact input devices.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a touchless switch with a conventional spatial projection structure (see Patent Document 1). This touchless switch includes a first original picture 501a, a first illumination means 502a, a second original picture 501b, a second illumination means 502b, a light transmission/reflection member 511, an imaging means 503, a light emitting element 504, It includes a light receiving element 505, a lighting means control device 506, a switch housing 513, and the like.

The first original picture 501a and the second original picture 501b are arranged at a position forming an angle of 90 degrees. They are positioned at an angle of 45 degrees. A light beam from the first original picture 501a is transmitted through a light transmitting/reflecting member 511, enters the imaging means 503, and forms a real image 510a in the air. The light beam from the second original picture 501b is reflected by the light transmitting/reflecting member 511, enters the imaging means 503, and forms a real image in the air.

The light emitting element 504 irradiates the real image 510a of the first original picture 501a and the real image of the second original picture 501b with light rays such as infrared rays. When a finger 509 , which is an object to be detected, is held over these real images, light rays from the light emitting element 504 are reflected by the finger 509 and enter the light receiving element 505 . The lighting means control device 506 controls lighting and extinguishing of the first lighting means 502 a and the second lighting means 502 b based on the detected object detection signal from the light receiving element 505 .

Such a touchless switch detects that the finger 509 is held over a spatially projected real image, and switches the spatially projected real image.

JP-A-10-106411

In the conventional touchless switch shown in FIG. 7, both of the two types of spatially projected real images are planar images.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a spatial projection device in which changes in a spatially projected real image can be easily visually recognized, and a non-contact input device equipped with the spatial projection device. and

A spatial projection device according to the present invention is a spatial projection device for passing light from a display through a spatial projection plate to form a real image of the display in space, wherein the real image of the display is a stereoscopic image, and A plurality of display bodies are provided, real images of the plurality of display bodies can be displayed adjacently at the same time, real images of each display body can be selectively displayed or hidden, and a light exit surface is formed. A plurality of light guide members and a plurality of light sources for irradiating light to each of the light guide members are provided, and the light exit surface of each of the light guide members constitutes each of the display bodies. .

A non-contact input device of the present invention comprises the space projection device according to claim 1 or 2 , and detection means for detecting whether or not an object to be detected exists in an area where the real images of the plurality of display bodies are formed. and an operation response section that performs a predetermined operation when the detecting means detects the object to be detected.

According to the present invention, the real image of the display body is a stereoscopic image, the plurality of display bodies are provided, the real images of the plurality of display bodies are displayed adjacently at the same time, and the real image of each display body is selectively displayed or displayed. Since it is possible to hide the display, changes in the spatially projected real image can be easily visually recognized.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a spatial projection device and a non-contact input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the real image of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which display of a real image is switched by holding a finger over the real image in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the display unit of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the display unit of FIG. 1 seen from another angle than FIG. 4; FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a display unit that constitutes a spatial projection device and a non-contact input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 shows a touchless switch with a conventional spatial projection structure;

A ``space projection device'' and a ``non-contact input device'' according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the spatial projection device 9 includes a display unit 7, a spatial projection plate 51, a sensor 52 as a "detection means", a control section 53, and a housing (not shown) holding them. I have. Further, the space projection device 9 constitutes the non-contact input device 10 together with the operation response section 54 .

The display unit 7 includes first to third light guide members 1, 2, and 3, a plurality of light sources 5 for irradiating the respective light guide members 1, 2, and 3 with light, and a substrate on which the plurality of light sources 5 are mounted. 6 and a holder 4 containing them.

The first to third light guide members 1, 2, 3 are made of transparent resin such as acrylic resin or polycarbonate resin. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first light guide member 1 is cylindrical. The first light guide member 1 includes a light incident surface 11 located on one end side in the axial direction, a light exit surface 12 as a “first display body” located on the other end side in the axial direction, and a non-light-transmitting surface. It has an outer peripheral surface 13 with a protective coating. Diffusion treatment is applied to the light exit surface 12 . The light exit surface 12 is formed concavely in the shape of a mortar. The shape of the light exit surface 12 determines the shape of a real image 81, which will be described later. Hereinafter, the light exit surface 12 will be referred to as "first display 12".

