WO2018146867A1

WO2018146867A1 - Control device

Info

Publication number: WO2018146867A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/038442
Authority: WO
Inventors: 坂元　豪介; 佳周長田; 光正松本; 長谷川　賢治; 大樹松崎; ズー馨丘
Original assignee: パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社
Priority date: 2017-02-10
Filing date: 2017-10-25
Publication date: 2018-08-16
Also published as: JP2020056806A

Abstract

This control device (10) is a control device that is operated by a user to control an instrument. The control device (10) is provided with: an image output unit (11b) for outputting an operation image; a mirror (12) for reflecting the operation image outputted from the image output unit (11b); a half-mirror (13a) and a retroreflective unit (13b) which form, as an aerial image (20), the operation image reflected by the mirror (12); and a detection unit (11c) for detecting a user's operation on the aerial image (20) and outputting a signal for actuating the instrument according to the detected operation. The operation image includes information indicating the action of the instrument when the operation is detected.

Description

Control device

The present invention relates to a control device that operates a device based on a user operation.

Patent Document 1 discloses a touchless switch in which a key appears to float in the air.

JP-A-10-223102

In the above touchless switch, the key is displayed in three dimensions using the binocular parallax of the user. For this reason, the display position of the key is restricted by binocular parallax. Therefore, the touch switch may not be able to image the key at a position away from the main body.

The present invention provides a control device capable of forming an image to be manipulated at a position relatively distant from the main body.

A control device according to an aspect of the present invention is a control device that is operated by a user to control a device, the image output unit outputting an operation image, and the operation image output from the image output unit is reflected. A mirror that performs imaging, an imaging optical element that forms the aerial image reflected by the mirror as an aerial image, and an operation performed on the aerial image by the user, and the device according to the detected operation A detection unit that outputs a signal for operating the device, and the operation image includes information indicating an operation of the device when the operation is detected.

According to the present invention, a control device capable of forming an image to be manipulated at a position relatively distant from the main body is realized.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a control device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of the control device according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating operation buttons that emit light when an aerial image is operated. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control device including an AI plate as an imaging optical element.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that each of the embodiments described below shows a comprehensive or specific example. Numerical values, shapes, materials, constituent elements, arrangement positions and connection forms of constituent elements, and the like shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims indicating the highest concept are described as optional constituent elements.

Each figure is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily shown strictly. Moreover, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the substantially same structure, and the overlapping description may be abbreviate | omitted or simplified.

In the drawings used for explanation in the following embodiments, coordinate axes may be shown. The Z-axis direction in the coordinate axes is, for example, the vertical direction, the Z-axis + side is expressed as an upper side (upper), and the Z-axis-side is expressed as a lower side (lower). The X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are directions orthogonal to each other on a plane (horizontal plane) perpendicular to the Z-axis direction. The X axis + side is expressed as the front side (front), and the X axis − side is expressed as the rear side (back).

(Embodiment)
[overall structure]
First, the configuration of the control device according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a control device according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 10 is a so-called remote controller that is operated by a user to control a device. In the example of FIG. 1, the said apparatus is a shower toilet in which electronic control is possible, and the control apparatus 10 is attached to the wall surface etc. of the private room of a toilet. In addition, the apparatus used as the control object of the control apparatus 10 is not specifically limited, Apparatus other than a shower toilet may be sufficient.

The control device 10 can form (display) the aerial image 20. When the user touches the aerial image 20, the control device 10 detects this and operates the shower toilet in response to the detection. Thus, in the control device 10, the aerial image 20 performs the same function as the operation button. The control device 10 also includes an operation button 15b configured as hardware.

As described above, when the aerial image 20 functions as an operation button, the user is less likely to touch the control device 10 directly, so that the occurrence of contamination of the control device 10 and the failure of the control device 10 are suppressed. In particular, in the control device 10 that controls the shower toilet, there are users who do not want to touch the operation buttons 15b directly by a plurality of users. Concerns are reduced.

The aerial image 20 includes information indicating the operation of the shower toilet when an operation on the aerial image 20 is detected. Such information is, for example, a character (such as “Large” or “Small” in FIG. 1), but may be a figure or a symbol, or any other form.

Detailed configuration
Next, a detailed configuration of the control device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 in addition to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of the control device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the control device as viewed from the side.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the control device 10 specifically includes an aerial display module 11, a mirror 12, a half mirror 13 a, a retroreflective portion 13 b, a Fresnel concave lens 14, and an operation button. A module 15 and a housing 16 are provided.

