JPH10219770A - Automatic faucet human body detector and human body detection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detector capable of surely detecting the human body only even in the case an area to be detected cuts across water discharged from a spout. SOLUTION: A human body detector 11 includes two light detection elements arranged in the vertical direction and constituting detection area consisting of light receiving area 24a and light receiving area 24b for detecting the entering of hands into a bowl 25. When the hands enter the light receiving area 24a, a light receiving section is changed from the initial light receiving quantity by receiving reflected light from the hands, there is no hands in the light receiving area 24b, and since the light receiving section maintains the incidence of the reflected light from the bowl 25, variations occur in the contrast between both of them, and the entering of the hands can be detected accordingly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a human body detecting device and a human body detecting method used for an automatic faucet, and more particularly to an automatic faucet human body detecting device and a human body detecting method capable of reliably detecting a human body and an object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic faucet of interest to the present invention is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-7-233548. According to the publication, a reflection type optical active sensor is used. In the optical active sensor, only one detection area including the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit is provided.

[0003]

A conventional automatic faucet has been constructed as described above. Since there is only one detection area and it is oriented so as to intersect with the discharge water, there is a problem that the detection of the human body becomes unstable due to the influence of the reflected light from the discharge water.

[0004] More specifically, the reflected light level from the wash bowl when not discharged is used as a reference, and the reflected light level input in time series is statistically processed to remove the influence of the discharged water. If an incorrect value is stored in the memory, the following problem occurs. That is, for example, when a cloth with low reflection is placed in the washbasin, the level is lower than the level of the reflected light from the washbasin. Then, the level of the reflected light is reduced by the discharged water, and the water stops. Thus, an unnatural state in which water is repeatedly discharged / stopped occurs. Although this is forcibly prohibited by the water discharge counter, unnecessary software processing is required, so that the scale of software is increased. There is a problem that the processing speed of the entire sensor is reduced and the memory capacity is increased, and a high-speed and high-capacity CPU is required, which leads to an increase in cost.

[0005] Further, at this time, since unnecessary opening and closing of the valve is performed several times, there is a problem that the valve is deteriorated and power for opening and closing the valve is wasted.

Further, the above-mentioned water discharge counter is provided for forcibly stopping water when water discharge / water stoppage is repeated a predetermined number of times or more. There is also a problem that it becomes difficult to discharge water even if it is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. In a human body detector and a human body detection method used for an automatic faucet, when a detection area crosses water discharged from a spout. However, an object of the present invention is to provide a human body detection device and a human body detection method used for an automatic faucet that can reliably detect only a human body.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a human body detector for an automatic faucet, which controls a water channel opening / closing valve to perform water discharge and water stoppage in a non-contact manner. The presence or absence of the detection object is detected. The human body detector includes two vertically arranged light receiving means each having a light receiving area, a calculating means for calculating a light receiving signal received by the light receiving means, and a means for discharging or stopping water according to the calculation result by the calculating means. And an output means for outputting the signal of the above. The two light receiving areas are arranged side by side so as to intersect the trajectory of the discharged water in the vertical direction.

Since the respective light receiving areas composed of the two light receiving sections are arranged vertically in such a manner as to intersect with the water discharged from the automatic faucet, the contrast value between the light receiving areas obtained from the respective light receiving signals is obtained. The presence or absence of a human body is determined from the amount of change. Therefore, only the presence or absence of a human body can be detected without the influence of the discharge water.

In the human body detector for an automatic faucet according to the second aspect, the ratio of the width of the light receiving area at the intersection of the upper side of the light receiving area and the discharge water, the diameter of the discharge water there, and the lower side of the light receiving area. The ratio between the width of the received light amount at the intersection with the discharge water and the diameter of the discharge water there is equal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a human body detector for an automatic faucet which detects an object to be detected and discharges discharge water, a plurality of light projecting means for emitting a light beam to the object to be detected, and a plurality of light projecting means. Provided corresponding to each of the means, including a plurality of light receiving means for receiving the reflected light from the detected object, and means for detecting the contrast of each light receiving means based on the light receiving signal of the plurality of light receiving means, A detection area including a plurality of light projecting means and light receiving means is arranged side by side so as to intersect the discharge water in the up-down direction.

