JP5651024B2 - Object detection sensor and spray device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an object detection sensor and a spray device that detect the approach of an object such as a person.

  As this type of object detection sensor, a pair of light receiving elements arranged in the same direction and the approach of the palm is detected by a change in the output signal of either one of the light receiving elements. There is an object detection unit that detects a change in ambient light based on a change in an output signal (see Patent Document 1).

Utility Model Application Publication No. 41-22148

  However, the object detection sensor needs to set or adjust the amount of light received by the pair of light receiving elements to be the same, and there is a problem that setting or adjusting the light receiving elements is troublesome.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an object detection sensor and a spray device that do not require setting or adjustment of the amount of light received between the light receiving elements. is there.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the object detection sensor of the present invention has a first light receiving portion that is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction and can receive ambient light in the substantially horizontal direction, and is based on the approach of the object. received light amount is changed by a change in the substantially horizontal direction of the ambient light, a first output signal a first light receiving element capable of outputting in response to changes in the received light amount, it is disposed toward the upward and the upper ambient light A second light receiving element capable of receiving a second light receiving portion, wherein the amount of received light changes due to a change in the ambient light above, and a second output signal can be output according to the change in the received light amount; It is determined whether there is a change in the second output signal of the second light receiving element or whether the second output signal is equal to or less than a threshold value. As a result of this determination, there is a change in the second output signal. When it is determined that the second output signal is equal to or less than a threshold value, And a object detecting means for detecting an approach of an object based on the force signal.

According to the invention of such an aspect, the object detection means determines whether or not the second output signal of the second light receiving element has changed or whether or not the second output signal is equal to or less than a threshold value (that is, the environment Only when it is determined that there is no change in the ambient light, the approach of the object is detected based on the first output signal of the first light receiving element. Therefore, this object detection sensor can reduce the possibility of erroneously detecting a change in ambient light as an object approaching. In addition, since the first and second light receiving elements are arranged in different directions, it is not necessary to set or adjust the received light amounts of the first and second light receiving elements to be the same. Therefore, the cost of the object detection sensor can be reduced.
Since the second light receiving element is disposed upward, the second light receiving element can easily detect changes in ambient light such as sunlight, moonlight, outdoor lighting, and / or indoor lighting. Therefore, the detection accuracy of the ambient light is improved, and as a result, the detection accuracy of the object can be improved. Since the first light receiving element is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction, it becomes easy to detect an object such as a person passing in front of the first light receiving element.

The object detection sensor may further include a housing having a top plate and a side plate. The first light receiving element may be configured such that the first light receiving portion is disposed on the top plate in the substantially horizontal direction. The second light receiving element may be configured such that the second light receiving portion is disposed on the side plate so as to face upward.

  A plurality of the first light receiving elements can be provided. According to the aspect of the invention, the object detection area can be enlarged by the plurality of first light receiving elements.

  A plurality of the second light receiving elements can be provided. According to such an aspect of the invention, the ambient light detection area can be expanded by the plurality of second light receiving elements.

  The spraying apparatus of the present invention includes the object detection sensor according to any one of the above-described aspects and spraying means for spraying a medicine. The object detection means of the object detection sensor is configured to spray the medicine on the spray means or stop the spraying of the medicine on the spray means when detecting the approach of the object. According to such an aspect of the invention, the object detection means of the object detection sensor erroneously detects a change in ambient light as an object approaching, causing the spraying means to misspray the medicine, or spraying the medicine to the spraying means. The possibility of being stopped can be reduced.

It is a typical perspective view of the object detection sensor which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the sensor taken along the line 2-2 in which the internal structure in FIG. It is a circuit block diagram of the sensor. It is explanatory drawing which shows the use condition of the said sensor. It is a flowchart of the object detection program of the sensor. It is a typical perspective view which shows the design modification of the said sensor.

  Hereinafter, an object detection sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The object detection sensor is a human sensor that detects the approach of a person P (object). As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the object detection sensor includes a housing 100, light receiving elements 200a and 200b (first and second light receiving elements), an amplifier 310a, a low-pass filter 320a, an amplifier 330a, A pulse converter 340a, a voltage regulator 350a, an attenuator 300b, and a control unit 400 are provided. Hereinafter, each component of the object detection sensor will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 100 is a hollow cubic box. The housing 100 has four side plates, a top plate, and a bottom plate. On one of the side plates, a light receiving element 200a is disposed with the light receiving portion facing substantially in the horizontal direction. A light receiving element 200b is disposed on the top plate with the light receiving portion facing upward.