The aerial display module 11 is a board module that is used to output an operation image that is a source of the aerial image 20 and to detect a user operation on the aerial image 20. Specifically, the aerial display module 11 includes a substrate 11a, an image output unit 11b, and a detection unit 11c. The aerial display module 11 (image output unit 11 b) is disposed between the half mirror 13 a and the mirror 12. The display surface of the image output unit 11 b faces the mirror 12.

The substrate 11a is a substrate on which the image output unit 11b and the detection unit 11c are arranged. The substrate 11a is formed of, for example, resin, but may be formed of ceramic or metal, and the material forming the substrate 11a is not particularly limited. Further, the shape of the substrate 11a is not particularly limited.

The image output unit 11b is arranged on the main surface (one main surface) on the rear side of the substrate 11a, and outputs (displays) an image. The image output unit 11b includes, for example, an LED, an LED drive circuit, and a screen that blocks (or wavelength converts) a part of light emitted from the LED, and outputs light transmitted through the screen as an operation image. That is, a pattern corresponding to the operation image is formed on the screen.

The operation image is specifically a button image, but may be another image that is a target of user operation, such as an image of a switch, a knob, or a lever. The operation image is a still image, but may be a moving image. The operation image includes information indicating the operation of the device when a user operation is detected. As a result, such information is also included in the aerial image 20. As described above, such information is, for example, a character, but may be a figure, a symbol, or any other form.

The image output unit 11b may be a flat panel display that displays a two-dimensional image such as a liquid crystal display device or an organic EL display device. In this case, the display surface of the image output unit 11b has, for example, a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels are provided in a matrix.

The detection unit 11c is disposed on the main surface (the other main surface) on the front side of the substrate 11a, and detects a user operation on the aerial image 20 in a non-contact manner. Moreover, the detection part 11c outputs the signal for operating a shower toilet according to the detected operation.

The detection unit 11c includes, for example, a detection circuit that detects an electrode and a change in capacitance of the electrode and outputs the signal as a detection result. The shower toilet operates using such a signal as a trigger. As described above, the detection unit 11c is, for example, a capacitance-type non-contact sensor, but may be a sensor of a type other than the capacitance type, such as an infrared sensor that detects infrared rays emitted from a human body.

The mirror 12 reflects the operation image output from the image output unit 11b. The mirror 12 is a flat optical mirror, and is disposed on the inner surface located on the rear side of the housing 16 with the reflecting surface facing forward. The reflection surface is a plane parallel to the YZ plane.

In order to display the aerial image 20 at a position away from the control device 10, a certain distance (optical path length) from the image output unit 11b to the half mirror 13a is required, and the housing 16 (control) The thickness in the front-rear direction of the device 10) may increase. In the control device 10, the image output unit 11 b and the mirror 12 are arranged to face each other, whereby the optical path is turned back by the mirror 12. For this reason, the distance from the image output part 11b to the half mirror 13a is ensured, and the casing 16 is thinned.

The half mirror 13a and the retroreflecting unit 13b are examples of an imaging optical element, and form the operation image reflected by the mirror 12 as an aerial image.

The half mirror 13a is a beam splitter that reflects the operation image reflected by the mirror 12 and transmits the operation image retroreflected by the retroreflecting unit 13b.

The half mirror 13 a is disposed so as to close an opening provided on the front side of the housing 16. In the control device 10, the half mirror 13a and the mirror 12 are disposed so as to face each other.

The half mirror 13a reflects the operation image reflected by the mirror 12 toward the retroreflecting unit 13b and transmits the operation image retroreflected by the retroreflecting unit 13b. The transmitted operation image is formed in a space in front of the control device 10. Thereby, the aerial image 20 corresponding to the operation image is displayed in the air.

The retroreflective portion 13b is a member that reflects (retroreflects) incident light without changing the substantial direction to the incident direction again. In other words, the retroreflective portion 13b is a retroreflective optical member or a retroreflective mirror. The retroreflecting unit 13b retroreflects the operation image reflected by the half mirror 13a. Specifically, the retroreflective portion 13b is a sheet-like member in which a plurality of spherical glass beads are spread in the plane of a plate-like substrate, or a plate material provided with a microprism.

As with the mirror 12, the retroreflective portion 13b is arranged on the inner surface located on the rear side of the housing 16 with the reflecting surface facing forward. The retroreflective portion 13b is arranged side by side with the mirror 12 in the Z-axis direction (vertical direction). The retroreflective unit 13b is disposed at a position below the mirror 12 (a position far from the image output unit 11b).

The Fresnel concave lens 14 is an optical element for enlarging the operation image transmitted through the half mirror 13 a to form an aerial image 20. The Fresnel concave lens 14 is disposed so as to close an opening provided on the front side of the housing 16. The Fresnel concave lens 14 is disposed in front of the half mirror 13a.