Since the detection area composed of the plurality of light projecting means and the light receiving means is arranged side by side so as to intersect the discharge water in the up-down direction, the human body is determined from the change in the contrast value between the light receiving detection areas obtained from the respective light receiving signals. Is determined.
Therefore, a human body can be detected without the influence of the discharge water.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a human body detecting method for controlling presence / absence of an object to be detected in a predetermined non-contact type detection area used for an automatic faucet for controlling a water channel opening / closing valve to discharge and stop water. To detect. The human body detection method is a step of receiving light from the detection area so as to intersect with the trajectory of the water discharge to a plurality of light receiving means arranged in a vertical direction each having a light reception area, and a step of calculating the received light, Outputting a water discharge or water stop signal according to the calculation result. In order to receive light from the detection area so as to intersect with the trajectory of water discharge to a plurality of light receiving means arranged in the vertical direction each having a light reception area, and to output a water discharge or water stop signal based on the received light, The presence or absence of a human body can be determined from the amount of change in contrast between light receiving regions obtained from each light receiving signal.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a human body detecting method for detecting the presence or absence of an object to be detected in a predetermined detection area, which is used for an automatic faucet for controlling a water channel opening / closing valve to discharge and stop water. Emitting a first light beam from the first projector toward the object to be detected, receiving the reflected light of the first light beam from the object to be detected, and intersecting the discharge water in the up-down direction. Emitting a second light beam from the second detector toward the detected object;
The method includes a step of receiving the reflected light of the second light beam from the detected object, and a step of detecting the contrast of each detection area based on the result of receiving the first and second light beams.

Since the contrast of each detection area is detected based on the result of receiving the first and second light beams, each of which intersects the discharge water in the vertical direction, and the object to be detected is detected, there is no influence of the discharge water. Only the human body can be detected.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(1) First Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a human body detector 11 used for an automatic faucet according to the present invention. Referring to FIG.
The human body detector 11 includes two light receiving units 12a and 12b, respective amplifying units 13a and 13b, and amplifying units 13a and 13b.
, A determining unit 15 and a threshold value setting unit 16 connected to the calculating unit 14, and an output unit 17 connected to the determining unit 15. An open / close signal of the faucet solenoid valve is output.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the entire structure of the automatic faucet 10 incorporating the human body detector 11 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the human body detector 11 is provided inside the spout 20 of the automatic faucet 10 which stands upright and slightly inclined. The light receiving sections 12a and 12b are connected to the light detecting elements 21a and 21b and the aperture 2 respectively.
2a and 22b and reflecting mirrors 23a and 23b (see FIG. 1). Light incident through the openings 22a and 22b is reflected by the reflecting mirrors 23a and 23b, and is incident on the photodetectors 21a and 21b. As described above, since the light is once reflected by the reflecting mirrors 23a and 23b, the reflecting mirrors 23a and 23b are opened from the openings 22a and 22b.
The viewing angles θa and θb of the light receiving regions 24a and 24b can be widened while the depth of the optical unit up to 3b is kept short. It is also effective when it is desired to widen both light receiving areas θ0.
In short, each of the light receiving regions 24a and 24b can be easily set without significantly changing the size of the human body detector 11.

The photodetectors 21a and 21b convert incident light into electric signals and output the electric signals to the amplifiers 13a and 13b. The light receiving sections 12a and 12b define the light receiving areas 24a and 24b by the openings 22a and 22b, respectively. The light receiving areas 24a and 24b are arranged vertically in the upper end portion of the automatic faucet 10 so as not to overlap with each other so as to intersect with the falling trajectory of the discharge water discharged from the spout 20 which is slightly inclined downward and connected thereto. Have been. Spout 20
The light receiving area 24a closer to is composed of the light receiving section 12a, and the light receiving area 24b farther away is composed of the light receiving section 12b.