The second light guide member 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The second light guide member 2 includes a light incident surface 21 located on one end side in the axial direction, a light exit surface 22 as a “second display body” located on the other end side in the axial direction, and a non-light-transmitting surface. It has an outer peripheral surface 23 and an inner peripheral surface 24 with a protective coating. Diffusion treatment is applied to the light exit surface 22 . The light emitting surface 22 is inclined in a direction approaching the light incident surface 21 side from the outer peripheral surface 23 side toward the inner peripheral surface 24 side. The shape of the light exit surface 22 determines the shape of a real image 82, which will be described later. Hereinafter, the light exit surface 22 will be referred to as "second display body 22".

The third light guide member 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The third light guide member 3 includes a light incident surface 31 located on one end side in the axial direction, a light exit surface 32 as a “third display body” located on the other end side in the axial direction, and a non-light-transmitting surface. It has an outer peripheral surface 33 and an inner peripheral surface 34 with a protective coating. Diffusion treatment is applied to the light exit surface 32 . The light emitting surface 32 is inclined in a direction approaching the light incident surface 31 side from the outer peripheral surface 33 side toward the inner peripheral surface 34 side. The shape of the light exit surface 32 determines the shape of a real image 83, which will be described later. Hereinafter, the light exit surface 32 will be referred to as "third display body 32".

The same LEDs are used for all the plurality of light sources 5 in this example. The board 6 on which the plurality of light sources 5 are mounted is connected to the controller 53 .

The holder 4 is made of a non-light-transmitting material, and as shown in FIGS. ing. The partition wall 42 divides the interior of the cylindrical portion 41 into a space for accommodating the first to third light guide members 1, 2 and 3 and a space for accommodating the substrate 6 and the light source 5. FIG. Through holes 43 are formed in the partition wall 42 at positions facing the light sources 5 . The light shielding wall 45 is a wall that separates the light source 5 for the first light guide member 1 and the light source 5 for the second light guide member 2 . The light shielding wall 44 is a wall that separates the light source 5 for the second light guide member 2 and the light source 5 for the third light guide member 3 .

As shown in FIG. 1, the first light guide member 1 is arranged inside the second light guide member 2 . The second light guide member 2 is arranged inside the third light guide member 3 . The light incident surfaces 11 , 21 , 31 of the first to third light guide members 1 , 2 , 3 are in contact with the partition walls 42 . The second display body 22 is adjacent to the first display body 12 and the third display body 32 is adjacent to the second display body 22 with the light incident surfaces 11, 21, and 31 in contact with the partition walls 42. is doing.

The spatial projection plate 51 passes the light from the first to third display bodies 12, 22, 32, and forms real images 81, 82, 83 of the first to third display bodies 12, 22, 32 in space. It is an imaging element, and a well-known microlens array, micromirror array, or the like can be used.

The real images 81, 82, 83 of the first to third display bodies 12, 22, 32 are stereoscopic images. In the present invention, a "stereoscopic image" means an image that cannot fit within one plane (non-planar image). These real images 81, 82, 83 are displayed simultaneously to form a cone 8 (corresponding to a "cone") shown in FIG. The cone 8 simulates a push button. Also, the real image 81 of the first display 12 forms the top of the cone 8 . A real image 82 of the second display 22 forms the middle portion of the cone 8 . A real image 83 of the third display 32 forms the base of the cone 8 . Thus, a plurality of real images 81, 82, 83 can be displayed simultaneously and displayed at adjacent positions.

The sensor 52 irradiates a measurement light beam such as infrared rays toward the regions where the real images 81, 82, and 83 are formed, and receives the reflected light of the measurement light beam, thereby forming the real images 81, 82, and 83. It is detected whether or not an object M (for example, an operator's finger) is present in the area where the detection target is located. The sensor 52 is connected to the control unit 53 and outputs a detection signal to the control unit 53 when detecting the presence of the object M to be detected.

The control unit 53 controls lighting and extinguishing of each light source 5 . As an example of control, in this example, when the use of the non-contact input device 10 is started, all the real images 81, 82, 83 are simultaneously displayed adjacently as shown in FIG. is input, the real images 81 and 82 are hidden as shown in FIG. When hiding the real images 81 and 82, the real image 81 is first hidden, and the real image 82 is hidden after a time lag. By changing the display content step by step in this way, it is possible to express that the push button is actually being pressed.