Specifically, the Fresnel concave lens 14 is a thin lens having a Fresnel lens structure formed of a resin such as an acrylic resin or a translucent material (transparent material) such as glass. According to the Fresnel concave lens 14, a relatively large aerial image 20 can be formed while suppressing an increase in the width in the front-rear direction of the control device 10 (housing 16). Further, according to the Fresnel concave lens 14, the aerial image 20 can be formed at a position away from the control device 10 (housing 16).

The operation button module 15 is a board module having operation buttons 15b. Specifically, the operation button module 15 includes a substrate 15a, operation buttons 15b, and a light emitting unit 15c. Although not shown, the operation button module 15 also includes a detection circuit that detects a user operation on the operation button 15b and outputs a signal for operating the shower toilet in accordance with the detected operation. The operation button module 15 is disposed closer to the front in the housing 16 such that the operation button 15b is exposed to the outside through a button opening provided on the front side of the housing 16.

The substrate 15a is a substrate on which the operation buttons 15b and the light emitting unit 15c are arranged. The substrate 15a is formed of, for example, resin, but may be formed of ceramic or metal, and the material forming the substrate 15a is not particularly limited. Further, the shape of the substrate 15a is not particularly limited.

The operation button 15b is a button configured as hardware that is operated by the user. The operation button 15b has a light transmitting part, and light is transmitted from the light transmitting part when the light emitting part 15c emits light. That is, the operation button 15b emits light. Thereby, the user can recognize that the operation to the operation button 15b is accepted by the light emission of the operation button 15b.

The light emitting unit 15c emits light when an operation on the operation button 15b is detected by the detection circuit. The light emitting unit 15c includes, for example, an LED and a light emission control circuit that causes the LED to emit light. As described above, in the control device 10, the light emitting unit 15c causes the operation button 15b to emit light, but the light emitting unit 15c may be disposed as a single indicator lamp (pilot lamp) separately from the operation button 15b. .

The housing 16 accommodates the aerial display module 11, the mirror 12, the half mirror 13 a, the retroreflective portion 13 b, the Fresnel concave lens 14, and the operation button module 15. The casing 16 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an opening at the front, and is formed of, for example, a metal material or a resin material. In addition, the shape of the housing | casing 16 is not specifically limited. A half mirror 13a and a Fresnel concave lens 14 are arranged in an opening provided on the front side of the housing 16 so as to close the opening. An operation button 15 b is disposed in the button opening provided on the front side of the housing 16. A protective cover made of a translucent material (transparent material) may be disposed in front of the Fresnel concave lens 14.

In the control device 10 described above, the aerial image 20 can be formed at a position away from the control device 10 as long as the distance from the image output unit 11b to the half mirror 13a is secured. If the aerial image 20 to be operated is formed at a position away from the control device 10, the user is less likely to touch the control device 10 directly. Generation | occurrence | production of the stain | pollution | contamination of the apparatus 10, a failure of the control apparatus 10, etc. are suppressed.

[Modified operation buttons]
In the control device 10, the function assigned to the button displayed as the aerial image 20 is different from the function assigned to the operation button 15b. That is, the operation of the shower toilet when the operation button 15b is operated by the user is different from the operation of the shower toilet when the aerial image 20 is operated. For example, in the control device 10, a button for cleaning a shower toilet (toilet) is displayed as an aerial image 20, and buttons for performing on / off of the shower and adjustment related to the shower are the operation buttons 15 b.

Here, the function assigned to the button displayed as the aerial image 20 may be a function having a statistically higher frequency of use than the function assigned to the operation button 15b. That is, the button displayed as the aerial image 20 is preferably a button that is used more frequently than the operation button 15b. As a result, the user is further less likely to directly touch the control device 10, so that the above-described contamination of the control device 10 and the failure of the control device 10 are further suppressed.

Further, the function assigned to the button displayed as the aerial image 20 may also be assigned to the operation button 15b. The operation of the shower toilet when the operation button 15b is operated may be the same as the operation of the shower toilet when the aerial image 20 is operated.

For example, an important function such as toilet flushing is assigned to both the button displayed as the aerial image 20 and the operation button 15b, thereby preventing the function from being stopped due to the occurrence of a failure. Can do.

In this case, the light emitting unit 15c may emit light when the aerial image 20 is operated by acquiring a signal output from the detecting unit 11c. In other words, the operation button 15b may emit light when the operation button 15b is operated and when the aerial image 20 is operated. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation button 15b that emits light when the aerial image 20 is operated.