The amplifying units 13a and 13b are connected to the respective light receiving units 12a,
The light receiving signal obtained in 12b is amplified. The operation unit 14a,
An A / D conversion function 14b converts an analog signal amplified by the amplifiers 13a and 13b into a digital signal, and the A / D conversion function
It has a division function for dividing D values.

The threshold value setting section 16 controls a TE which will be described later.
In the ACH mode, the threshold (Vth
1 (ON), Vth1 (OFF), Vth2 (ON),
Vth2 (OFF)).

The determination unit 15 compares the result of the division with the threshold value at the time of RUN described later, and outputs a valve opening or valve closing signal to the output unit 17. The output unit 17 converts a signal from the arithmetic unit 14 into valve drive power and outputs the power to the solenoid valve.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, spout 20
A water channel 26 from a water source 28 is provided at the lower part of
An electromagnetic valve 27 that shuts off the water channel 26 is provided on the way. In the bowl 25, a light receiving area 24a,
24b is present and is connected to the drain 29. Water from the spout 20 is discharged from the discharge port 30.

Next, a standby state of the automatic faucet 10 using the human body detector 11 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. When there is no water discharge and there is no hand below the spout 20, the light reflected from the surface of the bowl 25 is incident on both the light receiving portions 12a and 12b, and the contrast between the light receiving region 24a and the light receiving region 24b is almost zero. Becomes At this time, even if the intensity of the light hitting the bowl surface changes, the contrast remains zero if the manner of the change is uniform.

When the hand is put in the bowl (FIGS. 4 and 5)
Reference), a hand is present in the light receiving area 24a, and the light reflected from the hand is incident on the light receiving portion 12a, so that the light receiving amount changes from the initial light receiving amount. On the other hand, there is no hand in the light receiving area 24b, and the light receiving section 12b maintains the incidence of the reflected light from the bowl 25. Therefore, the contrast between the light receiving area 24a and the light receiving area 24b changes, and the intrusion of the hand is detected and the water is discharged. This is the same when the hand is washed with the water discharged from the spout 20.

When the hand is removed from the bowl 25 and there is no hand below the spout 20 and only the discharge water is used (see FIGS. 6 and 7), the reflected light from the surface of the bowl 25 is absorbed by the discharge water. The amount of incident light on the light receiving sections 12a and 12b decreases. However, the light receiving regions 24a, 24a
Since the discharge water crosses both 4b, the amount of light reduction of both light receiving units becomes the same ratio, and the contrast between both light receiving regions becomes equal to that in the standby state.

Here, as will be described later, the light receiving region 24
Assuming that the light receiving signal from a is VA and the light receiving signal from light receiving area 24b is VB, the contrast between light receiving area 24a and light receiving area 24b can be detected by taking the ratio of VA and VB (VA / VB), As described above, the influence of the discharge water passing through the light receiving region can be removed, and the change in the overall brightness (illuminance) can be excluded.

At this time, in order to make the left and right widths of both light receiving regions 24a and 24b positively equal to the rate of light quantity reduction due to the discharged water, the discharged water is reduced as shown in FIG.
a ratio of the width α1 of the discharge water at the position 35a crossing the position a and the width α2 of the light receiving region 24a there,
If the ratio of the width β1 of the discharge water at the position 35b crossing the position b and the width β2 of the light receiving region 24b there is equal (α1 / α
2 = β1 / β2), and the influence of the discharge water can be further removed.

Further, focusing on the difference between the size of the hand and the size of the discharge water, as shown in FIG. 5, if the width of the right and left sides of the light receiving area 24a for detecting the hand is made equal to the width of the intruding hand, Since the hand covers the light receiving area 24a, the light receiving sensitivity can be kept at a maximum and the influence of the light blocking by the discharge water can be minimized.