  As the light receiving element 200a, a phototransistor, a photodiode, an illuminance sensor, or the like is used. When the person P approaches the light receiving element 200a, the surroundings of the light receiving element 200a become dark and / or the ambient light described later is reflected by the person P, and the surroundings of the light receiving element 200a become bright (that is, the brightness around the light receiving element 200a). Changes.) In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the periphery of the light receiving element 200a is shaded and darkened by the approach of the person P. When the surroundings become dark, the light receiving element 200a changes (decreases) the amount of received light, and outputs an analog voltage signal α (first output signal) corresponding to the change in the amount of received light. Since the change in brightness due to the approach of the person P is fine, the change in the voltage signal α is also small. Therefore, as described later, the voltage signal α is amplified in two stages to clarify the change in the voltage signal α.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the voltage signal α is amplified by an amplifier 310a, and then commercial power supply noise and high-frequency external noise are removed by a low-pass filter 320a. Thereafter, the voltage signal a is amplified by the amplifier 330 a, converted to a digital signal (that is, a Hi or Lo rectangular wave voltage signal) by the pulse converter 340 a, and input to the control unit 400. In the present embodiment, when the person P approaches, a Lo rectangular wave voltage signal is input to the control unit 400. The voltage regulator 350a is connected to the light receiving element 200a, the amplifier 310a, the low pass filter 320a, the amplifier 330a, and the pulse converter 340a. As a result, a substantially constant power supply voltage is supplied to the light receiving element 200a, the amplifier 310a, the low pass filter 320a, the amplifier 330a, and the pulse converter 340a. For this reason, the sensitivity of the light receiving element 200a is prevented from changing due to the fact that the power supply voltage supplied to the light receiving element 200a is not constant.

  As the light receiving element 200b, a phototransistor, a photodiode, an illuminance sensor, or the like is used. The light receiving element 200b changes the amount of received light according to the change in the received ambient light, and outputs an analog voltage signal β (second output signal) corresponding to the change in the received light amount to the attenuator 300b. As shown in FIG. 4, the ambient light includes light from indoor lighting L, light from outdoor lighting incident through the window W, sunlight and moonlight incident through the window W, and the like. The brightness of the ambient light changes depending on whether the indoor lighting L is turned on or off, the outdoor lighting is turned on or off, and sunlight or moonlight changes.

  The attenuator 300b is controlled by the control unit 400 and attenuates according to the voltage signal β so that the voltage signal β does not reach a saturation level. The saturation level is a signal level at which the voltage signal β becomes an excessive signal level due to a sudden change in ambient light (for example, sunrise or lighting of the indoor lighting L), and the input to the control unit 400 becomes saturated. .

  A microcomputer is used as the control unit 400. A pulse converter 340a is connected to the digital input port of the control unit 400, and an attenuator 300b is connected to the analog input port. An object detection program and a threshold value are written in the internal memory of the control unit 400. When the control unit 400 processes the object detection program shown in FIG. 5, the function as the object detection means in the claims is exhibited. The threshold is a large change in ambient light that the object detection sensor may erroneously detect as approaching person P (indoor lighting L on / off, outdoor lighting on / off, sunlight / moonlight change) Etc.) and the value of the voltage signal β indicating the boundary between other small changes in ambient light.

  Hereinafter, the above-described object detection program will be described in detail. First, when the power of the object detection sensor is turned on, the control unit 400 processes the object detection program. Then, the voltage signal α of the light receiving element 200a is input to the control unit 400 through the amplifier 310a, the low-pass filter 320a, the amplifier 330a, and the pulse converter 340a, and the voltage signal β of the light receiving element 200b is input to the control unit 400 through the attenuator 300b. Entered. At this time, the control unit 400 controls the attenuator 300b according to the signal level of the input voltage signal β, and attenuates the voltage signal β so as not to reach the saturation level.

  Then, the control unit 400 determines whether or not the signal level of the voltage signal β is equal to or lower than the threshold value on the internal memory (s1). That is, it is determined whether or not the ambient light has changed significantly. As a result of the determination of s1, when it is determined that the signal level of the voltage signal β is equal to or lower than the threshold value and there is no significant change in ambient light, it is determined whether or not the voltage signal α is Lo (s2). That is, it is determined whether or not the person P has approached. As a result of the determination of s2, when it is determined that the voltage signal α is Lo, it is detected that the person P is approaching (s3). On the other hand, when it is determined that the voltage signal α is not Lo (that is, Hi), the process returns to s1. Further, as a result of the determination of s1, the signal level of the voltage signal β is equal to or higher than the threshold value, and the process returns to s1 when it is determined that the ambient light has changed significantly. Note that the order of s1 and s2 can be reversed. That is, when the control unit 400 determines whether or not the voltage signal α is Lo, and the determination result indicates that the voltage signal α is Lo, the signal level of the voltage signal β is determined in the internal memory. It is determined whether it is below the threshold value. As a result of this determination, when it is determined that the signal level of the voltage signal β is equal to or lower than the threshold value and there is no significant change in ambient light, the design can be changed to perform the process of s3.

  In the case of the object detection sensor as described above, the person P is based on the voltage signal α of the light receiving element 200a only when the signal level of the voltage signal β of the light receiving element 200b arranged upward is equal to or lower than the threshold value. Is approaching. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility of erroneously detecting a change in ambient light as an object approaching. In addition, since the light receiving element 200a is disposed substantially horizontally and the light receiving element 200b is disposed upward, it is not necessary to set or adjust the received light amounts of the light receiving elements 200a and 200b to be the same. Therefore, the cost of the object detection sensor can be reduced.