Thereby, the user can recognize that the operation to the aerial image 20 has been accepted by the light emission of the operation button 15b.

[Modification of imaging optical element]
The half mirror 13a and the retroreflective portion 13b are examples of an imaging optical element, and the specific form of the imaging optical element is not particularly limited. The imaging optical element may be, for example, an AI (Aerial Imaging) plate. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control device including an AI plate as an imaging optical element.

4 is provided with an AI plate 13 instead of the half mirror 13a and the retroreflective portion 13b.

The AI plate 13 is an example of an imaging optical element, and is an optical device that forms an operation image reflected by the mirror 12 as an aerial image. The AI plate 13 is a so-called reflection-type plane-symmetric imaging element, and forms a real image in the air 1: 1 with the AI plate 13 as a symmetry axis by transmitting and reflecting incident light.

The AI plate 13 is disposed in an opening provided on the front side of the housing 16 so as to close the opening. The AI plate 13 and the mirror 12 are disposed to face each other. The image output unit 11 b (aerial display module 11) is disposed between the AI plate 13 and the mirror 12, and outputs an operation image toward the mirror 12.

The AI plate 13 is two-dimensionally divided by, for example, a light-transmitting substrate such as a glass substrate or a transparent resin substrate, a partition wall having a lattice shape in plan view formed of a resin material or the like on the substrate, and the partition wall. And a reflective plate formed on the inner surface of the plurality of openings.

Each of the plurality of openings has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. For example, the shape in plan view is a square having a side of about 100 μm and a depth of about 100 μm. Moreover, the reflective film formed on the inner surface of the partition wall of each opening is, for example, a metal film such as silver or aluminum. That is, the surface of the reflective film is a mirror surface (micromirror).

In the control device 10a, innumerable light beams emitted from the operation image output by the image output unit 11b spread in a conical shape and enter the AI plate 13, and constitute a reflection film constituting the inner surface of the opening of the AI plate 13. The aerial image 20 is projected in the air by sequentially reflecting and imaging with two adjacent reflecting surfaces (two orthogonal reflecting surfaces) among the surfaces.

The AI plate 13 forms the same image as the image displayed on the image output unit 11b as an aerial image 20 at a position optically symmetrical with the image output unit 11b. In other words, the optical distance (optical path length) from the AI plate 13 to the image output unit 11b is almost equal to the distance from the AI plate 13 to the aerial image 20, and the size of the image displayed on the image output unit 11b and the aerial image are the same. The size of 20 is almost equal.

Even in the control device 10a described above, the aerial image 20 can be formed at a position away from the control device 10a if the distance from the image output unit 11b to the AI plate 13 is secured. If the aerial image 20 to be operated is formed at a position away from the control device 10a, the user is less likely to directly touch the control device 10a. Generation | occurrence | production of the stain | pollution | contamination of the apparatus 10a, a failure of the control apparatus 10a, etc. are suppressed.

[Summary]
As described above, the control device 10 is a control device that the user operates to control the device. The control device 10 forms an image 20 as an aerial image 20, an image output unit 11 b that outputs an operation image, a mirror 12 that reflects the operation image output from the image output unit 11 b, and the operation image reflected by the mirror 12. The imaging optical element, and a detection unit 11c that detects a user's operation on the aerial image 20 and outputs a signal for operating the device in accordance with the detected operation. The operation image includes information indicating the operation of the device when the operation is detected.

Thereby, the control device 10 can form the aerial image 20 at a position away from the control device 10 if the distance from the image output unit 11b to the imaging optical element is secured. If the aerial image 20 to be operated is formed at a position away from the control device 10, the user is less likely to touch the control device 10 directly. Therefore, the occurrence of contamination of the control device 10 and the failure of the control device 10 are suppressed.

Further, the imaging optical element may include a half mirror 13a and a retroreflective portion 13b. The half mirror 13a reflects the operation image reflected by the mirror 12, and the retroreflecting unit 13b forms an image 20 as an aerial image 20 by retroreflecting the operation image reflected by the half mirror 13a. The half mirror transmits the operation image retroreflected by the retroreflecting unit 13b.

Thereby, the control device 10 can form the aerial image 20 by the half mirror 13a and the retroreflecting unit 13b.

Further, the control device 10 may further include a Fresnel concave lens 14 for enlarging the operation image transmitted through the half mirror 13 a to form an aerial image 20.

Thus, the control device 10 can form a relatively large aerial image 20 while suppressing an increase in the width of the casing 16 in the front-rear direction.

Further, the half mirror 13 a and the mirror 12 may be disposed to face each other, and the image output unit 11 b may be disposed between the half mirror 13 a and the mirror 12 and output an operation image toward the mirror 12.