Next, the signal processing using the calculation unit 14, the judgment unit 15 and the threshold value setting unit 16 of the human body detector 11 will be described in detail. It is assumed that the human body detector according to the present invention has a teach mode and a run mode. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the main routine of the signal processing. Referring to FIG. 8, after the power is turned on (Step S11, hereinafter abbreviated as Step), the teaching mode is entered (S1).
2) After the threshold value is set, the run mode is entered (S13), and water discharge / stop water is determined.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of the teach mode. The teach mode is a mode for setting a threshold value. When the teaching mode is entered, the solenoid valve is closed as an initial setting (S121). After that, the light receiving signals Va and Vb sent from the amplifier 13 are A / D converted and V
A0 and VB0 are obtained (S122). Here, in order to determine the threshold value, each of VA0 and VB0 (for example, 25
From the data of 6), respective average values VA0av, VB0
av is calculated (S123), and divided, to obtain VA0av
/ VB0av is calculated (S124). The reason why the n average values are used here is to prevent the threshold value from being erroneous due to a sudden noise signal or the like and to make the threshold value more stable. From VA0av / VB0av, the following equations (1) to
According to (4), Vth1 (ON), Vth1 (OF
F), Vth2 (ON) and Vth2 (OFF) are obtained, and these are set as threshold values (S125).

Vth1 (OFF) = VA0av / VB0av × (1 + α), (α> 0) (1) Vth2 (OFF) = VA0av / VB0av × (1−α), (α> 0) (2) Vth1 (ON) = Vth1 (OFF) + β, (β> 0) (3) Vth2 (ON) = Vth1 (OFF) −β, (β> 0) (4) FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the run mode. The run mode is a mode for performing a normal operation. In the run mode, the light receiving signals Va and Vb sent from the amplifier 13 are A / D converted to obtain VA and VB (S131). When the number of data exceeds N (for example, 8) (S132)
Y), the respective moving average values VAav and VBav are calculated from each of the N data VA and VB (S133).
If the sum of the moving average values VAav and VBav is not 0 (Y in S134), division VAav / VBav is performed (S135). If the sum of the moving average values is 0 (S134
N), which means that the person is in a completely dark state and there is no person. In this case, if the solenoid valve 27 is open, it is closed (S14).
1 and Y, S142), and division is not performed until it is no longer 0, so that no water is discharged and water is saved.

If the result of the division is that the solenoid valve 27 is closed (S
136, Y), Vth1 (ON), Vth2 (ON) are used as thresholds, and VAav / VBab is Vth1.
It is determined whether it is higher than (ON) or lower than Vth2 (ON) (S137). If YES in S137, the contrast between the light receiving region 24a and the light receiving region 24b is different from the initial state (during teaching), which means that an object has entered the light receiving region 24a or the light receiving region 24b. 27, and discharge water (Y, S in S138).
140).

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, since the hand cannot enter the light receiving area 24b unless it passes through the light receiving area 24a, the change amounts of the moving average values VAav and VBav at this time are compared with each other (S138). If the change amount of VBav is larger (N in S138), it is considered that the contrast change is caused by an object, water, or the like instead of the intrusion of the hand, so that no water is discharged. Also, the contrast change at this time is a change in the initial state, and it can be used continuously by entering the teach mode and automatically resetting the threshold value (S139).

The result of the division is V if the solenoid valve 27 is open.
th1 (OFF) and Vth2 (OFF) are used as thresholds. These values are Vth1 (ON), Vth2
It is set closer to VAav / VBav by β than to (ON). Β is a hysteresis for stabilizing the state when the solenoid valve is opened and closed.

VAav / VBav is Vth1 (OFF)
And Vth2 (OFF) (Y in S146),
The contrast between the light receiving region 24a and the light receiving region 24b has returned to the initial state (during teaching), which means that the object that has entered the light receiving region 24a has been removed. Therefore, the solenoid valve 27 is closed (S147), and the water stops.