  The object detection sensor can be provided in a spray device that sprays a medicine such as a fragrance when the person P approaches. This spraying device includes the object detection sensor and a well-known spraying means for spraying a drug (spreading by volatilization or atomization) by spraying or rotation of a fan. When detecting the approach of the person P, the controller 400 causes the spraying means to spray the medicine or causes the spraying means to stop spraying the medicine. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the medicine from being accidentally sprayed or the medicine spraying from being erroneously stopped due to a change in ambient light. In the case where the spraying means stops the spraying of the medicine according to the approach of the person P, the spraying device may be configured to spray the medicine every predetermined time.

  The above-described object detection sensor is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be arbitrarily changed in design within the scope of the claims. Details will be described below.

  In the above embodiment, the light receiving element 200a is arranged in the substantially horizontal direction and the light receiving element 200b is arranged in the upward direction. However, the light receiving elements 200a and 200b are arranged in different directions. Any arrangement may be used as long as possible. In the above embodiment, one light receiving element 200a and 200b is provided, but a plurality of light receiving elements 200a and 200b may be provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, by providing two light receiving elements 200a on different side plates of the housing 100, the object detection area can be expanded. If a plurality of light receiving elements 200b are provided, the area for detecting ambient light can be expanded.

  In the above embodiment, the object detecting means detects that the person P has approached when the voltage signal α of the light receiving element 200a is Lo. However, the object detecting means detects the approach of the object based on the first output signal of the first light receiving element. The design can be arbitrarily changed as long as it is detected. For example, when the periphery of the light receiving element 200a becomes bright due to the approach of the person P, the object detection means can also detect that the person P has approached when the voltage signal α is Hi. Further, when the surroundings of the light receiving element 200a become brighter or darker due to the approach of the person P, the object detection means can also detect that the person P has approached when the voltage signal α is Lo, Hi. It is.

  In the above embodiment, the object detection unit determines whether or not the ambient light has changed depending on whether or not the signal level of the voltage signal β is equal to or lower than the threshold value. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, the object detection means may determine whether or not there is a change in the ambient light depending on whether or not the voltage signal β has changed. Also in this case, when it is determined that the voltage signal β has changed, the object detection means detects the approach of the object based on the change in the first output signal of the first light receiving element. Although the first and second output signals are the voltage signals α and β, any signal may be used as long as it is a signal corresponding to the amount of light received by the first and second light receiving elements.

  In the above-described embodiment, the materials, shapes, dimensions, arrangements, and the like constituting each part of the object detection sensor have been described as examples, and can be arbitrarily changed as long as the same function can be realized. Is possible. In the above-described embodiment, the object detection sensor is a human sensor that detects the approach of the person P, but can be used as a sensor that detects an object other than the person P. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although this object detection sensor was provided in the spraying apparatus, it is naturally possible to provide in another apparatus.

100 ... Case 200a..Light receiving element (first light receiving element)
200b .. Light receiving element (second light receiving element)
310a ... Amplifier 320a ... Low pass filter 330a ... Amplifier 340a ... Pulse converter 350a ... Voltage regulator 300b ... Attenuator 400 ... Control unit (object detection means)
P ... People L ... Indoor lighting W ... Window α ... Voltage signal (first output signal)
β: Voltage signal (second output signal)

Claims (5)

A first light-receiving unit that is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction and capable of receiving the environmental light in the substantially horizontal direction, and the amount of received light changes due to the change in the environmental light in the substantially horizontal direction due to the approach of an object ; A first light receiving element capable of outputting a first output signal corresponding to the change in the amount of received light;
A second light-receiving unit disposed upward and capable of receiving the upper ambient light; the amount of received light changes due to a change in the upper ambient light; and a second according to the change in the received light amount. A second light receiving element capable of outputting an output signal;
It is determined whether there is a change in the second output signal of the second light receiving element or whether the second output signal is equal to or less than a threshold value. As a result of this determination, there is a change in the second output signal. An object detection sensor comprising: an object detection unit configured to detect an approach of an object based on the first output signal when it is determined that the second output signal is less than or equal to a threshold value. The object detection sensor according to claim 1,
A housing having a top plate and a side plate;
The first light receiving element is arranged with the first light receiving portion facing the substantially horizontal direction on the top plate,
The second light receiving element is an object detection sensor disposed on the side plate of the second light receiving portion so as to face upward . The object detection sensor according to claim 1 or 2,
An object detection sensor having a plurality of the first light receiving elements . The object detection sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An object detection sensor having a plurality of the second light receiving elements . The object detection sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A spraying means for spraying the medicine,
The object detection means of the object detection sensor is a spraying device that causes the spraying means to spray the medicine or causes the spraying means to stop spraying the medicine when the approach of the object is detected.

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