Furthermore, the control unit 53 controls the operation response unit 54 . In this example, the operation response unit 54 is a lighting device, and when the detection signal of the object M to be detected from the sensor 52 is input to the control unit 53, the control unit 53 causes the operation response unit 54 to switch the lighting on and off. send orders. Based on this command, the operation response unit 54 switches ON/OFF of the illumination.

That is, the non-contact input device 10 of this example spatially projects the ON/OFF switch of the operation response unit 54 (that is, the lighting device) by the spatial projection device 9, and the spatially projected ON/OFF switch (that is, the cone 8 imitating a push button) Detects that the is operated and switches the lighting on and off.

According to the spatial projection device 9 described above, the real images 81, 82, 83 of the first to third display bodies 12, 22, 32 are stereoscopic images, and the plurality of real images 81, 82, 83 can be simultaneously displayed adjacently. , and each of the real images 81, 82, and 83 can be selectively displayed or hidden, and the display/non-display of the plurality of real images 81, 82, and 83 is switched in multiple stages. Changes in 81, 82 and 83 can be easily visually recognized.

Further, in the spatial projection device 9 described above, display contents to be spatially projected can be changed without using an electronic display or a half mirror (see the light transmitting/reflecting member 511 in FIG. 7). Therefore, the spatial projection device 9 and the non-contact input device 10 can be provided with a small number of parts and a simple and compact configuration.

In the above-described embodiment, when the operator's finger or the like is placed on any of the real images 81, 82, 83, the display contents of FIG. 1 are changed to those of FIG. The content of display to be projected (that is, the content of control of the light source 5) can be changed as appropriate. For example, a distance measuring sensor may be employed as the sensor 52 to analyze which of the real images 81, 82, 83 the operator's finger or the like is placed, and change the display contents. That is, the display contents may be changed according to the amount of pressing into the cone 8 . In addition, regardless of the detection result of the sensor 52, the display content may be changed according to a predetermined program.

Further, the spatial projection apparatus of the present invention may not necessarily include detection means (sensor 52) for detecting an object to be detected, and may include only a real image projection function. In that case, the display/non-display of the real images of the plurality of display bodies is switched in multiple stages according to a predetermined program.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the real images 81, 82, 83 of the first to third display bodies 12, 22, 32 are simultaneously displayed adjacently to form the cone 8 as a "cone". However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the real images of the first to third display bodies may form quadrangular pyramids or the like.

A "space projection device" and a "non-contact input device" according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the same components as those of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

The spatial projection device and the non-contact input device of this example have a display unit 107 shown in FIG. 6 instead of the display unit 7 described in the first embodiment. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The display unit 107 includes first to third light guide members 101, 102, and 103, a plurality of light sources 5 for irradiating the respective light guide members 101, 102, and 103 with light, and a substrate on which the plurality of light sources 5 are mounted. 106 and a holder 104 containing them.

The first to third light guide members 101, 102, 103 are the same as the first embodiment, although the shape of each part is different from the first to third light guide members 1, 2, 3 of the first embodiment. It has first to third shaped display bodies 12, 22, 32. As shown in FIG. Therefore, the spatial projection apparatus of this example forms the same real images as the real images 81, 82, and 83 described in the first embodiment.

The first light guide member 101 is formed in a square plate shape. The first light guide member 101 has a pair of light incident surfaces 111 located on its side surfaces and facing each other, and a light exit surface located on its upper surface side, that is, the first display body 12 . Surfaces of the first light guide member 101 other than the light incident surface 111 and the first display member 12 are coated with a non-light-transmitting coating. Diffusion treatment is applied to the first display body 12 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The first display body 12 is formed concavely in the shape of a mortar.

The second light guide member 102 is formed in a square plate shape and has a through hole formed in the center thereof. The inner surface of the through hole forms the light exit surface, that is, the second display body 22 . Also, the second light guide member 102 has a pair of light incident surfaces 121 located on its side surfaces and opposed to each other. Surfaces of the second light guide member 102 other than the light incident surface 121 and the second display member 22 are coated with a non-light-transmitting coating. As in the first embodiment, the second display body 22 is subjected to diffusion treatment. The second display member 22 is inclined in a direction toward the lower surface side of the second light guide member 102 as it goes from the outside of the through hole toward the center.