VAav / VBav is Vth1 (OFF)
If the distance does not fall between Vth2 and OFF (N in S146), water is continuously discharged. However, the water discharge time is measured (S1
43) When the water discharge time is longer than t (for example, one minute) (N in S144), the mode is shifted to the teach mode (S14).
5) Water saving is achieved by forcibly stopping water. Further, by resetting the optimum threshold value, it can be used continuously.

As described above, according to the present invention, by using the human body detector which detects a change in contrast between the two light receiving regions vertically arranged with respect to the discharge water, the lower portion of the spout 20 is not affected by the discharge water. The present invention can provide an automatic faucet human body detector capable of determining the presence or absence of a hand in the above. Also,
With the configuration including only the light receiving unit, reduction in power consumption, size reduction, and cost reduction can be achieved.

(2) Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a human body detector 40 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 12, a human body detector 40
Includes a first light receiving unit 44a and a second light receiving unit 44b. The lens 41b of the light receiving section 44b is tilted toward the lens 41a, and the light receiving area 44b is disposed so as to intersect with the light receiving area 44a.

When detecting a human hand, there is a variation in the position of the hand that enters the bowl 25. When the hand does not touch the reference area (light-receiving area 44b) and exists only in the detection area, the contrast between the two light-receiving areas 44a and 44b is maximized. .

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another configuration example 50 of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, two pairs of lenses 46 are provided.
a, 46b and the corresponding light receiving elements 47a, 47b are arranged. If the spread angle θ0 between the light receiving areas 48a, 48b is widened, the two light receiving elements 47a, 47b
In order to prevent 7b from overlapping, lenses 46a, 46b
The distance between them needs to be long. On the other hand, according to the configuration of FIG. 12, the distance between the lenses 41a and 41b is constant and the spread angle θ0 between the light receiving regions 44a and 44b can be widened, so that the human body detector 40 can be downsized.

FIG. 13 shows still another configuration 51 of the human body detector.
FIG. With reference to FIG.
By configuring the light receiving portions constituting 1a and 51b only with the openings 52a and 52b and the light receiving elements 53a and 53b, the configuration is simplified, and a lens and a reflector are not required. as a result,
Cost reduction can be achieved in the human body detection device.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing still another example 52 of the human body detector. Referring to FIG. 14, light receiving section 52a includes a lens 55 and a light receiving element 56a.
Reference numeral 2b denotes a lens 55 and a light receiving element 5 constituting a light receiving section 52a.
6b. Thus, the two light receiving sections 5
By sharing the lenses of the light receiving units constituting the 2a and 52b, the size and cost of the human body detector can be reduced.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing still another example of the second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 15, light receiving portion 62a for receiving light from light receiving region 61a includes a light receiving element 63a, an optical fiber 64a connected thereto, a pinhole 65a attached to the tip of optical fiber 64a, and a lens 66a. Consists of The same applies to the light receiving area 61b. The light receiving areas 61a and 61b can be freely changed by attaching a combination of a pinhole and a lens to the tip of the optical fiber 64a.

The human body detector 60 is installed in the wash basin 67 and detects through the optical fibers 64 a and 64 b passing through the spout 20. With this configuration, the light receiving section can be made compact, the size of the human body detector 60 mounted in the spout 20 can be reduced, and the electric part of the human body detector 60 can be easily separated from the detection surface. It is hard to splash water and hard to break.

(3) Third Embodiment Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG.
FIG. 17 is a side view and a plan view showing an optical system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, a light receiving portion for detecting light receiving region 71a includes light receiving element 72a and lens 73.
a. The light projecting area 74a includes a light emitting element 75a and a lens 76. The light receiving area 71b is a light receiving element 72
b and a lens 73b, and the light projecting area 74b is composed of a light emitting element 75b and a lens 76b. Light receiving area 7
1a and light emitting area 74a, light receiving area 71b and light emitting area 74
b overlap each other to form detection areas 77a and 77b, respectively, and the light receiving area 71a and the light receiving area 71b are arranged vertically so that they do not overlap each other.