Thereby, since the optical path is turned back by the mirror 12, an increase in the thickness of the control device 10 in the arrangement direction (front-rear direction) of the half mirror 13a and the mirror 12 is suppressed.

Further, like the control device 10a, the imaging optical element may be the AI plate 13.

Thereby, the control device 10a can form the aerial image 20 by the AI plate 13.

Further, the AI plate 13 and the mirror 12 may be disposed to face each other, and the image output unit 11b may be disposed between the AI plate 13 and the mirror 12 and output an operation image toward the mirror 12.

Thereby, since the optical path is turned back by the mirror 12, an increase in the thickness of the control device 10a in the alignment direction (front-rear direction) of the AI plate 13 and the mirror 12 is suppressed.

Further, the control device 10 may further include an operation button 15b operated by the user.

Thereby, the user can operate the device by operating the operation button 15b.

Also, the operation of the device when the operation button 15b is operated by the user may be different from the operation of the device when the aerial image 20 is operated.

Thereby, the user can cause the device to perform different operations by selecting one of the operation on the operation button 15b and the operation on the aerial image 20.

In addition, the operation of the device when the operation button 15b is operated may be the same as the operation of the device when the aerial image 20 is operated.

As described above, by assigning one function to both the button displayed as the aerial image 20 and the operation button 15b, it is possible to suppress the one function from being stopped due to the occurrence of a failure. it can.

Further, the control device 10 may further include a light emitting unit 15c that emits light when the operation button 15b is operated by the user. The light emitting unit 15c may emit light when the aerial image 20 is operated.

The control device 10 may further include a housing 16 that houses the image output unit 11b, the mirror 12, and the imaging optical element.

Thereby, since the control device 10 is unitized, the control device 10 can be easily mounted.

(Other embodiments)
Although the embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, in the above embodiment, the image output unit and the detection unit are arranged on one substrate, but the image output unit and the detection unit may be arranged on different substrates.

The optical configuration shown in the above embodiment is an example, and the present invention is not limited to the optical configuration. That is, like the above optical configuration, an optical configuration capable of realizing the characteristic function of the present invention is also included in the present invention. For example, a part of the optical components used in the optical configuration may be omitted or an optical component may be added to the optical configuration as long as the same function as the optical configuration can be realized.

In addition, it is realized by variously conceiving various modifications conceived by those skilled in the art for each embodiment, or by arbitrarily combining the components and functions in each embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. This form is also included in the present invention.

10, 10a Control device 11b Image output unit 11c Detection unit 12 Mirror 13 AI plate (imaging optical element)
13a Half mirror (imaging optical element)
13b Retroreflective part (imaging optical element)
14 Fresnel concave lens 15b Operation button 15c Light emitting part 16 Housing 20 Aerial image

Claims

A control device that a user operates to control a device,
An image output unit for outputting an operation image;
A mirror that reflects the operation image output from the image output unit;
An imaging optical element that forms an image of the operation image reflected by the mirror as an aerial image;
A detection unit that detects an operation on the aerial image of the user and outputs a signal for operating the device according to the detected operation;
The operation image includes information indicating an operation of the device when the operation is detected.
The imaging optical element includes a half mirror and a retroreflecting unit,
The half mirror reflects the operation image reflected by the mirror,
The retroreflective unit forms an image as the aerial image by retroreflecting the operation image reflected by the half mirror,
The control device according to claim 1, wherein the half mirror transmits the operation image retroreflected by the retroreflecting unit.
The control device according to claim 2, further comprising a Fresnel concave lens for enlarging the operation image transmitted through the half mirror to form an image as the aerial image.
The half mirror and the mirror are arranged to face each other.
The control device according to claim 2, wherein the image output unit is disposed between the half mirror and the mirror, and outputs the operation image toward the mirror.
The control device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging optical element is an AI (Aerial Imaging) plate.
The AI plate and the mirror are arranged to face each other,
The control device according to claim 5, wherein the image output unit is disposed between the AI plate and the mirror, and outputs the operation image toward the mirror.
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an operation button operated by the user.
The control device according to claim 7, wherein the operation of the device when the operation button is operated by the user is different from the operation of the device when the aerial image is operated.
The control device according to claim 7, wherein the operation of the device when the operation button is operated is the same as the operation of the device when the aerial image is operated.
And a light emitting unit that emits light when the operation button is operated by the user.
The control device according to claim 9, wherein the light emitting unit emits light when the aerial image is operated.
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a housing that houses the image output unit, the mirror, and the imaging optical element.