The third light guide member 103 is formed in a square plate shape and has a through hole formed in the center thereof. The inner surface of the through hole forms a light exit surface, that is, the third display body 32. As shown in FIG. Further, the third light guide member 103 has a pair of light incident surfaces 131 located on its side surfaces and facing each other. Surfaces of the third light guide member 103 other than the light incident surface 131 and the third display member 32 are coated with a non-light-transmitting coating. Diffusion treatment is applied to the third display body 32 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The third display body 32 is inclined in a direction toward the lower surface side of the third light guide member 103 as it goes from the outside of the through hole toward the center.

A pair of substrates 106 on which a plurality of light sources 5 are mounted is provided in this example.

The holder 104 is made of a non-light-transmitting material, and has a rectangular tubular portion 141 , a pair of partition walls 142 , and light shielding walls 144 and 145 erected from the partition walls 142 .

The pair of partition walls 142 divides the inside of the rectangular tubular portion 141 into a space in which the first to third light guide members 101, 102, and 103 are accommodated and a space in which the substrate 106 and the light source 5 are accommodated. That is, in this example, the substrates 106 are arranged at both ends of the rectangular cylindrical portion 141, and the first to third light guide members 101, 102, 103 are laminated between the pair of substrates 106. FIG. The first light guide member 101 is arranged in the lower stage, the second light guide member 102 is arranged in the middle stage, and the third light guide member 103 is arranged in the upper stage. An opening 146 is formed in a portion of the rectangular tubular portion 141 facing the third light guide member 103 . A through hole 43 is formed in each partition wall 142 at a position facing each light source 5 .

The light shielding wall 145 is a wall that separates the light source 5 for the first light guide member 101 and the light source 5 for the second light guide member 102 . The light shielding wall 144 is a wall that separates the light source 5 for the second light guide member 102 and the light source 5 for the third light guide member 103 .

In such a display unit 107 , light incident on each light guide member 101 , 102 , 103 from both sides is emitted from each display member 12 , 22 , 32 . Light emitted from each of the display bodies 12, 22 and 32 is transmitted through the spatial projection plate 51 (see FIG. 1) and formed into space as real images 81, 82 and 83 (see FIG. 1). be.

According to the spatial projection device of this example, like the spatial projection device 9 of the first embodiment, changes in the spatially projected real images 81, 82, 83 can be easily visually recognized. In addition, the space projection device and the non-contact input device can be provided with a small number of parts and a simple and compact configuration.

In addition, the above-described embodiment merely shows a typical form of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

9 spatial projection device 10 non-contact input device 12 first display 22 second display 32 third display 51 spatial projection plate 81, 82, 83 real image

Claims (4)

A spatial projection device for forming a real image of the display in space by passing light from the display through a spatial projection plate,
the real image of the display is a stereoscopic image,
A plurality of the display bodies,
It is possible to display the real images of the plurality of display bodies adjacent to each other at the same time, and to selectively display or hide the real image of each display body ,
comprising a plurality of light guide members each having a light exit surface, and a plurality of light sources for irradiating each light guide member with light,
The light exit surface of each light guide member constitutes each display.
A spatial projection device characterized by: comprising a first display body, a second display body, and a third display body as the plurality of display bodies;
The real images of the first to third display bodies are simultaneously displayed adjacently to form a cone,
the real image of the first display forms the apex of the cone;
the real image of the second display forms an intermediate portion of the cone;
2. The spatial projection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the real image of said third display forms the bottom of said cone. detecting means for detecting whether or not an object to be detected exists in the area where the real images of the plurality of display bodies are formed;
3. The spatial projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein display/non-display of the real images of the plurality of display bodies is switched in multiple stages when the detection means detects the object to be detected. A spatial projection device according to claim 1 or 2 ;
detection means for detecting whether or not an object to be detected exists in the area where the real images of the plurality of display bodies are formed;
A non-contact input device, comprising: an operation response section that performs a predetermined operation when the detecting means detects an object to be detected.

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