Next, the signal processing of the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of a control unit according to the third embodiment. Referring to FIG. 18, the human body detector 80 includes the above-described light projecting regions 74a and 74b and the light receiving region 71.
a, 71b and the like, light projecting sections 81a, 81b and light receiving sections 82a, 82b, an oscillating section 83 for providing a light projecting signal to the light projecting sections 81a, 81b, and amplification for amplifying signals from the light receiving sections 82a, 82b. A calculating unit 85 for calculating the contrast based on the amplified signals and the amplified signals; a determining unit 86 for making a predetermined determination based on the output from the calculating unit; Threshold setting section 87 to be set
And an output unit 88 that outputs a solenoid valve opening / closing signal based on the determination result of the determination unit 86.

The pulse signal obtained from the oscillating section 83 drives the light emitting elements 82a and 82b of the light projecting sections 81a and 81b to light them. Light emitted from the light emitting elements 82a and 82b is emitted to the inner wall of the bowl 25 through the light projecting lenses 76a and 76b, respectively.

The light reflected by the inner wall of the bowl 25 is condensed by the light receiving lenses 73a and 73b, and is received by the light receiving elements 72a and 72b.
Light enters 2b. A photodiode, a phototransistor, a PSD, or the like is used for the light receiving elements 72a and 72b. The incident light is subjected to light-to-current conversion in each light receiving element according to the light amount, and a light receiving signal 83a is output from the light receiving element 72a and a light receiving signal 83b is output from the light receiving element 72b. These light receiving signals 83a and 83b are transmitted to each light receiving unit 8
2a and 82b, the voltage is converted to a voltage, and amplified by 84a and 84b.
To obtain signals Va and Vb.

After the amplified light receiving signals Va and Vb are subjected to differential operation (Va−Vb) by the operation unit 85, they are compared with a preset threshold value by the judgment unit 86 during a run, and the output unit 88. Is output as a valve open or valve close signal.

By making the operation a differential operation, the configuration of the processing unit can be simplified as compared with division. The valve open / close signal is
The power is converted into valve drive power by the output unit 88 and output to the solenoid valve 27. The threshold setting unit 87 sets the thresholds (Vth1 (ON), Vth1 (O
FF), Vth2 (ON), Vth2 (OFF)).

In the standby state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, that is, when there is no water discharge and there is no hand below the spout 20, the light receiving portions 82a and 82b are both receiving the reflected light from the surface of the bowl 25. Since the contrast between the detection area 77a and the detection area 77b is almost zero, the differential value becomes zero. Each threshold is set from this value.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the hand is put in the bowl 25, the hand is present in the detection area 77a.
The light reflected from the hand is incident on the light receiving portion 82a, and changes from the initial light receiving amount. However, since the detection area 77b has no hand and the light receiving portion 82b maintains the incidence of the reflected light from the bowl 25, the detection area 77a−the detection area 77
The contrast between b changes, the differential value deviates from the threshold, and the intrusion of the hand is detected and water is discharged. This is Spout 20
The same applies to the state where the hands are washed with the water discharged from the washing machine.

In the case where the bowl 25 is removed and there is no hand below the spout 20 and only the discharge water is used (see FIGS. 6 and 7), the reflected light from the surface of the bowl 25 is absorbed by the discharge water. Although the amount of incident light on the light receiving sections 82a and 82b decreases, the discharge water crosses both of the detection areas 77a and 77b. Becomes equal to the standby state.

By taking the contrast, that is, the difference (VA-VB) between VA and VB, the influence of the discharge water passing through the detection area can be removed as described above, and only the hand can be reliably detected. . In addition, the human body detector emits detection light by itself, thereby enabling more stable detection.

Next, a modification of the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 19 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 17 in the modification, and FIG. 20 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 18 in the modification. Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, in a modification, the light emitting units 81 a and 81 b of the third embodiment are one light emitting element 93. There is no change in the light receiving section. By configuring two sets of detection areas with one light projecting unit and two light receiving units in this way, it is possible to make the system smaller and low coast.

As shown in the drawing, an overlapping portion of the light projecting area 95 and the light receiving area 96a is defined as a detection area 97a,
And the light receiving area 96b is defined as a detection area 97b.
As a means for expanding the light projecting area 95, there is a method using a reflecting mirror or a method using a lens array as a light projecting lens to form a plurality of beams.

The configuration block diagram of the modification shown in FIG. 20 is basically the same as that of the previous embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a human body detector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of an automatic faucet using the human body detector according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an automatic faucet using the human body detector according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a state in which a hand is detected in the automatic faucet of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view when a hand is detected in the automatic faucet.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the automatic faucet in a state where water is spouted without a detected object.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state where water is discharged without a detection object.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a main routine of signal processing of the human body detector.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of a teach mode.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a run mode.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a modification of the human body detector according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the human body detector according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a side sectional view of a modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the human body detector according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a schematic plan view of a human body detector according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of a human body detector according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing a modification of the third embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a main part of a modification of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 automatic faucet 11 human body detector 12 light receiving unit 13 amplifying unit 14 calculating unit 15 judging unit 16 threshold setting unit 17 output unit 20 spout 21 light detecting element 22 opening 23 reflecting mirror 24 light receiving area 25 bowl 27 solenoid valve

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A non-contact type human body detector used for an automatic faucet for controlling a water channel opening / closing valve to discharge water and stop water, wherein each of the human body detectors has a light receiving area and is vertically arranged. Calculating means for calculating a light reception signal received by the light receiving means, wherein the light receiving area intersects the trajectory of the water discharge in the up-down direction, and the water discharge or the water stoppage according to the calculation result by the calculation means. Output means for outputting a signal for the automatic faucet. 2. The ratio of the width of the light receiving area at the intersection of the upper side of the light receiving area and the discharge water and the diameter of the discharge water thereat, and the amount of the received light at the intersection of the lower side of the light receiving area and the discharge water. The human body detector for an automatic faucet according to claim 1, wherein the ratio between the width and the diameter of the discharged water there is equal. 3. A human body detector for an automatic faucet for detecting an object to be detected and discharging water to be discharged, a plurality of light projecting means for emitting a light beam to the object to be detected, and the plurality of light projections A plurality of light receiving means provided corresponding to each of the means and receiving reflected light from the detected object; and a means for detecting a contrast of each light receiving means based on light receiving signals of the plurality of light receiving means. A human body detector for an automatic faucet, comprising: a detection region including the plurality of light projecting means and the light receiving means, which are arranged side by side so as to intersect the discharge water in the up-down direction. 4. A human body detecting method which is used for an automatic faucet which controls a water channel opening / closing valve to discharge water and stop water, and non-contactly detects the presence or absence of an object to be detected within a predetermined detection area. Receiving light from the detection area so as to intersect with a trajectory of water discharge to a plurality of light receiving means arranged in a vertical direction each having a light receiving area; and calculating the received light; A human body detection method including a step of outputting a water discharge or water stop signal according to a calculation result. 5. A human body detection method for detecting the presence or absence of an object to be detected in a predetermined detection area, which is used for an automatic faucet that controls a water channel opening / closing valve to discharge and stop water. Irradiating a first light beam from the first light projector toward the detected object; receiving reflected light of the first light beam from the detected object; Radiating a second light beam from the second detector toward the detected object so as to intersect the discharged water in the up-down direction, and reflecting the second light beam from the detected object A human body detection method, comprising: receiving light; and detecting a contrast of each detection area based on a result of receiving the first and second light beams.